1976 Black Oldsmobile

In high school, I got to drive our family car, an awesome ’76 black Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. I remember washing and waxing it repeatedly, and recalling the Karate Kid classic line as I did, “wax on, wax off”. The fastest I ever went in it was 117. The picture to the right is me in 1987 in front of the actual car.

1990 Black GMC Sonoma

In 1990, after going to college, I became convinced that I should sacrifice everything for UBF mission. So after my father’s death in 1989, I sold the black Oldsmobile, used my inheritance money, and bought a brand new 1990 GMC Sonoma truck because a truck was far better suited to help carry massive amounts of materials needed to build a new UBF center. The picture to the right is not my truck, but it is the exact style/color of my truck.

I used that truck almost every day for over two years to carry 2×4’s, nails, insulation, shingles and all types of wood– all sacrificing my time, my gas and my truck to build “God’s house”. My truck was damaged in the process, but I didn’t care because I was “sacrificing for God.”

But then I decided to go to Russia as a short-term UBF missionary, and to take a Russian language class.  Suddenly my sacrifice of my new truck was not enough.

Driving a brand new truck, even a truck damaged by carrying materials for the UBF center, was unacceptable to UBF people because I was about to go to Russia as a short-term UBF missionary. After several meetings and several rebukes, I decided to sell this truck so I would not look like a hypocrite when going to Russia as a short-term missionary.

While this did give me money to go to Russia as a UBF short-term missionary, it also kicked off 20 years of car problems. I let myself become convinced that driving old, junk cars was a sign of holiness. No one could drive a new car and be a Christian, I used to think.

Everywhere I visited in UBF, I was identified by this one act: the boy who sold his new truck. The story became UBF folklore. I am ashamed that my story was used countless times to convict guilt upon other young people to sacrifice good things for UBF mission. I heard the story in all 6 countries where I visited UBF chapters, including Russia, Europe and Korea. They all knew about this story before I even told it in my testimony.

2012 Black Chevy Impala

For the past 20 years, I never bought a new car. I kept buying old cars thinking it was the “holy thing to do”.

In 2012 I decided this was foolish. I think it is better to buy a new car and maintain it so that I can reliably serve my family and friends. So we bought a new black Chevy. The picture to the right is the actual car. And I have no regrets about purchasing it.

The Public Image Problem

In the eyes of the public, UBF is a very small, fringe Korean-based religious group labelled as a cult by at least eight organizations around the world.

Hundreds of testimonies of former UBF members are posted all over the internet. My blog is highlighting events and ideas that reveal problem after problem. The ubfriends blog is raising question after question, providing a safe place UBF people from around the world to begin discussing issues and Christian doctrine openly. At best, UBF is labeled as a “mixed bag” or “highly-authoritarian” repeatedly in books and in online material.

Because of the UBF 50th Anniversary celebrations and the desire to pass on UBF heritage to their children, UBF has started to publish some of their own internal teaching material, which has allowed UBF members to see what UBF leaders really believe and teach.

UBF’s Public Image Strategy

1. Dismiss the cult label by mitigating the value of cult-watching groups
Many UBF leaders actually see the cult label as a “badge of honor”. They like to say “See, we must be doing something right if we are persecuted so much!”

2. Wait for the old reformers to die off
For example, I am one of the few people alive who can recall the events of 1990.

3. Downplay, cover-up and deny anything seen as a problem
UBF leaders will almost never initiate a discussion about their own problems. They will simply react to whatever you bring up or point out your problems, focusing you on your own failings.

4. Appease current members with internal changes
UBF leaders are making many changes these days internally, as they always did after each of the three other reform movements. This fourth movement may be gaining more traction than ever before.

5. Impress a few Korean Christian agencies, especially with numbers
UBF leaders like to point out numbers. They like to say, “See, look how many missionaries we have sent! We have accomplished so much in only 50 years!”

6. Protect and promote leaders who fail
The doctrines of “covering theology” coupled with “covenant theology” provide a robust authority system in UBF that allows fallen leaders to gain more power, honor, authority and influence.

7. Accuse critics of UBF as being self-righteous sinners
“Take the plank out of your own eye!” is one of the typical Bible verses thrown at UBF critics. UBF leaders like to say “We are all sinners. We all sin.”

8. Hide behind American “stamps of approval”
For example, in the USA, around 2007, UBF did just enough to win the approval of the ECFA, avoid a large IRS fine and be re-admitted to the NAE.

Sweeping Problems Under the Rug

This week I will be blogging about a major incident that took place a while ago in UBF. The incident involved lawyers, television, newspapers and much drama. But I knew nothing of the event at the time, even though I was a leader in UBF.  When former UBF members tried to tell me about this event (and many more) I dismissed it at the time.

I will no longer dismiss such events. Since I publicly dismissed this event, as my public repentance, I will be sharing what I now know publicly.

This event has already been public knowledge, but since I didn’t know about it fully until after leaving UBF, my readers may not have seen the material.

The movement was fraught with problems. Some of those problems, displayed in several pseudo-Christian organizations that grew out of the movement, have been discussed openly for many years. Most notable in this discussion is Ron Enroth’s book, Churches That Abuse.

The face of the failed Shepherding Movement was Bob Mumford, who became a sort of poster-boy of the movement. In 1989, Mr. Mumford offered a public apology to those hurt by the movement’s teachings and practices.

In his formal statement of repentance Mumford said:

Accountability, personal training under the guidance of another, and effective pastoral care are needed biblical concepts. True spiritual maturity will require that they be preserved. These biblical realities must also carry the limits indicated by the New Testament. However, to my personal pain and chagrin, these particular emphases very easily lent themselves to an unhealthy submission resulting in perverse and unbiblical obedience to human leaders. Many of these abuses occurred within the sphere of my own responsibility.

The movement began to disintegrate in 1986 when its magazine, New Wine, folded due to steady loss of revenue. In the latter years of the 1980s Baxter, Basham, and Mumford officially “released” their disciples from their previous pyramidal authority structure-Prince had already severed his formal ties with the others in 1983.

Yet even with Mumford’s public statement of apology-and in spite of Buckingham’s obituary of the “discipleship era”-the abuse of discipleship and spiritual authority continues unabated by other men (and women) in other churches and movements. (source)

University Bible Fellowship is one of those organizations who continue the abuse of discipleship and spiritual authority through aberrant teachings.

Here are some excerpts from another blog that describe two main reasons why the original Shepherding Movement failed in the United States. The descriptions below also describe why UBF continues to be labeled as a cult by eight organizations. As of 2012, UBF has not addressed these issues adequately and continues to teach covering theology.

“Most of the Christian church doesn’t believe in covering theology. It appeared on the scene in North America about 40 years ago through something called the shepherding movement.  That movement was completely discredited and some of the leaders have publicly repented of their involvement.”

Reason 1 – They replaced Jesus as master.

“In this context, a group of older, more experienced charismatic ministers came together to bring a corrective. The occasion of their meeting was a moral failure of a ministry in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Believing themselves to be equally vulnerable to moral failure apart from better accountability they mutually submitted themselves to one another. When this happened, they described themselves as having a supernatural experience binding their ministries together for life. Initially the group was made of Derek Prince, Don Basham, Bob Mumford, and Charles Simpson. Eventually, former Branham campaign manager Ern Baxter was added to the group, and they became known as “The Fort Lauderdale Five.”

“The five very talented men immediately began to teach on authority, submission and discipleship. Although there were a number of important doctrines, the central doctrine—the one that reshaped the church—was that every person must be submitted to another person (Shepherd/Pastor/Discipler), and that all of your major life decisions should be submitted to this person. Effectively, if unintentionally, this put the individual in the position of having two masters– Jesus and a personal shepherd. With time the personal shepherd gains more power, as Jesus gets less. And in time, this creates a system where those who have unquestioning obedience to man are promoted. All kinds of ungodly things came in through these doors. Several books have been written detailing the kinds of abuse suffered as a result. The scary thing about the whole system is that it started out with the intent of promoting accountability, and eventually enslaved people.”

Reason 2 – They made their shepherd/sheep relationships permanent

“The second dangerous doctrine had to do with “Covenant” relationships or “Spiritual Family.” If being absolutely submitted to another person was an imprisonment, then the covenant relationship was the iron padlock on the door. The idea here is that when you enter into these discipleship relationships, they are permanent, and more broadly that your association with a specific group of believers is permanent. You were in a “Covenant” and if you left the relationship or the fellowship group, you were breaking a covenant. This quickly becomes a very dangerous situation: no matter how terrible your experience becomes with a group or person, you can not leave, and if you do, you believe that you’ve broken a covenant with God, so to get right with God you’d have to go back to the abuse! You slowly become enmeshed with the other members of the group and separated from the outside world. Your “spiritual family” becomes more important than your natural family or other believers you’ve had relationship with. You slowly become more and more isolated and more and more dependent upon the group or leader. At a certain point if your leaders do not check the pattern, it becomes a full fledged cult. Normally, however this pattern is held in tension with Biblical expectations so these groups rarely become true cults, while still exhibiting cult-like features. Scary.”

Result – The fruit of absolute obedience to human authority

“After a couple of years, the fruit of these doctrines became obvious to those outside of the movement such as Jack Hayford, Pat Robertson, Demos Sharkarian and others, and they confronted the “Five” in the infamous “Shootout at the Curtis Hotel,” in 1975. The result was that the Five issued an “apology” which did not really represent repentance on their part. They rejected the excesses of some who had followed their teachings to their logical conclusions, without accepting that the doctrines they were teaching had been the direct cause.  Their persistence created a split in the charismatic movement between those who accepted the authority teaching, and those who did not.”

“This split is still evident today but under different names. No one dares be associated with the “Shepherding Movement” by name because it was so discredited.  But many still believe in the basic principles to some degree or another, and find support in classic authors such as Watchman Nee. The “Prophetic” stream of the church became the branch of the church that did not accept authority teachings, and the “Apostolic” branch became that which did. The tragedy is that the basic observations of the Five were correct (i.e. need for discipleship, accountability) but their solution of hierarchical personal submission was not. Therefore the “prophetic” stream still tends to reflect the lack of authority that the rebellious hippies brought into the church through the Jesus Movement. Chaos in the meeting is welcomed and even praised as spiritual, and generally everyone does their own thing, hears from God totally in isolation, etc. On the other hand, those with the Shepherding heritage value “order” over all else. While they speak in tongues and claim to be charismatic, often in practice, the gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy are not welcomed, because order is valued over the moving of the Spirit.  Or prophecy can only come through an established authority in the church hierarchy.”

Jesus is Lord

“In summary, the Shepherds were right right to raise the issue of authority, but they were wrong about submission to other men. Christ is Lord of all, and each should be in submission to Him by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  Because we need order and peace, we should submit to those who lead ministries over us just like we would to our bosses at work.  But this is far different from owing them allegiance in our personal or spiritual lives. And when we come to the place where following them violates our conscience, it’s time to move on.”

(source)

Set Me Free

Sing Your Freedom

Do I Stand Alone?

Some who are steeped in the UBF heritage are not able to even have an honest discussion. They just remain silent, proudly holding onto a false sense of self-righteousness, even after four reform movements spanning 50 years and even after a mass exodus of members.

The quotes are from Frederick Douglass, an American abolitionist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer; and a man who was born as a slave.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.

This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle.

Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what a people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both.

The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. Men may not get all they pay for in this world; but they must pay for all they get. If we ever get free from all the oppressions and wrongs heaped upon us, we must pay for their removal. We must do this by labor, by suffering, by sacrifice, and, if needs be, by our lives, and the lives of others.”

(source: West India Emancipation on 8/4/1857)

“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence.”

July 2012 says 2,141 members?

Just yesterday I blogged about a claim in the “July 2012 UBF Newsletter” that North America UBF had 2,141 Sunday attendants in 2011, up 60 people from 2010, as reported on page 22.

March 2011 says 2,116 members?

But what does page 23 of the “March 2011 UBF Newsletter” say?

http://ubf.org/ubfnewsletters/201103/index.html#/22/

This reports says there were 2,116 Sunday attendants in 2010. The claim is a 38% jump from 1550 members in 2005. My calculator shows that to be a 36.5% jump. Where did the 38% come from?

 
Increase of 25 not 60?

Based on the reports above, from 2010 to 2011, UBF North American Sunday attendance rose only 25 people, not 60. This really doesn’t matter since the growth is really negligible. But my point is this: why the discrepancy? Why can’t UBF “servants of God” just be honest, telling the “truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”?

A decreasing trend, actually

If we take these numbers at face value, from 2005 to 2010, UBF North America grew about 113 people each year on average. The latest “increase” is only 25 (or 60). Whether you use 25 or 60, both numbers are a far cry from 113. The average growth of UBF membership is slowing rather significantly. This slowing growth trend (which may in fact be a decline) is further evidenced by the drop in offering by nearly half a million (a drop of $465,434 in revenue) from 2008 to 2010 (as reported on the ECFA website).

And none of these numbers accounts for the dozens of leaders who left and hundreds of Bible students who never make it into the counts. The number of people leaving UBF is rather large, but those numbers are supplemented with visiting Korean 2nd gens and new missionaries from Korea coming to the USA or to Canada.

Do we really know?

The fact is, we really don’t know what number is accurate. It is tough to tell. At least we have published figures to work with. In generations past, very few knew any of these numbers. I remember being told once that UBF had 20,000 members worldwide…How many of these were stuffed animals? How many were visiting Korean 2nd gens (like as in the Toledo UBF numbers)?

As always, the only thing that matters is the perception that UBF is growing, which is “evidence” that God is “blessing” KOPHN.

The Unity Committee

UBF used to have a “Public Relations Committee”. I have their reports. But now the same guy who led the PR Committee is heading a new committee…wait for it… the Unity Committee! And how is he leading this committee? Isaiah 45:21 is his direction. Just “declare what is to be”. Just coerce people into unity. Be united! Just command it, and it will be so…that’s what the 2012 UBF Newsletter says, in essence, on page 35 (see screenshot above). The goal of this Unity Committee is the same as the old Public Relations committee, which was also led by Jacob Lee. The goal is to create a good public face for UBF.

God quieted all critical people

Unity, in UBF terms can be described as “shouting slogans all together”. Ready… “Praise God for declaring what is to be in 2011. God quieted all critical people to UBF so that UBF may be used as God’s instrument for the world mission.” (2012 UBF Newsletter, page 35).

Apparently, God cannot work if there are critical people. Apparently God won’t bless people who think for themselves or ask questions or try to reform or improve things. Apparently God’s arm really is too short…

I will not be silent!

So according to the Director of Unity in UBF, God quieted all critical people in 2011? Really… so I guess Jacob Lee didn’t read my emails. I guess he didn’t read all the ubfriends articles or my priestlynation articles, and the world-wide discussions that ensued in the USA, Russia and China? I guess he didn’t read the recent Wikipedia entry or the Freedom of Mind entry? I guess the inclusion of UBF on 8 cult-watching groups world-wide doesn’t count as criticism?

Criticism of UBF in 2010, 2011 and 2012

In case you missed it…

Undocumented beliefs in UBF

UBF Spiritual Heritage

UBF Business Mission

UBF Official Teaching Material

Mission/Legalism/Tradition Hinders Spiritual Growth

Racism in the Church

Rethinking Genesis: Man Equals Mission

Shepherds or Sheep: Who Sacrifices More?

Sexual Sin and Church Leadership

Spiritual Abuse: Shape Up or Ship Out

An Explanation of the Excessive Control in UBF

The Myth of Multiplication, Part 1   Part 2   Part 3

An Honorable Mention

On page 22 of the UBF Newsletter, the closing of chapters is mentioned. Detroit UBF is listed as closed because of my resignation. However, why mention me? What about the other house churches who closed? What about mentioning the mass exodus of leaders from around the world? Those things won’t be mentioned of course. I am thankful that at least some facts are making their way into UBF history. However, there is a long way to go toward being truthful about reality. The latest newsletter is proof to me that UBF leaders continue to live in a “kingdom of priests and holy nation” fantasy land of perceived glory while ignoring reconciliation with real people.

A Time of Transition

On page 22 of the UBF newsletter, 2011 is identified as a year of “growth and changes”, a “time of transition”. Really… I thought 2011 was a year of exodus of leaders around the world, mass confusion as various chapters imploded and exploded, such as Toledo, Hong Kong and India. 2011 was the year of the 4th reform attempt. 2011 was (2012 continues to be) a year of public repentance by myself and by others. I thought 2011 was a year of “terrible times” where people like myself became poison to “knock down the faith of others”…

Growth…barely

Much is touted in the UBF newsletter about growth. But the growth is “just barely”. The growth in numbers in North America is so small that it could just be a statistical anomaly. UBF ministry in 2011 in all of North America was 2,141 (again on page 22 of the UBF Newsletter). The article reports that this number is an increase of 60 from 2010 (33 from USA and 27 from Canada). Surprisingly the fact that the number of chapters decreased from 109 to 106 is included. I would not be too impressed with the 100+ number of chapters. Most of these are merely a husband and wife and a few friends; more of a cell group than an actual “church chapter”.

As I’ve said several times, I am not seeking change or reform of UBF. I seek redemption. I believe UBF should not continue to exist as it is, or as it plans to be as described in the 50th Anniversary material.

Why do I have such an attitude? I think this way because there have been four attempts to reform or change or improve UBF. Each time, the result is a stronger adherence by UBF members to the UBF spiritual heritage.

NOTE: There are a small number of UBF chapters who are in the process of re-founding their ministries. The best example is Westloop UBF in Chicago. To such men and women of God, I simply say Amen!

2012 Summary of UBF Reform Attempts

1. Overview of Attempts to Reform UBF

1.1. First Attempt: 1976

UBF was founded in 1961 in South Korea. In 1976, after the letter of reform sent by seven Korean UBF staff shepherds, UBF was founded in the USA. In just 15 years, UBF had serious issues that needed reformed.

The first reform attempt was by Koreans from Korea UBF.

1.2. Second Attempt: 1989

In 1989, James Kim (Director) of Toledo UBF helped lead another Korean shepherd reform movement, which resulted in the Kim’s family being driven away from UBF with a secret pact.

The second reform attempt was initiated by Koreans from Toledo UBF.

1.3. Third Attempt: 2001

In 2001, Jimmy Rhee of Chicago UBF and other Korean shepherds, missionaries and directors led another Korean shepherd reform movement, citing the same kinds of reform that were needed in 1976 and 1989. The result was the founding of Campus Ministry International (CMI) and another exodus of UBF leaders from places like Toledo UBF (USA), Chicago UBF (USA), Korea UBF and Germany UBF. Even the first UBF USA sheep from Toledo UBF, left UBF at this time and were labeled as enemies.

The third reform attempt was initiated by Koreans from Chicago UBF.

1.4. Fourth Attempt: 2011

In 2011 and the years prior, reform movements were sparked around the world. The notable and most vocal movements were in: Toledo UBF (USA), Penn State UBF (USA), Westloop/Chicago UBF (USA), India UBF, Kiev UBF, Russia UBF and Hong Kong UBF. The result was a mass exodus of dozens of long-time UBF leaders. One result was a large exodus of longtime UBF native (national) leaders. Another result was a large number of UBF leaders (Korean and native/national) who decided to remain as members of UBF in order to initiate new reforms internally.

The fourth attempt was initiated by native (national) UBF leaders around the world.

Based on this pattern, I predict another reform attempt will be made sometime around 2019 unless there is divine intervention.

2. Reasons for this Summary

In 2011, UBF published a 50th Anniversary Book that contained several messages and lectures given at the 50th Anniversary celebrations. This book is the most clearly defined collection of official UBF teachings and plans to date. Because the book mentions nothing about any reform movement, I am prompted by God’s Holy Spirit to document the reform attempts in the UBF history. This is to prevent UBF from re-writing their history so as to leave out the dark side and the violent nature of UBF’s founding.

In 2003, my family was sent to Detroit from Toledo UBF to pioneer a new UBF chapter. The reality is that I was sent to Detroit as obedience training because I failed to demonstrate absolute loyalty and obedience to the director of Toledo UBF. Detroit UBF is no longer in existence.

I am documenting all these things in order to draw public attention to the hidden events that have occurred in UBF the past 50 years, from 1961 to 2011.

3. Positive Results of Reform Attempts

The four reform attempts have had some level of impact on the UBF organization. Although the fundamental teachings and practices of UBF have remained constant the past 50 years, the reform attempts have brought about some positive change.

3.1. First Reform: 1976

– UBF established an American presence, the land of the free. Although Americans seem to be the last in fighting for freedom in UBF, I believe many USA UBF members will lead the way for freedom in the future. If UBF had remained in Korea, such change would likely not have had a chance to flourish.

– UBF stopped, for the most part, the violent training methods that were equivalent to terrorist torture methods.

3.2. Second Reform: 1989

– UBF focused on raising disciples of Jesus as many members were protected from the power struggles at the top of the UBF power structure. The reformers cared deeply about Jesus and the gospel and the students. Therefore, many of the struggles and problems were hidden from members. Although this may be a questionable way to attempt reform, this demonstrates that the Christian values of patience, kindness, forgiveness and goodness have already been implored in the reform movements.

– UBF had a documented history that included the dark side events. James and Rebekah Kim’s long letters have proved to be an invaluable reference.

3.3. Third Reform: 2001

– UBF joined the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)

– UBF began reaching out to non-UBF sources (NAE, John Armstrong, Scott Moreau)

3.4. Fourth Reform: 2011

– An Ethics & Accountability Committee has been formed.
– Many leaders in UBF left and found healthy churches around the world.
– Many leaders in UBF stayed in order to fight for real change that pleases God.
– UBF senior leaders acknowledge there are “serious problems” that won’t go away.
– A few UBF chapters re-invented themselves, re-founding their ministry on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
– Public awareness was raised around the world through blogging and social media.

4. Overview of Allegations that remain in 2012

Every positive change from the reform movements is tainted by the yeast of legalism, elitism and sectarianism. UBF minds continue to be bound to a Christianized Confucianism. Some of the positive changes were made by UBF either out of panic to prevent problems (such as joining the ECFA to avoid an IRS fine in the US) or as an appeasement to satisfy growing concerns among members (such as the invitation of non-UBF speakers at North American Staff conferences).

The initiatives from Korean UBF during the 50th Anniversary celebrations negate any positive change that has occurred.

Thus, in 2012, several allegations of abuse remain, all of which are similar to the 1976, 1989, 2001 and 2011 calls for reform of similar abuse. I encourage UBF leaders to take these allegations seriously, to investigate them thoroughly and to take swift, public action to ensure such abuse ends in 2012.

These allegations presented in this document are based on my 24 years of UBF lifestyle, the process and struggles that led to my resignation as Director of Detroit UBF and my engaging in over 1,000 dialogues through phone, email, blog, Facebook and in-person coffee shop meetings, in 2011 and 2012, with current leaders and members of UBF as well as former members of UBF. My discussions have been with UBF and non-UBF students, leaders, missionaries, non-UBF pastors and elders, family and friends. I have met with the Toledo UBF council in person in 2012, along with other former Toledo UBF members, to discuss various issues.

I have concluded that UBF can no longer be reformed or changed because many of the same abuses that existed in 1976 have not been addressed in any meaningful way, and still exist in 2012. Furthermore, many of those who helped perpetuate the abuses in 1976 and 2001 are still in leadership positions in UBF. Many have even been promoted to higher positions with greater responsibility.

Because of these continued allegations, all of which tie back to the 1976 allegations, I contend that UBF needs to be re-founded or re-started with new, Biblical principles.

5. 2012 Allegation #1 – Offering Abuses

5.1. Lack of financial accountability in satellite and international chapters

I claim that the 1976 allegations of offering abuse exist in 2012. Although the Chicago UBF headquarters has taken steps toward financial accountability by joining the ECFA and avoiding a large IRS fine, the satellite UBF chapters remain unaccountable. Each UBF staff conference has a morning “financial” session, quickly thrown together and often not in the program. Offering accountability is still left to a small number of people, who try to do a good job, but simply cannot enforce any valid accountability in satellite chapters. Chapters outside Chicago UBF in the USA are left to their own accounting methods, although they are asked to submit a form (yes a single form) to the UBF headquarters on a yearly basis. The typical non-profit accountability methods are not employed in UBF in the US. And who knows what the accounting is like in other countries and especially in Korea?

5.2. Obscure expenses and expenditures

In spite of the ECFA membership, obscure expenses still exist. Random and odd expenses have routinely occurred in my experience the past 24 years. Often, the various UBF committees do not even know exactly where some satellite chapters are! It took many years for my contact information to become correct, even though we’ve had the same address since 2006. I repeatedly gave the same contact info every staff conference since then. Examples of obscure expenses: A UBF director calls the chapter bookkeeper at 4:30 am in the morning demanding cash. A UBF director is offered something called “UBF insurance” for things like car accidents. A student gets a parking ticket while on a UBF conference trip, and UBF pays for the ticket. When proper accounting controls are in place, people feel confident that their offering money will be used as stated. In 2012 in UBF, such confidence does not yet exist.

6. 2012 Allegation #2 – Human Rights Abuses

6.1. Narcissistic Behavior

I claim that the violent acts of the past history in UBF training have been replaced, in America, with narcissistic acts. While there are a few UBF leaders who may indeed have full-blown Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), many UBF shepherds display narcissistic behavior.

6.2. Coerced arranged marriage

“Marriage by faith” is an official, documented teaching of UBF. Although there is no longer one man, Lee, arranging marriages, there are many “marriage arrangers” who often use similar political or strategic plans to coerce UBF young people to marry within UBF. As of 2012, wanting to marry someone outside UBF is still grounds for being driven out of UBF. The claim of “no divorce” in UBF is also false. One rather recent arranged marriage in Toledo UBF ended in divorce only months afterward.

6.3. Ignoring the law of the land

I have seen enough first-hand events and have understood the UBF teachings enough to claim that UBF continues to ignore the “law of the land”, no matter which country they go to as missionaries. When I discussed my illegal breaking-and-entering in 1990 with UBF Korean missionaries, they could not decide whether such activity was lawful or unlawful. Their minds are still bound to doing anything and everything for God’s glory, upholding the name of God by illegal means if necessary. This directly contradicts the behavior admonished by Scripture. In 2012, one UBF chapter in Chicago UBF was asked to vacate the home where they had been holding worship services because they had ignored the village zoning laws for places of worship.

6.4. Destruction of Family

I claim that UBF continues to destroy human families in order to bind people to the “UBF family”. One young woman was asked by her UBF shepherd to choose between her parents who left UBF, or the UBF fellowship members as her family. The list of evidences to support my claim are far too many to list here. Any young person who studies the Bible in UBF will eventually discover this most deeply rooted problem in UBF.

7. 2012 Allegation #3 – Non-Biblical Education

7.1. Pavlovian Response Study Methods

As a former Director in UBF and member for 24 years (1987 to 2011), it is very easy for me to see how the claims against Lee can be levied against numerous current UBF leaders and in fact against the official teachings and practices of UBF as an organization. It is even more apparent to me that a core problem in UBF is doctrinal error. The teaching of UBF, and the methods used to perpetuate that teaching, are indeed non-Biblical. This is extremely ironic, given the inordinate amount of time dedicated to Bible study in UBF. But even that is not so ironic to me. It is very easy to see that “Bible study” in UBF is not critical thinking or explorative learning, but is almost exclusively “Pavlovian response technique” and “Bible memorization”. UBF repeatedly trains people to ask certain questions based on certain Bible passages until they can respond in the UBF-ordained manner.

7.2. Dependence on UBF-created material 

UBF continues in 2012 to rely solely on UBF material for teaching. Some UBF members have begun seminary work, but the official teaching methods are strictly bound to Lee-style question sheets and Lee-influenced messages.

The UBF 50th Anniversary book lectures describe plans to create a K-12 UBF school and a UBF university. There are plans to produce UBF Bible research experts. This demonstrates to me that the recent attempts by some UBF leaders to invite non-UBF speakers and to learn from seminary-type teachers are nothing more than appeasements.

8. 2012 Allegation #4 – Teaching a false gospel

In UBF teaching, the Gospel is misused. The Gospel of Jesus is misused because it was presented with little grace and an emphasis on works. Many messages suggested that our works affect God’s love for us. This really created an atmosphere of fear and guilt and lead to many unhealthy families in my opinion. In fact, not long after having children, I found that there was no family that I wanted to emulate. The answer to every question is to work harder, feed more sheep, develop more capacity and everything will be OK. This is so incorrect. There are only so many hours in the day. At some point, you can do no more. This is not a Biblical message. When I focus on what I can do-I am left with guilt, shame, exhaustion, low self-esteem. When I focus on Jesus and His grace, miraculously, I can still work really hard, but, as Jesus promised, the burden is light. This focus damages and controls people. This message diminishes the power of the blood and grace of Christ.

9. 2012 Allegation #5 – Covering up sin and wrongdoing

UBF has a history of covering up the sin of their leaders and saying that it has been dealt with. But there is no transparency or public repentance. There have been serious sexual sins committed by leaders that have been covered up. UBF money has even been used as hush money-this is money that people sacrificially gave to Jesus! This is a ministry living in the darkness and refusing to come into the light of Christ.

This pattern is also seen whenever anyone has any negative thing to say. UBF leaders urge people who bring up negative realities to simply focus on the positive and the grace they have received through the ministry. Also, a story is created to explain why people leave the ministry. Supposedly, one shepherd left because of “his wife’s problems”. Another family supposedly left because they “could not handle the burdens of life”. Supposedly one shepherdess died in her sleep (the reality is she committed suicide). Putting spin on why people leave or why certain chapters are having difficulties only works for so long. Eventually it causes a serious breach of trust. Shortcomings in the ministry and its leaders need to be acknowledged when they arise. Instead, in UBF, truth is sacrificed for the appearance of an honorable organization.

10. 2012 Allegation #6 – No evidence of real change

There is no reason to think that anything will change at any level. The 50th Anniversary mission statement that was on the UBF website was proof of this (It still exists on the Korean website, but not on the USA website). There was no mention of Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, but instead a focus on the traditions of an ungodly organization.

When UBF leaders came to Toledo, they stated, at one point that people simply needed to focus on 1-1 ministry. They obviously think nothing needs to change-people just need more of the same. UBF leaders also have stated that if many families continue to leave, they will just start all over with new students, training them in the same UBF methods that have been in place since 1976. Holding to the traditions of a man made organization is far more important than loving and caring for families that had supported him and the ministry through many years. In UBF, practices are far more important than people. Obedience is more important than love. Honor is more important than truth.

I further contend that whatever change has occurred, has been steeped in deception. For example, two versions of the final, and most important, lecture from the 50th Anniversary Book were published. One was in printed form only for private distribution, and only to certain leaders. The other was in online form for the public to see. The differences are striking, and highly deceptive.

There are some clear reasons why the para-church movement (which begain in the 70’s) has re-surfaced in UBF since 2000.  The para-church groups I am referring to are the “Seed” or “Narrow Gate” campus groups that UBF has formed. Twenty years ago, in America, these groups did not exist.

1. Official link to campus

In the 1980’s, American campuses were still “open doors”. In fact, openness is a hallmark of the American university system. America is the land of the free. However, in recent years, that openness has been challenged. The Yale lab murder. The Virginia Tech massacre. The Ohio State shooting. All these have contributed to danger and fear on campuses. Often, these open universities are forced to increase campus police and begin closing doors to the openness that once existed.

My point is this: You can no longer just walk on campus, grab some students for Bible study and create a ministry. It is not so easy. Universities require “official club status” to use campus rooms or even to be on campus. For years, campus ministries such as InterVarsity, were officially registered clubs or organizations. UBF was kicked off a few campuses early on, but flew under the radar, for the most part.

Now UBF finds that in order to remain connected with new college students, they must register as an official club. So they create “Narrow Gate” or “Seed” or “Deeper Roots”, appointing a “president”, “vice president”, etc. I found this rather easy to do. On the campus near me, I could create an official club with just two students and one faculty adviser.

2. Retention of Second Gens/Students

The 50th Anniversary Book mentions the fourth “crisis” in UBF. This crisis is yet another exodus of long-time leaders and members, this time from chapters around the world. UBF members are still pondering whether to leave or not. One of the high ranking search terms that leads people to this blog is “how to leave UBF“.

The real crisis for 1st Generation Korean UBF missionaries however, is their 2nd Generation children. In the past 10 years, those children in America have become adults. They have gotten married and gone to college. And they have rejected the spiritual heritage of UBF, in many cases. A rather surprising number of these 2nd Gens dutifully play along with their parent’s UBF activities, but secretly question whether God even exists. Many of them have become trapped.

Where will you find the 2nd Gens in UBF chapters? You’ll find them in the seed groups. UBF church has become irrelevant to young people, but the seed groups have found ways to not only attract students, but to help them. As UBF church stifles and struggles, UBF para-church is even thriving in some chapters. The recent event called “The Well” is evidence of this.

3. Mutually Beneficial

So then the Bible study front groups on campus became a sort of contract of compromise. The 2nd Gens would have left UBF all together en masse. The seed groups allow them to be counted as UBF members, but have the freedom to express themselves. UBF senior leaders like this because they get to count all the numbers. They can say “See, UBF is still relevant to students!” And the 2nd Gens like it because they get their parents off their back, for awhile.

This is all “well and good”… pun intended :)  But where are the American families in all this? They are squeezed in between UBF church and UBF para-church. There really is no good place for them. They are simply demanded to suffer and sacrifice their family life in order to remain part of the campus ministry. For example, my wife and I had to live like single college students for 15 years in order to remain part of UBF ministry. The solution for American shepherd families is often to leave or pioneer a new UBF chapter.

What do you think? Are there other reasons for the rise of the para-church groups? Am I understanding this correctly?

As I read the letter of these seven courageous Korean UBF staff shepherds, I marvel at the God-induced, Spirit-led, Bible-based guts these Korean men displayed! If I even had an ounce of their bravado, I would be thankful.

1976 Allegation #3 – Illegal Activity

Theft

CLAIM: The 1976 claim was that Samuel Lee ordered people to steal the passports of missionary candidates and also stole a working permit of another missionary, for the sake of training. The victims are listed by name.

FACTS: The claim of stealing passports for the sake of training is substantiated in this report.

COMMENT: Samuel Lee’s anti-ethics philosophy has permeated UBF thought. The 1976 letter comments: “Christianity never ignored ethics and morals in society (Matthew 5:20). You, however, said that the contradiction of ethical morals should be overcome. This non-biblical philosophy has justified many illegal activities.”

Tax Evasion

CLAIM: The 1976 claim was that UBF used a fake name, “City Evangelism” and formed a fake committee to deceive a Korean court into changing the status of the Kwan-Ak center building in 1975, in order to avoid paying higher taxes.

FACTS: UBF has used many different names, as stated in its own history document and in the 50th Anniversary book: “University Bible Research Society was the first name of UBF. But after a while we realized that the Bible is the absolute word of God, not the object of research. Therefore, instead of doing research, we need to read the Bible, accept it and obey it. So we changed the name into “University Bible Reading Society.” In 1976, a few shepherds caused a division and left our ministry. The next year Dr. Lee was sent to America as a missionary. We had time to reconsider the identity of our ministry and changed the name of our ministry into “University Bible Fellowship.” Even though we changed the name of our ministry several times, in all of our names, “The Bible” was always included.”

COMMENT: Why change the name so many times? The names seem to indicate similar meanings. The timing of the name changes corresponds to the allegations of changing the names for the sake of tax evasion. Is this just coincidence? UBF in the United States narrowly escaped a tax evasion fiasco sometime around 2007 and the years prior to that. The IRS was ready to issue a rather substantial fine for ignoring the US non-profit laws. In general, UBF leaders ignore the “laws of the land”, even in America. For example, in 1990, several UBF people broke into a house of a UBF director and removed all his belongings in the middle of winter. In 2012, the DuPage UBF chapter was found to have ignored the municipal regulations regarding places of worship. The village board voted unanomously to ask the UBF chapter to leave their “Bible center” because it was a house in a residential zone.

Destruction of family

CLAIM: The 1976 claim was that Samuel Lee destroyed the family life of numerous shepherds in Korea, ignoring the Christian teaching that the family unit is a foundational unit of society. The claim was that Samuel Lee intervened into family life to the point of harrassment, even ordering divorces. They further claimed that Lee ordered married men to sleep in separate buildings from their wives for up to one year at a time.

FACTS: The obsessive intervention into family life through the UBF teaching of “marriage by faith”, through ordering divorces and through directing the personal lives’ of UBF shepherds and missionaries is well-known and well-documented.

COMMENT: Samuel Lee is dead. But the practice of destroying family life flourished during and after his death because UBF strongly believes and teaches the UBF people are the true family members (page 2 of this document states “Bible teacher is not just a teacher. He’s a parent”.) These teachings often cause UBF actions to lead to destruction of human families.  UBF asks people this question: Which is more important, children or mission? Their “active integration strategy” on this page states: “Priority: Have clear priority whether children or mission come first.”

2012 Allegation #3 – Illegal Activity

Ignoring the law of the land

I have seen enough first-hand events and have understood the UBF teachings enough to claim that UBF continues to ignore the “law of the land”, no matter which country they go to as missionaries. When I discussed my illegal breaking-and-entering in 1990 with UBF Korean missionaries, they could not decide whether such activity was lawful or unlawful. Their minds are still bound to doing anything and everything for God’s glory, upholding the name of God by illegal means if necessary. This directly contradicts the behavior admonished by Scripture.

Destruction of Family

I claim that UBF continues to destroy human families in order to bind people to the “UBF family”. One young woman was asked by her UBF shepherd to choose between her parents who left UBF, or the UBF fellowship members as her family. The list of evidences to support my claim are far too many to list here. Any young person who studies the Bible in UBF will eventually discover this most deeply rooted problem in UBF.

1976 Allegation #2 – Human Rights Abuses

Violent Behavior

CLAIM: The 1976 claim was that UBF training involved beatings, sitting naked in ice water, starvation and pulling toenails. They further claimed that shepherds were instructed to hit each other and that several shepherds were hospitalized. The claim is that these things were done rather randomly, even for seemingly reasonable failures, such as missing a leader’s meeting because of a severe snowstorm.

FACTS: It is clear that something happened in the first 15 years of UBF history to cause numerous Korean shepherds who were leaders to speak out about such human rights abuses. Their statement in this section is telling: “We can not find anything like this in Jesus. If a victim sues you, UBF will be considered a cult and will be sentenced as guilty.”

COMMENT: I have heard this statement in UBF messages: Jesus did not care about human rights. The result of 24 years of UBF teachings was that my conscience became numb. Although the acts of violence appear to have ended (though some reports do exist), such actions have not been replaced with compassion. Instead, acts of violence against people’s minds and souls have taken the place of the historical acts of violence. There are reports of “dead dog” training in isolated cases after 1976. But such training has been changed into what I call “dead conscience” training. The physical torture has been replaced with mental torture. Shepherds in America will experience such mental pain typically only when they raise questions or issues about actions or teachings or history that bothers their conscience.

Forced arranged marriage

CLAIM: The 1976 claim is that Samuel Lee forced single male shepherds to take an oath: “I am the husband of a female German missionary.” The claim is that marriage was used to strategically encouraged loyalty to UBF and to Lee himself. One man’s name was changed to “Three Years”, so that he would remember Lee’s direction to marry in UBF within three years. The claim was that Lee ignored existing engagements and excommunicated anyone who would not marry in the way Lee ordered, which set up Lee as the arranger of marriages.

FACTS: The 50th anniversary book published by UBF in 2011 states that UBF wants to create a “culture of mature actions”. One of those actions is listed as “marriage by faith”.

COMMENTS: No one outside UBF would understand the phrase “marriage by faith”. But to an insider, this means the ultimate test of loyalty to UBF. Marriage done “by faith” requires both partners to be UBF loyalists. They must have already demonstrated clear loyalty to UBF teachings and ways. The majority of such marriages were indeed arranged by shepherds. After Lee’s death, other leaders took over this responsibility. Often multiple marriages would be celebrated on the same day. This was not as extensive as the mass weddings by the Moony/Unification Korean organization, but has a similar look and feel.

2012 Allegation #2 – Human Rights Abuses

Narcissistic Behavior

I claim that the violent acts of the past history in UBF training have been replaced, in America, with narcissistic acts. While there are a few UBF leaders who may indeed have full-blown Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), many UBF shepherds display narcissistic behavior.

Coerced arranged marriage

“Marriage by faith” is an official, documented teaching of UBF. Although there is no longer one man, Lee, arranging marriages, there are many “marriage arrangers” who often use similar political or strategic plans to coerce UBF young people to marry within UBF. As of 2012, wanting to marry someone outside UBF is still grounds for being driven out of UBF. The claim of “no divorce” in UBF is also false. One rather recent arranged marriage in Toledo UBF ended in divorce only months afterward.

The 1976 allegations are extremely serious and must be analyzed. Even a secular organization should be prompted to investigate such allegations and make public statements (or at least internal findings and actions). It is unfathomable to me now, to think that an organization that claims to be Christian and obedient to the Word of God would dismiss all the 1976 allegations outright. And it is further astounding to consider that I have heard several leaders in UBF say that such allegations are some sort of “badge of honor” or “persecution that proves UBF is God’s ministry.”

But back to the analysis at hand. Objectively speaking, it does not matter whether I or anyone else believes that the 1976 allegations are true or false. What matters is logic. What matters is that the allegations were made by Koreans 36 years ago.  In tonight’s reflection, I will use the five allegations from 1976 as a basis to discern the state of UBF over the past 24 years of my involvement as a shepherd, a leader and a Director.

If any of the 1976 claims are false, then we should see no evidence of their claims in the past 24 years.  If any of the 1976 claims are true, then we would hope to see evidence that the abuses ended in my 24 years. In fact, one would expect that the 11 years from 1976 (reform movement) to 1987 (when I joined UBF) would have been more than sufficient time to correct such abuses. So logically, during my time in UBF, I should not have seen any evidence of the abuses.

One fact to note is that the allegations cannot be dismissed as just “Korean culture”. Why? The reason is because Koreans started the reform movement in 1976. Also, the same abuses have been reported around the world in a consistent manner: Hong Kong, India, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, America and Germany have been most vocal in these matters. Unfortunately, and to my shame, America (the land of freedom) is one of the last countries to become vocal about the abuses in UBF.

Here is my analysis:

Did UBF change the past 24 years? If UBF did change, how did it change? Did UBF get better or worse after the 1976 reform movement? How effective and valid were the 1976 suggestions for ministry direction?

1976 Allegation #1 – Offering Abuses

Misappropriation of offering money

CLAIM: The 1976 claim was that the $20,000 dollars offered for Bangladesh was not fully offered to Bangladesh. The offering money was raised by students selling wedding rings, textbooks and even donating blood for money. The UBF members in Korea took this offering seriously. The money should have been handled, then, with utmost care. The claim is that only $1,000 (from a different offering) was actually sent to Bangladesh and that the $20,000 sacrifice was used to buy the Kwan-Ak building (UBF center) in 1975.

FACTS: Indeed, the main ubf.org website in 2012 now claims to have sent $1,100 to Bangladesh: “In 1971, we sent $1,100 to Bangladesh refugees after the flood in that country. In 1976, $11,000 was sent to World Vision and the Christian Charity Institution in Bangladesh. In 1985, $22,000 was sent to Mexican refugees after the earthquake.” And in fact, Kwan-Ak was pioneered in 1975.

COMMENT: Do you see how infuriated you would feel in this situation? In 1976, the Koreans who made these claims were excommunicated by UBF. Yet, now UBF uses the misappropriation of offering as a “statement of glory” to show how sacrificial they are!

Concealment of an accounting book in UBF headquarters

CLAIM: The 1976 claim was that Samuel Lee and a small number of people were the only people who could see the UBF accounting book. There was no external audit and no financial accountability. Nobody knew how the offerings were actually used.

FACTS: In 2002, Samuel Lee died in a fire in Chicago, Illinois. It was only then that UBF started to consider financial accountability.  In October 8, 2007, UBF joined the ECFA as part of the bid to be reinstated into the NAE. It was then revealed that UBF (at least the American headquarters) has nearly $13 million.

COMMENT: Some chapters outside Chicago kept, and continue to keep, detailed offering records. But only a select few leaders are privy to such information. Even with the ECFA information, many questions need to be raised. How will the $13 million be spent? Does the ECFA accounting reflect UBF worldwide or just America? Is the Korean UBF offering separate? How did UBF avoid a major, multi-million dollar fine from the IRS in America in 2007?

Obscure expenses and expenditures

CLAIM: The 1976 claims were that Samuel Lee did a lot of obscure spending of money, such as buying a lot of real estate without discussion, spending more than his salary of $100, and bribing Korean religious leaders who were criticizing him.

FACTS: I simply don’t have any facts here. Some would say it doesn’t matter what Samuel Lee did because he is now dead. It matters tremendously however, because his influence was everything up until 2002.

COMMENTS: The 1976 letter has an intriguing comment: “You show us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10).”

2012 Allegation #1 – Offering Abuses

Lack of financial accountability in satellite and international chapters

I claim that the 1976 allegations of offering abuse exist in 2012. Although the Chicago UBF headquarters has taken steps toward financial accountability by joining the ECFA and avoiding a large IRS fine, the satellite UBF chapters remain unaccountable. Each UBF staff conference has a morning “financial” session, quickly thrown together and often not in the program. Offering accountability is still left to a small number of people, who try to do a good job, but simply cannot enforce any valid accountability in satellite chapters. Chapters outside Chicago UBF in the USA are left to their own accounting methods, although they are asked to submit a form (yes a single form) to the UBF headquarters on a yearly basis. The typical non-profit accountability methods are not employed in UBF in the US. And who knows what the accounting is like in other countries and especially in Korea?

Obscure expenses and expenditures

In spite of the ECFA membership, obscure expenses still exist. Random and odd expenses have routinely occurred in my experience the past 24 years.  Often, the various UBF committees do not even know exactly where some satellite chapters are! It took many years for my contact information to become correct in the UBF daily bread booklet, even though we’ve had the same address since 2006. I repeatedly gave the same contact info every staff conference since then. Examples of obscure expenses: A UBF director calls the chapter bookkeeper at 4:30 am in the morning demanding cash. A UBF director is offered something called “UBF insurance” for things like car accidents. A student gets a parking ticket while on a UBF conference trip, and UBF pays for the ticket. When proper accounting controls are in place, people feel confident that their offering money will be used as stated. In 2012 in UBF, such confidence does not yet exist.

Paying respect to the dead is one thing. Taking group photos and creating a special service in a cemetery… that’s disturbing to me. It always has been, and probably always will be. As an American from the midwest, I just have not seen such behavior except for my prior religious organization.

The photos and reports are here:

http://www.ubf.org/content/memorial-service-late-dr-samuel-lee

http://www.ubf.org/content/9th-annual-founders-day-program-chicago

What is so disturbing?

1. I’m disturbed by the yearly glorification of a man who died in 2002. If there was a public, realistic mention of that man’s life, I might not be so disturbed. As it is, every year in October, the man is glorified as if he had no shortcomings. Not only is there a memorial service, there is a religious holiday being developed around the event called “Founders Day”.

2. I’m disturbed by the “spiritual Godfather” power struggle. If you know the people in the photos at the gravesite and notice how they are sitting/standing, you will clearly see that there are quite a few top leaders in UBF who love power and authority. The photos are not random; each leader specifically is sitting or standing in the spot that portrays their own power and authority (except for the few Americans there who are probably unaware of such a power struggle)

I see these yearly events as not merely paying respect to a dead person. I see them as a display of religious power.

The documents describing the three reform movements are posted in an earlier entry. UBF started in 1961. The three “R-Group” movements were in 1976, 1989 and 2000. So the attempts to reform UBF have lasted 35 years.

Recently I came to know that my leaving UBF was part of a rather large exodus of members and long-time (10+ years) leaders around the world. In the past, the reform attempts were led by Korean missionaries, many of whom formed a new ministry called CMI (Campus Mission International).

The movement in 2011 is lead by “natives” (Americans, Indians, Russians, etc.). Very few Koreans are involved this time.

Today I declare that this 2011 movement is the “Independence Movement of 2011”. We are the “I-Group” people. We are not rebellious. We are not poisonous. We are no longer interested in reform. We are tired of waiting for even a drop of change.

We are people who have decided to leave UBF for the sake of freedom. We tried to agree-to-disagree and to humbly reform things from the inside. But we have concluded that this is not possible, given the current structure of UBF, the absolute power and authority given to Korean directors, the stubborn rejection of open, honest discussion by UBF elders and the refusal of UBF elders to even acknowledge any kind of problem.

Therefore, we declare our separation from UBF in order to submit to the Holy Spirit, to obey Scripture’s teachings, to find our Gifts and put them to use in our Lord’s service, to seek the unity Apostle Paul spoke of, to let the things built by man to fall to the ground and to pursue the things of God with a passionate love for grace, truth, faith, hope and love for our King Jesus, our High Priest, in whom is all authority and power.

The article was posted on the internet sometime in 2008, so I don’t know why the email was just sent with such urgency this month, 2011. The article is gone the last time I checked. But it is interesting to see how fearful and defensive UBF leaders are of negative words. Here is the email, with the email addresses and names dashed out.

It is also interesting to see this leader sending out “mass emails”. I was rebuked for sending out “mass emails” as I left UBF.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: ——@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 1, 2011 at 5:29 AM
Subject: removing anti-UBF articles from the Internet
To: ———

Greetings, servants of God,

Generally I don’t like to create mass emails, but in this case I would really like your help urgently.

It has recently come to my attention that there is a popular website among young people called “Urban Dictionary.” According to a Wikipedia article, the site gets about 15 million unique visitors per month, and 80% of the users under the age of 25. It is a very important website that many American college students are accessing every day.

This “Urban Dictionary” contains lots of “street slang” terms that young people currently use. Much of it has dirty language, but it is nonetheless very popular. There is an article in it on “UBF” and on “University Bible Fellowship.” These articles are extremely negative. They would definitely drive curious young people away from our ministry if they use this resource to try to find out about us. I think it is a very important issue right at the start of our new school year college student outreach ministry.

The only way to remove these articles is if enough people mark them as “Dislike” by clicking on the “thumbs down” icon on the upper right hand corner of the article. This can be done only once on each computer. Once an article is very unpopular with a strong majority of “Dislike” votes, the editors remove it from the “Urban Dictionary” website.

Would you please go to these articles “UBF” and “University Bible Fellowship” and mark them as “Dislike”? It will help us to remove their poisonous attacks on our ministry.

Also, please use discernment in circulating this email. (In my opinion it is not good for many of our young people to be exposed to the negative attacks of these “Urban Dictionary” articles about our ministry.)

Perhaps if many of our UBF co-workers in Korea were to also go to this “Urban Dictionary” website and vote “Dislike,” it would make the articles even more unpopular.

Thank you for your help.

In Christ,
—————-

This morning I found the following quotes about history that sparked today’s post:

“Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunters.” ~African Proverb

“History is herstory, too.” ~Author Unknown

“A history in which every particular incident may be true may on the whole be false.” ~Thomas Babington Macaulay

“Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up.” ~Author Unknown

And the cliche quote about history is of course “If we don’t know history, we are bound to repeat it.”

These days I am growing more and more concerned about how the history of my former religious organization is being recorded. The main UBF wesbsite presents only the positive history and news about the small new movement called University Bible Fellowship. UBF history is very carefully preserved as a glorious history, filled with honor and tales of obedience and sacrifice (I know because my stories of obedience and sacrifice are included!).

I would like to present a part of UBF history that they do not want you to know about. There is a sordid dark side to UBF. Three major reform movements have occurred the past 50 years. Yet in 2011, I and other long-time leaders are leaving UBF in growing numbers. Many of us have come to the conclusion that UBF cannot be reformed and instead must change almost completely. Many UBF chapters are broken vessels that cannot sustain the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Many UBF members are crying out for healing, but are finding only silence, apologies or demands to shut up and go away. Some have even been requested to meet with a UBF elder individually for “counseling” or “repentance”. Others have been made to feel so guilty, being persuaded that they themselves were the troublemakers who caused division.

In the past 50 years, most leaders and members who left UBF simply went away in silence. Some have left UBF signing some sort of pact. One good friend of mine told me in person a couple weeks ago that she felt leaving UBF was like going through a messy divorce. And in the past a few people became such broken and wounded individuals over leaving UBF that they committed suicide or lived with massive guilt for years, shipwrecking their faith, from the maddening silence and twisted lies that they experienced as they left.

Some of us are “on strike” as a demonstration that UBF history has been misrepresented. Many good, faithful Christian friends of mine have been excommunicated; swept under the rug as if they never existed. When leaders leave, UBF elders simply feel that UBF has been “cleansed” and refocus their attention on new college students who are not aware of the dark side of UBF’s past history, the non-glorious side.

I present and preserve three letters here as proof that three major reform attempts have been made by sincere Christian leaders around the world (Korean, American, Russian, Ukrainian, German, and others). I further testify that I am an eyewitness to the fact that most of the reforms mentioned in these letters have not yet taken place in 2011.

1976 attempt to reform UBF

1989 attempt to reform UBF

2000 attempt to reform UBF