VBM Response
Vision Baptist Missions’ Response
Every response from VBM so far addresses only one accuser and her sexual allegations, ignoring the other serious allegations and other accusers.
That is unacceptable.
Up to this point, you may have had no reason to not believe what you have heard from VBM, but I ask you to be skeptical and challenge their answers to you on this matter.
No doubt many of you have called in with questions and no doubt have been assured that everything is being handled above board properly.
I want to highlight some inconsistencies between the public portrayal and what I see from the inside group communications and how they are in fact responding. Their actions contradict their public claim of “openness, transparency, and dedication to the truth”
Here are the public statements from VBM so far.
In contrast, these are the facts that I know from being part of the internal discussions:
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The initial internal response to the allegations by those inside the organization were almost exclusively affirmations of loyalty, declaring all allegations to be lies, slander, an attack, etc. and concluding innocence.
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A decision to investigate was delayed and resisted
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A commitment to investigate at all only came after extreme pressure from pastors externally, and me internally.
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Their actions contradict their public claim of “openness, transparency, and dedication to the truth”
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The scope of the investigation has been severely limited rather than truly ‘seeking the truth’.
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To the public they have tried to demonstrate that they are conducting an “independent, external” (unbiased) investigation, but in reality, they are investigating as little as possible. See section: Independent Investigation?
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Their response mirrors that of a Cover Up — more interested in protecting their public image rather than truth-finding
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VBM has released THREE statements, minimizing, downplaying, and misrepresenting the accusations.
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VBM has refused to independently investigate 23 of the 24 accusations, instead delegating that to an internal, unqualified, and biased group that has a history of overlooking Austin’s behavior when previous issues have been raised.
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VBM has hired an investigator accountable to them, rather than a truly unbiased and qualified investigator
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VBM is controlling the release of the results of this investigation concluding statement after investigation complete
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They have worked to scrub incriminating information:
- Deleting email rings, groups, pages on the website
- Message history in video messaging groups (Marco polo)
- Posting 30 posts in 12 days to bury the story on the VBM Facebook page (vs. 3 posts in the previous 2 months)
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Internal speech from some current vbm missionaries has been to mock and belittle the very idea of spiritual abuse (See image below)
In response to what “Spiritual Abuse” means:
Consider this quote from a book about the unethical handling of scandals:
“The “change” is a form of stagecraft used to maintain favor with an audience. To borrow a biblical phrase, the community claims, “Peace!” when there is no peace.
They desire to be seen as good without having to meet the demands of goodness.
They want to be granted trust without having to earn it.
They want to be seen as agents of healing without repairing any wounds.
They want to collect a following without stopping to serve those they’ve trampled over.”
Something’s Not Right, Wade Mullen
8/3 – Initial Email Thread
When the news was first mentioned on internal email, there was almost exclusive declarations of this being lies, slander, evil, etc. No serious calls for an investigation.
Deleted email threads, chat groups, facebook groups, removed pages from the website.
8/4 – Talking points handed out
Directors organized a Zoom call to give us our talking points. Mark denies it, but my voice on that video call was awfully lonely. I have a recording of it though.