Mark 3:5 “And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts…”
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE YOU ANGRY?
What makes you angry? For example, does the knowledge of a missionary doctor abusing a twelve year old missionary kid for two years stir just a little righteous anger within? Does the fact that the mission agency that this doctor worked under hid his pedophilia for years stir just a little ? Does the fact that this missionary doctor’s sending church was NEVER told the doctor had to leave the field for pedophilia stir just a little bit of anger within? Does the fact that this doctor was allowed to return to the states and pick up his medical practice as though nothing happened cause just a little anger to foam within your breast?
DO AN INTERNET SEARCH!
Well if it does then you need to do a search of the internet and read about how the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) mishandled this adulterer, pedophile missionary doctor. In the search you will discover that Dr. Donn Ketcham was a friend of both ABWE’s Far East administrator, Russ Ebersole, which included Bangladesh and the now deceased president of ABWE, Wendell Kempton. One wonders why these two men sought to protect this pedophile! For example Russ Ebersole, the Far East administrator, wrote Ketcham’s churches in a letter dated September 18, 1989 “In consideration for Mrs. Ketcham, and at your discretion, we suggest that support be continued through November to allow this couple to become settled, find employment and begin counseling. Our medical team at the Memorial Christian Hospital, as you can imagine, has suffered a great blow in the loss of Dr. Ketcham. We are working presently with a ‘skeleton crew’ and many medical services have been curtailed. We are trying our best to locate short term doctors who can fill in some of the gaps.”
MORE CONCERN FOR THE ABUSER THAN THE ABUSED!
NOTE, EBERSOLE WRITES IN CONSIDERATION OF THE PEDOPHILE’S FAMILY BUT where is the concern for a fourteen year old girl molested by this man!? Where is the concern for the family of this girl? Ebersole tells the churches that this pedophile needs to get settled back into life in the states and find employment. WAIT, this doctor has been a pedophile and this mission agency is allowing him to go back into society and practice medicine! The callousness of this man and ABWE is beyond comprehension. There is no concern for the girl, her family or those with whom this medical doctor pedophile will be now practicing medicine on!
Support is asked to continue for the pedophile’s family BUT what about the poor family whose daughter had suffered under this predator for two years!? THE SHAME OF ALL THIS IS THAT ALMOST NARY A CHURCH HAS RESPONDED TO THIS PEDOPHILE COVER-UP!
In your search you will read that the abuse of this adulterer pedophile was made known to ABWE’s president Michael Loftis in early 2002 by some former MK’s abused by Ketcham. NOW, hearing this, one would think action would have been taken immediately! Well, think again! Nothing was done until 2011! It wasn’t until May 2011 that ABWE hired G.R.A.C.E to investigate the Donn Ketcham pedophile case. However, G.R.A.C.E was only hired due to the persistence of these former MK girls! ABWE would not have done anything if these girls had not begun their blog.
MICHAEL LOFTIS RESIGNS
Then in June of that same year, 2011, Michael Loftis resigns from ABWE. Note I said “resign”. However, later ABWE says they terminated Loftis. Whether he resigned or was terminated it wasn’t any too soon for his incompetence but what about the others who were guilty in this cover-up for over twenty years? They do not resign or get terminated until later.
SELF PRESERVATION MODE AGAIN
NOW CONSIDER THIS, in early 2013, less than ONE month before G.R.A.C.E. was to turn their report over to ABWE THEIR investigation into the Donn Ketcham’s pedophilia, ABWE replaces G.R.A.C.E. with another agency. WHY DID ABWE DO THIS? DID ABWE STOP AND THINK WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE? Is it self-preservation? I personally believe it is. The missionary girls abused by this man believe so as well. “At this date, Feb. 13, 2013, ABWE refuses to guarantee us the original terms of the GRACE investigation. A devastating blow to any chance of justice for the abused MKs who–as a result–are no longer guaranteed:
Public access to the final report
Equal footing on a committee to determine final outcomes of the report
And any sense that ABWE’s claims of wanting to experience ‘truth and reconciliation’ are genuine.”
This whole sordid affair smacks of a GOOD OLE BOY’S CLUB. This time it is not just a cover-up of those involved but for ABWE’s own preservation. Oh, ABWE does CARE for children for “As part of ABWE’s on-going commitment to training all of our staff in the best practices in child safety, the mission held an intensive training for missionaries from around the world.” Just think of the money that is spent on something that SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM!!!! Mission agencies are like the government, they exist because others contribute their substance to keep them going. What is this mission agency, ABWE, all about?!
NO CREDIBILITY
From 1989 to 2012 ABWE allowed Russ Ebersole to continue as an administrator over other missionaries. These administrator postions are another whole story in themselves. Here is a man who was an accomplice in all this pedophile cover-up and it was not until “October 12, 2012 – ABWE announces that they have let Don Davis and Russ Ebersole go. Admits for the first time that Michael Loftis resignation was impacted by ABWE abuse scandal, citing “leadership failure” for the first time publicly–and incidentally directly contrary to statements regarding Loftis by Church Relations VP Tony Beckett (who had nothing but ‘love and appreciation’ for Loftis) and former Chairman of the Board Ron Berrus (who stated Loftis had ‘unquestioned moral and financial integrity, giftedness, and a great passion for the cause of Christ worldwide’) in 2011.” Before all this broke Loftis was the best thing since sliced bread but when the rock is removed and light hits the mud it is another story. What makes men do and say the things they do and this is a supposedly Christian organization!
LET US BACK UP FOR A LITTLE HISTORY
Let me back up to March 30, 2011 when ABWE stated “Concerns regarding Donn Ketcham’s repeated inappropriate behavior with the opposite sex on the field could have resulted in his termination as early as 1975, but continued indiscretions should have resulted in dismissal no later than 1985. Regrettably, we did not terminate him as a missionary but rather gave repeated opportunities for counseling and remediation which allowed him time and opportunity to sin against you. Please, please forgive us.”
1975 – 1985
STOP AND LOOK AT THOSE YEARS AGAIN, 1975 and 1985! TEN YEARS! WHY? If this man had been dealt with earlier by ABWE he would not have had opportunity to molest this twelve year old girl! Oh no, this doctor was a buddy with the other “big” shots at ABWE and one supposes he was considered untouchable due to the fact he was a medical doctor and the son of a notable figure who had once led the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. Now you think about it, for I do not believe those men in the ABWE home office were ever thinking that this sordid affair would ever come out from beneath the rock for all to see! In fact this pedophile, one year before his pedophilia crime was reported, spoke at Cedarville College’s 1988 Missions Conference “challenging students with his stories of faith and love”! Does this remind you of 1Timothy 4:2 “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron”?
HOW DID THIS MAN CONTINUE ON THE FIELD!?
ABWE did not terminate this adulterous pedophile until 1989 and then only because a 14 year old girl told her pastor what Ketcham was doing to her. Note also that ABWE uses the words “inappropriate behavior” in the statement quoted earlier rather than adultery or pedophilia! From the beginning ABWE has been elusive and in self-preservation mode.
Without going into a lot of material already covered by others and myself, it IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE this medical doctor had committed adultery even before he had reached the mission field. Also Ketcham after he was caught in pedophilia, admitted to having had three to five adulterous relationships while in Bangladesh! WHERE are the safe guards mission agenices are supposedly there for? How did this all take place on a mission compound? Were the other ABWE missionaries BLIND, DEAF AND DUMB when it came to this sin in the ABWE camp?
As one searches this sordid and foul affair you begin to wonder about things and questions come to mind such as where were the other missionaries? Where were those who should have been discerning that something was not right with this man? How did this take place on a mission compound and no one suspected anything? Will the new regulations and a new paid position protect the ABWE children? Again it sounds like the government. Something goes wrong so we will make another rule, another law, spend more money, hire more personnel and things will get better. NOT!
This medical doctor was allowed to go back and start a medical practice in Michigan without ABWE reporting his pedophila to the Michigan medical board. How could any organization let alone a supposedly Christian organization do this? Is it because ABWE is a GOOD OLE BOY’S CLUB? Not until “March 20, 2012 – ABWE announces that Ketcham pleaded no-contest to allegations of a ‘violation of general duty’ and ‘lack of good moral character’ by the State of Michigan Medical Board of Review after their investigation, which was begun in mid-2011. Ketcham surrenders his medical license once and for all.” Not until the lid is blown off the sewer does ABWE report this man to the Michigan medical board. No one can tell a discerning person that there was not and still is cover-up and self-preservation in this whole messy situation. No wonder Loftis fled when he did.
This man, Donn Ketcham, is well past retirement age so surrendering his license twenty some years later doesn’t really hurt his back pocket. He has had over twenty years to plan and prepare for retirement through a medical practice that probably earned more money in one year than he earned in ten as a missionary. If this sin and unlawful act of pedophilia had occurred in the USA he would not have been practicing medicine but would have been in jail!
PEDOPHILE VISITS ABWE MISSION FIELDS
This pedophile has even visited Bangladesh again but according to a statement by ABWE they “…refused to permit him to serve on the board of an ABWE subsidiary. If Dr. Ketcham visited ABWE ministry locations, it was at the invitation of friends and family, not in any official capacity. ABWE has never denied or withheld information about his crime when asked.”
Was that not good of ABWE to refuse Ketcham from serving on “the board of an ABWE subsidiary”. My question is why was Ketcham’s name even brought forward for nomination to any board ABWE was associated with? Is it because he was never identified as a pedophile! But even if he wasn’t he was an known adulterer and still he is brought forward to serve on a board of an ABWE subsidiary! UNBELIEVABLE! IT LOOKS as though the Good Ole Boy’s Club is alive and well even if one is an adulterer and/or pedophile. Again I say UNBELIEVABLE! This doesn’t go well for ABWE even though they seem to think they did SO MUCH!
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
As stated earlier ABWE had released G.R.A.C.E from their task and ABWE has now hired IPP, Professional Investigators International. Of course all of this was done smothered with much prayer so ABWE says.
ABWE is accustom to using typical Christian jargon like “As members of the body of Christ, we know the value of truth, honesty and transparency — and we are continually learning how to exemplify those characteristics in our actions and words (emphasis added).” Really? If this is true why did ABWE release G.R.A.C.E. only weeks from submitting their report? If these three qualities are true of ABWE they are only recently acquired. As a former missionary with ABWE I was told that I was treated worse than Donn Ketcham. Now after the revelation of this septic pedophile situation it can be seen how true that statement was. Where is the truth, honesty and transparency of which ABWE so easily speaks? Releasing G.R.A.C.E. is just another indication of what ABWE really is not and that is truthful, honest or transparent!
As a former ABWE missionary, my wife and I were interviewed via Skype by G.R.A.C.E and we found nothing untoward in that interview. They were professional, objective and sought to only know the truth and only the truth. They were honest with us and some days after the interview they sent us a transcript for our approval.
DON’T QUIT GIRLS
Hopefully the girls who began this will not stop due to ABWE’s obstinance and seemingly self-preservation methods. These girls need the backing of all Christian believers and churches that truly care for real truth, honesty and transparency!
girls were spending their summer. Her parents were back in Bangladesh, working at the remote Baptist missionary compound where the family had lived, on and off, for five years. For an adventurous and high-spirited 13-year-old like Kim, Indiana seemed dull compared to Bangladesh. She missed her friends, the dozen or so missionary kids everybody called “MKs.” She missed the menagerie her parents let her keep: goats, cows, a parrot, a monkey. She missed the jackals that called in the distance at night, and the elephants that sometimes crashed through the compound fence.’ https://newrepublic.com/article/142999/silence-lambs-protestants-concealing-catholic-size-sexual-abuse-scandal
missionary kid (MK) for several years while in Bangladesh. Not only was he found to be a paedophile while in Bangladesh but an adulterer as well.
whatyareckon 