|
DATE: Friday, July 14, 2022 TO: Hope Matters International Donors and Partners FROM: USA Board of Directors We want to express our sincere gratitude for the honesty, grace, concern, encouragement and support you have poured out over the entire Hope Matters International family. One of the aspects which has made the organization of HMI shine so beautifully over the past nine years has been you, our faithful supporters and partners. We have always held the highest regard and respect for each individual and family who have made it possible to bring the mission of our ministry to life. To our heart’s satisfaction, this season and the process of bringing you into the fold of our current circumstances has only reinforced our appreciation for you. Thank you for blessing us so deeply with your support. A week has already come and gone since our last piece of communication to you; with much happening each day we are writing today to provide you with an update of the latest information and actions being taken by the USA Board of Directors. As you can imagine, the process of addressing reports of sexual harassment, moral failure and abuse of power against one leader in the highest level of our organizational leadership is not a simple task. There are numerous complexities and considerations we must consider; within this path forward we must not only pursue the truth to its fullest but do so without causing further or undue harm to all of our missionaries and their children, our Kenyan staff, the legal infrastructure of the organization both in the USA and Kenya, and the operational leadership of our hospital and clinic. As we move forward it is more than evident each of these considerations is crucial and essential to preserving our ministry. Regardless of the intricate and complex details we are considering, we emphatically reemphasize we are doing everything within our rightful powers as the USA Board of Directors to seek the truth in this circumstance and to bring everything into the light as soon as possible through a thorough investigation. We are unceasingly grateful for the conversations we have had with so many of you over the past seven days; your words, questions and insights have been invaluable. Through our conversations with you, we have learned about shortcomings in the communication we initially shared, common questions, sources of misinformation, and areas of confusion held within our base of supporters. In an effort to address all of the latter, below you will find a collection of common FAQs and concerns we have fielded over this past week. In the spirit of expediency and transparency, we felt it important to share them with each of you. Additionally, you will find a brief summary of recent actions and next steps. Next Steps
Not only do we need to focus on seeking the truth in this circumstance and to bring everything into the light as soon as possible, we must duly focus on the complete and thoughtful transition of William and Michelle. The Kiprops are woven into the very fabric and soul of the ministry, down to the smallest details. Transitioning all of their responsibilities as the founders of an international non-profit, directors of a hospital and clinic, the primary point of contact for coordinating missionary needs including visas, administration for the USA office, members of two boards of directors and primary fundraisers is going to be a long process. While this is true, we are incredibly grateful for Michelle’s wonderful help to make the transition of leadership as painless as possible. Our next immediate areas of priority are:
The USA Board of Directors is available to you as you continue to process this information or if you are reevaluating your support of Hope Matters International. Ongoing and open dialogue has been and will continue to be essential to enduring the storm. As questions, concerns and the like arise, please contact us at notify@hopemattersintl.org. All emails sent to this address are automatically distributed to Ed Ezaki, Steve Medley, Nicole Harvey, Suanna Wilson and Eric Drewry. Finally, next week we intend to share personal updates on current events from Dr. Curt Bouma and USA BOD Treasurer, Pastor Ed Ezaki via email and social media. We do not have all of the answers; we do not have a perfect plan with ’t’s’ crossed and ‘i’s’ dotted. But we have something greater: an immovable HOPE in the Lord, Jesus Christ. In our weakness, He certainly is strong. We are so grateful to belong to a Heavenly Father who is not surprised by sin, wounded by failure, or intimidated by the unknown. He does not fear tomorrow. Please pray for wisdom, discernment and deepening faith. With Gratitude, USA Board of Directors Hope Matters International 2 Corinthians 12:10 | Ephesians 6:12
0 Comments
DATE: Thursday, July 7, 2022
TO: Hope Matters International Donors and Partners FROM: Eric Drewry Chairman, USA Board of Directors The USA Board of Directors of Hope Matters International is writing to inform you of important information concerning the organization and its leadership. Recently, reports of sexual harassment, moral failure and abuse of power against William Kiprop have been brought to the attention of the USA Board of Directors. Despite being deeply saddened to learn of these reports and having our team spread across the nations, we have prayerfully acted with the highest level of urgency and care to these allegations. In response our board unanimously moved to open a formal investigation into the reports. Additionally, Pastor Ed Ezaki (USA Board of Directors Treasurer), traveled to Kipkaren and arrived within a week of receiving these allegations. While in Kenya, Ed served as the primary representative of the USA Board of Directors to the missionary team on the ground, began laying the foundation for our investigative efforts and helped to liaise so our Board could map out the framework for the road ahead. While our investigation is very much ongoing, the USA Board of Directors accepted William Kiprop’s voluntary resignation as the Director of Africa Operations effective Monday, June 27, 2022. Further, in commitment to family, marriage and the pursuit of healing, Michelle Kiprop voluntarily resigned as Executive Director and USA Board Member effective Tuesday, October 4, 2022. The USA Board of Directors has committed to assisting Michelle and the Kiprop family during this transitional period; the Kiprops intend to relocate to the USA to seek restorative care with Faithful and True Ministry in the months ahead. We thank Michelle for her years of serving the people of Kenya faithfully and sacrificially, and for contributing so significantly to the countless lives that have been transformed for Jesus through this ministry. She has a heart for people and we are confident after a season of rest and healing, God will use Michelle again. Hope Matters International only exists because of her obedience, resolve and passion to pursue God given vision. Pray With UsAs we navigate through this season, the USA Board of Directors requests you add your prayers to ours as we strive:
We must share candidly with you that our next steps are limited as they are unfolding day by day. We do not have all the answers, but we do have faith and trust in the Lord to prosper His will through our pruning. While we may not have an elaborate strategy to share at this moment, we feel the steps we have in place are mighty and impactful in mitigating the challenges of the task at hand. First, we are working to select a third party to conduct our open investigation on the ground. We believe this is an essential effort to maintain the highest level of integrity and soundness in our findings. Additionally, we have appointed one of our missionaries, Dr. Curt Bouma, as the Hope Matters International Executive Director for the next year. Michelle’s three month notice of her resignation allows for adequate time of transition and preparation for Dr. Bouma as her successor. Please pray for Dr. Bouma and his family as they approach uncharted waters. Finally, we are working daily to ensure our medical operations in Kenya continue with as minimal amount of interruption as possible. Our patients still need care, children still need medicine and women still need a healthy environment to deliver their babies regardless of our responsibility to address these reports. This week over 100 patients are being seen by an ultrasound team and others are being treated and prayed with at our hospital in Musembe. We continue to see clients at the medical clinic in Chebaiywa village as well. As we forecast the challenges ahead for our medical operations we covet your prayers in receiving National Health Insurance Fund approval and meeting the obstacles posed by a potentially disruptive election on August 9th. Pray with us and our African staff as we move forward. Closing We have no doubts this information will lead to questions, concerns and pained hearts. The USA Board of Directors is available to you as you begin to process this information or if you are reevaluating your support of Hope Matters International. Ongoing and open dialogue has been and will continue to be essential to enduring the storm. As questions, concerns and the like arise, please contact us at notify@hopemattersintl.org. All emails sent to this address are automatically distributed to Ed Ezaki, Steve Medley, Nicole Harvey, Suanna Wilson and myself. The USA Board of Directors deeply cares for each of our passionate and committed supporters of Hope Matters International. We are heartbroken to learn of these reports, but we still have HOPE the Lord will continue to impact many lives for the gospel through HMI. Please pray the unfolding story will develop according to God's will and to His glory. With Gratitude, Eric Drewry USA Board of Directors, Chairman Hope Matters International |
RSS Feed