Showing posts with label Do Right Movement/Tina Anderson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Do Right Movement/Tina Anderson. Show all posts

Friday, May 9, 2014

A Much Watch and Must Read: Sex Abuse Scandals In Evangelicalism Using Bob Jones University as a Prototype

Kathryn Joyce talks about her new article in the American Prospect entitled By Grace Alone concerning the investigation of the sex abuse scandals at Bob Jones University by Boz Tchividjian and GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment).

For whatever reason, I cannot get the video to embed!


Click HERE to CONTINUE READING:
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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Has Christian Fundamentalism Become Synonymous with Sexual and Domestic Abuse?

Note: For background info, please visit the embedded. The following is packed with them, and you may need a scorecard.]

After posting a link to a new article in the New Republic entitled Sexual Assault at God's Harvard in social media today, Eric Pazdziora drew attention to it. (Eric is an exceptionally talented musician, composer, and graduate student who was a featured contributor to the book, Quivering Daughters and has written much on the topic.)

Note: Patrick Henry College (PHC) designed for homeschoolers by the founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association and was referenced in as “God's Harvard” in the title of Hanna Rosin's book.
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Saturday, March 9, 2013

The Importance of Reporting Abuse in a Religious Setting (especially if you attended Bob Jones U)


The message below was posted at Do Right BJU, and a portion of this came directly from a formal announcement made by Godly Response to Abuse in a Christian Environment (G.R.A.C.E.), the organization that Bob Jones University hired to investigate allegations that they do not handle sexual abuse matters appropriately I hope that it is encouraging to all victims and survivors, not just those who endured problems within the Independent Fundamental Baptist system.

The concern about how Bob Jones University handles reports of sexual or physical abuse became a very public matter when Tina Anderson's story came to light on ABC's 20/20 program in 2011. A previous post here notes that BJU seems to be interfering with students ability to access GRACE, and they appear have failed to include all former students in the requested surveys.

The GRACE organization “is a non-profit organization made up of highly trained and experienced multi-disciplinary professionals who seek to educate and empower the Christian community to identify, confront and respond to the sin of child abuse.” They provide a variety of services and resources toward that end. Read more on their website.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Jack Schaap's Scandal Isn't the Only IFB Sex Scandal: Hiding Abuse at Bob Jones University


Many would like to believe that Jack Schaap's act of statutory rape constitutes a rare occurrence within the Independent Fundamental Baptist organization. The recently incarcerated pastor who claims he committed the act because church revenue had dropped and because he was in ill health just demonstrates the problematic attitude of male privilege that results in the abuse of young men and women throughout the denomination. The students of Bob Jones University (BJU) where Schaap's predecessor served for decades as a board member know about the well oiled machine that is used against them to keep sexual abuse quiet. Several students report that they witnessed it in action yesterday.
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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Jack Schaap of the Independent Fundamental Baptist Church Dismissed And Sheriff's Office Investigation Ensues


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 Updated 4Apr12

Reports have just surfaced stating that Jack Schaap of the Independent Fundamental Baptist network of churches (IFB) has been dismissed from his position.  

Yet uncorroborated social media sources allege that he had a sexual relationship with a girl who was involved with the church and affiliated college bus ministry. There is some question as to whether the teenage girl was under the legal age of consent, as the activity allegedly took place in two locations in two different states with two different age cutoffs for statutory rape.  

When employed as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, a position he was dismissed from a few hours ago, Schaap oversaw Hyles-Anderson College for the IFB. One of their notable ministries promoted picking up disadvantaged children in their remote neighborhoods in order to bus them to church, hence the school offered classes in "bus ministry.”

The social media allegations made against Schaap suggest that he revictimized a young woman who previously suffered sexual abuse and sought counsel from the church. Similar cases of this this pattern of repeated abuse suffered by young women who seek out help after molestation and rape were highlighted by Elizabeth Vargas in 20/20's Shattered Faith episode last year, first airing in April 2011. (View the entire episode HERE.) Perhaps ABC will revisit this pattern of abuse on upcoming broadcasts? 

This mindset and teachings shared by Jack Schaap appear in the ABC investigation on the 20/20 Shattered Faith episode concerning Tina Anderson.  For a short time after the program's airing, video of Schaap appeared on YouTube wherein he scoffs and brags about his position. Those videos quickly disappeared. (One of them does still appear HERE on the Internet Archive, however.)

4Aug12 Update:  It has also been reported in social media that the attorney who has often been called upon as counsel for IFB pastors and abusive ministers addressed the congregation, advising the abused to report details to the church, saying nothing about about contacting law enforcement.  You're supposed to talk to the defense attorney for the church and perhaps for Jack Schaap that you were abused in their church?  Note this advice that the attorney gave to churches in a publication earlier this year.
View the entire image of the article HERE.

The allegations first appeared on a Facebook page entitled Do Right Hyles-Anderson, but the church has apparently released a statement to the press. (Note more details about the Do Right BJU protest below.)  The matter has been noted by the media where you can access a copy of First Baptist Church of Hammond's official statement.  Please take note that any other additional information that has not been reported in these major media press sources has only been alleged and appears in social media only.   4Aug12 Update: One of the most rounded articles I've seen thus far has appeared in the Chicago Tribune.   The Huffington Post, The New York Daily News, The Daily Mail, and other sources now confirm additional details noted initially in the social media outlets.   The Examiner.com also now features an article that explores the far reaching effects and harmful aspects of the ideology that facilitates abuse in religious settings. 

Initial Reports

Along with many other blog entries, a very brief history of the Tina Anderson story can be found HERE on this site. It also includes a very short introduction to the problem of demoralizing and abusing women in the IFB which often results in a secondary molesting of girls who are seen as "bruised fruit" (after their virginity is gone) when the go to clergy or others in the church for practical help and emotional support. These molested children are believed by many within the IFB to be complicit in their own sexual abuse and are held accountable as the first cause in the chain of events that solicit their own sexual and psychological trauma. Along with others in the IFB network, Ron Williams of Hephzibah House preaches a Doctrine of the Strange Woman that facilitates this type of abuse. Sectors within the IFB teach a very low view of women which relegates them not only to subservience but also demoralizes them as lesser moral creatures, a growing problem within many other sectors of the evangelical church, a position advanced by the late John R. Rice.

Doctrines of “complementarianism” within the Southern Baptist Convention also foster similar problems, as the learned evangelists for their unique twist on the same ideas defines women as having lesser essence and purpose by teaching that women are merely the “indirect” or the “derivative” image of God. Men are more purely connected to God in their essence, and women are lesser because she was taken from man's source material. Women are one step removed from God and are said to be more given over to deception, sin, and error, necessitating a male protector and intercessor before God.

As valiant survivors like Susan Grotte have pointed out so well, many within the IFB also teach a view that corporal punishment of children results in spiritual purification. Augmented by a literal interpretation hermeneutic and the view that the King James Version of the Bible is the only inspired and authoritative version of the text, far surpassing the original languages or older translations, proverbs from the Old Testament are interpreted to teach that bruising and physical discipline bring about salvation. Ron Williams also preaches a sermon regarding the efficacy of corporal punishment as a salvific method that parents must employ to save their children from eternal hell (Read the sermon HERE.) A fine example of the literal interpretation which is used as a proof text for striking crying infants can be found in Proverbs 20:30:

The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil:
so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

(I suppose that we should all be grateful that they don't teach parents to feed shards of glass to their children to produce internal injury in the stomach, too. Perhaps such a method could turn all of their children into new versions of Billy Sunday and John R. Rice?)

When you place more value on the purity of others than you do on people, and when you vilify women and use them as scapegoats, this kind of thing seems to be a logical conclusion. When the virginity of a molested girl becomes more important than the girl and her great value to the world and to her Creator, it is a logical conclusion. And when young women are seen as "damaged goods" because of "sexual impurity" inflicted by another, she merely becomes another thing to be used for a man's gratification. The men can appease their consciences by telling themselves that their lack of self-control and compassion really fall to the inherent fault of women (or the children that they violate). 

What a sad day.


Additional Reading:

Read Redeeming Dinah HERE, a refutation of the Strange Woman Doctrine on UnderMuchGrace.com.

All posts on UnderMuchGrace pertaining to Tina Anderson's rape and the Do Right BJU protest that ensued can be found HERE, but they are not indexed, and you will have to scroll through many. 

Visit the Do Right BJU Protest on Facebook for more information about that protest. Following the airing of the ABC 20/20 Episode concerning the problem of covering up sexual abuse within the IFB, Bob Jones University appointed the pastor who covered up the rape featured in the episode to their Cooperating Board. In protest, students and alumni joined in a protest by wearing red to chapel in December 2011. (See BJU's Tankmen of Tianamen Square at UnderMuchGrace.com) The student who organized the protest was expelled a few days before graduating. (Also read Kicked Out of College for Watching Glee.)

Link HERE to an index of links and helpful information about the abuses at Hephzibah House and other IFB reform homes for teenagers. To view many posts that scroll through CNN's “Ungodly Discipline” report series on the abuse within these IFB homes, link HERE, though please note that the link also includes shows and transcripts concerning the child training methods and deaths related to Michael Pearl's corporal punishment system.

All references to the IFB that appear on UnderMuchGrace.com may be accessed HERE.

2Apr12 Update:  Chuckles Travels Blog has posted some insightful articles as well.  This one about Schaap points out details of a recent, very offensive sermon advising parents concerning sexuality and teens.  This post offers wise advice and words of warning to other abuse survivors at Hyles Anderson College and those within the IFB.  (Allegedly, the congregants at Schaap's former church of record were advised to take matters concerning abuse to the church's defense attorney who may possibly be acting as the defense attorney for Schapp.)

Hanna Thomas also noted some important advice for victims, and the comments under this post as well as her post about the Schaap scandal are followed by interesting and telling comments.
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Monday, July 9, 2012

2012 ICSA Meeting Links and Additional Info



The Popularity of Evangelical Christian Patriarchy in the US:
The Vilification and Abuse of Women and Children


~ A list of links to accompany the presentation ~

 
Click here to view the powerpont presentation at Sliceshare.com



COMPLEMENTARIANISM
Websites:

Religious News Sources:

Audio/Video:

Selected Books:

Online Writings:


INDEPENDENT FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST BOOT CAMPS



HOMESCHOOLING'S BIBLICAL PATRIARCHY


  • No Longer Quivering: Vyckie Garrison's website features personal accounts and helpful information


MICHAEL PEARL'S CHILD TRAINING METHOD


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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

A Request for Help In a Survey for Those Subject to Abuse in Religious Institutions

I'm going to be entirely lazy and copy the post which is self-explanatory. :)

The host of the I Support Tina Anderson blog has asked for any interested who have been subject to physical or sexual abuse associated with an religious institution to participate in an anonymous survey.  Laurie Moody writes on her blog:
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Saturday, February 4, 2012

More from Janet Heimlich on Problematic and Abusive Corporal Punishment within Evangelical Christianity

 

A previous post referenced Janet Heimlich's book, Breaking Their Will: Shedding Light on Malicious Child Maltreatment, noting that Christians have other “compassionate, healthy” alternatives that are available to them to help them in their duty to raise “happy, strong grown-ups” (pg 120). They do not need to resort to corporal punishment, certainly not some of the methods of aggressive discipline that many Evangelicals tend to promote.

The author goes on to point out several other trenchant points in the Conclusion section of the chapter entitled The Perils of Mixing Faith and Corporal Punishment which I believe are worthy of mention and discussion from a Christian view. The conclusion section appears on pages 119 and 120 of the book.


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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The “Do Right BJU” Protestors: Bob Jones University's Own New Tank Men of Tiananman Square

--> The average young college student today will not be old enough to recall the events of June 1989 and the iconic photo that appeared in the media all over the world. The death of a Chinese government official, Hu Yaobang, who promoted free speech, freedom of the press, and free market trade sparked mass sessions of mourning in the streets and an eventual meeting of students to object to the government's lack of esteem for the work he had done. Students (100,000 of them) began to gather regularly in Tianaman Square for months after the first gathering in April for Hu's memorial service.

China declared martial law quite quickly, but little was done until June 3rd when tanks rolled into Tiananman Square, opening fire as they progressed to clear the path through the protestors and bystanders, thus ushering in a violent government crackdown throughout the city. As a column of tanks rolled through on June 5th, they started to break formation, what many people saw as a flagrant act of arrogance, mocking the people and their powerlessness. Suddenly, an unknown man took it upon himself to bravely walk out in front of the tank that lead the column, stood in front of it, and even crawled up on it and banged on the hatch. A single man stood alone in front of the Chinese Army, and for a few moments, stopped its progress while the world held its breath. The tank tried to turn to avoid him and did not open fire. Men from the curb of the street stepped in to usher the young man away quickly, and some unverified sources reported that he was executed publicly in the many executions that were aired on Chinese television over the next weeks that followed.

The momentary, bold act of courage shown by this one unknown man changed both China and the world. His act inspired the people of China from all walks of life to step forward to call for acceptance of the principles of basic freedom. The image of the lone man was later said to have inspired those who participated in the dismantling of the Soviet Union. (“If Tank Man could stand up to those Chinese tanks in Tiananman Square, I can stand up to endure my opposition.”) As a direct result of this one man's example, free trade and capitalism widely expanded across China which greatly benefited the people there and gave them expanded opportunities for free speech. (Not to say that more progress there is not still desperately needed.) That single man took an opportunity that the moment and circumstance gave him to stand up to oppression. He literally changed the world and became one of “the most important people of the [20th] Century.”


The Asch Conformity Experiment demonstrates the great power that social expectation creates for us and how difficult it is to resist conformity with the consensus opinion when we find ourselves in groups. As the Asch Experiment and other studies like the Milgram Study point out to us (studies that sought to understand how the WWII Holocaust could have possibly have taken place), the majority of people will follow not only group consensus most of the time, they will also follow the direction of an authority. Apart from the pressure from others, we would often offer a different response, but the influence to conform becomes quite difficult to resist, even when we are pressured to behave unethically. It is a part of our human nature.

Studies show that only an approximate 10% of people will resist these influences, offering an opinion or response to the contrary of the pressured consensus, and something wonderful happens when they do resist. That 10% of people who step forward create a safe place for others to also resist, just like Tank Man of Tiananmen Square. Dissidents encourage others to step forward with them. In her book, Not of My Making: Bullying, Scapegoating and Misconduct in Churches, Margaret Jones offers an insightful review of the parallel findings that come from the studies concerning bullying. The first person to resist the pressure to keep silent and steps forward to challenge a bully changes the whole dynamic of the group and takes undue power away from the bully and equalizes it a bit for the group. When one steps forward, generally step forward as well. Philip Zimbardo encourages all people to become “everyday heroes” who will cause that 10% to grow and to become the consensus. If we can conform to evil, we can surely learn to resist to support that which is good.


To those who had the courage yesterday to wear red to Bob Jones University to protest the abusive attitudes toward women and victims that the institution promotes, facilitates, and thus, teaches, today, I deem you the Tank Men (and Women) of your own Tiananmen Square. You did not brave death, but you braved fear, intimidation, and threats from authority. You've taken another great step of many recent ones to change that which is acceptable on campus at Bob Jones and admirable within the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist group.

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The sanctuary in a church that has served as an oasis of love for me in the past displays a slogan discretely above the cross that reads, “Little is much when God is in it.” The words of a popular song also echo this message when it says that “little becomes much when you place it in the Master's hands.” And as Chaucer said in Troilus and Criseyde, “an ook [oak tree] cometh of a litel spyr [a young, small sapling].”

Keep, protect, and nurture these small beginnings, taking joy in them, though they are yet small. Find the still place of peace and strength (and the work of tension) that the Holy Spirit holds for you between justice for the abused and love for BJU – between righteous anger and the most honorable of behavior (Ephesians 4:26). In your heart, see that place grow through patient eyes of expectation of the good that will come in its time. Look to the Author and the Faithful Finisher of it – of all that He is doing and all that He seeks to do in you.


Take time to learn more about the Tank Man of Tiananman Square.



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Sunday, December 11, 2011

How Do We Seek Justice when Religious Authorities Disappoint Us? Supporting the “Do Right BJU” Protest

 Are you wearing red tomorrow? Wear it and use it as a reminder to pray for us all to do right.

Raised to have great respect for authority and with a belief that God always plans good things for me, I anticipated that religious authorities in particular would always show my kindness and would offer the best help. Are they not people who have specially dedicated themselves to serve God and His people? The Apostle Paul says to esteem others in a positive way, giving them the benefit of the doubt, if you will. Especially when you are a young child and growing in faith in Jesus, it seems right to look to authorities as role models. This becomes especially important when you finally have the opportunity to carve out the specifics of how you would like to live the rest of your life as a young adult in college. Those early experiences have a profound effect on the rest of your life – how it will be lived and how you will experience it because it colors your outlook through experience. Good experiences build objectivity and confidence in God and in the community of believers around you.

What does the Bible say about example and expectation?

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Why support the Do Right Movement at Bob Jones University?




For a bit of context, please read this summary of the relationship between Tina Anderson and Pastor Chuck Phelps. During and after the trial, Chuck Phelps made himself out to be a bigger victim than Tina Anderson, then took credit for being responsible for getting her rapist convicted. A few days ago, Phelps stepped down from a position on the Cooperating Board of Bob Jones University because of a student protest online and one planned on campus on December 12, 2011. Sadly, the original problem of dismissing rape victims and covering up scandals to protect good ole boy religious network and the problematic attitudes at the root of the problem of how women are perceived within the IFB (things to be used by men) still remain. This is one woman's response to this yet unresolved problem.
 

A post by guest contributor
who has graciously allowed her work to be published here.

(Appeared on Ashley's blog called “Socially Inappropriate” as her post entitled The perspective of an abuse victim and on the Do Right BJU Facebook Page.)

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Friday, December 2, 2011

Chuck Phelps Resigns from Bob Jones University


What a busy day of blogging!  Breaking news -

Dr. Chuck Phelps resigns from BJU Cooperating Board

At a regularly scheduled meeting of the Bob Jones University Board of Trustees, Dec. 2, 2011, Board Chairman, Dr. Bob Jones III, read a letter from Dr. Chuck Phelps in which Dr. Phelps voluntarily tendered his resignation from the Cooperating Board effective immediately. In submitting his resignation, Dr. Phelps expressed that he did not want anything to distract BJU from its mission.
“We are grateful to Dr. Phelps for his many years of loyal service to his alma mater as a member of the Board of Trustees,” says Dr. Jones III.

This may be the most honorable thing that the man has done thus far.

For several days, I've been considering what example from Scripture might best apply to the relationship and circumstances between Phelps and Tina Anderson.  I can only think of two.

First, I thought of how Phelps contends that he acted in the best interest of the church and concealed information from the congregation concerning Ernest Willis because it might put the church at legal risk from several perspectives.  In the sense of things secular and from a purely legal perspective, it was probably wise to note that it was a possibility.  But how does that compare to Scripture?

I can think of only one example.

Matthew 18: 10-14 (NIV)
The Parable of the Wandering Sheep
 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 
  “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.


And is there another example that parallels Phelps relationship with Tina and his behavior with her? I can think of only one other example, that of the woman caught in adultery.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Phelps is all to ready with the stones, carrying out the law.

Sad.  If you had been raped or what if you weren't, and you went to this man for help...  Would you willingly go to him, knowing what you know about how he behaved with Tina and at least one other young woman?  (Read the open letter to Phelps from the other young woman's uncle.)

Would you want to be the lost one or one of the ninety nine under this pastor's care?  God forbid you should be found sinning or abandoned and abused.  Stones weigh more than grace does with some folks.

God have mercy on us all.







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Monday, November 28, 2011

Redeeming Dinah: The Errors of Ron Williams, the IFB, and Gothard's Esteem of Rabbinical Writing as Holy Writ



[Original post:  21Apr11;  Updated and reposted 28Nov11]

On April 8th, only twelve days ago, ABC's 20/20 aired an episode entitled, Shattered Faith, which focused on the physical and sexual abuse of young women within the Independent Fundamental Baptist affiliated churches (IFB). It also mentioned the powers attributed to the use of the rod of discipline found in Proverbs and the literal translation about the power of bruising to drive away evil. The episode pointed out that their churches held these young women responsible for their own sexual molestation that took place while they were children. Two of the three featured women were violated sexually by other men and pastors in their IFB churches in whom they confided about their abuse to seek out help.

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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Fast-Talking Phelps, Bob Jones U's Reward to Phelps for Resisting “Strange Women,” and the “Do Right BJU” Protest: What color will you wear on December 12th?


If you've forgotten the name and identity of Pastor Chuck Phelps, don't be too concerned. Bob Jones University remembers who he is.

Given some of the particular doctrines concerning women and sex held by those within the Independent Fundamental Baptist denomination (IFB) which they claim is not a denomination, I believe that the university actually rewarded Phelps after the events of 2011 concerning Tina Anderson. Phelps defended Ernie Willis who was found guilty by a jury of his peers for assaulting Tina Anderson at the age of 15. They recently appointed Chuck to the Board of Bob Jones University, despite his problematic testimony and the fact that, from the stand itself, Chuck claims to be a victim of the court and the press.

Strange Women

Many ministers within the IFB teach a doctrine concerning the “strange woman” (the expression used in the Book of Proverbs to describe prostitutes).

Click HERE to CONTINUE READING:
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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Photo of Tina Anderson and Jocelyn Zichterman from the IFB Cult Survivors Facebook Page



Tina Anderson, left, and Jocelyn Zichterman, center, talk with supporters after a Merrimack Superior Court jury found Ernest Willis guilty of forcibly raping and impregnating his children's 15-year-old baby sitter, who belonged to the same church, more than a decade ago. (AP Photo/Alexander Cohn, Pool) AP
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Friday, May 27, 2011

Ernest Willis Found Guilty of Aggravated Sexual Assault of Tina Anderson

WMUR TV News 9 in New Hampshire announced via live blogging from the courtroom today that Ernest Willis was found guilty on two counts of forcible rape and one count of felonious sexual assault of then 15 year old Tina Anderson in 1997. Willis was in his late thirties and was married with four children when the abuse occurred. 

When Anderson became pregnant by Willis as a consequence of the rapes, Pastor Chuck Phelps of Trinity Baptist Church, an Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) affiliated church in Concord, NH, arranged for her to be sent to Colorado to carry the baby to term after being forced to repent to her congregation for “putting herself in a compromising situation.” While she was kept in social isolation and homeschooled by an albeit kind family until some time after her baby was delivered and adopted, Willis continued to have unchecked access to everyone among church congregants who were kept ignorant that Willis had committed statutory rape. Read more HERE.

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Thursday, May 26, 2011

An Update on the trial of Ernest Willis (regarding the charges of sexual assault of Tina Anderson)


 At the time of this posting, Ernest Willis awaits day four of his trial for aggravated sexual assault of Tina Anderson, though he has plead guilty on one count of statutory rape which he claims was consensual. A local TV station in New Hampshire, WMUR's News 9, continues their close coverage of the events in the Merrimack County Superior Court of Concord, NH.

Judge Larry Smuckler will decide today whether the prosecution will be permitted to continue to pursue aggravated assault charges. It appears, at the time of this post, that the trial regarding aggravated assault will continue. Link HERE to follow WMUR's live blogging today.

The start of the trial was delayed today (26May11) while the judge decided whether Anderson's testimony regarding Willis' offer to take Anderson out-of-state for an abortion and to punch her to induce a miscarriage has been admitted and will be presented to the jury, overriding the previous decision to exclude this testimony.

Click HERE to CONTINUE READING:
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Monday, May 23, 2011

Emotional Abuse and Your Faith on BTR and Additional Resources Concerning Domestic Violence

This past Friday afternoon, Jocelyn and I invited Hannah Thomas, the host of Emotional Abuse and Your Faith, to blogtalkradio. Please visit the archives and listen to the show in the player below (or look for Jocelyn Andersen on iTunes podcasts)! It was my very first opportunity to talk with Hannah, and as usual, we didn't have nearly enough time to talk about all of the topics that we wanted and plowed through several. I'm also very grateful to Hannah for listening to our shows and for being so supportive of us in this effort. I love to see her pop in our show's chat room, and it always gives us an extra measure of loving moral support.

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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Support Tina Anderson


Copy and display on your own blog (at least until after Ernest Willis stands trial, beginning on Monday).

Willis plead guilty to statutory rape charges on May 17th but will still stand trial for other charges including aggravated sexual assault on Monday, May 23rd.  The plea will stand, even if there is a mistrial.

The Judge has ruled that Tina will not be permitted to state that Willis offered to pay for an abortion or to punch her in the stomach to induce a miscarriage,  nor will Tina be permitted to use the word "cult" during her testimony.   She may use the word "survivor" while testifying, however.

The Judge will rule by the end of the week on whether the 31 minute taped interview of Willis by the police will be admitted in court because of the repetition by the interrogating police officers that they believe Tina Anderson's testimony and that they disbelieve Wills.

Read more in Willis Pleads to Statutory Rape.

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Friday, April 15, 2011

Hidden Abuse in the Baptist Church: 20/20 and Hephzibah House

Taking a brief "reprieve" from the discussion of Michael Pearl...

ABC's 20/20 recently aired an episode focusing on the abuse of young women and children within the Independent Fundamental Baptist affiliated churches (IFB), but the investigators failed to make any mention of the abuses that took place at the IFB's most infamous boarding house for “troubled girls.” Susan, a survivor of the Hephzibah House of Winona Lake, IN, describes the facility as a cruel“lock-down prison for girls who failed to live up to the religious and social expectations of their parents and churches.”

Join Jocelyn Andersen and Cindy Kunsman on Blog Talk Radio for a series of discussions regarding these hidden abuses within the Baptist Church. Sadly, the same types of abuses that occur within far too many Evangelical Churches of many denominations, not just within the IFB.

Part I:
  • Saturday, April 16, 2011 @ 11 AM (Eastern) Link HERE!
  • Discussion of Shattered Faith, the episode of ABC's 20/20  (The episode that first aired on April 8, 2011)
  • An introduction to the Hephzibah House

Listen to internet radio with jocelyn andersen on Blog Talk Radio


 Helplessness, Bounded Choice and Life at Hephzibah House
  • Monday, April 18, 2011  Link HERE!
  • Archive available on demand
  • A discussion of what life was like there and the types of pressures and problems faced by the girls and by their families after they leave -- what prevents girls and families from taking steps against Hephzibah House and Ron Williams after a girl first gets discharged from the home

Listen to internet radio with jocelyn andersen on Blog Talk Radio


Part II:
  • Saturday, April 23, 2011 @ 11 AM (Eastern) Link HERE!
  • Special guest, Susan Grotte, joins Jocelyn and Cindy to share her personal account of the oppression she faced herself and the abuse she witnessed in others while “incarcerated” at Hephzibah House

Listen to internet radio with jocelyn andersen on Blog Talk Radio



Learn more about Hephzibah House by listening to THIS series of podcasts produced by Jeri Massi which includes the testimony of several survivors.

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