A concerned Anabaptist sent the following message, but used an email that cannot be replied to, and my response to him bounced. Therefore I will respond here in the public domain:
Name: JAY YODER
Email: anonman030612@gmail.com
Website:
Subject:: HAITI
Comment: Trudy
I simply want to pass on my condolences to you. Just in skimming over your blog posts, I see a cynical, embittered person who is desperately lashing out at people. I truly sympathize with you because in your frantic attempts to condemn all people that may differ in their views from your own, the true motives of your heart are revealed. You have much less interest in helping anybody than you do in simply swiping and clawing and hurting all the names involved in this situation. There are no winners in this situation, Trudy, and the biggest loser of all is the person that you are negative about the most, Jeriah Mast. Why in the all-is-forgiven worldview that you endorse is there no room for forgiveness for people whom you decide are wrong?
I challenge you to do this: For the next 24 hours, when you think about this situation, pray fervently for Jeriah Mast as if he would be your son. Instead of blindly condemning him and all of us despicable Anabaptists, pray for him as if he would be a person that looks like you do and shares your worldview. If you can do this, I believe that your heart can rest from it’s current misery. You have no idea what kind of pain this situation is causing and your blatantly condemning remarks will not in any way ease anybody’s pain. May your bitterness find rest and peace that only God can provide
***
Dear Mr. Yoder,
Thank you for your Christian concern. Most of what you have written requires no response, as it is clearly your anger lashing out. What level of knowledge you have of the present situation I do not know. I will leave that and your anger between you and God.
It may be of interest to you that I do not know the people involved in this situation. There is no reason for me to be “swiping and clawing and hurting all the names involved in this situation”. My involvement has come at the request of Anabaptists who care for the victims.
As for considering how I would feel if it was my son… I would be devastated. That, however, would not change what is the right thing to do. I urge you to consider if it was your children who were raped, how you would feel about giving such a person access again and accepting a fourth ‘repentance’ as trustworthy and the ‘all clear’. … or your grandchildren, depending on what stage of life you are in.
As for my ‘all-is-forgiven’ views. You are right, I do believe that God is generous in His grace and forgiveness. Whether Jeriah Mast is repentant and forgiven or not is entirely between him and God. Whether he is allowed to continue the crimes of the past 23 years is the responsibility of many. Some of us have taken that responsibility seriously. I offer no apology for this.
“All is forgiven” does not mean there are not consequences for crimes. It would be arrogant of Christians to believe they can murder, steal, rape children and expect no legal ramifications.
We have a crisis of offenders continuing to molest children under the guise of ‘all is forgiven’. Many Anabaptists agree with this, and openly reject teachings that cause this, as they have watched countless family members and friends molested by repentant abusers. Many Anabaptists also take a firm stand against abuse, and the silence that accompanies these situations too many times.
It is concerning when, repeatedly, as in this case, the concern is not for the countless victims, but rather protecting the offender to whom you say I have done greatest damage and made “the biggest loser of all”. That, my friend, is one of the biggest contributors to the problem we have at hand. I would suggest that the offender who violates countless children is responsible for his own loss when finally someone has the courage to confront such evil and ensure it is not just another repentance that allows the crimes to continue.
Exposing evil is not harmful. According to Ephesians 5:8-13, it is the thing that makes freedom possible. All harm is brought on the offender and his/her loved ones by his/her own doing. Responsibility for that harm does not fall on the one who points out that evil.
It is my prayer that transformation will come on many levels, and children be protected.
I wish you peace,
Trudy
***
To my Anabaptist friends, prayer warriors, and family who stand for justice,
I don’t need to tell you this if you are on that list who stand for justice, but I want you to know that I do not believe the vast majority of Anabaptists accept the ‘forgive and forego accountability’ mindset.
Thank you to those who stand for truth and justice, while still extending freely the incredible grace of God. While offering forgiveness to the repentant, you also expect accountability and compliance with the laws of the land. While honouring leaders, you do not bow to corrupt power.
Thank you for the countless messages, prayers, phone calls, and encouragement. Thank you to those who have made donations as well, so that our work can continue. Your kindness will not be forgotten.
As always…
Love,
~ T ~
***
PS. Plans are coming together for the next two trips, to take place shortly. Thank you to all who have donated.
If you are able to contribute to Generations Unleashed and our work, you may send funds (via PayPal or etransfer) to info@generationsunleashed.com. Or visit Generations Unleashed.
A Splash of Love.... 
The biggest losers are the young boys in Haiti who where taken advantaged of by a professed Missionary. Many of his confessions involved 8-10, up to 15 years boys, many orphans. Poor destitute not of age to even understand the act of crime being done to them! Excuse me, some of these young children didn’t have a name, you Jay Yoder, just made them seem so useless and unwanted and act as if their is no need to thing of them as a child of GOD and they are truly the victims!
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
I do not think that Jay was out of his place or ignoring that there is a problem and trying to swipe it under the rug by saying for the next 24 hrs whenever you think of Jeriah to fervently pray for him. I think one of the things that many many Christians, Anabaptist and nonAnabaptist have lost is the knowing the power of fervant, effectual, intercessory prayer. A time when we interceed for others without trying to push our agenda, but only God’s and seeking His will based not on our emotions, but the bringing of His kingdom to the broken places of this world.
What if people, instead of passing on tidbits and details, would fervantly pray. What if they would themselves fast and pray numerous times for the situation?
I have seen enough answers to prayer in my life when I have fasted and prayed for others, and myself, that I know the power of prayer and fasting.
Don’t take me wrong, I have had things done to me that were not right. But by the blood of Jesus, and by fastings and prayers, I have been healed.
Sometimes I wonder if we hinder the Spirit’s work in the world by stirring up people and taking sides , these against those, instead of entering into our closet, and when we have shut the door, pray to our Father who is the only one who can bring healing and true restoration.
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful response. I appreciate your heart as it comes through in your message. The spiritual dynamic is certainly one aspect of this whole scenario that must not be neglected. It cannot be effective, however, without truth as the foundation. We’re not there yet.
So it is not Jay’s call to prayer — which we are doing — that is problematic. (Albeit the sarcastic tone makes it seem less sincere but I recognize much is lost in writing). Prayer, fasting and pleading with the Almighty is not only in order; this situation demands it of us. I do not hate Jeriah. I despise what he has done under the noses of leaders who either knew, or had enough information to be alarmed and did nothing. Thank God one has apologized. That spoke volumes to the victims with whom I shared it. (Admittedly some felt truth was still not fully acknowledged, but accepted it as a sincere attempt).
What is problematic is the ignoring of victims in Haiti. (Where has been the call to prayer for them, save a few of us putting it out there?) It is the belief that prayer will bring them miraculous healing with no “hands and feet of Jesus” or the justice of Amos 5 that God calls us to… that is problematic. It is most certainly a spiritual situation, but ignoring the practical is not something God has given us permission to do.
This public exposure is about:
1. The victims and their need for acknowledgement and healing (part of which is having the atrocities known and heard)
2. CAM officials who knew, and Jeriah Mast taking full responsibility for their crimes and sins
3. Responding to God’s call to expose wickedness and darkness
4. God’s call to rise up for the oppressed
..and so much more.
The Bible is full of bad stories that we would be forbidden to speak of by our culture. Jesus was the Master of bringing division between truth and corruption. He says that is what He came to do; to divide. Without a deeper look and “laying the axe to the root”, the people of God will have a lot of blood on their hands. Victims struggle to trust God, and many, many lose their way.
For the sake of those who would lose their way with none to stand in the gap, some of us choose to stand.
Ezekiel 22: 29-31
29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.
30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Dear Trudy, I sincerely applaud and support your concern and involvement in these long-hidden issues. May God continue to give you wisdom, grace and endurance in the days to come. I am curious if anything has come your way concerning Charity African Missions? I do not want to open a can of worms unless the Lord wants it opened, but during this time when abuses seem to be coming to light, I thought I would ask. I am not aware of specific cases of abuse, but I and others would have questions about some instances of potential misconduct. I am praying for you; for God’s will to be done in all these cases. ❤ In Christian love, Lisa Keyes
On Wed, Jun 26, 2019, 1:39 PM A Splash of Love…. wrote:
> Splsh4Ripls posted: “A concerned Anabaptist sent the following message, > but used an email that cannot be replied to, and my response to him > bounced. Therefore I will respond here in the public domain: Name: JAY > YODER Email: anonman030612@gmail.com Website: Subject:: HAITI” >
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your message. If you wish to discuss this, I’d be happy to do so via email, but would rather not address it publicly. The email address to use is: trudy@generationsunleashed.com.
Be blessed,
Trudy
Hi Lisa,
To avoid jeopardizing any cases that are being investigated, I can’t speak to what information (locations/organizations) has come in. However, if you or others have concerns over “instances of potential misconduct” please forward as much info as possible to info@generationsunleashed.com.
Thank you for your support, and for your care for victims! God bless you!
Forgiveness does not negate consequences. I think all of us feel horrible about what Jeriah did. But the fact is he did it. We wish him forgiveness and the grace of God. But, he still did it. He betrayed the trust of boys, not once, but many times. He did it in Haiti even after confessing to having done it here.
There is mercy and grace at the cross. But this does not mean there are no consequences. The law exists to protect children. It is to that law that he must answer. If he is now forgiven, then he can and should face those consequences with a clean heart and renewed mind.
He does not deserve a slap on the hand if he has an “addiction” like they are trying to spin this to be. He needs removed until he has paid the price for the crimes he committed.
His victims will be paying the price of his crimes for the rest of their lives. Trust me. I know.