Could they have prevented it?

In about 2014 when Ethnos360, then New Tribes Mission, let a missionary go, they implied it was for some type of inappropriate behavior that was widely believed to be an affair. Behind the scenes, Ethnos360 leadership allegedly knew this "affair" included a large age gap and a host of other imbalanced power dynamics. Additionally, leadership close to the investigation allegedly admitted the other party was either a minor or close to being a minor when the "affair" took place, but leadership allegedly claimed that, although they knew who this other person was, they were "unable" to verify their age and confirm whether they were a minor at the time.

Recently I learned of allegations other Ethnos360 staff members were told, nearly ten years before this 2014 investigation, about an instance of child abuse by this same missionary. After being let go, this missionary went on to a different nonprofit and active participation in a church.

Just recently it came to my attention that this former missionary is on the sex offender registry for an offense in 2019. Ethnos360 allowed members, and their community of churches and supporters, to believe this man had an affair while allegedly being aware of two abusive situations. Around five years later, he would be convicted of abuse of a child in a different case.

Could they have prevented it? We don't know, but it certainly doesn't seem like they tried.