In a shocking turn of events, a Michigan woman has filed a lawsuit against Ethnos360, a Florida-based missionary organization, alleging she was sexually assaulted by a worker during her childhood in Indonesia. The civil complaint, lodged in Seminole County, Florida, accuses Ethnos360 of failing to protect her and ignoring serious warnings over the years.
Kayla McClain, now 24, claims that Nate Horling, a worker with Ethnos360, abused her between 2005 and 2010 while both families were serving at Ethnos360 posts in Indonesia. McClain asserts that her first encounter with Horling occurred when she was just five years old. The lawsuit details a disturbing progression of abuse, starting with inappropriate touching during playdates and escalating to a sexual assault in a closet in 2009. After these incidents, McClain alleges that Horling silenced her with threats and blame, leaving her confused and isolated.
Horling has denied the allegations, stating through a representative that they are “absolutely false.” Ethnos360’s attorney, David Doyle, expressed that the organization takes such allegations seriously and categorically denies the claims against it.
The lawsuit highlights a troubling history within Ethnos360, which was originally founded in 1942 under the name New Tribes Mission. McClain’s father reportedly contacted Ethnos360’s child safety team in 2012 after noticing concerning behaviors in his daughter. However, the complaint claims that no formal investigation was conducted, nor was any counseling offered to McClain, leaving her without the support she desperately needed.
Ethnos360 has faced multiple allegations of mishandling child abuse cases over the years, with survivors accusing the organization of covering up numerous incidents stemming from mission-run boarding schools in Senegal and the Philippines during the 1980s and 1990s. The organization has apologized and settled several lawsuits, but critics argue that their child safety training and protocols remain inadequate.
In a landmark 2010 report by Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE), the organization criticized Ethnos360 for its failure to appropriately address abuse allegations. Boz Tchividjian, who oversaw that inquiry and now represents McClain, stated that Ethnos360 has faced abuse allegations repeatedly yet has not fully corrected its practices.
McClain’s journey back to the United States in 2018 was marked by trauma, as she began experiencing flashbacks and depression, ultimately attempting suicide the following year. In 2021, she reported her abuse through an external review panel commissioned by Ethnos360, participating in several lengthy interviews. The lawsuit claims that the mission did not provide counseling or report the allegations to child protection authorities. McClain is seeking over $50,000 in damages and a jury trial, declaring, “I’m tired of being quiet and tired of being invisible. They need to be held accountable. I want the silence to stop.”
As this case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency within organizations, especially those that serve vulnerable populations. The Christian community is called to reflect on these events and ensure that the safety of children remains a top priority.
For more information on child protection in faith-based organizations, you can visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway or explore resources from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.