Listen to MKs, part 1

Ethnos360 has been described as having a "culture of silence," making it difficult for the truth of the harm being done within the organization to be widely understood. Nonetheless, missionary kids have been telling their stories. In 2019, NBC interviewed five NTM/Ethnos360 missionary kids. These MKs lived in Senegal and the Philippines and describe the abuse they endured under the care of New Tribes Mission/Ethnos360 and the subsequent effort to silence them and cover it up, a horrific and unfortunately all-too-common pattern in Ethnos360 locations all over the world.

They recount being told not to say anything because it would jeopardize their parents' ministries or put the perpetrator in danger with local authorities. One MK describes her father being told by leadership that he should stop talking about the abuse because he would "ruin" the perpetrator's ministry. An MK explains how, as a result of this culture of silence, she didn't know she wasn't the only one who was abused until well into adulthood. This realization led to the creation of the Fanda Eagles forum, a place where many MKs were able to tell their stories of abuse and harm within Ethnos360/New Tribes Mission.

The article also outlines how Ethnos360 claims they reported these men's abuses to local law enforcement where they currently reside, but law enforcement refuted that assertion, saying they had never received such reports from Ethnos360. These women say none of the men who abused them ever faced criminal consequences and went on to live seemingly normal lives, with their communities unaware of their pasts. I can't imagine the courage required to publicly share their stories in this way. When asked if they were concerned this was still happening in Ethnos360, they all responded affirmatively and said that this concern was why coming forward with their experiences was so important. Please read the article to learn more about the gravity of what these MKs experienced and the many failures of Ethnos360 to prioritize MK safety and well-being.

Ethnos360's response to the article claimed this was only a problem of the past, and the changes they have made are so significant there's no cause for concern, but I've already outlined situations that occurred long after the release of this NBC article, including their failure to be honest about abuses within their organization, their failure to name abusers even though they claim they do, and how they have quietly let people go who have gone on to abuse children. This is why I'm so grateful to MKs who are willing to tell their stories. There are hundreds of missionary kids still under the care of Ethnos360, and until true change and transparency exist, their safety is at risk.