Written by Jonathan, 26 years of age, born and raised in The Family International and now a missionary in Thailand along with his wife and five children:

As a member of The Family I want to speak out for the cause of truth and justice. For those who know the heart of The Family, it is a heart of love! Love for God, love for fellow man, love for those of all races, colors and social standings, and love for each other. In light of this recent tragedy I want to ask all those who are truly open-minded to look objectively into whose actions demonstrate love. I believe I can speak from experience. As you read my feelings in light of the recent tragic events, I want you to reflect on which actions are motivated by love and which are motivated by hate, malice and rage?

I look at The Family today and I see the exact opposite of everything that our accusers say against us, and if any of you that accuse us are reading this I challenge you to come and see for yourself! Don’t just write your diatribes without any knowledge of what you are talking about! Come and see for yourself! I challenge you, come and see!

I have chosen this life because this is a life where I can be of the best service to both God and to my fellow man. I have chosen this life because my children can be in the most loving, caring, child-centered environment that can be attained! I have five young children and my wife and I are missionaries along with other dedicated Family members in a city in the Northeast of Thailand. We set this work up ourselves from scratch using the training that we received in The Family! And now, three years later, there are thousands of people in the community who know and love us for our efforts to help their poor, to work against drugs and to be of assistance to those in need.

Believe me, I have chosen this life because it is all I want for both me and my family! We have a beautiful home-schooling set-up specifically catering to the needs of each of our children, and the children are cared for by their mothers or other trusted and qualified teachers who take care of their every need! I would not have it otherwise! My children deserve the best! That is what they get! They are all ahead of their peers in their level of schooling and have already learned the wonderful joy of giving to others. The children in our center are some of the most wonderful and bright children you will ever meet and this is the direct result of all the love and care that they have received from birth!

To say that any one of them is abused would be fallacious and ultimately ridiculous! Not a bite of food goes into their mouths that is not known to be healthy and clean; a child cannot trip or fall in my home without concerned parents or teachers running to their side to ensure that all is well and that they are not hurt; not a day goes by that we don’t talk to our children to make sure that they are feeling well and have all their needs met. To think that any abuse would ever enter into our beautiful life is unthinkable. We and The Family would not allow it! Not for an instant! To the contrary, I feel confident that through this lifestyle I am protecting them from the true villains that lurk, in ever greater numbers, in the world at large! My children don’t have to fear when they are alone–they are never alone. They don’t have to face bullying, crime, and child molesters. We would never leave them anywhere that harm could come to them! This is our life! Are you man or woman enough to come and see, to check it out for yourself?

And what of this tragedy and the accusations that will undoubtedly be levied through sweeping negative statements? This was a tragedy, the tragedy of a life gone wrong, and the tragedy of lives snuffed out. I knew neither of the people involved so I will not try to speak for them, though my heart goes out to them and their loved ones in prayer during this difficult time, but I can and I must speak for myself! I have lived in The Family my whole life in a number of countries and dozens of Family communities, I neither saw nor experienced any abuse. On the contrary, I was raised by the most wonderful parents who loved me and cared for me and who gave me the confidence to make my own choices in my life.

I am aware that The Family has apologized for any isolated incidents that may have occurred in the past that blot the otherwise wholesome page of our lifestyle. But taking all things into consideration and being assured that The Family of today is very well safeguarded against any and all abuse and, not only that, is a haven of all that is well and good, this is my choice! Can you respect that? Can you respect our right to life, liberty and justice?

If your answer is yes then please let us end this cycle of hate and begin to respect each other for the unique and precious creation of God that we are, with the majesty of free choice. I have no plans to hurt you for your lifestyle, why should you hurt me for mine? Life is precious! As a member of The Family, I respect life! I treasure the life I have been given and I want to make the most of it! I treasure the life of my children and I wish that their life be as full and wonderful as is fit for one of God’s children! I treasure the lives of others and I respect their wish to find their own path in life as they look for their own special purpose and the meaning of their existence! But I cannot condone an existence that is anti-life. If you feel that the reason for your life is to ruin the perfectly happy lives of others, then you have serious issues and you should either get in touch with God or see a psychiatrist! Whatever you do, do something and quick, get help if you need it! Don’t let hate absorb you lest you become like this poor young man! I pity him. I weep for how he lost his way and ended his life with such a horrible weight, the weight of ending lives given by God. And I say to any of those who thought it would suit their plans to use this poor man to further your own gains by stirring up hate in him against us and our peaceful communities, instead of letting him find the fulfilling life he was undoubtedly seeking, you will answer to God!

But the Bible says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged”. We will all answer to Him! So, for my part, I want to end this cycle now. Love brings peace! I want you to find peace! Anywhere you find The Family you can find God’s love and peace! Come and see! Or you can find it in your own heart if you only ask God for help! The choice is yours! I have made my choice and I am at peace with my God and with every life that He has created with whom I can share this world in peace and harmony as we follow his golden rules. But if hate is your chosen rhetoric and violence your life’s creed then you will never be at peace! You will follow that road until its end, I just hope it isn’t as bad as the story I just heard!

Praying for Peace on Earth,
Jonathan

Jonathan is a second generation member of the Family International.