Healing the Broken Body
Living in Integrity—Loving Truth and
Peace
Important Note December 2021
Many of the links to the documents referenced below (Summary and Summons--Essential Review) had to be redone because of changes in the google website platforms that hosted the documents. These changes are included now in the PETRA People Weblog (December 2021) and future Weblogs. The previous Weblogs with this information (near verbatim) from August 2017-October 2021 still contain the broken links and thus you need to go to the December 2021 Weblog (Part Two) or future Weblogs in order to access the new links.
The documentation is substantial and compelling to support the long-standing,
serious and specific calls for integrity and healing, assistance and repentance.
detail, painting by Antonello da Messina, 15th century
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Proverbs 28:13
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Proverbs 28:13
“NCI
and related matters have brought serious confusion, disruption, and distrust
into the international [Church Mission Community (CMC]). Healing in the
international CMC will happen only as we walk fully in the light with both God
and humans as witnesses: to establish the facts, admit any errors and
wrongdoing, share perspectives, and help return/recover money for investors.
Our transparency and accountability now will also help prevent similar
situations within the international CMC from happening in the future.” PETRA
Statement 2011
“The sad and serious events described in
this professional review have their genesis in poor or inadequate corporate
governance, which has led to: authoritarian and dysfunctional management
practices; disregard for truth and justice; ineffective employee/staff
safeguards; destructive conflicts of interest; covert financial management
practices; and in the end even suspected criminality. YWAM has experienced all
of these consequences, while other organizations such as the WEA-MC, EEMA, Le
Rucher and various churches have been affected to varying degrees. One question
arises over and over in this review--where is the ethical and accountable
corporate governance?” Rand
Guebert, Professional Review: Integrated Executive Summary (page 9)
*****
This entry
pulls together many of the efforts by the PETRA People Network (PP Net) calling
for the assistance of the people and the organizations affected by the Nordic Capital Investment KB fraud (NCI). Those
“affected” refers to the specific investors-victims, organizations-ministries,
staff-leaders, and any others who received/lost money in this scheme or were
somehow impacted. It also refers to the thousands of people who are or were
part of these organizations-ministries (including Board members and supporters)
and who have a moral responsibility to call leaders and others to account: to
disclose, conduct independent reviews, and where there are “net positive”
gains, to return money to victims.
The efforts
by PP Net have also sought to inform and educate the international church-mission
community (CMC) and general public. The 40 entries on this weblog since 2011, for
example, have focused on: resources about corruption, good practice principles
and standards, and integrity; court documents and updates on legal cases; the Shine the Light–Together petition
and PETRA Statements from 2011 and
2012; the letters to organizational leaders asking for their assistance, transparency,
and accountability (2014-current); and the overall developments and concerns over
the past 10 years since NCI was first publically confronted.
It is
important to realize that the Swedish court documents (released in 2010 and
2011) indicate that it was primarily Christians, Christian organizations, and
Christian ministries that were affected by NCI. Some of the main ones were part
of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), including Mercy Ministries, Le Rucher, and
Mercy Ships. Youth For Christ Switzerland was used as an address for one of the
main NCI promoters for NCI activities and Crossroads Church in Ferny-Voltaire,
France had many members who heard about and invested in NCI.
Topics in this Review
1.
A Core
Message and the Integrity Petition
2.
NCI Background
3.
Summary
Issues and Requests for Assistance: PETRA Statement 2012
4.
Requesting Assistance from Specific Organizational
Leaders
5.
Calling
YWAM to Integrity and Action
PETRA
People Network was set up in 2010. We
are committed to promoting peace, transparency, and accountability in all
sectors of society and especially in the international Christian community. Our
general focus is on preventing and confronting corruption and on promoting
personal and organizational integrity. Our specific focus is on the Nordic
Capital Investments KB fraud (NCI).
*****
Healing the Broken Body
Healing the Broken Body
Living in Integrity—Loving Truth and Peace
1. A Core Message and the Integrity Petition
NCI, and the lack of response to it by those in the CMC,
have seriously damaged many peoples’ lives. It has also seriously compromised
the reputation and witness of the CMC. It is essential to get accurately
informed, call for ethical action, and conduct independent reviews for learning
and healing. The resulting verifiable information could shed
crucial light on what was happening with this fraud and by whom, and likely go
a long way to preventing similar things though the lessons learned and bring
healing.
We thus encourage everyone to act beyond reproach
not just for their own or organization's sake but also for the
sake of the CMC and the general public. Corruption such
as the NCI KB fraud does not simply go away on its own, over
time, by ignoring it, or by keeping silent. All of us in the CMC can
and must act with integrity--the consistent, highest level of moral
wholeness. And we can and must hold our organizations and leaders
accountable to do the same. Love truth and peace. Heal the broken Body. Live in
integrity.
An international petition calling for integrity and action to
confront corruption in the church-mission community and in particular the international NCI
et al. fraud.
You can make a difference.
Join with
others around the world.
Read, sign, and share this petition.
Read, sign, and share this petition.
.
2. NCI
Background
--NCI began in 1994
and functioned secretively as a ponzi scheme until it was publically confronted
in 2007. Several victims contacted governments about NCI in July that year
(FBI in the USA, Serious Fraud Office in the UK, Fraud Police in The
Netherlands, and Economic Crimes Bureau in Sweden). See also the initial 10
point overview about NCI at the top of the PETRA People
website (this website also contains several
documents from the Swedish court case, analyses, anti-corruption resources,
etc.).
--An initial
investigative review was done by a
business consultant, Rand Guebert (2008). It is 120 pages and focuses on
the serious problems in organizations affected by NCI including poor
organizational governance and the discrediting and wrongful dismissals which
Kelly and Michèle O’Donnell experienced in the CMC. Its findings related to NCI
(based on the known evidence/documents at the time) are supported by the
Swedish court documents that were released later in 2010 and 2011. This review
has been shared with government investigative bodies although it has not yet
been shared publically.
--The Swedish
government (Economic Crimes Bureau--EBM) was the principle government that eventually
took the lead to investigate (2008-2011). It prosecuted only one person,
Kristian Westergard, the founder of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Sweden. The
Swedish EBM determined that NCI was a long-term, gross fraud and sentenced Mr.
Westergard to prison where he served a term for just over two years. Mr.
Westergard was required to repay several of the victims listed in the case. But
since he had very few traceable assets, very little money has been ever repaid
to the 20+ plaintiffs. Other people who were affected by the fraud
(net-positives) were not required to return money (by the governments or by
their respective CMC organizations-ministries). Nor were there any prosecutions
for other persons involved with Westergard/NCI (some perhaps innocently). Millions of dollars/Euros are still missing.
--The Shine the Light-Together petition
(2012-current, with over 200 signatures, including reaffirmations) and the PETRA People Network weblog
(2011-current, with 40 entries) were set up to help the CMC and the public
understand corruption in general and the NCI case specifically. They have been emphasizing
that different Christian organizations were and are “affected” by the
fraud—specifically, that leaders and staff invested, benefited/lost money,
ministry projects received money etc. The reluctance of these leaders and
organizations to disclose and to submit to independent investigation has also
been highlighted. Their
information could shed crucial light on what was happening with this fraud and
by whom, and likely go a long way to preventing similar things though the
lessons learned and bring healing.
--In August 2014, four of the
organizations included in the Shine the
Light-Together petition and several of their
leaders were formally presented with the petition, asking for their assistance
and that they inform other leaders in their organizations. Leaders in Youth With A
Mission, Mercy Ships, Youth For Christ, and Crossroads
Church (Ferney-Voltaire, France) received separate email-letters regarding
the petition with the names and comments of the people who signed it. The letters were then posted on the PETRA
People weblog in September 2014 along with subsequent correspondence (Click
here to see the paper trail: (August 2014--current). Note that specific names of leaders were listed again
in the February 2017 weblog entry along with links to other organizational
leaders and Board members who have a moral responsibility to assist and hold
themselves and fellow leaders accountable.
--In December 2016 there was
a renewed effort for people to read, sign, and share the petition. “This petition is a call to
many organizations and people, especially in the church and mission community
(CMC), to assist by transparently and verifiably disclosing how they have been
affected by Nordic Capital Investment KB fraud (NCI). In addition, members
of these organizations (past and present), donors, and the public are asked to
help by respectfully and resolutely calling for the assistance of those
affected by NCI.”
--YWAM was especially
affected—staff, leaders, and ministries—including Mercy Ships while it was
still part of YWAM and afterwards. According to the Swedish court documents, Erik Spruyt (a
major/former YWAM leader), Mercy Ministries organizations in four countries and
Le Rucher in France (originally all part of YWAM), and two personal/family
foundations set up by Mr. Spruyt with bank accounts in Lichtenstein (GF, NGF)
were some of the entities that received hundreds of thousands of dollars/Euros
of NCI money. Mr. Spruyt maintains that he is innocent and that he was a
victim. In January 2017 there was a civil court decision in France which did
not find Mr. Spruyt or Mercy Ministries France (defendants) responsible for the
financial damages experienced by six NCI victims (plaintiffs in the case). Although all plaintiffs totally disagreed with the court ruling,
they decided to not appeal. Nonetheless the public and moral
call for assistance will continue so that those affected by NCI will follow good practice
standards via verifiable disclosures, independent reviews, transparency,
accountability, and integrity.
3. Summary Issues and Requests
for Assistance: PETRA Statement 2012 (excerpts)
In light of the Swedish court documents, we are publicly calling for the following organizations to provide assistance by reviewing and disclosing how NCI has affected them. We are also asking them to review how they have responded to the NCI matter thus far. Authorizing independent and internal reviews is strongly encouraged. It is not helpful to simply try to “move on” and leaders and members are urged now to hold their organizations accountable. There is much to learn and many ways to help. We urge organizations affected by NCI to emulate the organizations in the “United Response” to the New Era Scandal: be transparent, accountable and cooperate to return money.
In light of the Swedish court documents, we are publicly calling for the following organizations to provide assistance by reviewing and disclosing how NCI has affected them. We are also asking them to review how they have responded to the NCI matter thus far. Authorizing independent and internal reviews is strongly encouraged. It is not helpful to simply try to “move on” and leaders and members are urged now to hold their organizations accountable. There is much to learn and many ways to help. We urge organizations affected by NCI to emulate the organizations in the “United Response” to the New Era Scandal: be transparent, accountable and cooperate to return money.
Individuals and organisations committed to integrity
should welcome the opportunity to help via open investigations and verifiable disclosures.
--Mercy Ministries
Associations (MM). MM International, with related associations in
France, Holland, and Switzerland (set up in 1994, 1995) are related directly to
Le Rucher in France. They received hundreds of thousands of
NCI-related euros/dollars over nearly 10 years. Where is this money? How will
past and current board members and staff help? Docs: Money Flows Confirmed by EBM * Examples of NCI Money Flows* Suggestions (see point six in this link)
--New Generation Foundation (NGF, GF). A
foundation/account was set up in 1997 at a Liechtenstein bank by a major YWAM
and Le Rucher leader. Over time it received hundreds of thousands of NCI
euros/dollars. Where is this money? Doc: Examples of NCI Money Flows
--Youth
With A Mission International (YWAM). NCI is an affinity-based fraud and YWAM is the main
organization affected. It is seriously affected. In July 1995 Mr. Westergard
presented NCI at YWAM Le Rucher during an international YWAM conference. Major
YWAM leaders invested since at least 1996 and YWAM projects received NCI-related
money. Senior leaders have consistently stated that senior/international
leaders were not aware of NCI and that one of the major YWAM leaders actively
involved in NCI (administering contracts, receiving NCI funds, etc) and YWAM Le
Rucher in France were not properly part of YWAM. Hence, it is argued, YWAM has
no responsibility. These assertions are hard to understand in view of the court
and other documents. YWAM leaders (e.g., IFMLT, GLF, MMI), YWAM members, and
YWAM donors internationally are urged to get informed and together call for an
internal and an independent review of how YWAM has been affected and how it has
responded, and to persevere until such reviews are done. Will they do
this? Docs: Request
to YWAM Leaders for Assistance 5 June 2011, with links to investors, projects,
previous requests; see also this partial list
of YWAM-related
investors,
based on EBM documents.
--Mercy Ships International (based in
Texas USA and including Mercy Ships in the UK, Switzerland, and France). An Austrian court document
from 2001 and other Swedish documents indicate that Mercy Ships (part of YWAM
until 2003) was to benefit from NCI funds related to a three million US dollar
transaction that was frozen by the Austrian government in November 2001. How
does this transaction and other NCI-related money flows relate to this
respected organization and especially the refitting of the African Mercy
hospital ship, including a $10 million USD matching grant (matched between
2002-2004)? Docs: See the “NCI Documents” section on the PETRA People
web site, and then open up the “Austria case” folder in the attachments.
--Youth For Christ (YFC) in Coppet,
Switzerland. The name “YFC” and its physical address in
Switzerland were used for a substantial amount of NCI-related correspondence
(by a person actively involved in NCI but not part of YFC). Why? YFC is a
respected organization yet it has not fully investigated and verifiably
disclosed what their relationship was with NCI and any possible benefits. Will they do
this? Docs: Two
Swiss addresses used for correspondence (Note that there was overlap
between Board members of YFC Coppet Switzerland, Board members of Mercy
Ministries related to Le Rucher, and the Elders Board of Crossroads Church in
Ferney-Voltaire, France by Geneva).
--Churches in Holland and
France. One example of a church that can really help is Crossroads church
in Ferney-Voltaire, France. Members of and people attending
Crossroads church were aware of NCI and many of them have invested over the
years. The former pastor for example helped by sharing how he was approached to
invest in 1995. Will this church do a review, inform their past and current
members/attendees about NCI, and seek information from them to help? Several
church leaders in the Geneva/Lausanne area were updated in 2010, 2011. Docs: Letters to church leaders.
--Individuals, families, ministries, projects, charities, foundations, and other organizations. Those that have been involved with and/or benefited from NCI—that have or may have received NCI-related funds—have key roles to play in sharing information and helping to locate missing money. Some of these entities have had three or more contracts with NCI (e.g., contracts related to other investors’ contracts, contracts for ministries and receiving NCI-money related to the people they have brought into NCI.) The Swedish court documents included an extensive albeit partial list of investors. Many are part of/associated with YWAM. Many are American, British, Dutch, and Swedish investors. Will these people and entities help? Docs: NCI Investors (primary list from Swedish EBM
4. Requesting Assistance from Specific Organizational
Leaders
The letters requesting assistance were sent to specific
leaders in August 2014 with the additional request that they inform other
leaders in their organizations. The letters were then posted on the PETRA
People weblog 28 September 2014. Below are the
names of the leaders contacted and links for additional leaders/Board Members,
etc. (Click
here to see the paper trail: (August 2014--current). Below are the names of the leaders contacted and links for
additional leaders/Board Members, etc.
--Youth With A Mission: Loren Cunningham, Darlene Cunningham, Lynn Green, Jim Stier, Tom Hallas, Iain Muir, and YWAM leaders/staff around the world. “We would be grateful if you (YWAM leaders/staff around the world) would carefully review the petition and Statement with links to core documents.” Click here to view the list of international offices from the organization’s website, many which link to specific leaders.
--Mercy Ships: Donovan and Mae Palmer. “We would be grateful if you could please review the petition and its links to core documents and share it with members of the international Mercy Ships Executive Committee and others Board members (e.g., Don Stephens as President, Myron Ullman as Chair, Rosa Whitaker, Francoise Andre, Ian McColl, and Peter Schulze as Vice-Chairs, etc.). Click here to view the list of International Board Members and the Executive Committee from the organization’s website.
--Youth For Christ: Geordon Rendle and John
Duncan (and with Larry Williams in 2015). “We also believe it would be
very important to share the petition with other board members/officers at Youth
for Christ and the previous staff at YFC in Coppet, Switzerland.” Click here to view the list of International Board Members from
the organization’s website.
--Crossroads Church (Ferney-Voltaire, France): Larry Lloyd and Ian
Rutter. "We would be grateful if you could please review the petition
and its links to core documents and then share the petition with other
current/former elders and officers at Crossroads and current/former members and
attendees at Crossroads.” Click here to view the list of elders, officers, and pastors from the
organization’s website.
Update August 2017: We are not aware of any further action undertaken by
organizations to investigate and disclose how they may have been affected by
NCI KB in line with the specific concerns in the petition. A few
individuals over the past months have sent personal emails, but nothing
official and nothing related to taking any action. Click
here to see the paper trail: (August 2014--current). We thus continue the
resolute, public call a) for assistance from all those affected in
various ways by the NCI fraud; and b) for verifiable disclosures/independent
reviews (transparency and accountability) by four of the organizations
listed in the petition. It would also be in keeping with good practice for
transparency, accountability, and organizational health that these
organizations thoroughly review how they
have and/or have not actually dealt with the requests for assistance over the
years.
5.
Calling Youth With A Mission to
Integrity and Action
(PP Net Update Aug-Sept 2012, excerpts-introduction)
(PP Net Update Aug-Sept 2012, excerpts-introduction)
In view of the Shine the Light-Together petition
and the PETRA People Statement 2012, this Update reaffirms
the call for YWAM members, leaders and all those associated with YWAM to
set up professional Internal and independent reviews regarding how it has been affected
by NCI. It is not just the millions of dollars/euros in stolen money that has
devastated victims and brought reproach on the Christian community but also the
lack of response to it including the unwillingness to disclose and help. Will
YWAM members, leaders, and those associated with YWAM now take action and
demonstrate the values that YWAM publicly states guide its work:
“openness, honesty, integrity, transparency, and accountability” (The Good Name
Pledge)? Who will hold the leaders and organisation accountable?
This Update also builds upon the many
letters asking YWAM leaders for assistance and investigation regarding NCI,
including the letter sent to over 100
international YWAM leaders on 5 June 2011.
The materials below provide an enormous amount of well-researched information
and government documentation that simply cannot be ignored or dismissed. Many
of these materials are now on the PETRA People website. The materials are organised into five sections and also
includes comments by YWAM senior leaders and others about NCI/YWAM.
[Note:
See the PP Net Update Aug-Sept
2012 entry for the extensive treatment and document links for these five
topics].
1.
Additional public requests to YWAM for transparency/accountability
2.
NCI investors and YWAM
3.
Connections between Le Rucher/Mercy Ministries and YWAM
4.
NCI money flows and YWAM
5.
Organisational integrity and responsibility
(a link to excerpts and quotes for good practice, to support YWAM leaders)
What can all those associated with YWAM do? Here are four suggestions to keep in mind as you review and respond to these materials:
(a link to excerpts and quotes for good practice, to support YWAM leaders)
What can all those associated with YWAM do? Here are four suggestions to keep in mind as you review and respond to these materials:
--Get accurately informed. Prioritise time to
review the information in this Update carefully and also on
the PETRA People website, especially the NCI Summary Information and Suggestions: Going Forward.
--Consider your moral and Biblical response. Pray
and discuss with others, especially with
independent and informed people. Courage is needed to really
consider/act on one’s ethical responsibility and to not simply go along
with some persons' explanations.
--Call for and set up an independent review with
others. Look closely at the PETRA Statement 2012: An International
Call for Integrity and Action.
--Share this Update with
colleagues and ask for prayers and support. Remember you are not alone—many
other organisations have also had to deal with various types of corruption,
mistakes, and serious leadership matters.
PETRA People Network was set up in 2010. We are committed to promoting peace, transparency, and accountability in all sectors of society and especially in the international Christian community. Our general focus is on preventing and confronting corruption and on promoting personal and organizational integrity. Our specific focus is on the Nordic Capital Investments KB fraud (NCI).
