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from Archivist Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 23:55 (Agree/Disagree?) Here's another recent article from Voice of America which mentions Tim Peters. http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-04-25-voa6.cfm (reply to this comment)

From Archivist Thursday, May 04, 2006, 01:22 (Agree/Disagree?) Here's a recent Associated Press story which mentions Tim Peters. Reports: North Korean asylum seekers preparing go to U.S. under Washington's auspices 415 words May 3 2006 9:15:26 AM Associated Press Newswires English SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - A group of North Korean asylum seekers are preparing to travel from Southeast Asia to the United States for resettlement under Washington's auspices, news reports said Wednesday. Five or six North Koreans are now staying at a safe house in a U.S. Embassy residence in an unidentified Southeast Asian country and will travel to the U.S. "as soon as procedural matters with the Asian country are resolved," said South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper. The paper cited unnamed officials in the U.S. government and Congress. Yonhap news agency carried a similar report. Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the South Korean government confirmed the reports. Tim Peters, a Seoul-based U.S. activist working to help North Korean refugees find asylum, said he couldn't officially confirm the news reports, but added he was familiar with the situation and is "happy it's progressing in a positive way." "To my understanding, things are progressing in a positive way, and aid workers are doing their best, and North Korean refugees are being taken care of -- both physical and spiritual needs -- during this time of transition," said Peters, founder and head of the Helping Hands Korea, a Christian charity group that supports North Korean refugees. No North Koreans have been offered asylum in the U.S. since President George W. Bush signed into law the North Korean Human Rights Act in October 2004, U.S. lawmakers said in February, urging their government to do more to help North Koreans. But Bush's envoy for human rights in North Korea said last month that the U.S. is at "a turning point now in our ability to bring North Korean refugees here if they are legitimate refugees." Most North Koreans who flee their impoverished communist homeland come to South Korea through China. However, some find their way to Southeast Asia and seek asylum at diplomatic missions there. Activists claim that tens of thousands of North Koreans live in China in hiding. Beijing views those North Koreans as "economic migrants," not refugees, and is obligated to send them back under a bilateral treaty with Pyongyang. More than 8,000 North Koreans have defected to the South since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, with about 5,700 of those arriving since 2002. A total of 1,387 defectors arrived in the South last year. (reply to this comment)

From Archivist Thursday, May 04, 2006, 01:26 (Agree/Disagree?) Here another one: Bush Meets NK Refugees 559 words Apr 29 2006 Korea Times English By Christopher Carpenter U.S. President George W. Bush met families of North Korean refugee Kim Han-mi and Japanese kidnap victim Megumi Yokota in the White House, Washington, D.C., on Friday. Kim was 2 years old when she was captured by Chinese authorities as she and her parents tried to run into the Japanese consulate in Shenyang, China, in 2002. The family later settled in South Korea. Megumi was 13 when North Koreans kidnapped her in 1977. DNA tests recently revealed her husband was a South Korean man who was also kidnapped. The meeting falls on ``North Korea Freedom Day'' in the United States and crowns a weeklong series of events dubbed North Korea Freedom Week, organized by the North Korea Freedom Coalition. The week's events included hearings in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of representatives, as well as rallies, concerts and testimonies from North Korean refugees. Tim Peters, project manager for Helping Hands, a Christian organization dedicated to advancing human rights in North Korea, said while the public attention North Korean human rights is getting is great, more concrete action has to accompany it. The U.S. passed the North Korea Human Rights Act in 2004, but $24 million designated to help North Korean refugees has not materialized, Peters said. Major powers, including the U.S., are too afraid of upsetting trade relations with China to take action necessary to help North Koreans, he said. Peters said he was glad the congressional hearings brought attention to 82,000 South Korean citizens abducted in a three-month period in 1950, during the Korean War, adding that very little is heard from the South Korean government about the abductees. "I am delighted that the Korean War Abductees Family Union is getting recognition and attention for the incredibly huge heartbreak they have been going through for decades," he said. Korea University Professor of North Korean Studies Yoo Ho-yeol said the events taking place during North Korea Freedom Week are a good jumping off point for South Korean activists. The events in Washington will provide "some hope and some stimulus to us to continue our efforts to ask our government to raise its voice and apply some pressure in the next inter-Korean talks," Yoo said. "Our government, the South Korean government, has neglected these kinds of issues while inter-Korean relations have improved," he said. While the hearings raise awareness and are positive, Yoo also said there is room for further action on the U.S.'s part _ namely, granting North Korean refugees asylum in the United States. "I am not sure whether the U.S. government will really accept North Korean defectors," Yoo said. During the hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 27, Jay Lefkowitz, the U.S. envoy on North Korean human rights, said he was "hopeful and confidant" that the U.S. would "soon" welcome some North Korean refugees who are hiding in China and elsewhere. Peters said the U.S. State Department needed to "get out of neutral" and allow large numbers of refugees to enter the country. "Lip service is great, and jawboning is great, but the fact is that these people are being ground into the dirt," by both the North Korean and the Chinese governments, Peters said. (reply to this comment)

From steam Wednesday, May 03, 2006, 05:28 (Agree/Disagree?) Boy 36K on arrival. I wonder if Tim Peters gets a refund.(reply to this comment)

from steam Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 05:38 (Agree/Disagree?) If you click on the link you can than click on the article authors name and a "Letter to the editor" window pops up. This is what I wrote: I would like to ask if the writer of this powerful article is aware that the man he venerates is a member of "The Family International" a religous organisation formerly known as "The Children of God". The group has encouraged pedophilia and for decades ran international prostitution rings. I was raised in this group. For more info please see movingon.org P.S Is there any substantiation for the line that he is responsible for bringing "hundreds to freedom"? I ask because "The Family" often makes massively out of porportion claims of good works compared with reality. In fact the directive from leadership to get involved in humanitarian work, called "Consider The Poor" makes it clear that it is the ideal cover for fundraising and to cover the real goals of the cult. (reply to this comment)

From Randi Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 12:02 (Agree/Disagree?) Why would you do that? This might cause some serious problems and discredit the man completely ( it is sad that any association to the TF can completely destroy ones efforts in every way!!) It doesnt really matter what group youre part of... if youre doing something to better the lives of children and helpless innocent people... who cares? If he was a sick pervert, well that would be different. If he was just making a money scam...well that wouldnt be good. He's in NK for C sake. Im sure he means well. There are some good people in TF who are in fact trying to do good. The fact that they succum to Zerby and have fallen prey to a cult , is very sad. I wish they could know that it is possible to help others without TF that there are better places and better people to associate with.. but I admire people who are willing to walk the talk and really do something to make a difference for those in need. Lets not be zealots here. (reply to this comment)

From steam Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 13:24 (Agree/Disagree?) My immediate reaction to this comment is to respond forcefully and negatively, however I took a minute to look at your profile and I am glad I did. I saw you recently posted a moving article regarding things you are going through, and you seem to be a wonderful individual, so I shall respond with with brilliant analytical exposition instead. First just because he is an excellent self promoter who seems to know how to hobnob with US Senators and the media et al, does not mean he actually gets much done for those he claims to help. He at one point got a ton of food into North Korea a month for some unspecified period of time which he never quite explains the length of in his statements to the press and his fundraising websites. I have no idea the total figure on the food, but he claims he stopped the program because it was being diverted in large part to feed the military of that oppresive regime, so it may not have had much positive impact to begin with. He was featured in the Time magazine article as having helped "hundreds" of refugees. A claim which he in no way offers backup for. These are easy to verify if he helped these guys get to South Korea where they are in no danger when speaking out. He never gives any information on how much money he has raised and where it has gone, which any legitimate charity will do in order to be transparent. In fact his whole mode of operation is exactly the way one would expect a scammer to operate, and we know even if his claims were true and he were not getting rich off his promotional activities. He would still be in some respects a scammer because very few of those from whom he seeks support would do so if they were aware he still supports a group that has such a sordid past which they have never acknowledged properly, and such a bizarre current theology and worldview. Further there are people who claim to have lived with him and know him to be someone involved in abbusive practices during JETT trainings. Even if that were not the case, if he really considered the needs of those he claims to be helping such a vital imperative, he would severe all ties with the cult and renounce such things if only to protect the mission which he supposedly finds so compelling. That he has not done so means that he considers allegiance to child abusers and pedophilesmore important than the suffering souls in North Korea that he claims to be devoted to. Another thing you got wrong is that he actually lives in South Korea which is a very progressed country in which he can live very comfortably indeed not North Korea. I do agree with you however that there are good people in the group trying to help others. Even so exposing the most dedicated kind souls who are trying to help the downtrodden as being part of the group may still have a net positive result. It may cause them to realise that no matter how successful a "ministry" they create, due to the fact it is built on deceiving those involved, it is always in jeopordy of crumbling around them at any moment. This might make them eventually consider whether there missplaced allegiances are worthwile. Even if they do not reconsider, others who see it may have the seed of doubt planted, and thereby it can erode the hold that Zerby and Co hold over their followers.(reply to this comment)

From Randi Thursday, April 17, 2008, 00:09 (Agree/Disagree?) Thanks for the compliment. I don't know the guy… but I will say that things are not that black and white. Remember, a lot of us, just before exiting the cult ourselves, were actively involved in charity and humanitarian work. Attempting to save abused kids from a life on the street or whatever it was we were doing. Some of us were pretty damn good at hobnobbing with the "right" people to get the resources we needed…I can also say that some of the money we raised went into our own survival. I don’t know about everyone…but the people I worked with were sincere. If any ex member at that time were to try to discredit what we were doing… simply by advertising our attachment to a cult, publicly… it could have destroyed everything we were trying to do to make a difference. ( I too hope that Family members will finally get the point that their attachment to the cult is a detriment to their good works...not a help!! In regards to publicity, its bad news and undermines and contradicts their intended purposes.) The fact that he is now a human rights activist but was previously involved with some weird jett training camp is certainly an ironic twist.... I hope he remembers "where he came from." However, if we have a chance to right the wrongs we have made, isn't it better to do it in this life? ( I believe in reincarnation) I would simply mind my own business, and I would try to rationalize it from a utilitarian perspective… if it is doing some good, saving lives etc…. LET IT BE!! (reply to this comment)

From Samuel Thursday, April 17, 2008, 03:51 (Agree/Disagree?) LET IT BE...huh? Thank you very much, Randi, I have been waiting about a year to direct people to The Smoking Gun for this entertaining article, and you have given me a reason to do so. June 1, 2007-- Before his sentencing earlier this year on a felony burglary conviction, Andrew McCormack filled out a form which asked for a "recommendation as to what you think the Court should do in this case." The Montana man, 20, wrote, "Like the Beetles say, 'Let It Be.'" Well, that response did not sit well with Gregory Todd, a 56-year-old District Court judge (and Fab Four fan). In a sentencing memorandum--a copy of which you'll find below--Todd first corrected McCormack's misspelling and then schooled the young defendant on the band's discography. But in the end, Todd sentenced McCormack to just three years probation, and ordered him to perform community service and pay a fine. McCormack is pictured in the above Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office mug shot. (2 pages) http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0601071beatles1.html The judge was apparently a Beatles' fan. His response can be found at that link. And about your conclusion, I feel the same way the judge does. If we were to "Let It Be" we would be ignoring the harm that The Family has done, the tithes that are going to known child abusers, and we are basically allowing the lies to continue. In fact, the lies are only going to get worse, they always have every time The Family has been brought under scrutiny. (reply to this comment)

From Just an observation here. Thursday, April 17, 2008, 03:47 (Agree/Disagree?) Family care foundation purports to be a legitimate non-profit charity organization. They receive donations and grants. Donations and grants often given for specific purposes. If any of that funding is used for anything other than Aid and Charity purposes, that would be nothing short of a scam, wouldn't it? A lot of the so called charity and humanitarian aid work is really just a cover for communes that have relocated from developed countries, at times because the members of those communities are security risks in the west. I.E. they could be arrested and tried, possibly found guilty, and now that wouldn't be good publicity would it? Better to hide them in some third world country under the guise of charity and volunteer work. I used to do business with Aid and Charity organizations in the African continent. I've been there. The homes in third world countries are actually much wealthier than what we grew up in. In the past everybody had to earn their own living. Now you can live in a third world country, put up a mock charity, receive a grant, and spend your days wanking off to Jesus. Now, you say, "if it is doing some good". "IF" a word much deserving of attention. --- From FCF's 2007 report. "Among the Family Care Cambodia projects undertaken in Phnom Penh is the support of a Child Protection Shelter that is home to 35 children, mostly girls, between the ages of 5 - 17, who have been rescued from abusive situations or sexual exploitation." Now, compare that to Lord Justice Ward's judgement which reads "I am totally satisfied that there was widespread sexual abuse of young children and teenagers by adult members of The Family, and that this abuse occurred to a significantly greater extent within The Family than occurred in society outside it." --- Would you give say 100 bucks to some guy who is helping poor sexually exploited girls in Cambodia? Maybe. What IF this guy actually participated in "widespread sexual abuse of young children" some years back? How do you know IF the guy is clean, when TF have actively destroyed evidence and protected abusers from prosecution? (reply to this comment)

From Randi Thursday, April 17, 2008, 11:58 (Agree/Disagree?) That is my point... no I probably would shy away from helping or supporting anyone who was connected to a group like TF...that is a sad truth and in this case, I doubt that that is a good out come for anyone concerned. Try to look at the situation from all sides. Put yourself in the shoes of those who are being rescued or helped. Do you think they could care less what organization he is part of? At this point... I think not. I tried to think of the times when I was a young teen in some crazy abusive victor camp. Shut off from the outside world, didn't know where my parents were etc. Lets say if I wasn't completely brainwashed.... I would have been grateful for someone like him to come and rescue me. No more beatings, no more deprivation... what a dream that would have been. It would be sad to take that away from someone... that's all I'm saying. Maybe 'you' are right to draw attention to his affiliation to the cult...Perhaps he has sordid intentions. I just doubt it... I do however agree that it is discomforting that a person who willingly joined a group where the term "human rights" was none existent... and was most likely of the devil, and to think that now he has been crowned as one of the leading human rights activists...it is a twisted thought. Yet if he is really doing something good over there, I wish him well all the same. I know that many homes are just bullshitting and using all this charity work as a facade to get the support they need, or just to give people an excuse as to WTF they are doing there...I do not agree with that!!! It just sounds like this guy means business. In this case I would say that "the end, justifies the means." (reply to this comment)

From steam Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 17:07 (Agree/Disagree?) Just one short observation on your comment: "That is my point... no I probably would shy away from helping or supporting anyone who was connected to a group like TF...that is a sad truth and in this case, I doubt that that is a good out come for anyone concerned" How would you feel if you gave to such a charity and then found out the truth later? What if the person is/was a member of NAMBLA and in fact a minimum of 10% of your donation went there? I think anyone who solicits donations should give a full accounting of what they are supporting with it. A potentialy good outcome of all his money drying up would be that he cuts ties with cult leadership, and begins a bit of transparency on his money making machine. Which may or may not be wildly succesful, but which he seems to want to keep very hidden from public view.(reply to this comment)

From vix Thursday, April 17, 2008, 13:26 (Agree/Disagree?) I find your conclusion interesting because I had planned to write a comment yesterday saying that I think it's a dangerous step to start maintaining that the end justifies the means, whatever the situation. While I find that emotionally I would like to agree with you (who wouldn't be all for ending oppression and saving the needy?), I find that my rational reaction is that, no, it should not be that easy for someone to erase their history. While I can relate to the way you are thinking, I do not believe that helping people justifies dishonest means, and I will continue to maintain that the donations this individual receives should not be passed on to The Family without complete transparency. Like you said, not much in life is black and white, but I know which side I want to err on. (reply to this comment)

From Randi Thursday, April 17, 2008, 13:59 (Agree/Disagree?) Black and white as in right and wrong... but right might not always be good at the time. (reply to this comment)

From Randi Thursday, April 17, 2008, 13:51 (Agree/Disagree?) I am also generally of the opinion that the end does not justify the means... that is why I said in this case. I certainly do not agree with this man handing over any percentage of his donations to TF... it is a sick thought that Zerby and Peter would recieve any of that money.. I am with you completely on that!! I am just saying that we shouldnt be too quick to "be right" whilst subsequently sabotaging what seems to be a worthwhile mission. And once again, it is often necessary to focus on the individual and not merely the group or associations. (reply to this comment)

From Odd Thursday, April 17, 2008, 12:35 (Agree/Disagree?) I both agree and disagree with you. Maybe that Cambodian girl would prefer help from an abuser than none at all. Where I would draw the line would be, whether the group or member is currently a threat or not. I consider TF to currently continue to pose a threat to the vulnerable. My reasons for this conclusion are very clear. 1. TF and the perpetrators/predators within the group have not been held accountable for their actions. 2. TF has not recanted their doctrines that caused the "widespread abuse of children". What is accountability? Now if TF officially recanted their harmful and abusive doctrines, cooperated with the relevant authorities, removed all past perpetrators and enablers responsible, made peace with all victims, and henceforce communicate with society in a transparant and legal manner, I would consider them a clean organization. By this I mean they acknowledge both to the "GP" and their ex and current members that they did sollicit and encourage criminal abuse of minors. By this I mean they name every letter and passage in all of their past publications which are no longer part of their doctrine. By this I mean they hand over all existing records of reported abuse to the law enforcement agencies of the territories where the criminal incidents took place. By this I mean they provide the authorities with names, aliases and locations of any persons implicated in criminal activities, past and present. By this I mean they permanently excommunicate every single member who has participated in the criminal abuse of minors. By this I mean they permanently excommunicate and cease to receive spiritual guidance from, all TF leadership who promoted the criminal abuse of minors. By this I mean they provide a center of communication for all abuse victims. By this I means they provide all victims who can reasonably be recognized as such, with adequate assistance to proceed with their scarred lives. By this I mean they disclose their tax records and discontinue and recant their policy of deceivers yet true. When all this is done, I would consider them a clean religious organization, conducting humanitarian aid work. A denial is not sufficient. They must recant. They need to recant their "we can't recant" GN (And hopefully burn all tapes with that horrid excuse for a song recorded on it). I would not trust for one minute that they are actually helping anybody, when they have in essence stolen the lives of so many. Want to help a starving child in some third-world country while your own flesh and blood is struggling to survive daily ridicule and ostracization from a society he wasn't groomed to adapt to? Handing out wheelchairs when that child you raised ten years ago is living on daily medication and therapy, contemplating a gruesome termination of her own life just to escape the memory of what you did back then? Do you feel this somehow balances karma out for you? I'd like to ask them. What they sell looks like bull, smells of bull, last I knew tastes of bull, to me that means its bull. I don't buy it.(reply to this comment)

From Randi Thursday, April 17, 2008, 13:38 (Agree/Disagree?) That was very good!! I think though that you should focus a little bit more on the the individual here instead of the the group that he was/is affiliated to. You keep refering to they, I have only been talking about an individual. Is he an abuser? (reply to this comment)

From Oddie Thursday, April 17, 2008, 14:15 (Agree/Disagree?) My understanding is that Tim A. Peters is in his own words, "a proud member of TF". I'm sure you understand I'd have concerns about the character of an individual who can be proud of even being associated with an organization like TF, much less a full fledged member. Unless his membership in TF commenced within the last decade, there would be no way he is unaware of TFs harmful doctrines, practices, and illegal activities. As a member of TF in any capacity, he would likely be tithing. If he is financing TF in any capacity while knowing well that TF refuses to make good their past, he is in essence, an enabler. If he is using any good reputation he has to promote or lobby on behalf of a harmful organization, he is in essence, an enabler. If there was a neighbour on your block who ran a soup kitchen on donations, then secretly shuttled resources to say Al-Qaeda, what would your assessment of his character be? What if he openly stated his support or affiliation with such an organization? Would you suggest the world let him be, because he doesn't personally drag the jagged edge through another man's larynx or plug lead in a woman's thorax? Because he helps people? Which would weigh heavier for you? Maybe that's an extreme analogy. Cry foul if you please. As a matter of principle, I do not support or tolerate someone who enables, protects, or defends a perpetrator. If a cent of the funding he is receiving as donations is being used to sustain his lifestyle, his work is not voluntary. It's a job with compensation. If a cent of any monies received by him is sent towards the administration of TF, he is enabling a cruel and unrepentant organization. If a cent of any monies received by him towards his so-called Aid project is transferred to TF in any way, he is a con artist, fundraising by way of deception, for a law-breaking abusive organization that continues to repress and corrupt it's own youth. As long as he chooses to identify himself as a member of TF, he will and should be judged as a component contributing to the collective damage unleashed by TF. Judged solely on his own merits, his choice to support and enable TF display at the very least, very bad judgement. In either case, he would not be someone I would give monies to, or suggest others do.(reply to this comment)

From Randi Thursday, April 17, 2008, 23:37 (Agree/Disagree?) I understand your sentiments though I find them to be slightly fanatical.... I understand where you are coming from. I suffered a great deal in TF myself, and in some ways am still dealing with the damage... but I refuse to let an experience or group of religious -fanatics- impair my judgement (completely), even towards them. I just think youre a little too focused on what is right and wrong, rather than what is doing some good. I didnt hear that he was proclaiming himself to be a proud member of TF, where did you read that?... I didnt think we were aware of his status. Ill bow out graciously now...You guys do what you think is right...In any case, I hope those poor people get rescued...and I hope whoever finds it within themselves to help those people, will be successful. (reply to this comment)

From vix Thursday, April 17, 2008, 13:17 (Agree/Disagree?) Excellent comment, glad to see you back. (reply to this comment)

From rainy Thursday, April 17, 2008, 12:41 (Agree/Disagree?) Oddie I'm waiting in Chat(reply to this comment)

From jezz Thursday, April 17, 2008, 01:51 (Agree/Disagree?) Most family members are "sincere" - that is why they are so brainwashed. Maybe you grew up in a different part of TF then I but it was only about saving "lost souls" where I was. We did sing a few slimy songs at an orphanage or delinquent center here or there. We did not offer any actual services to these children - even though we used their pictures to elicit donations. We "saved" their "souls" and handed them posters. That was it. All donations received went to our living expenses and TF leaders. (reply to this comment)

From Randi Thursday, April 17, 2008, 10:52 (Agree/Disagree?) How do you correlate sincere with brainwashed? (reply to this comment)

From jezz Thursday, April 17, 2008, 13:24 (Agree/Disagree?) For example, most family members sincerely believe that Berg was god's endtime prophet. That's brainwashing to me. When I was a young child, I begged people for money in exchange for a poster. I sincerely thought that I was "saving" "lost souls". The posters warned these people about the end of the world and even had a prayer that would get them into heaven. The least they could do was give me a donation for our "charity" work. I would say that I was brainwashed. (reply to this comment)

From Big Sister Saturday, April 19, 2008, 14:12 (Agree/Disagree?) I think it's more like Family members sincerely believe they are somebody special. Members I have met appear to get a great deal of gratification and ego-stroking from being chosen to be in god's endtime army and being exempt from following basic rules of society. The brainwashing is being unwilling (lack of character & perhaps indicative of childhood abuse) and unable (cult power to impoverish, distract and isolate members) to observe outside evidence that the endtime army is BS; that they are actually NOT entitled to ignore the rules of society and that they are being taken advantage of by their so-called leaders. Oh, sorry for that very long sentence!(reply to this comment)

From jezz Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 21:50 (Agree/Disagree?) Also, if he is still in the cult, he is tithing. MM, FM, BM whatever the status is, they all must tithe. Anyone who tithes to TF, is supporting child abusers. No matter what "good" Tim Peter's claims to be doing, those who donate to his "charity", have no idea that a percantage of their donation goes directly towards supporting a well known child abuser. (reply to this comment)

From vix Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 14:14 (Agree/Disagree?) I'm liking the paragraphs ;) And thumbs up to what you said. (reply to this comment)

From cheeks Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 13:16 (Agree/Disagree?) I could be wrong about the point here but, basically this man was doing the very thing he is now trying to rectify. I can't speak for his victims I was never one of them and don't personally know any. The reality is Victor camps were horrible things to go through and he shepherded one. These were not fun places to be, they treated us worse than most criminals are treated today and we were children. Perhaps he is trying to better himself and make up for that time in his life. But just like being a guard in one of the Nazi camps it does not matter how old you are and what you have done since then, we remember and it is very hard for us to forgive.(reply to this comment)

From starving children Wednesday, May 03, 2006, 17:53 (Agree/Disagree?) First of all I know Tim Peters. He is a good man & whether or not he is still a part-time member, I don't know. But I do know he is there in Korea doing this project with his wife alone. There are no other family members there in the country helping him. He definately did not recieve any "derective" to get involved in humanitarian aid to "cover his real motive of fundraising & cover the real goals of the cult". When Tim was a full time member he was actually advised by family leadership to leave Korea becase it was too dangerous to be there. This was YEARS ago. Tim could not leave this country that he loved & it was at this time that he wanted to help the victims of the North. To me, reality is this: There are THOUSANDS of childrem dying of starvation in North Korea. I feel it's very noble for Tim to be risking his life to help these people. There are no other family members there helping him, he's the only one putting himself in harms way to feed & help people. Of course I wish he would completely dissasociate himself with TF. I know a few good people in TF who I wish also would, but I love them unconditionally. If you do not know Tim & what he is doing, why would you write a letter like that to the editor? You & I both grew up in the family we both know that there was a whole lot more to the Family than "the running of prostitution rings, etc". The lot more that we knew was that there were genuine people in the group that were doing real missionary work. Sure there were other assholes, but there are assholes everywhere. I don't understand this need to slander everybody who has ever had anything to do with TF, especially when they are basically on their own, doing what you or I are not doing to help the real victims of the world. (reply to this comment)

From jezz Thursday, April 17, 2008, 11:14 (Agree/Disagree?) "Sure there were other assholes, but there are assholes everywhere." This comment is So naive that I have a hard time believing that you are not in TF. If you truly are not, you most definitely are still brainwashed. (reply to this comment)

From cheeks Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 13:20 (Agree/Disagree?) I think this is why anonymous comment don't benefit anyone. Frankly we don't know who you are and you are not credible. You could be the man himself. I think it is just dumb to post such a lengthy comment and not put your real user ID.(reply to this comment)

From steam Thursday, May 04, 2006, 15:10 (Agree/Disagree?) While I appreciate the fact that "starving children" are speaking up for this Tim Peters fellow. If you won't identify yourself there is no way of knowing if you are telling the truth. However let us begin by assuming you are from your perspective. Yes there was more to "The Family" than a short letter to the editor can explain, but I just wanted the editor to get enough interest to do his own research. In addition it is very surprising there are no Family members in South Korea for safety reasons as you have asserted. This seems highly unlikely, and makes your statements almost certainly not based on accurate data. That you would say living in South Korea is somehow "risking your life" is really straining credulity. As far as renouncing "The Family", sorry but if he supported it for so long and is asked to renounce it, the least he could do is renounce it if he doesn't agree with it any longer. I hate this concept that he can claim such concern for others and not at least admit that this organisation lead by pedophiles (although at this point they are almost certainly not actively involved in their former crimes) is wrong. As far as him being a good man, I don't know him at all, but since no one has jumped on a "yeah he was a horrible abuser" bandwagon, I will give you that possibility. He is not worthy of that great press if he still supports so strongly such a destructive group. In addition I don't like his deceptiveness is his portrayal of himself, it smacks of being a huckster. Actually what I said about the "Consider the poor" directive is a GN that started all these ministries. Tell me you don't remember the letter.(reply to this comment)

From S.C Thursday, May 04, 2006, 16:47 (Agree/Disagree?) I was in south Korea when we were all asked by leadership to leave. I'm am friends with one of his Children, so I think I know who is there. However I would not like to give my name. --Sorry. While I don't think living in South Korea poses a great risk, I do feel that Tim's work with the North is pretty dangerous. (reply to this comment)

From steam Friday, May 05, 2006, 06:44 (Agree/Disagree?) I do understand the rational if you know one of his kids and he is in general a "good" person. To feel a bit protective, and I believe you that at some point Family members were asked to leave. However I don't recall a time in the last decade that South Korea's political situation took such a turn for higher risk. Is there a possibility that there was wind of coming persecution as I don't think there was any mass exodus of other "christian organisations". Also Family members almost always creep back in, are you sure there is no one else. Tim probably got evacuation exception as he confirmed his status in the Family about four years ago to me. Ask his kid if he will now publicly state he is not a member. But reply to my point of him not making his charities financial statements public as well, please.(reply to this comment)

From interesting. Thursday, May 04, 2006, 17:48 (Agree/Disagree?) Why, to me it sounds like they made South Korea one of those "no-fly zones" where they bar other Family members who might "burn out" a place where someone has a ministry they value and want to protect, or might otherwise make a Family connection obvious. Leadership "asking" people to leave. Very interesting indeed. (reply to this comment)

From steam Thursday, May 04, 2006, 15:24 (Agree/Disagree?) After posting my comment I realised I wanted to say more about being suspicious of his motives. I visited his Website (helpinghandskorea.org)To see if there were any financial statements to give you an idea of how much they bring in and where it goes. NOTHING Nada zilch. This is something we are used to from "The Family" however it is not at all the way most serious charities work. He can skim any amount he wants of what he gets, for whatever he wants. Someone give me a good reason other than not wanting donors to know the truth, not to give a financial statement breakdown. He has a "ton a month club" etc, and great publicity working the media, he could be pulling in fortunes who knows? Nobody that's who, -and he seems to like things that way.(reply to this comment)

From AndyH Wednesday, April 26, 2006, 06:30 (Agree/Disagree?) Talk about smart spending, you give a girl $1500 bones and all of a sudden your bringing hundreds to freedom. That's sensationalism for you, the media doesn't care whether they're being accurate as long as its a good story. Don't you think it would be better to direct them to xfamily.org instead of here? Its just that they have so much evidence compiled whereas this site is more of a forum. Just a thought.(reply to this comment)

From steam Wednesday, April 26, 2006, 10:56 (Agree/Disagree?) Good point on website. In future I will direct them to exfamily.org as it has a better layout for a researcher.(reply to this comment)

from steam Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 05:25 (Agree/Disagree?) A few years ago he wiggled his way into a Marie Claire magazine article about all his good works and how to send him money etc with his email in the article. I wrote and said that I was sure he did good work, but that he is being dishonest if he receives money from people who he knows would never give if they were aware that he was in The Family etc, I also asked if he was still in The Family. He admited he was in, but went into the whole "I do more good work than you so shut up" routine. Maybe he left since then, but I highly doubt it, and if he did I doubt he repudiated it. He sounded like a "true believer". (reply to this comment)

from Jedran Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 04:36 (Agree/Disagree?) Tim Peters has been out of the Family for several years I believe although they didn't mention that bit in his life history. Isn't the Battle hymn of the Republic the same music they used to play for the Family's anthem? (reply to this comment)