It was clear the report was not going to be released in the foreseeable future. Considering the 545 people who came forward, and the significant public interest involved - we're publishing it.
I also want to say kudos to those who relived this horror story, for you and ultimately for the investigation. May they never have cause to regret doing so and may they get on with their lives, free of these shitgibbons.
And thank you, DF, for your tenacity, bravery, and professionalism - and advocacy for these guys and gals.
Watch the NZ media ignore the source - again - in favour of their click-based model of churnalism.
Thanks for this. It's been great hearing from some of those who partook in Pathfinding saying how good it is to just have it out there. It's great stuff.
As for NZ media - it was a much better round. Me publishing led others to hit "go" too - I find it a little strange that tiny Webworm felt the boldest to do that first, given the ERA decision did not really apply to them - but hey, happy to be the first.
Stuff credited Webworm in the best way - a link and mention.
NewsHub at 6pm interviewed me - also great approach imo.
RNZ did their own thing but provided a GREAT summary of the report - good stuff
I think Herald maybe threw one line in about Webworm?
And OneNews was their usual selves and pretends that Webworm never existed.
As a Christian I am grateful to see this report published. The truth does not thrive in darkness, it dies. I am grateful that the report has been brought to the light through your agency.
I am also grateful that the report does not name people. It tells stories. I acknowledges pain and it validates those who shared their pain. Those who made themselves vulnerable have been heard.
Having read the entirety of the report I believe that the effects will be felt much more widely than Arise Church. Other church communities should read this report and ask themselves how they can be better. It is my hope that there will be learning in this report for other entities.
The authors of the report are to be commended for both their gentle handling of the issues and their uncompromising critique of the church's failings.
I really do hope this acts as at least a warning to the Life's and City Impact's of NZ.
Part of me also knows that, like Arise, they don't give a shit - beyond the stress of finding it harder to recruit new tithers when this sort of news is around.
I hope so too but don’t be disillusioned if they don’t. Your actions have been a catalyst for change beyond what you will ever know. I am aware of two healthy organisations who have seen the report and immediately asked themselves what they can do better.
You asked the right questions, pathfinding gave good answers. People are listening and there will be positive change in many other spaces.
Organisations who won’t listen will eventually wither and die because of their arrogance.
Yeah I thought the recommendations were pretty good. I really hope action comes from it. Just finished reading the whole report myself. I should be asleep. Such heartache in that report.
David, you are a legend. No wonder they did not want to have the report made public. It is a catalogue of monumental abuses at so many levels. It ticked so many boxes of my own experiences growing up in the Worldwide Church of God: the pressure to conform, the pressure to give over and above what could be afforded, the lack of accountability, the privileged position of the top leadership, lack of transparancy with finances and decision making, racism and failure to aknowledge other cultures, and incompetant counselling leaving the victim feeling worse.
From a mental health perspective it raised so many red flags. The pressure to look the part on young vulnerable members was immence. I wonder how many developed eating disorders and other serious mental health issues due to this pressure. All the survivors need and deserve competent mental health support from a clinician who understands the damaging impact of coercive high demand groups.
Thanks Peter. This was a long time coming. It felt like a long time for *me* - I hate to think what it was like for the 545 who came forward, and the countless others who wanted this thing out.
Thank you. As an aside, several of the CHCH pastors sent in submissions regarding the conversion practices bill trying to get it to essentially allow conversion practices which was the opposite of the point. Glad they were unsuccessful.
I haven't even got past the title page yet - but as soon as I saw Frank Ritchie's name on the cover, I KNOW it is going to be a well researched, thought out and prayed over report.
Thank you David for being the one to stand up to the bullies and make sure this document gets into the light. I hope it inspires others to believe that their pain and suffering at the hands of other church leadership (because I know from personal experience that Arise and John and Brent Cameron are not the only perpetrators hiding behind church walls and spiritual blackmail) to at the very least feel less alone and maybe even give them the courage to put their hand up and say Arise isn't the only church with this abuse happening. And it's not just the church, Christian ministries/agencies/businesses, should all be ready to have the veil of secrecy and the power of spiritual blackmail ripped away and face up to their own sins.
Thanks too David, for making the report share-able and for doing the mahi to make this available so that the people who were brave enough to submit, haven't done so in vain. You rock!
Thanks, Ivana. It was great to see other media leak it out the next day, too.
It's everywhere - a warning for those that need to hear it, and hopefully something that can cut through to current members and leadership still under John's spell.
The only words that possibly encompass the jaw dropping fuckery of the content of the report are “deeply harrowing”. I’ve read it twice and my heart breaks for all of the victims of Arise Church. Their bravery and strength is unparalleled.
It wasn’t just abuse of power in certain areas- it was utterly all consuming. Fuck - it’s completely inhumane on every level.
HOW COULD THE LEADERS READ THIS REPORT AND THE HARM THEY HAVE CAUSED, EN MASSE, AND STILL FEEL THEY ARE CAPABLE OF LEADING?!
Even with my rudimentary experience when it comes to religion, my heart is broken for these genuine people of faith, being abused and mocked in this way.
Thank you David. I’m sharing this far and wide. This is one of the most important, balanced and heartbreaking reports i’ve read.
So true David. You said it would leak and was I hoping and waiting for the day as the power brokers had buried the report. They must be running scared as shitless now it is out.
I am so glad you have made this public - this document should be read by EVERY church and Christian organisation leader in NZ as it applies not just to Arise but far too many other institutions.
A well deserved shout out to you David. All the mahi, the emotional burden you have shouldered and the legal tight-rope walking you have had to endure is showing fruit in this document. Thank you for standing up for the hurt and those pushed aside. Lets be brutally honest you have shown more of the 'hands and feet' of Jesus in how you have handled this matter than those that call themselves pastors and spiritual advisors.
A double cheese burger and a meet up with a happy cat on your walk home is the very least you deserve today my friend.
I also want to say kudos to those who relived this horror story, for you and ultimately for the investigation. May they never have cause to regret doing so and may they get on with their lives, free of these shitgibbons.
And thank you, DF, for your tenacity, bravery, and professionalism - and advocacy for these guys and gals.
Watch the NZ media ignore the source - again - in favour of their click-based model of churnalism.
WE know and we thank you 😊
Thanks for this. It's been great hearing from some of those who partook in Pathfinding saying how good it is to just have it out there. It's great stuff.
As for NZ media - it was a much better round. Me publishing led others to hit "go" too - I find it a little strange that tiny Webworm felt the boldest to do that first, given the ERA decision did not really apply to them - but hey, happy to be the first.
Stuff credited Webworm in the best way - a link and mention.
NewsHub at 6pm interviewed me - also great approach imo.
RNZ did their own thing but provided a GREAT summary of the report - good stuff
I think Herald maybe threw one line in about Webworm?
And OneNews was their usual selves and pretends that Webworm never existed.
Oh, and Spinoff also credited clearly and wonderfully.
My sub renewed today, let’s hope you can use it on 10 cheese burger combos, rather than 10% of a lawyer’s hourly rate...
I am going to get one McDonald's cheeseburger combo. Not even kidding. It's how I celebrate.
Thank you.
You’re doing gods work David, treat yourself (add an extra pickle)
Holy Shitballs…
David, you are TRULY doing ‘the Lords work’.
You know I am a fan of all that you encompass but I must say again… absolutely love your work.
I literally read that whole article with my jaw wide open, and each new sentence it dropped even further 😂
Now to read the review!
Mad, massive respect to you my friend.
Thanks Jesse.
This needed to happen.
And I feel very proud to have hit "send".
As a Christian I am grateful to see this report published. The truth does not thrive in darkness, it dies. I am grateful that the report has been brought to the light through your agency.
I am also grateful that the report does not name people. It tells stories. I acknowledges pain and it validates those who shared their pain. Those who made themselves vulnerable have been heard.
Having read the entirety of the report I believe that the effects will be felt much more widely than Arise Church. Other church communities should read this report and ask themselves how they can be better. It is my hope that there will be learning in this report for other entities.
The authors of the report are to be commended for both their gentle handling of the issues and their uncompromising critique of the church's failings.
I should note that one name was mentioned. Yours. Congrats on the shout out!
I really do hope this acts as at least a warning to the Life's and City Impact's of NZ.
Part of me also knows that, like Arise, they don't give a shit - beyond the stress of finding it harder to recruit new tithers when this sort of news is around.
But hey - happy for them to prove me wrong.
I hope so too but don’t be disillusioned if they don’t. Your actions have been a catalyst for change beyond what you will ever know. I am aware of two healthy organisations who have seen the report and immediately asked themselves what they can do better.
You asked the right questions, pathfinding gave good answers. People are listening and there will be positive change in many other spaces.
Organisations who won’t listen will eventually wither and die because of their arrogance.
Yeah I thought the recommendations were pretty good. I really hope action comes from it. Just finished reading the whole report myself. I should be asleep. Such heartache in that report.
I like how they got more intense as the report went on. A real climax.
Can we please get a GIF of you dropping a mic? 🎤💥
Well, we already have him looking like a crazy man at Celebrity Family Feud.
Good point. Crazy eyes.
Yes!! I second this!
Woah. Kudos David, this is a baller move and surely at some risk to yourself. Wishing peace and healing for the submitters. Proud to be a subscriber.
Thanks. Literally could not do it without you: Legal advice during this saga comes at a cost, and Webworm subs makes that possible.
THANK YOU.
David, you are a legend. No wonder they did not want to have the report made public. It is a catalogue of monumental abuses at so many levels. It ticked so many boxes of my own experiences growing up in the Worldwide Church of God: the pressure to conform, the pressure to give over and above what could be afforded, the lack of accountability, the privileged position of the top leadership, lack of transparancy with finances and decision making, racism and failure to aknowledge other cultures, and incompetant counselling leaving the victim feeling worse.
From a mental health perspective it raised so many red flags. The pressure to look the part on young vulnerable members was immence. I wonder how many developed eating disorders and other serious mental health issues due to this pressure. All the survivors need and deserve competent mental health support from a clinician who understands the damaging impact of coercive high demand groups.
Fantastic - thanks to whoever leaked it for doing the right thing and David for providing that channel.
Thank you, David, for letting us support your integrity and your faithful use of our support.
Thanks Peter. This was a long time coming. It felt like a long time for *me* - I hate to think what it was like for the 545 who came forward, and the countless others who wanted this thing out.
Thank you. As an aside, several of the CHCH pastors sent in submissions regarding the conversion practices bill trying to get it to essentially allow conversion practices which was the opposite of the point. Glad they were unsuccessful.
BRILLIANT work David
I love that you got a shout out in the report
So deserved ❤
I haven't even got past the title page yet - but as soon as I saw Frank Ritchie's name on the cover, I KNOW it is going to be a well researched, thought out and prayed over report.
Thank you David for being the one to stand up to the bullies and make sure this document gets into the light. I hope it inspires others to believe that their pain and suffering at the hands of other church leadership (because I know from personal experience that Arise and John and Brent Cameron are not the only perpetrators hiding behind church walls and spiritual blackmail) to at the very least feel less alone and maybe even give them the courage to put their hand up and say Arise isn't the only church with this abuse happening. And it's not just the church, Christian ministries/agencies/businesses, should all be ready to have the veil of secrecy and the power of spiritual blackmail ripped away and face up to their own sins.
Thanks too David, for making the report share-able and for doing the mahi to make this available so that the people who were brave enough to submit, haven't done so in vain. You rock!
Thanks, Ivana. It was great to see other media leak it out the next day, too.
It's everywhere - a warning for those that need to hear it, and hopefully something that can cut through to current members and leadership still under John's spell.
Only recently been exposed to Frank Ritchie but he seems pretty onto it.
Frank is great. Sound, sane, kind.
He actually cares about people. Novel.
Amazing work! Hoping that you’re credited when this is picked up by all the other journalists 🥲
So far NewsHub and Stuff did outstanding work in this regard.
OneNews amusingly does some very funny things - but hey, at least they're reporting it. That's the main thing.
Spinoff also credited clearly and wonderfully.
The only words that possibly encompass the jaw dropping fuckery of the content of the report are “deeply harrowing”. I’ve read it twice and my heart breaks for all of the victims of Arise Church. Their bravery and strength is unparalleled.
It wasn’t just abuse of power in certain areas- it was utterly all consuming. Fuck - it’s completely inhumane on every level.
HOW COULD THE LEADERS READ THIS REPORT AND THE HARM THEY HAVE CAUSED, EN MASSE, AND STILL FEEL THEY ARE CAPABLE OF LEADING?!
Even with my rudimentary experience when it comes to religion, my heart is broken for these genuine people of faith, being abused and mocked in this way.
Thank you David. I’m sharing this far and wide. This is one of the most important, balanced and heartbreaking reports i’ve read.
I felt all of that, too. And reading their response made me even madder: https://arisechurch.com/news/statement-about-the-unofficial-release-of-the-pathfinding-report
They just - minimised and gaslight.
They are deranged. Arise is a deeply sick institution.
Been waiting for this day. I thought they’d never release it, and now I’m bloody glad you have.
It wouldn't happen otherwise. Too much bullshit. Too many men in power who don't care about anyone but themselves.
So true David. You said it would leak and was I hoping and waiting for the day as the power brokers had buried the report. They must be running scared as shitless now it is out.
I am so glad you have made this public - this document should be read by EVERY church and Christian organisation leader in NZ as it applies not just to Arise but far too many other institutions.
A well deserved shout out to you David. All the mahi, the emotional burden you have shouldered and the legal tight-rope walking you have had to endure is showing fruit in this document. Thank you for standing up for the hurt and those pushed aside. Lets be brutally honest you have shown more of the 'hands and feet' of Jesus in how you have handled this matter than those that call themselves pastors and spiritual advisors.
A double cheese burger and a meet up with a happy cat on your walk home is the very least you deserve today my friend.
I did the double cheeseburger meal and patted TWO cats.
Thank you.