News

December 2022 Update on the Investigation of Historical Abuse at the Christian Academy of Japan and Survivors’ Retreat

In 2019, upon learning of allegations of historical child abuse at the Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ), TEAM and other founding organizations, including CAJ, jointly commissioned an independent investigation into the allegations. In February 2022 a report from Telios Law was released, concluding that substantial evidence existed that child abuse had occurred at CAJ. 

TEAM is profoundly sorry to all the CAJ alumni who suffered and grieves the harm they endured. They and their families are at the forefront of our minds and hearts. We are fully accountable before God for the treatment of students under the care of former staff and missionaries and for the failures of TEAM directors to intervene on behalf of these children. 

The investigation overseen by Telios Law resulted in ten recommendations offered by an independent review council. TEAM accepted all ten recommendations, one of which was to fund and participate in a Survivors’ Retreat. This gathering took place in November 2022. Representatives of CAJ, TEAM, and four other mission agencies gathered for training and a time of repentance. This was followed by a joint session with survivors, listening to their stories and bearing witness to their pain. 

TEAM continues to support ongoing efforts to collaborate with CAJ alumni in addressing restorative steps of alumni and the future safeguarding of children under TEAM’s care. Our deep desire is for the healing of affected CAJ alumni, including contributions to a fund for counseling to provide care and resources for abuse survivors. 

The learning from this painful experience serves to increase our resolve to adhere faithfully to TEAM’s present child safety policies and to periodically review them, doing all we can to ensure that no child under our care will ever again endure such injustice. 

TEAM’s leadership continually prays for the healing, comfort, and restoration of the affected CAJ alumni, their families, and those who share their burden of suffering. For information on the investigation, including a report on the Survivors’ Retreat, please visit https://teliosinvestigations.com/investigation/christian-academy-japan. 

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One-on-One on Toronto’s Missions HubChristianity Today, 12/26/2020Missions Hub is a network of mission agencies, churches and groups on the University of Toronto campus that are committed to sharing the Good News of Jesus.

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Zimbabwe’s Doctors Strike Makes Mission Hospital a ‘Last Port of Hope’Voice of America News, 12/12/2019As the Zimbabwe doctors strike continues, desperate patients are increasingly seeking treatment from Karanda Mission Hospital, an outreach of TEAM.

Give Us This Day Our Daily CatchChristianity Today, 11/27/2019TEAM missionary Steve Dresselhaus shares the vision for his recreation and creation care ministry, Reconciliamar.

For more information or to speak with TEAM’s Media Specialist, please contact  communications@team.org.

TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) is a global missions agency that partners with the global Church to send disciples who make disciples around the world. Its goal is to establish missional churches in places of spiritual need to the glory of God. Since 1890, TEAM has sent thousands of workers to countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and South and North America. Today, over 575 TEAM missionaries serve in church ministries, healthcare, education, creation care, community development and other outreaches.