There's always more

After two years of steady work learning, collaborating, uncovering, and sharing the truth behind Ethnos360/New Tribes Mission's attractive marketing, I've learned a lot. One of the things I've learned is that there's always more. Whatever they're willing to admit to, there's more behind the scenes. They will only acknowledge the bare minimum, what they're forced to admit. The recent case of Josh Weeks, an Ethnos360 missionary until 2024, is no different. This situation has been discussed at length on both this website and the Whispers to Roars Substack, which recently revisited Ethnos360's handling of Josh Weeks.

This post contains new information that, as is often the case, demonstrates that Ethnos360 leadership knew more than they would acknowledge and that more harm occurred than they would admit. According to the post, Josh Weeks was sent home from Indonesia in 2019 for what was officially described as marriage issues. According to statements from Ethnos360 missionaries, Ethnos360 leadership, including the chairman overseeing the work in Indonesia, was informed of allegations that Josh Weeks sexually abused a minor while serving in Indonesia, which another adult allegedly witnessed.

Upon his return to the United States, it appears that missionary coworkers and supporters were not notified of this abuse, and he remained with the organization. In the summer of 2020, the post outlines reports that Josh admitted to a pattern of sexual misconduct, the exploitation of sex workers in Indonesia and the United States. Despite these concerning and potentially criminal behaviors, Brian Coombs brought Josh Weeks to the Ethnos360 Missionary Training Center in Missouri, where he lived and worked on a campus filled with children and unsuspecting parents. Subsequently, he was allowed to foster a child (which seemingly required approval from Ethnos360 leadership).

It is alleged that the Weeks' neighbors warned Ethnos360 leadership about possible abuse happening in the Weeks' home, and Ethnos360 leadership reportedly ignored these concerns, failing to report this suspected abuse to authorities. In 2024, Child Protective Services allegedly became involved after the child's mother reported concerns that her child had been abused. After CPS was involved, it is alleged that Josh Weeks confessed to this abuse to five members of leadership at the Ethnos360 Missionary Training Center; these leaders allegedly arranged legal counsel for Josh before any report was made to authorities. In contrast to leadership statements, it is alleged that Josh Weeks was allowed to return to his campus housing for the night.

Contrary to what Ethnos360 claims in their document on child safety (that the legal case is closed), the post claims that a representative from the Camden County Sheriff's Department said it was transferred to the FBI. Another email from the Camden County Sheriff's Department said it was pending investigation or prosecution.

As if allowing someone with a history of sexual misconduct to work and live at a campus filled with children wasn't concerning enough, as seems to always be the case, there was so much more. There was a history of child abuse, a history of sexual exploitation, warnings of concerns about possible abuse, and deception about the nature of Weeks' departure from Indonesia. One more glaring example of failure by many of the current Ethnos360 leaders, which resulted in another child being abused.