Rebecca Hopkins
@reb_hopkins
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Following
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Journalist, storyteller, truth-seeker. Writing for @CTmagazine , @reachjulieroys , @thedailybeast and various other sites.
Colorado Springs
Joined October 2011
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Is Focus on the Family changing course about obligatory sex in Christian marriage, but trying to erase the researcher
@sheilagregoire
who changed the conversation? My latest reporting for The Roys Report.
This week, Focus on the Family posted an Instagram video with
@DrJuliSlattery
that seemed to reference
@SheilaGregoire
's research on harms of "obligation sex"
Yet when 100's of people noted Gregoire as source on
@FocusFamily
post, Focus deleted comments
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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." -Arthur Schopenhaur
#ihopkc
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Following my reporting of abuses at Patmos in The Roys Report, Chet Lowe: "We have a statement we say at Patmos. You come here to change, don't be surprised when we ask you to."
These are stunning clips from
@PastorChetLowe
's sermons following our exposé on Patmos, Lowe's persecution-themed bootcamps with simulated torture. 1/5
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Thanks to all who shared their stories with me for this piece. It raises so many questions on discipleship practices, missionary training practices and all around accountability for our religious leaders.
Calvary Chapel (
@CCSouthBay
) pastor Chet Lowe runs a Christian boot camp in southern California that has included ‘simulated torture’ as part of its discipleship process, according to numerous former students who spoke on the record
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Explosive reporting that shows Mike Bickle sexually abused a minor, thanks to the incredible bravery of Tammy Woods and excellent reporting by
@judylthomas
.
EXCLUSIVE: A Michigan woman has come forward with allegations that International House of Prayer founder Mike Bickle groomed and sexually abused her starting when she was 14 and before he formed the Kansas City ministry.
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For my reporting on
#IHOPKC
, I heard this haunting reality: the attempt to report abuse to leaders was worse than the abuse itself. More on this in my latest newsletter,
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"The line that Diane, his wife, is going to die and that we're going to get married--he at least said that to me 100 times." --my latest reporting for The Roys Report
EXCLUSIVE: Woman says
@ihopkc
Fndr Mike Bickle used prophecy to sexually abuse her
“He begins to tell me that the Lord has spoken to him & that Diane is going to die & that we’re going to get married...He at least said that to me 100 times" 1/2
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Pinch me. I just got "the call." I couldn't be more grateful to
#Pitchslam
and agents who are giving me a chance of a lifetime.
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A seminary with an intentionally "Tov" culture, but struggling to hold accountable its president. Thanks to those who spoke to me for this piece.
@sarahk330
EXCLUSIVE: Northern Seminary (
@nseminary
) President
@williamshiell
has taken leave of absence, following reports he bullied & retaliated against women in top leadership. 5 women spoke exclusively w/ The Roys Report & shared documents backing claims 1/2
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@reachjulieroys
I see a continued stream of courageous voices speaking up about abuse, in spite of the cost of doing so, as a positive. As you know, many of the whistleblowers are pastors and elders themselves.
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Another heartbreaking
#ihopkc
development.
A 3rd woman has come forward, accusing Intl. House of Prayer Kansas City (
@IHOPKC
) Founder
@MikeBickle
of grooming & sexually abusing her.
The woman said Bickle kissed & fondled her, beginning when she was 15 and Bickle was a 20-yr-old church intern. 1/3
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Kids whose parents are serving God overseas experience more abuse and have a harder time reporting it, say research, sources in my latest
@CTmagazine
piece.
@BozT
@at_mvp
@frenchphoenix
@TanyaTck
@MkSafetyNet
@CoutsDianne
@saritahartz
@tcktraining
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The question that prompted my research for this story came to me while I was trying to homeschool my own missionary kids while living in Borneo with curricula of stories of mainly white saviors, feeling that something was missing. The question was, why?
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My follow-up story to allegations of bullying by Northern Seminary president.
BREAKING: The president of Northern Seminary (
@NSeminary
), Bill Shiell, has resigned following allegations of bullying & retaliation against multiple women in key leadership roles
Female whistleblowers expressed disappointment that Northern has
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My latest reporting in the
#northernstudentsforjustice
latest efforts and Northern Seminary's board's response.
Northern Seminary whistleblower Jennifer Boysen—who for months called out bullying of women by the school's recently resigned president—has been fired
It reflects growing unrest at
@nseminary
, as students file complaints & plan to protest by other means
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@Canucklehead56
@reachjulieroys
@ccsouthbay
Yeah, this story raises so many questions about how difficult it is to establish healthy safeguards and practices in overseas missionary work when countered with the typical call for "radical" devotion at all costs.
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1/ "What is needed is the realization that power w/o love is reckless & abusive, & that love w/o power is sentimental & anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, & justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love." MLK.
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Thanks for your hard work on this,
@bobbyross
. It's an honor to be included along with so many journalists I deeply respect.
5. More than 60 of the nation's top religion journalists share their favorite or most important story of the year.
Among them:
@PaulGlader
,
@publicroad
,
@HamilHarris
,
@OKRelig
,
@LuisAndresHenao
,
@maritereh
,
@Belynnhollers
,
@NormalGuy8
and
@reb_hopkins
.
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A sobering story to tell. Thanks
@RevDanStringer
@frenchphoenix
@tcktraining
and so many others who shared their stories, research, and perspectives with me for this piece.
#TCK
#missionarykid
#thirdculturekid
MKs grow up traveling the world, enjoying rich cultural experiences, and often staying connected to strong communities of faith.
But many also experience losses, identity confusion, faith crises, and neglect.
From
@reb_hopkins
:
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As a follow-up to my March
@CTmagazine
piece on missionary kids, here's the full white paper research on the trauma MKs and other third culture kids (military kids, diplomat kids, etc) experience.
We are excited to announce that our White Paper about Adverse Childhood Experiences (
#ACEs
) in globally mobile
#ThirdCultureKids
(
#TCKs
) has been published! We hope this
#research
equips caregivers and informs&inspires even better TCK care.
Read it now at
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Thanks
@juliaduin
for the shout-out for my
#ihopkc
reporting on Mike Bickle. I've respected her work too ever since I interned a few desks away from her at the
@WashTimes
in 1999.
… And it would be wise of stakeholders (former or current ihopkc members, other aligned ministries, etc.) to be savvy and circumspect about media as new takes emerge
-how did story originate?
-what is its intent?
-who are primary sources in it?
2/2
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In case you're wondering what Mark Driscoll is up to these days. Thanks
@dr_jessjohnson
for your voice in this.
Disgraced
@PastorMark
Driscoll declared war on 'woke, beta-male' pastors on podcast of political activist & Christian nationalist
@CharlieKirk11
It signals new direction for Driscoll as far-right provocateur focused on violent, conspiracy-centered themes
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Are you a survivor of church abuse or abuse in missions? As both a journalist and a whistleblower, I got a chance to speak on
@saritahartz
's podcast about this topic that brought me unexpectedly out of Indonesia to covering this topic for
@reachjulieroys
and
@CTmagazine
.
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I heard some hard
#abusesurvivor
stories for
#journalism
work this week. And then I hiked up the Manitou incline in the Rockies (2,768 steps, one mile up) for an adventure with my kids. Taking a step at a time with the hopes of gaining new perspectives applies to both.
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A difficult follow-up story to write.
An embattled New England megachurch has announced it’s closing, following allegations of years-long bullying & financial misconduct by lead pastor
Now ldrs & whistleblowers are calling for an investigation & financial audit of the former Next Level Church
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See drummer Noah DeBolt tell his full story of spiritual abuse by Alan Scott here.
Drummer Noah Debolt, who served at
@dwellingplace_a
, just posted a video describing the spiritual abuse he experienced at the hands of Pastor Alan Scott & well-known worship leader
@jeremymriddle
1/2
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Heading to bed on Friday night over here in Indonesia, wishing my fellow
#TeamHufflepuff
teammates a great day.
#PitchSlam
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Congrats to
@MekdesHaddis
on her new book. I loved getting to interview her for
@CTmagazine
last year and I can't wait to hear more of her thoughts on just mission work.
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I am packing for a snorkeling trip this weekend and
#amquerying
my heart out after a great
#pitchslam
competition.
#teamhufflepuff
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2/ Thx to
@FleagleJill
for reminding me of this quote during her interview with me for my story
@reachjulieroys
about
@nseminary
today.
#northernstudentsforjustice
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Are you considering going to your organization's board to report abuse? If so, first read my 13 Tips When Requesting a Third-Party Investigation
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If you haven't heard Naghmeh's story or witnessed her courage, you're missing out. Thankfully, you can hear it here.
.
@NaghmehSPanahi
survived persecution from extremists in Iran, only to face persecution *from Christians* after divulging her husband’s abuse.
A true prophetic witness, the woman behind
#SaveSaeed
campaign speaks out about brokenness, betrayal & wholeness
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Wow..
.
@RuthMalhotra
, former PR manager for Ravi Zacharias Intl Ministries, at first disbelieved the story of
@LoriAnneThomps2
Then Ruth discovered the truth & became a whistleblower within
@RZIMhq
. Watch this story of forgiveness, courage and beauty from ashes
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Thanks, The ReidOut, for having me on to talk about my reporting with
@thedailybeast
on the Colorado Springs mass shooting.
.
@reb_hopkins
on suspect in
#ColoradoSprings
Club Q shooting: "From the very start talking with a couple of the neighbors there was red flag, after red flag, after red flag."
#TheReidOut
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What would you do if your pastor asked you to strip in a church staff meeting? My latest piece for The Roys Report...
EXCLUSIVE:
@joshgagnon
, pastor of
@NextLevelChurch
, has a years-long pattern of hazing, bullying, financial misconduct & spiritually abusive behavior
That's accdg to 25 frmr pastors/staff/members of his
@ARCchurches
megachurch, based in New England. 1/4
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@laurchastain22
Thank you, Lauren. I so appreciate that. And thanks to you and your daughter for sharing your story with us. I know it's not an easy road to take.
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@mechellesmith87
@lorilharding
🫣😡😭How I feel when the concept of "calling" is used as the tool to convince someone to stay in an unhealthy environment.
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After a crazy week, I'm settling into my Saturday morning and
#amwriting
from my back porch on a breezy Borneo morning.Anyone else with me?
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I'm over here in Indonesia, building my writing community. Any
#pitchslam
people want in? Mine was The Orchid Girl's Chase
#teamhufflepuff
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@amyfritz
Well said. I think every kind of work, including the most well-intentioned ones, should have a set of ethics and a speak-up culture to guard against this very concern.
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Salvation quotas, loyalty tests, and deciding who is in and who is out based on body type...my latest investigative piece for The Roys Report.
EXCLUSIVE: Frmr pastors and staff of 3 Vineyard churches where Alan Scott has pastored accuse Scott of abuse, lies & manipulation. Staff spoke of conversion quotas, loyalty tests, and Scott's untouchable leadership b/c his decisions were from God. 1/2
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Which movie stayed with me from last week's Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival
@RMWFilm
? And Still I Sing. Incredible footage obtained from Afghanistan before, during and after the return of the Taliban. So many compelling examples of courage, art, voice and hope.
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My reporting trying to track down information on suspect Anderson Lee Aldrich from the weekend's mass shooting in my own backyard of Colorado Springs. Thx to my sources who stood in the places Aldrich used to live and answered my questions. But will we ever truly understand why?
A former neighbor and friend of Anderson Lee Aldrich told The Daily Beast that the 22-year-old suspect in the mass shooting at the LGBTQ club Club Q that killed five people and injured 18 more on Saturday frequently used the word “f*ggot.”
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Just submitted my
#pitchslam
entry from over here in Indonesia. Thankful for contests like these, and all the work that goes into them.
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that empower staff to use all reporting mechanisms they can find to report abuse? Whistleblowers, what else do churches need to do to regain your trust? 3/
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What struck me in doing this piece is how difficult reporting alleged abuse in biblical counseling in a nondenom church can be. Another thing? The N.J. police department required two different reporting steps for victims for the incident to be considered for investigation.
Markus Ehrich—pastor of Word Life Center in Stratford, NJ—is facing multiple allegations of sexual harassment by former members who say he abused & exploited them during counseling
5 women have come forward with stories of alleged abuse, spanning a decade
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3/3 disloyal, avengers, utterly insubordinate, full of sin, don’t love God and this one… immature millennials (in that story most were Gen X and Boomers). If only more people were "divisive," our churches would be safer.
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@bobbyross
@ReligionMag
@ReligionReport
It was an honor to interview some brave whistleblowers for this story.
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@Kymburleev
and
@jlizhill
you are amazing! Thanks for your hard work and for believing in us!
#teamhufflepuff
#PitchSlam
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2/3 The Roys Report have been called. And before you read the list, know that all of them were pastors or very involved long-term members of the churches they exposed. They saw something and they said something. And they were called:
Divisive, dangerous, enemies of Christ,
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Are you thinking of blowing the whistle to a journalist? 6 tips before going public.
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Gotta love this media policy from
@nextlevelchurch
's staff handbook that I found when reporting about the abuses there for
@reachjulieroys
: "Most responsible print and broadcast media seek out official spokespeople, there are instances when overzealous investigative reporters 1/
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1/ "Nobody wants to build an abusive culture. But it's easy for an institution to say, 'we're going to protect all these other things.'"
@bobsmietana
in an interview with
@amyfritz
. Here are some things I've encountered that churches and ministries protect when someone is trying
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1/3 Over here watching
@reachjulieroys
get name-called by some for her brave reporting on
@GraceComChurch
and
@johnmacarthur
. Such a typical response by unhealthy systems when abuse is exposed. Here’s a list of the things the whistleblowers in the stories I investigated for
.
@phil_johnson_
has unofficially responded to my article. Phil minimizes offense (20 yrs old); evades responsibility ("doesn't pertain to me in any way"); attacks accuser ("career muckraker"); & attacks many of you ("screeching tweets from the 'Survivor' community"). 1/3
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@gracepeacelove7
@TanyaTck
@tcktraining
@bbhliterary
@frenchphoenix
@sarahmccammon
@kkdumez
Such an important topic.
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Congrats to my very talented
#teamhufflepuff
teammates and a huge thanks to the
#pitchslam
organizers and professors!
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seek out unsuspecting employees, lull them into a false sense of security and distort their quotes to support a predetermined conclusion."
My question to Churches and Ministries: Do you have a Theology of Voice? What kind of policies do you include in your handbooks 2/
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It's Tues morning here in Indonesia, first mosque call to prayer just finished, excited waiting for
#pitchslam
results.
#teamhufflepuff
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1/ Thx for this piece, CT on the
@SOFMovieUSA
phenomenon. I love a good rescue story and I believe in nonprofit work that supports trafficking victims. But I served in humanitarian circles for 15 years and have come to appreciate organizations that go beyond good intentions and
Anti-trafficking ministries in the US offer hot meals, train employers, and make safe houses available for long-term rehab and recovery.
“We’re not taking doors down. We’re not taking people over our shoulder.”
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And this makes me wonder...what about the missionaries who are working overseas with even fewer safeguards against abuse than church-goers in the States have? Those missionaries deserve a healthy organization.
This is what happens when we treat a good cause as our ruling force instead of Christ. “Any cause that leads us to sin—to sanction or hide sin—is an ungodly force in our lives.”
@DianeLangberg
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@JMacArthurC
@nseminary
@k33smith
@sarahk330
These stories are difficult for all to tell, but I'm grateful to get a close up view of courage everyday.
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My third story on misconduct and toxicity at Applegate Christian Fellowship in Oregon. Thanks to all who keep speaking up.
After 16 years as a worship leader at megachurch Applegate Christian Fellowship, Demian Norvell got saved—then he got fired
He is one of several former Applegate staff members who reveal patterns of spiritual abuse and manipulation by pastor Jon Courson
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@gracepeacelove7
I can't wait to see your work. We should definitely stay in touch. I've got some major concerns about missions, in general, too.
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Everyone I meet here, when I ask where they're from, tell me the name of a river. I want a river, too.
#borneolife
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Great reporting, Dawn. I was privileged to get to know Letta's story for some reporting I did earlier this month for
@CTmagazine
. I really like how
@ChristianCent
covered this too. These aren't easy stories to tell, write or read. But they are important and worth many tellings.
Not spending a whole lot of time on this site these days, but I did want to share my latest piece for
@ChristianCent
. Many late nights, one very early morning, and a lot of vulnerability went into this.
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If you've worked for a Christian ministry and tried to report abuse or an ethics complaint, you may have found yourself in a"conflict resolution" with a boss or your abuser. You may have even been deemed "the problem." You're not alone. Thanks for this,
@danielsilliman
.
I've been digging deep into a story about a prominent Christian conciliator who worked behind the scenes at dozens of churches and ministries dealing with abuse—and used her authority to protect those in power.
My report is now up at
@CTmagazine
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Eating oatmeal and mango in Borneo on a steamy Sunday morning, hoping electricity doesn't go out so I can watch tweets.
#rmfw2015
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Some of you have asked me more about the research I mentioned in my recent CT piece on MKs. Here's a free workshop on the results from TCK Training.
#missionarykids
#TCK
@hrasmus1
@reb_hopkins
@RevDanStringer
@frenchphoenix
Lauren Wells and Tanya Crossman will be sharing results from the survey of ACE scores and developmental trauma in TCKs during a free workshop on April 19th!
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That moment when an idea comes to you in the middle of the ocean for the first scene of a new book, turning
#amsnorkeling
into
#amwriting
.
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Chances are, you've sponsored a child at some point. But it may be time to rethink the model. Thanks for a great interview,
@phildarke
@BrandonStiver_
@ThinkOrphan
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Let me introduce myself... (and tell you why I started a newsletter on whistleblowing)
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Whistleblowers can save lives. Except they usually get fired instead. When will we learn?
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For whistleblowers and advocates, get practical advice on speaking out about abuse by subscribing to my new substack newsletter, "The Whistleblower's Guide."
#ihopkctoo
#churchtoo
#metoo
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Such an important story.
Breathtaking emails from
@Franklin_Graham
to
@NaghmehSPanahi
urging her to submit to in-person counseling with her abusive husband at a secluded retreat with no/limited cell phone service. You'll see those emails in this video. 1/3
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My latest reporting for The Roys Report...and furthering an important conversation in churches right now. Should registered sex offenders be allowed to go to church or lead in church? And should church members be informed of their status?
Michael Colwell, convicted of possessing child porn, is now preaching & leading a ministry at an Iowa
@CMAlliance
church—with the pastor’s full knowledge
The church has kept some people in the dark about the registered sex offender, says a longtime member
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You may remember Emily Anderson's story from the
@PrimeVideo
hit docuseries
#happyshinypeople
, and how a man witnessed Bill Gothard's late night grooming of her. She didn't name that man then, but she did this week. My latest reporting for The Roys Report.
BREAKING: Alleged victim of
@BillGothard
, Emily Anderson, has named the man who witnessed Gothard groom her—David Waller (
@DavidNCil
) pastor of
@FairparkBaptist
, an indep Baptist church in Fort Worth, Texas. 1/3
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2/ powerful stories to a helping-without-hurting ethic and a speak-up culture for both its employees and vulnerable users.
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@jodicarlee
@RevDanStringer
@frenchphoenix
@tcktraining
The boarding school stories can be so hard. I'm so sorry to hear this. Thanks for sharing your story.
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If abuse of power is the biggest threat to our institutions, then cultivating Voice is the most effective antidote.
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(1of 2) These adult
#missionarykids
#ThirdCultureKids
have hit a roadblock in trying to gain accountability for alleged abuse that happened overseas.
@MkSafetyNet
@CTmagazine
@SNAPNetwork
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Find out why I think the whistleblower journey is a tale of two stories in my newsletter, and a little more of how my sudden exit from Indonesia four years ago led me to investigative journalism.
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11 Signs Your Organization Likely Silences Whistleblowers
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My heart is heavy for this country that has captivated me with its people, stories and kindness.
#PrayForJakarta
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Who knew a church under investigation could actually stop that investigation just as it was nearly done?
Prominent Korean-American congregation Covenant Fellowship Church in central Illinois has terminated an independent investigation into alleged “spiritual & emotional abuse," according to Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (
@netgrace_org
)
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