12+ Non-VBM Missionaries

Other Missionaries

• "I know the kind of leader you are talking about and drove me away..."

• "Thank you. I am sure you are about to get seriously attacked. Though we don’t know each other very well, I wanted to say thank you for what you are doing to shed light on the truth."

• "This resignation letter shows great spiritual maturity and courage. Well done."

• "I met [Austin Gardner] in Northern Ireland in December of 2010 with Travis Snode. There I saw the gossip you mentioned and some of the other “trends” as well. ... I traveled the country and saw how “green” the missionaries candidates from VBM were. How their wives have to carry babies, bags, name it, while they continue on their “fellowship!” And they all said the same first paragraph introduction, a “benediction” of AG…"

• "I wanted to write to you to express my: 1) support for your stand, 2) understanding and empathy for your current status, 3) prayers for you and your family – and every victim of Austin Gardner!" -"Thank you for carefully laying out the situation"

• "I have been serving as a missionary in ** for 12 years now and the last 5 or so with my husband. Gathering what I observed from that Vision Training and how those from your board have aggressively lived out ministry and church planting we have been concerned for these missionaries in *** and others from your board for some time now. Just wanted to say that we are grateful for your voice and believe you are doing the right thing though it is undoubtedly hard for you all. You have shown a lot of discernment and having worked under abusive pastors myself I know how hard that is to do when you are in the midst of it all."

• "I read your blog post on your website and appreciate your honest and transparent thoughts about Austin and Vision. No doubt it has and will be hard for you guys but what you have said needed to be said. What you articulated was exactly what we experienced while at Vision's Missions Conference in 2017. While we never experienced any sexual misconduct at all when around Austin or any others associated with Vision, we can speak to the odd and condescending attitude and personality of him. We left that conference in 2017 and said these exact words "they treat him (Austin) as if he were King". And as people who didn't know Austin or Vision before that and having limited knowledge of Vision even now, it is interesting to hear from you and others with deep knowledge of Austin and Vision speak about that same environment and experience that we felt. That said, we are praying for him and all those, like yourself, who have been trained and/or directed in ministry by him both past and present. We know several Vision missionaries and consider them great friends and we hope and pray this changes everyone involved for good and God's glory moving forward. God bless you guys as you seek God's next step in your life and ministry. Again I appreciate your open and transparent thoughts. I know some will question and condemn you for saying what you have said but having met you and know you I am sure you simply want to help yourself and others heal and move forward from lessons learned through all of this. God bless you guys!"

• "you have done the right thing in the face of unhealthy and unbiblical leadership patterns."

• "Just saw and am starting to read your documents. So much respect for you. It was really eye opening, man. As someone on the outside but who dipped in enough to know the relevant players and details.... wow Reading your descriptions I was like this is like the 3rd world... corruption"