Young Life in Colorado Springs, Colorado emailed me a statement on the ongoing situation at Fairfax Community Church with Eric Nickle being on staff. Eric Nickle is on the Virginia Sex Offender registry and Rod Stafford’s church has not been forthcoming about this information. You can read the statement below and feel free to discuss it.
“Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
This is a follow up post to an article I wrote on June 28, 2017. I wrote about Young Life Capernaum at Fairfax Community Church (FCC) and asked if Young Life knew that FCC employed a violent sex offender. I wanted to make sure they were aware of this issue. So I emailed the post I wrote to Young Life in Colorado Springs, Colorado and requested a statement. The post I wrote in late June is “Does Young Life Capernaum Take Child Sex Abuse Seriously? Remembering the Ongoing Employment of a Violent Sex Offender at Rod Stafford’s Fairfax Community Church.” You can see the response by Young Life below. Now FCC has good facilities, I used to be involved in this church. The facilities are nice but I remain concerned that children are still not safe. But you are free to read and respond below. What do you think of Aleesha Thomas’s response? If there have been other incidents with child sex abuse involving Young Life let me know and I will let people write about them. Otherwise you are free to discuss what was said below. Also for your knowledge I email who I am, how this blog got started before getting into the subject of the email. You will see that in the initial email by me to Young Life. Have a good day guys!
Email to Young Life in Colorado Springs, Colorado on June 28, 2017 at 9:07 a.m.
Hello,
My name is David Bonner and I write a blog about atheism, doubt, Neo-Calvinism, modern evangelicalism and the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). You should know this blog was born out of an act of spiritual abuse from Eric Simmons and Jordan Kauflin’s Redeemer Arlington. I endured a false accusation that took aim at my name, ability to earn income and more. I also learned why rape and sexual assault can be an issue in the US military. You can read the story about it at my blog.
I am wanting to request a statement from Young Life in the D.C. area. You have a Young Life Capernaum program at Fairfax Community Church (FCC). Are you aware that FCC has employed a violent sex offender and are you concerned about this being a risk to children who have emotional or developmental disabilities? I want to be clear that my concern is not with Young Life itself, as you do a great job; my concern is about a church who employees a violent sex offender and is not transparent about it. I would very much like to publish a statement from Young Life. This situation has been going on for at least two years. I was the one who blew the whistle on this situation and I did so because I became involved in a previous church in Wisconsin that had a major sex abuse scandal. I got involved after it occurred and I saw the church live with the scars. I did not want to see the same thing happen at FCC. I look forward to your response.
Please have a nice day,
Very Respectfully,
David Bonner
Aleesha Thomas email on June 28, 2017 to The Wondering Eagle at 12:15 p.m.
Good Afternoon—
Thank you for reaching out with your concerns. We are looking into this situation and will get back to you with a response accordingly.
In Christ,
Aleesha Thomas
Public Relations/Marketing Specialist
Young Life Service Center
(719) 381-1890 office
July 5, 2017 email from Aleesha Thomas to The Wondering Eagle
David,
This is in regard to our email from June 28th. Here is our statement:
Young Life Capernaum, a ministry with kids with disabilities, meets weeknights in the facilities of Fairfax Community Church. We are grateful for the use of space at the church and for the support this congregation has provided our ministry for many years. All Capernaum activities are supervised by Young Life staff and volunteers in accordance with our strong commitment to the safety and well-being of those in our programs.
Thank you,
Aleesha Thomas
Public Relations & Marketing Specialist
July 10, 2017 email to Aleesha Thomas in Colorado Springs Young Life
July 11, 2017 emailed from Young Life in Colorado Springs to The Wondering Eagle
Mr. Bonner,
We appreciate your concern for the safety of kids, and we want to stay focused on the fact that Young Life’s Capernaum program meeting at Fairfax Community Church is closely supervised by our staff and volunteers to ensure a quality program and a safe experience for all participants.
Thank you,
Aleesha Thomas
Public Relations & Marketing Specialist
Wondering Eagle 
“Public Relations & Marketing Specialist”…
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Wow.
Paraphrased:
“As it pertains to your specific questions about the safety of children, no comment.”
And this is even knowing that the response would be published.
Wow.
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