Part 1: Life in the Bull Ring & The 2018 SS Backstory & Evidence

It does not escape me that when I bring things to light, regardless of how kindly I attempt to do it, some consider me to be the Devil’s little sister, at best, and his right hand (wo)man at worst… if not the devil himself. The way I am demonized behind the scenes — not only by main players — trickles back to me. I accept that as the price for truth. But my identity is not in human opinion.

That in mind, and recognizing how I stand to gain not one thing, to those of you who despise me so much, ponder this… What would compel a woman to return to the same bullpen for another round with the bull, knowing the bull is going to leave her torn to shreds? The, having considered that, do what you need to do. Say the things you need to say. Lie the things you need to lie. Cover up the things you need to cover up.

I will do what I need to do because I believe it is what my God wants me to do. I am not asking even one soul to agree with me. I am, however, asking God to show me one step at a time what to do. If I am delusional and not hearing Him, treat me like the sinner I am, and pray that God will save my soul. Because, until God makes it clear to me — not through buddies of the people I expose — that I am hearing wrong, I will do precisely what I believe He has asked of me. Precisely.

I will do it as gently as I know how, and forthrightly, because there is no other way. I will do it with a kind heart. Spoiler alert: exposing abuse and abusers, sexual or spiritual, and particularly those who are idolized, never feels kind to those wishing to hide abuse or protect abusers. It certainly does not feel kind to abusers. So, if that is you, without question you will be offended by me. I say, again, go do what you need to do. Say what you need to say. The vile things I’ve learned about myself in the past month or so accomplish two things:

  1. Remind me that I am on the right track. People are NEVER vile towards someone who isn’t disrupting something ugly in them or their systems.
  2. Made me more resilient and free to do what I need to do.

That in mind, I decided to post the 2018 fiasco, and accompanying documentation that I still had from forwarding to several godly men who offered to help bring reconciliation to my relationship with Steve. After reading it, each one bowed out. The only explanation I received, from one (representing a two people who had met with me) was that they are confident Steve will not hear them either. Another ‘friend’ offered to mediate. I took him up on it. He went out for breakfast with Steve. Steve whispered a few sweet nothings into his ears, and next he functioned more like Steve’s bouncer and/or sidekick, and next thing we know, he was invited to speak at an event mere weeks later. And I lost a ‘friend.’

While not in its entirety — because I don’t have it in me to go through the longer documentation, and some things would harm victims — here is much of what I shared with Anabaptist Sexual Abuse Awareness (ASAA). First and foremost, I aim to protect those already harmed. Victims gave me permission to share. I was able to reach all but one to request new permission.

It includes the behind the scenes delight of such an experience, complete with ASAA’s final letter, an apology from Kenny Kuhns that validated much of what I called out during the process. And my responses to ASAA, that I wrote at the time. Some I sent. Some I did not. If you are interested in getting inside my head, and why I was concerned already in 2018 — with very similar patterns as today — here is a lengthy document of screenshots, letters, confessions, and more, to dive into.

This is the bigger backstory to my ongoing concerns.

Attached is the PDF document. If you click on it, you should be able to scroll through and read it:

If, having read this, godly people — who care more for victims and the voiceless and the wellbeing of the church, than self preservation or protecting a buddy — can truly say this is godly behaviour and I should be able to overlook it here and accept it going forward, I would love to hear from you. In person. Give me solid biblical “this is the way Jesus lived and acted” evidence that I have it wrong, and I will try to learn a better way. So far, the people who have tried to sway me have not been able to do that. And, so far, they have all been buddies of those involved in this story.  

In a future blog, I plan to look at some of the deception in recent public apologies. (One example is stating — in my own words — “I was accused of rape…” and adding “it is all false.” But he failed to disclose that it was not a stand-alone allegation of rape. oThe concern was directly linked to the crime of incest, which is true, by his own admission to me and (allegedly) someone else who reached out to me. Another source shared it with me some time earlier, but did not disclose what their source was. It would be better to stay silent than to deceive the public. Given there is evidence by his own admission that the crime of incest, to which the allegation of rape was linked, is indeed true. Whether it would legally meet the threshold of rape or not, would depend whether his disclosure to the person who contacted me was false or not. In that disclosure, he is alleged to have said, of several [redacted individuals] that he banged them every chance he got, and banged anything that held still long enough. He also is alleged to have said when [redacted individuals] no longer wanted to participate, he pressured them verbally. That, by any legal definition I know, is rape. “No means no.” To coerce or force beyond a ‘no’ is… .what, exactly? When I asked him if the allegations are true, intermingled with some name calling and demonizing, he stated — in no particular order:  1.) that he took care of it long ago 2.) that I am demented 3.) that it was not rape (however, he did not respond to the allegations regarding coercion and his ‘banging” statements)  4.) and it is none of my business. In the next breath he sated that he had already disclosed this publicly. So why is it such a big deal for me, or anyone concerned about the well-being of victims, to ask him about it? 

It is right, reasonable and responsible to look at and shed light, because it is evidence of ongoing personal agenda, harm, and lack of repentance. It is not becoming of leaders who profess godliness and name the name of Jesus, to deceive the body of Christ. I, for one, will not sit by idly. My bible makes it very clear that it is not the answer. My bible calls us to action… To expose evil — and,  yes, deception, harming the vulnerable, all of that is evil. The ‘church’ or religion that is ok with looking the other way is not my church. And it is not the Body of Christ.

Jesus made it very clear where He stand in relation to Pharisaical (aka hypocritical) leadership. If repeated, unrepentant deception, including deceptive apologies to appease the public and maintain control, does not fit that category, then I’m not certain what does. I have reached out to Steve privately and given him opportunity to engage in respectful dialogue. I have been called demented,  been told my ‘mask for the serpent is slipping’ and more. Behind my back, he has called me a Jezebel and demon possessed. All for exposing hidden darkness. When I questioned him about some of the many allegations brought against him, rather than kindly state they are false (like his public confession said) he attacked and accused me. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, he made partial admissions to some of the things he stated publicly were absolutely false.  These are the matters I will address, with screenshots.  

While it can be hard to know what to do, even in the face of that uncertainty, there is either an inner repulsion or a passive disregard. It is the latter I speak against, not those who are distressed but have no where to turn.  

If you have questions, visit our CONTACT PAGE and send an email, or comment publicly at the end of this blog post. I do not promise that I will respond to all questions, depending on volume. I will not respond to hate mail. 

As always….
Love,
~ T ~

Ohio Missionary, Jeriah Mast, Indicted for Child Exploitation Crimes in Haiti

Generally, I no longer write, and definitely don’t do blogs, due to severe issues with my left hand and arm when doing so, and consequences I suffer for sitting. But today, I am resurfacing to do an update on Jeriah Mast’s crimes in Haiti.

On December 2, 2025, Jeriah Mast was charged on four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors. (Read the article here: Ohio Missionary Indicted for Child Exploitation Crimes in Haiti) The question many have is, why only four? The answer is simple. Christian Aid Ministries – and God forbid we call it what it is and say they “paid off the victims in exchange for silence” – paid victims. Whatever justification or excuse for offering those funds, it effectively silenced most victims. Let me say this, I will thank God for the four. And I will celebrate Mast’s arrest. 

In the past I have been accused of ‘finding joy when one more Mennonite man is arrested.’ If that is how you read that last sentence in the first paragraph, let me break it down in simplest of terms. 

I. Thank. God. When. Any. Predator. Is. Brought. To. Justice. 

I do not care if religious or other. I do not care if male or female. I do not care if Mennonite, Amish, Catholic, Protestant, atheist, gay, straight, political, advocate, or any other affiliation or lack thereof. 

I never celebrate that there are predators. I have never thrilled at exposing them because of their culture. But, in any culture, I will always celebrate when truth is brought to light and when children are protected. 

I thank God because one child, somewhere, or maybe a 100 or more, will not be abused by that predator. At least not while they are locked up. Because most reoffend when they are released. 

Today, years after flying to Haiti in June of 2019 – which I did because there were signs of extreme coverup by Christian Aid Ministries – today, I thank God that Jeriah Mast will face the law for what he did to at least four of the countless children he is alleged to have harmed.

I will never forget being told, in semi-whispers, about Mast’s alleged crimes in Haiti. The individual who told me about it knew I was an advocate who would not be silent, and did not tell me his name, or any information to easily find him. What they did not account for, was my uncanny ability to piece things together, and in a child sex assault case with current minors, you better believe I gave all I had, regardless of relational fallout. 

I had no name. Not a first name. Not a last name. I only had several tiny snippets of information. He had worked for Christian Aid Ministries for years. He was conservative Anabaptist. I was quite sure I knew what state he was from. And I knew some basic family ties of in-laws, though not many names. With that I sat down at the computer and began digging. There was no way that any person – especially religious – would go abroad and harm children without being brought face to face with the law, if I could help it. Not on my watch. I found his name after much sleuthing. And somehow I knew. 

I messaged the individual who spoke with me about a couple fleeing Haiti because of allegations that he had done terrible things. Do you know Jeriah Mast? I asked. And that was the beginning of the end. They were shocked that I had found him. From there, I told them I would give Christian Aid Ministries several weeks to do the right thing. If they chose not to report, or chose to cover in any way, I would personally go to Haiti and look into the allegations. (To this day, I have recorded testimony of 9 victims that I sent to an FBI liaison). It was one of the most tragic things, to see these young lives devastated by a man who professed to represent God, on the one hand, and destroyed lives in God’s name on the other hand, even praying with his victims.

Upon my return, I wrote a thorough blog, exposing what was being hidden. I reached out to countless Ohio news stations and papers. Most ignored me. I reached out to law enforcement at federal and local levels, as several others also did.

For some years it looked as though he got away with it. I knew Homeland Security was working on it, but with victims paid off, it looked impossible for truth to of his wickedness to be exposed.

So, yes, today I celebrate that the truth is brought to light. I celebrate that one child, or many, somewhere in time, will be spared because he has no access to them. I do not celebrate that such predators exist. I do not celebrate that they are among my people – the Mennonites. But, yes, I do celebrate that it is no longer hidden, and that it will hopefully spare other children from harm. 

In a quote from the article linked above, the law states what the religious community doesn’t seem to grasp, in spite of Jesus’ words in Matthew 18 about harming children. “Crimes against children, like those mentioned in these allegations, are reprehensible. Such appalling and morally corrupt behavior will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We commend the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, whose thorough work led to these federal charges being filed today.

We, the people of God, should be saying this, loud and clear. The state should not need to say it for us. We should be helping them deal with this corruption, not hiding them among us. Not being more concerned for the predators’ protection from the law, than the children’s protection from the predators.

The cry for mercy on Jeriah Mast’s behalf is strong among those who wish to see him off the hook. In my opinion, whatever mercy Jeriah Mast needs is between him and God. I will let the Highest Power in the universe work those things out with him, spiritually. 

The duty of adults in this life is to protect children and the vulnerable, not cry for mercy for someone who so vilely misrepresented God on the ‘mission’ field that those children may struggle for life to even grasp any kind of loving God.

Shame on us, if the children are forgotten and the predators’ names are whispered in our prayers, through tears.  God’s place among has long been replaced, if that is what ‘church’ and religion have become. 

Because Jesus sits with the bleeding children. He does not have a place to sit in a religious community like that. 

Remember the children. Remember Haiti. Remember Jesus.

And, dear God, bring this wickedness in Your name to an end! Expose every single one. Bring down the systems that cover, harbour and perpetuate this evil. Oftentimes because their high places have their own hidden wickedness.

As always…
Love,
~ T ~

© Splash4Ripples 2025

“Little girl, welcome!” (House of God; House of Horrors)

TRIGGER WARNING: The following poem contains graphic words and content related to sexual abuse of a little child in a religious setting.

*****

Back and forth. Up and down. Little fingers tracing the grooves between the block. Feeling the smooth and rough parts.
Blocks. Concrete blocks.Painted blocks. They made up the big building called the church.
“House of God” they called it.
“Sacred” they told me.
To the child, it was a house of horrors. More like hell.


Crouched beside the wall, running fingers along the blocks.
Unconsciously trying to feel some normalcy and safety.
Up and down. Back and forth.


Sometimes the bushes beside the block walls offered a little protection. I knew which ones offered the best cover.
Slipping between the wall and the blocks or inside the bush itself, I could listen and watch the shoes of members walking by.
Waiting till it was safe to retreat.
Plucking and pinching the red berries while I waited.
Eventually the bushes were taken away.

Exposed.
No place to hide anymore.


The building with block walls was where went to to hear about “god.”
Many songs sung about God’s love.
Lots of words concerning Heaven.
Being taught we were the only way to Jesus.


Up and down, back and forth.
Little fingers on those block walls.
Feel the bumps on the block.
Don’t feel the pain.


Inside those walls, good sounding words were spoken.
Inside those walls, hell broke open.
Jesus loves me upstairs.
The devil killing a child’s soul below.


Jesus loves me.


Grown men closing in. Trapped.
Tight grasp. Fierce struggle.
For one so small, I put up a good fight,
Finally breaking loose.
Force flung her against those blocks walls.
Cold, painted, concrete block walls with the tracing lines.
Ugly, painted walls.
Jeering and laughter.
She’s feisty. Too feisty.
Adult men closing in again.
Tight, painful grip.
A handkerchief to the nose and face.
That’ll teach you! Calm you down.
The block walls with tracing lines start spinning.
Blackness.
And pain.
Shuffling noises.
Presence behind me.

Restriction.
When will I ever be free?
Crossed legged on the floor in so much pain.
Ears ringing.
An adult male body blocks the doorway in a big X shape, making sure
We aren’t detected by the wrong person.
Behind him are seen- those block walls.

Dizzy, confused, in so much pain.
Being forced to walk back upstairs alone.


Jesus…loves me?


If no one protects me, there’s only me to do do.

“You’re to strong willed.”
“You’re rebellious.”
“You hate men.”
“You’re a feminist.”
“You’re bitter.”
“You need to forgive or you’ll go to hell.”
“You need to submit.”
“Your will needs broken.”


It all came from behind those “sacred block walls.”
They taught a child less than a whole handful of years old that
An adult male ultimately loved a child through sexual encounters.
Oral sexual encounters.
Any sexual encounters.
Rape.


Up and down. Back and forth. Trying to make sense of it all.


There was no good sense to be made. None.
There was no “God” in all that happened there either. None.
She turned and walked away from hell.
Screaming,begging if there was
A true God, could she please experience Him?


Words from inside those block walls:
No. You’re walking away from truth. You’re headed for hell fire.
No matter what happened to you, God’s will is for you to accept
It and forgive. You’re bitter. You’ve turned on God.
You’re deceived.
Have you forgiven yet?
How do you even give God another chance?
How have you not given Up on it all?
I did. I gave up on their “god.”
That god is a lie.
That god is not real.
That god is the devil himself.
I gave up on the god thrown at me behind those block

Walls. He wasn’t there in “that” at all.
She knows now that Jesus does not abuse.
Neither does He endorse abuse.
The real Jesus doesn’t force her to be mistreated.
I haven’t given up on God.
No.
I’m finally learning Who He really is.
Do they say I’m lost?
Yes.
Do I care? No.
The God I know now set me free from the
Imprisonments of those hellish block walls.
No justice on earth could ever repay what happened inside those block walls.
Some day all will be made known.
Justice is in the hands of the court of higher powers.
I walk free.
Free to find truth.
Free to pursue healing.
No more block walls.
Only freedom. And healing

~ Little Girl ~

No child should ever, ever have to experience this hell in the name of any god. And the True God will never bless the house that overlooks, enables, or protects the perpetrators. Justice is coming, via the One True Advocate.

Little Girl, you are worth so much more. You are cherished. You are precious. Your courage is the hope that every other little girl needs.

Little Girl, you are loved.

As always…
Love,
~ T~

© Trudy Metzger 2024