I have now observed two criminal trials for Tom Chantry. It was an experience I shall never forget. While it was gut-wrenching to sit through the testimony of the victims and their parents, I am glad I did so. It was my privilege to witness these courageous individuals whom have suffered so terribly at the hands of Tom Chantry.
Tom Chantry, the “sick, twisted, monster” who terrorized young children while masquerading as a Christian pastor, has now been convicted of six felonies. His colleagues in ARBCA have covered up his crimes for nearly twenty years. They recently published an apology of sorts for Tom Chantry, though they stubbornly failed to mention their roles in this destructive tragedy. Below are the powerful responses to the ARBCA statement by two of Chantry’s victims.
Victim 1
May 10, 2019
Upon reading ARBCA’s “Official Apology” posted yesterday, May 9th, I am at a loss of words.
These won’t be kind words, in any shape or form. First, I would like to point out – as a victim in this case, I still have yet to receive any sort of personal apology whatsoever from the AC of ARBCA or its affiliates – if that doesn’t scream hypocrisy, I don’t know what else to say on that matter. In fact, I wasn’t aware there was an official apology released until it was brought to my attention by a trusted source. I found their statement repugnant, arrogant and self-righteous, which was expected.
I won’t accept this as a genuine apology. I honestly think it’s far too late to even receive or accept one at this point. The damage has been done, far beyond the lack of concern of these men in their high thrones of a close-minded, self-serving and fruitless association. They are only sorry that their reputation has been scathed, and have been publicly shamed for their involvement – as they should be! I hope that the awareness of their involvement grows rapidly, and to their own detriment. The high tower they dwell in needs to crumble down, unable to be built back up again. They harbored, protected, and provided many paths to a predator for years beyond the hurt that this monster inflicted on myself, my family, and the other families involved. These men should not be trusted, and I grieve for those who still blindly and faithfully follow their dark footsteps. They are far from men of God in my eyes. They fear men above Christ, and use His word for their own taking to mask over their faults. It’s repulsive at best.
Those of you who are reading have to keep in mind that these men did not vouch for us. Not once. Instead they mocked our parents and blamed them for entrusting us in Tom’s care. Our parents were broken and wrought over what Tom had done. They looked to these men for guidance and comfort. Instead it was met with condescending suggestions, and we were left without any sort of counseling. They swiftly hid this giant corruption under a rug and let it fester for nearly two decades. What I can only describe as mind-blowing is that these same men who not only had documentation of the accounts that took place at MVBC many years ago (which were used in both trials many times, all parties aware of the paper trail that was left of this matter) yet had the gall to call the victims and our families liars! They knew every detail and did absolutely nothing to resolve the major issue. Instead they chose to side with a child molester, a child abuser, a man who brought hell on earth to many. They praised his “doctrine”, worshiping him much like a false idol. They lifted him and exalted him above innocent helpless children. They put his cares, desires and needs first.
We, the victims, suffered in silence for many years. We feebly tried to navigate through our individual lives coping with the pain and horror that we experienced. It has affected us all in countless ways. We are still coping, still trying to get by and live our lives without the presence of evil that lingered over all of us like a dark cloud. After many years we understood nothing would be resolved, and had to deal with it in our own ways, and still are dealing with it to this day. Despite their soggy and vapid excuse of “increasing education on mandatory reporting laws” and to “have initiated and reconsider the organizational structure and documents of our association” is a flippant and lousy lie in itself. They had documentation. They spoke to us, the victims, individually, in person. They saw the fear, the shame, and the guilt we all felt as young children. Yet they chose to “seal” all reports and kept the darkest of them from public eye and amongst each other, knowing truly that Tom was doing these abhorrent acts for his own pleasure.
Despite all of these facts, they still to this day deny involvement or admit any fault. As frustrating and angering this is to myself, and to others involved, I have peace in my heart knowing this is not the end. No stone will be left unturned. God has been faithful in shedding a broad light on this association, and I trust He will see that all nefarious acts this association harbors will be revealed. These men are not above reproach, no matter how many bible verses they will try to use in their favor or to place as a smokescreen to hide their wickedness – justice will prevail. It did prevail here on earth in Tom’s case, and I can only hope that the sick, destructive and hideous acts Tom committed towards us and others will be a testament to those who are still in support of him – God has your number, and there will be a reckoning.
Victim 2
May 10, 2019
This letter is to the men and women of ARBCA, especially to the leaders of the organization. After reading the “Apology Statement” released by the delegates of ARBCA, I can only laugh in bewilderment at the lies that spew from this wretched council. As a victim of this case, I have never once been given a genuine apology, formal or informal by any member of ARBCA or its affiliates. This “apology” was sent to me by a trusted source, which I would’ve never received if this trusted individual hadn’t sent it to me in the first place.
The statement to no one’s surprise is arrogant, selfish and the words, hollow at best. I don’t accept this apology and I never will. The pain that I as a victim had to endure for nearly two decades shows you had no care to begin with. Tom is in jail for inflicting the physical, mental and emotional pain we had to endure and the men that covered it up, who helped in the conspiracy, should absolutely be in jail as well. Your crimes are just as heinous as his and you all know it.
The only reason for your “apology” is to save yourselves from what little reputation you have left in your self-righteous, loveless, hopeless and empty organization. And you should be apologizing! You should be begging for forgiveness not only from us but from our Creator, who is willing to let you roam the earth and feed fruitless words to sheep who are too afraid to leave this wretched organization.
The truth prevails always and for that I am thankful, because your lies and your deceitful ways are finally coming to light. To those who may be reading this, please keep in mind, the council and the leaders of this organization are not men of God, in my opinion. They corroborated and covered for Tom, a pedophile, from the beginning because he was a “prodigy on the pulpit” in his teachings. His teachings were never of love or of grace by God or anything resembling nurturing to the soul. They were messages of fear, anger and to be obedient or eternal damnation was your only fate. And those messages continued more so in secret under Tom’s “care” for us kids.
Can you imagine, being afraid to tell your parents of being beaten so hard by your pastor? To be so afraid because he said your parents wouldn’t believe you and that he was the only one who could protect you after beating you so hard you could barely sit? And then to “comfort” you by forcing you to hug him with his legs spread open after rubbing your beaten bare bottom.
I have news for you, God is loving, God is forgiving but God is also just. And His justice shall rain down on the men and women who helped cover for this arrogant, deceitful and wicked monster they call a friend. In fact, the letter they posted recently reads almost exactly as it felt nearly twenty years ago; hollow and condescending. A pat on the back to each of you, for literally doing the absolutely least amount of effort for all to see!
When the informal council came to receive our statements of what happened in 2000 after Tom ran away into the night they gave us “their most sincere apologies” and “would never let Tom be brought back to the pulpit.” They fooled us children and our parents after we had put our faith into men that had no intention of sparing us victims of the grief and pain of Tom’s actions. In fact they belittled and mocked our parents for letting us be in Tom’s care. No form of counseling, no reassurance of anything and they sealed away any evidence they could of the situation altogether. And with that evidence they tried to hide, they also helped Tom regain his power back to the pulpit. They exalted a man, over the God they claim to praise first.
When the evidence was brought into court, they thought they so slyly hid from anyone, they proceeded to call us liars! They knew of every action Tom did and proceeded to call us, the victims, liars. It’s laughable, really, because these wolves have unveiled the actual liars and wickedness they so fondly preach about. And to think those men who teach God’s Word would rather side with a child molester, an abuser, a foul monster should come as a surprise, but not to me.
With time our wounds have slowly healed, but with healing it never covers the wounds. They will always leave a scar, which makes us stronger in the end. Each of us victims have made our own paths and have worked through the pain within ourselves and with our families. It has not been an easy road leading up to this moment, but through the pain, suffering, tears shed and heartache we have finally seen the justice we hoped for.
We are strong, we are resilient and we will see through that our stories and the truth are told, forever. You men lied and continue to do so by not taking any of the responsibility for covering up for Tom. Walt is probably so proud of your help to cover for that prodigal son. Kudos to you all who deny helping out a pedophile. Your work is truly courageous. I hope the outcome of this case made it all worth the work you did to protect someone as vile as he, instead of believing the victims and the families that had to suffer.
My heart is so broken and hurts because I trusted you. I trusted you, Bob Selph. I trusted the men you said were going to help protect us kids from harm. You told me over the phone that they’d help us, don’t you remember? Have you no shame? And John Giarrizzo, you were a part of my life in my teen years. You knew the entire time what happened to us as kids and you continued to stand up for a known pedophile after? We loved you and your family and thought of you all as our own. It disgusts me knowing you’d rather lay your life down for a child abuser and molester rather than report him to the authorities from the beginning. In fact, you sheltered him after he fled. Each of you men, truly disgust me. You’re not men, but cowards.
I hope those reading this need to know I still have work to do in my own heart about this situation. I may never come to peace with this. Do you blame me, though? Those men used scripture as a smoke screen to protect themselves from being questioned about their involvement with Tom. And they used scripture to attack us victims, who they once claimed to have loved and cared for. It’s truly despicable, but I have faith that God has shed light on it all and their selfish and arrogant acts will not go unseen. They are not above the laws here on earth, and they will never be above the laws of heaven, no matter what their status may be in the church.
I hope and pray those who are still members of ARBCA, protect yourselves and your children from these men. They have no interest for your well-being on earth and never will. Believe what us victims have said, for it is the truth and the truth will always prevail.
2019-5-10 Two Victims Respo… by on Scribd
2019 Statement of ARBCA Ge… by on Scribd
Tom Chantry’s longtime friend and enabler, Don Lindblad.
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