By Staff of the Website of WINGS FOR TRUTH (an acronym for Working to Inform, Guide & Support) those who have been sexually abused within the Two by Two Fellowship.
Dear friends,
We regret writing this type of letter to you, but it is necessary to do so considering the serious nature of what we are about to write. This letter is for every one of the VIC/TAS list of friends. Many of you would not have children in your care, but you may be grandparents or otherwise have special concerns.
We have become aware that there is information circulating so we want to end the speculation and give you the facts as we are so far able to share.
Staff of WINGS include current and ex-members of our fellowship of Friends and Workers. We have no agenda or motive beyond seeking the safety of our children from sexual abuse, and healing for past victims. It is our belief that by openly tackling any such issues should they arise, in a legally correct manner, the fellowship will only grow in integrity and with its reputation enhanced.
By seeking to deny or cover over such issues, the reputation of the fellowship can only suffer. It seems improbable that God could bless a ministry that knowingly failed to deal correctly with any worker who had sexually abused children.
In July 2010 we became aware that some women had spoken of their experiences as little girls, molested regularly over many years by a well known and respected senior worker. We understand that the said worker has confessed to molesting sexually at least six girls, and there may be further victims.
The girls ages range from 9 to early and mid-teens. The sexual abuse happened on convention grounds and in homes and public places.
Because of the serious and criminal nature of these allegations, we feel that it is our responsibility to alert you to this situation at this time, as this worker has had the opportunity to visit many families with young girls throughout the past 30-40 years.
This letter serves to inform all parents and other caregivers that you should at first opportunity have a conversation with any child in your care, to determine if inappropriate sexual behaviour has taken place.
Molestation can have serious emotional, psychological and spiritual effects on a child, and this issue should be taken very seriously. If your child has been molested, he or she may be confused about what happened. It’s common in these situations for the child to feel that anything inappropriate that happened was somehow their fault. A pedophile will frequently tell the child that what he does with them is a secret and they should not tell anyone about it.
W.I.N.G.S. FOR TRUTH – Working to Inform, Guide & Support those who have been sexually abused within the Truth Fellowship.
If you are aware or learn of any inappropriate sexual behaviour, you should immediately call the authorities in your local area.
In regards to the above-mentioned worker, he is no longer in the work in Victoria/Tasmania or anywhere else. He will not be afforded the opportunity as a servant of God, to be a risk to children any longer.
We can all be grateful to the senior workers who understood the seriousness of this matter and took these steps immediately.
Romans 13: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.”
These words were not written to strangers but to God’s people letting them know we are not exempt from the law and we must comply. It is referring to the civil authorities as being given to us by God.
They too are subject to God’s sovereign power.
From the WINGS staff.
(written sometime after 2010)
Open Letter to Friends in Victoria and Tasmania
There is some information attached below in regards to pedophiles and tips on how to discuss this with your child. How to Talk to Children
Additional information at the end of this letter may be read on the WINGS website at: https://wingsfortruth.info/breaking-the-silence-2/letters-from-friends-and-workers/australian-friends/