New Horizons in the hot seat
Pressure keeps mounting against New Horizons Youth Ministries as former staff and students continue to come forward with damning stories about their experiences in "the program." Many of these are posted at "The Truth About New Horizons" website. (www.nhym-alumni.org).
Here's the latest, from a former house father in the Dominican Republic, named Michael Jarvis:
"My wife and I were there from 11-95 until 6-96. I think it was December or January that I was in a "discipline" session with Jon Hart, Dan Kokensparger and Jon's counselor Dennis. Dan started to get more and more emotional and began to strike Jon along side the head (with open hand). This was too much for me to allow to happen so I grabbed Dan's arm to restrain him and announced to him that that was ENOUGH! He finished the session with Jon, dismissed him then inquired of me what my problem was.
At the time of the incident Phil Redwine was stateside so I layed low for over a week during which time they assured me that they were "taking care of it". I was given no indication that anything had been done so I took it upon myself to call Jons parents and notify them of what had happened....
The rest of it in a nutshell: Phil appointed a committee to invesigate the matter. They determined that Dan had probably gone a little overboard and they recommended that the discipline procedures be better defined. But there was no disciplinary action taken against Dan. They also determined that I was insubordinate for confronting my superior, and calling Jon's parents. Perhaps I was, by their definition. But if I had it to do over I would do the same thing again. So we committed to stay until they could either consolidate our boys into the other two boys houses, or find replacement houseparents. After 6 months of being put off time and time again and being blacklisted by the rest of the staff, we couldn't stand it anymore and demanded that we be released immediately. So we finally got to go home."
Submitted to the website by Michael himself.
Here's the latest, from a former house father in the Dominican Republic, named Michael Jarvis:
"My wife and I were there from 11-95 until 6-96. I think it was December or January that I was in a "discipline" session with Jon Hart, Dan Kokensparger and Jon's counselor Dennis. Dan started to get more and more emotional and began to strike Jon along side the head (with open hand). This was too much for me to allow to happen so I grabbed Dan's arm to restrain him and announced to him that that was ENOUGH! He finished the session with Jon, dismissed him then inquired of me what my problem was.
At the time of the incident Phil Redwine was stateside so I layed low for over a week during which time they assured me that they were "taking care of it". I was given no indication that anything had been done so I took it upon myself to call Jons parents and notify them of what had happened....
The rest of it in a nutshell: Phil appointed a committee to invesigate the matter. They determined that Dan had probably gone a little overboard and they recommended that the discipline procedures be better defined. But there was no disciplinary action taken against Dan. They also determined that I was insubordinate for confronting my superior, and calling Jon's parents. Perhaps I was, by their definition. But if I had it to do over I would do the same thing again. So we committed to stay until they could either consolidate our boys into the other two boys houses, or find replacement houseparents. After 6 months of being put off time and time again and being blacklisted by the rest of the staff, we couldn't stand it anymore and demanded that we be released immediately. So we finally got to go home."
Submitted to the website by Michael himself.
posted by Julia Scheeres at 2:26 PM
5 Comments:
you're awesome i wrote a little piece on jesus land on my blog.
oh raymitheminx.blogspot.com
I read your book and now I am reading it again. I just cant believe what you went through. I am so glad that people are coming out against that horrible place. And David will be in my heart forever.
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Yeah, Jeff, that was meant with all of Jesus' love in your heart, right?
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