Manipulation and threats, tools to silence

There are several ways missionary kids and former missionaries have reported that Ethnos360/New Tribes Mission leadership and members attempt to silence survivors and those calling for accountability, including spiritual manipulation, peer pressure, and legal threats.

There are many examples of peer pressure from other missionaries and leadership, oftentimes saying ministries would be lost or people wouldn't get saved. I have heard story after story of friends, coworkers, and leadership using both methods to stop people from telling their stories or pursuing accountability. It's a strategy that's been utilized for decades to silence missionary kids and former missionaries.

They have also used the legal system as a technique, reportedly requiring NDAs to keep people silent as well as threats of legal action. Although this is something most people within the organization don't talk about, it's so seemingly prevalent within the culture of the organization that many MKs and former missionaries report hesitating to tell their own stories for fear of the organization retaliating legally.

Recently, I experienced what seemed like a mixture of both of these tactics. While engaging in an online conversation with someone defending the organization, the exchange took an ominous turn when they commented, "Just be careful." Upon inquiring what they meant by that, they said, "I am saying be careful, as I said before, lest you open yourself up to... legal action."

This is one of the many factors that deter people from speaking publicly about Ethnos360/New Tribes Mission. There is a culture of silence and a concerted effort to silence the voices of those harmed using a variety of methods -- including manipulation, peer pressure, and threats -- that have allowed the organization to continue with behavior that puts children in harm's way. I'm so grateful for many who have been willing to speak out, and I hope people will listen to MKs and former missionaries who tell their stories. As you're listening, consider why Ethnos360/New Tribes Mission works so hard to prevent these stories from being told.