Programs for young people

Ethnos360 has many programs directed at youth and young adults, with the presumable goal of recruitment. Some of these programs don't clearly present their connection with Ethnos360, formerly New Tribes Mission, or the seemingly obvious underlying strategy to draw young people into their organization.

There is a prevalent belief within the organization that once a person has any interest or excitement for the organization and its work, it's important to keep them in the orbit of the institution so they will not "get distracted" or "lured away by the world" and do other things with their lives. For example, in the book "The Story of New Tribes Mission," it describes the early training, which required candidates to get Bible education before joining. In 1955, New Tribes Mission decided to create its own Bible school, and one of the reasons laid out is "some [candidates], who had entered other Bible schools, had lost the keenness of their missionary vision." (page 163)

This belief is evident to this day. In a 2023 deposition, the COO describes their programs like this, "...our organization would view the Bible school as... a wide funnel through which students enter, and the narrow end of that funnel would direct the students that are -- have been determined to be equipped and desire to serve in full-time ministry to our next phase of training, which is our campus in Missouri. The alumni coach assists in getting those students from graduation at the Bible school to -- on the campus in Missouri..." This seems to portray one missionary's job as communicating with and following up with students during and after Bible school to ensure they arrive at the training center in Missouri. The idea of "distraction" or "worldly desires" again requires prevention through intervention and/or control by the organization.

I believe this background is important to understand before parents agree to allow their children to participate in Ethnos360 programs geared towards young people. Once a young, impressionable child has participated in one of these programs, there is a good chance they will be drawn into the excitement and encouraged to continue through the "funnel." Here are a few of the programs Ethnos360 runs/hosts that are primarily geared towards young people:

• Global Gatherings Waukesha

• Global Gatherings Central Florida

• Ethnos360 Bible Institute

• Ethnos360 Worship

• Wayumi

• Encounter Trip

• Interface

• Internships

• Collaborating with Christian colleges, ex. "Summer Experiences: Ethnos360" at Liberty University

It is worthwhile to understand the history and practices of this organization, as well as the intentions of these programs, before exposing your children to them. The culture of Ethnos360 and its strategy to utilize these programs to attract children to ministry with this organization, an organization with a pattern of child abuse and cover-ups that call its integrity into question, is reason enough to proceed with caution.