Youth With A Mission ‘Regrets Spiritual Abuse, Manipulation’ Closes Location (Worthy News Investigation)

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by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

LONDON (Worthy News) – The England branch of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), one of the world’s largest Christian mission groups, says they “deeply regret” that several of its young missionaries “had harmful experiences of spiritual abuse and manipulation,” adding that a YWAM location where the wrongdoings occurred has been closed.

The statement by YWAM England obtained by Worthy News follows reports over the weekend by British newspapers The Observer and The Guardian detailing abuse allegations by youngsters who had worked for the organization.

Former missionaries said they were left “traumatized” after experiencing controlling behavior and religious shaming within the international Christian organization.

Both British newspapers cited an investigation into alleged safeguarding failures at YWAM and described practices spanning two decades.

The papers reported that young adults who participated in training schools and overseas missions “were pressured” to confess perceived sins in groups facing public humiliation and, in some cases, being subjected to rituals resembling exorcisms.

“The allegations span two decades and include claims that young missionaries were publicly shamed, subjected to rituals to ‘cure’ their homosexuality, and told that leaving was against God’s will,” The Guardian reported.

“Young British adults who signed up for training schools and overseas mission trips — many during their gap years — described regular confession sessions where they were pressured to admit their ‘sins’ in a group.”

‘MORAL TRANSGRESSIONS’

The newspaper cited “perceived moral transgressions,” listed as “homosexual thoughts, sexual activity, abortions and watching pornography, as well as other ‘sins’ such as disobeying a leader or having ‘rebellious thoughts.’”

In addition, “Those who confessed could be questioned and made to give public apologies, according to former missionaries,” The Guardian wrote.

“They could be prayed for or could face punishment, including being removed from volunteer roles. In some cases, interventions were more extreme. Former YWAM volunteers described the use of rituals similar to exorcisms to banish demons from people who acknowledged having sex outside marriage.”

YWAM England, a United Kingdom charity since 1972, acknowledged that mistakes were made.

It added that with eight partner charities, it is “training hundreds of young people every year to serve local communities in areas of social need while practicing and communicating their Christian faith.”

Yet, “Although most young people have had a very positive experience in YWAM, we are aware and deeply regret that some have had harmful experiences of spiritual abuse and manipulation,” YWAM England said in the statement seen by Worthy News.

“Following allegations of spiritual abuse at one of our England locations, YWAM England took action and shut down this location. Our policy is to report allegations to the LADO (local authority designated safeguarding lead), Action Fraud, and the Charity Commission, and support the reportees who have contacted us as well as providing access to professional emotional, psychological and legal support.”

SAFEGUARDING POLICIES

The organization added, “We continually comprehensively review all our safeguarding policies and governance structures to ensure we are doing everything possible to protect those involved. We have also strengthened our safeguarding policy and training in partnership with the Independent Safeguarding Service CIC and continued our membership with Thirtyone: Eight,” a group helping to protect vulnerable people.

It suggested an investigation is ongoing.

“Our focus is to provide full support to those who report while maintaining their safety and anonymity, ensuring their voices are heard and appropriate action is taken. Our aim is not only to respond well to individual reports but also to build systems that prevent future harm across all of YWAM England.”

YWAM England strongly opposes pressured group sessions of public confession. “While confession of sin may occur, the person should never be publicly shamed or pressured to confess something or to apologize.

YWAM England highly values professional therapy, counseling, and medical advice. Informed consent, trauma-awareness, and appropriate spiritual and pastoral oversight are essential.”

YWAM England said, “We are deeply grieved to hear reports that spiritual practices intended for healing were instead used in coercive or shaming ways. We condemn any practice – past or present – that traumatizes individuals or associates their identity with demonic influence.”

The group did recognize that YWAM “holds to traditional Christian views on sexual morality and marriage.”

NO SHAMING

However, “These beliefs should not, however, be used to shame others. We affirm the dignity and worth of every individual. We do not condone any practice that results in humiliation, exclusion, or internalized shame. We are grieved by reports of individuals who felt that their identity was treated as sinful or demonic, and we are reviewing how our teachings are expressed to ensure they reflect compassion, truth, and love.”

The group also said, “We are heartbroken to hear that some individuals have described damage to their mental health, identity, or self-worth. While we continue to hold traditional Christian views on sexuality and marriage, we are actively reviewing how we teach and communicate those views to ensure we do not cause shame or rejection.”

YWAM officials said they were aware and concerned that young people frequently experience anxiety, shame, and low self-esteem. “Our approach has never been to add negatively to these feelings but to create environments where these issues can be discussed in a safe place.”

In addition, “YWAM England is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of everyone in our care and to continuous improvement in safeguarding practices. We have designated safeguarding leads who ensure that safeguarding remains a top priority. In addition, each YWAM location is responsible for upholding the safeguarding standards required in its country of operation.”

It also said that with YWAM working in many countries, we “acknowledge that leadership styles vary in different cultures around the world.”

YWAM England is part of a global movement of people “from many different Christian churches and backgrounds who seek to know God and make God known. YWAM operates in approximately 180 countries and has 15-20,000 people in mission training every year, “ it added.

“This training occurs in many independent locations around the world and often involves learning in cross-cultural settings.”

SAFETY IMPORTANT

However, YWAM England “is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of everyone in our care and leads who ensure that safeguarding remains a top priority.”

The group explained that YWAM globally provides accountability to its locations through a community of local leadership structures.

“This is to ensure that leaders and ministries serve others, as exemplified in the person of Jesus Christ, and do not use their position to damage others,” they wrote.

“YWAM England is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of everyone in our care and leads who ensure that safeguarding remains a top priority.”

Founded by American missionary Loren Cunningham and his wife, Darlene Cunningham, in 1960, YWAM’s purpose is to “know God and make Him known.”

The organization pioneered self-funded short-term missions conducted by thousands of young people. While it says it maintains its original youth-oriented ethos, the group has also expanded to those of older ages.

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