After my book was published, I was contacted by several men and women who had also been sexually abused as children while at Prairie Bible Institute (PBI).  My heart broke as I began to hear the stories from so many of these hurting people who had suffered in silence for so long.  I wanted to help.  I contacted Dr. Ted Rendall who is PBI Chancellor Emeritus to see what could be done to bring some validation and closure to the wounds that PBI represented to these people.

It should be noted that Dr. Rendall is no longer in a position of authority at Prairie.  I also want to make it very clear that contacting Dr. Rendall has nothing to do with my book and should in no way imply his endorsement of it.  For all I know, he has never even read it.  I am merely posting this on my website in order to best facilitate the distribution of the information to as many people as possible who may be affected, some who may never contact me.

So much has changed at PBI since the years when these victims were abused and it did not seem that a response from the current administration would be meaningful.  I felt that it was important for these victims to have someone respond who was familiar to them and someone who had been in a position of leadership at PBI while they were there.  It is for this reason, that Dr. Rendall was contacted and he graciously agreed to read the letters and stories of several victims (most of them anonymous) who had finally found the courage to speak up. The following response is directly from Dr. Rendall:

November 25, 2009

Dear Friend:

Linda has shared your tragic story with me, and I trust that you are able to accept my expression of pain because of what you have endured over the years since you were abused, and my anger against those who perpetrated the evil against you.  As you may know, I am now Chancellor Emeritus and have not had a position of authority at Prairie Bible Institute since 1998.  However, I held various positions at Prairie, beginning in 1960 when I was made Vice-Principal.  You will have to accept my word, then, that if your case had been brought to my attention, I would have invesitgated the circumstances and taken action.

To those who, crippled in their faith because of what happened, are still following the Lord:

Let me encourage you that in bringing your case to the Lord, you are accepted by Him, and He assures you that you bear no guilt for what was forced upon you by the person who, while claiming to be a Christian, failed tragically to see you as a child of God and who abused you, and that perhaps many times.  These are the words that I would share with you if I were present with you.

Please be assured of the fact that, although I do not know your name, I will be praying for you to the One who knows all things and can communicate His grace and peace to your heart.

For those who have given up their faith in God and in Christ:

I deeply regret that you have chosen to abandon your faith in Christ because of what took place in your past.  The person(s) who abused you is (are) guilty before God, and most definitely will yet face God's judgment.  The wonderful truth still stands, that no matter what happened in your past life, His love for you has not changed and never will.  The Lord Jesus sacrificially and in great agony gave Himself for you, and that is the highest and comforting Truth.

Please be assured that, although I do not know your name, I will be praying for you to the One who knows all things and is able to pour in healing in every situation.

Sincerely yours,

Ted S. Rendall

PBI Chancellor Emeritus

End of letter....

I would like to personally thank Dr. Rendall for his willingness to read the stories from those who wanted to speak up.  These were difficult to read because of the pain expressed. Nothing was sugar-coated; he got the truth - the whole truth.

I know that no letter can ever undo the damage that was done to us, but it is my desire that with this letter you might some comfort and closure so that you can begin to let go of the past and move on.  I am living proof that God has the amazing ability to restore and restore and restore.  What He has done for me He certainly will do for you.

Please contact me if there is anything I can do to help you in your pursuit of wholeness.