REGARDING  DR.  SAMUEL  KORANTENG-­‐PIPIM    To  the  Ann  Arbor  Seventh-­‐day  Adventist  Church  Board  Members  (meeting  on  May  21,  2012)  [this  was  updated  on  June  6,  2012]:    The  following  information  is  only  a  brief  summary  of  what  I  learned  recently  (in  April  2012)  while  I  was  in  Botswana,  Africa,  after  spending  hours  listening   to  and   talking  with  on-­‐sight   trustworthy  Adventists   involved  on-­‐the-­‐ground  with   this   tragic   situation  –   including   the  Church  Elder  who  assisted;  the  fourth  person  in  the  vehicle  with  Dr.  Pipim,  and  with  the  21-­‐year-­‐old  girl  with  whom  Dr.  Pipim  had  immoral  sexual  relations.  I,  as  well  as  some  of  these  dedicated  Adventists,  also   listened  to  the  phone  recordings  which  the  young  girl  made  when  Dr.  Pipim  called  her  –  clearly,  this  young  girl  was  not  in  agreement  with  what  Dr.  Pipim  did  to  her.  On  the  recordings  the  young  girl  questions  Dr.  Pipim  about  various  aspects,  and  he  struggles  to  explain  himself,  or  ignores  her  question.    So,  it  was  with  great  sadness  that  I  heard  the  following  account  of  a  clear  case  of  clergy  sexual  abuse/misconduct  that  transpired  there  in  Botswana  in   January   2011.   And,   since   serious  misinformation   has   continued   to   circulate   regarding   this  matter,   and   since   I   am   very   concerned   about   the  physical,  emotional  and  spiritual  welfare  of  others  (especially  young  people),  I  am  compelled  to  let  you,  my  fellow  Adventists,  know  the  following  information  (so  that  appropriate  action  may  be  taken  for  all  concerned):    1. JANUARY  2011.  In  mid-­‐January  2011  Dr.  Samuel  Koranteng-­‐Pipim  was  the  speaker  for  a  Bible  Lecture  Series  (i.e.,  like  a  Week  of  Prayer)  at  the  

University  of  Botswana,  in  Gaborone.  In  addition  to  speaking/preaching,  Dr.  Pipim  provided  counsel  for  those  requesting  such.  Prior  to  these  meetings,  the  organizers  had  arranged  for  a  private  meeting  room  on  campus  right  near  the  venue,  so  that  Dr.  Pipim  could  counsel  students  there;  and  so  that  they  could  monitor  the  counseling.  However,  Dr.  Pipim  refused  to  use  this  room  –  claiming  that  students  didn’t  always  show  up;  so  he  demanded  that  they  arrange  for  a  hotel  where  there  was  a  suite  and  internet  access  –  this  hotel  ended  up  being  about  15-­‐20  minutes  away.  So,  the  organizers  arranged  for  a  taxi  to  be  at  Dr.  Pipim’s  disposal.    

2. FRIDAY.  On  January  21,  2011  this  20-­‐year-­‐old  female  student,  who  was  actively  involved  in  organizing  and  leading  out  at  those  meetings  by  Dr.  Pipim,  came  to  him  for  help  with  a  deeply  personal  problem.  Before  she  had  become  an  Adventist  less  than  nine  months  earlier  she  had  been  involved  in  some  sexually  inappropriate  activities.  She  was  still  feeling  guilty  about  this;  and  in  spite  of  her  commitment  to  Christ,  had  begun  to  doubt  her  conversion  experience.  So  she  now  came  to  Dr.  Pipim  for  counsel.  They  met  in  his  hotel  lobby  that  Friday  where  he  counseled  her.  She  was  satisfied  that  all  counseling  was  complete.  

 3. Then  later  Friday  evening,  Dr.  Pipim  came  to  the  young  lady  again  and  conversed  with  her,  and  mentioned  a  sermon  of  his  from  the  previous  

week  –  which  she  had  missed  because  of  a  visiting  relative.  Dr.  Pipim  urged  her  to  come  back  to  his  hotel  to  get  that  CD.  (Obviously  Dr.  Pipim  could  have  brought  her  the  CD  on  Sabbath  morning  –  but,  he  did  not).  

 4. SABBATH.  On  January  22,  after  Dr.  Pipim  ended  his  Bible  Lecture  Series  on  Saturday  night,  Dr.  Pipim  asked  the  young  lady  to  come  back  to  his  

hotel,  accompanied  by  this  Adventist  adult,  to  pick  up  the  CD  of  Dr.  Pipim,  which  he  said  he  wanted  her  to  have.  This  Adventist  adult  felt  that  this  request  seemed  rather  strange  since  Dr.  Pipim  had  himself  asked  to  have  a  meeting  the  next  morning  (Sunday)  with  church  officers  and  all  the  organizers  (including  this  young  lady)  –  when  Dr.  Pipim  could  have  easily  given  her  the  CD  in  person.  Nevertheless,  trusting  the  well-­‐known  speaker,  this  Adventist  adult  drove  Dr.  Pipim  and  the  young  lady  to  the  hotel  –  only  to  pick  up  the  CD,  and  not  for  counseling.  [This  Adventist  adult  confirmed  to  me  that  he  took  this  young  lady  to  Dr.  Pipim’s  hotel  only  to  pick  up  the  CD,  and  not  for  counseling].  

 5. Fully  expecting  that  Dr.  Pipim  would  give  the  CD  to  the  young  lady,  and  then  immediately  send  her  back  to  campus  with  the  taxi  (which  was  at  

Dr.  Pipim’s  constant  disposal)  this  Adventist  adult  left  them  and  went  to  drop  off  another  student  at  home.  So  Dr.  Pipim  took  this  young  lady  to  his  hotel  suite,  where  she  expected  to  pick  up  the  CD,  and  then  go  home  right  away  by  taxi.  However,  once  there,  Dr.  Pipim  began  to  engage  in  some  disturbing  actions:  He  delayed  giving  her  the  CD,  and  asked  her  if  she  wanted  to  take  a  shower.  After  she  refused,  he  then  took  a  shower.  Then,  postponing  giving  her  that  CD  even  longer,  he  told  her  to  rest  in  his  bedroom  while  he  packed  his  bags  for  the  trip  home  the  following  afternoon.  Totally  exhausted  from  the  meetings  and  then  a  long  Sabbath,  she  fell  asleep  fully  clothed,  still  patiently  waiting  for  that  CD.  

 6. SABBATH/SUNDAY.   Later   that   night,   startled,   she   awoke   to   find  Dr.   Pipim   touching   her   inappropriately.   He   ignored   her   pleas   to   stop,   and  

emotionally  and  psychologically  overpowering  her,  he  forced  himself  on  her  sexually  (intercourse),  which  was  against  her  wishes.  She  asked  him  if   it  wasn’t  a  sin  against  God  and  against  his  wife.  But  it  had  no  effect.  She  lay  there  with  tear-­‐stained  face,  in  shock  for  hours,  and  then  drifted  off  to  sleep  –  only  to  be  awoken  early,  and  again  Dr.  Pipim  forced  himself  on  her  sexually  (intercourse),  which  again  was  against  her  wishes.  

 7. Before  Dr.  Pipim  had  her  leave  his  hotel  room,  he  gave  her  some  of  his  books  and  CDs  –  including  the  CD  which  she  had  gone  to  pick  up  in  the  

first  place.  Then  he  handed  her  US$100  which  made  her  feel  like  a  prostitute.  And  then,  before  daylight,  he  sent  her  away  before  people  would  notice  her  leaving  the  hotel.  

 8. Despite  engaging  in  this  shocking  behavior,  just  a  few  hours  later  Dr.  Pipim  showed  up  to  lead  out  at  the  organizational  meeting  which  he  had  

arranged,  so  they  could  reflect  on  his  Bible  Lecture  Series.  At  this  Sunday  morning  meeting  were  church  officials,  the  Adventist  adult  (who  had  driven  them  to  the  hotel)  and  the  young  people  who  helped  to  organize  and  lead  out  –  including  the  victim.  Yet  Dr.  Pipim  acted  as  though  he  had  done  nothing  wrong  at  all,  and  showed  no  outward  signs  of  remorse.  And  the  young  lady,  still  in  a  state  of  shock  (and  blaming  herself,  as  many  victims  do)  remained  quiet.  

 9. A   church   elder   soon  noticed   that   the   young   lady  had   gone   through   a   radical   personality   change  overnight,   literally.   This   friendly,   outgoing,  

sweet  person  had  become  sullen,  quiet  and  withdrawn.  This  elder  kept  trying  to  encourage  her,  but  she  refused  to  talk.  In  the  meantime,  Dr.  Pipim  sent  the  victim  many  emails  (including  photos  of  himself)  in  which  he  now  continued  to  spiritually  and  emotionally  abuse  her.  He  claimed  that  she  was  “one  of  the  main  reasons  the  Lord  sent  me”  to  the  University  of  Botswana  (email  of  4  Feb  2011);  and  that  he  was  her  “admirer”  (Feb  2011),  as  well  as  her  “daddy”  (as  per  a  transcribed  call  from  Berlin,  Germany).  

 10. Eventually,   the   victim  opened   up   to   the   concerned   church   elder   and   told   him  what  Dr.   Pipim  had   done.   Shocked   by   this   revelation,  which  

explained  the  radical  change   in  her,  he  urged  her  to  talk  to  a  pastor;  but  she   immediately  “freaked  out”  replying  vehemently  that  she  never  wanted  to  talk  to  another  pastor  again  (because  of  what  Dr.  Pipim  had  done  to  her)!  

 11. Later,  after  she  agreed,  the  church  elder  informed  the  same  Adventist  adult  (the  one  who  drove  them  to  Dr.  Pipim’s  hotel),  who  also  listened  to  

her  story.  This  Adventist  adult  then  took  her  to  some  church  leaders.  Because  her  allegations  were  about  Dr.  Pipim,  the  leaders  found  it  difficult  to  believe  what  she  conveyed  to  them,  and  they  asked  her  for  substantial  evidence.  Thus,  when  Dr.  Pipim  called  her  again,  she  simply  recorded  their  discussion  on  her  mobile  phone,  and  gave  the  recording  to  these  leaders.  

 12. They  had  no  question  that  the  recordings  confirmed  that  Dr.  Pipim  had  had  sex  with  this  young  lady  against  her  wishes,  as  she  had  told  them.  

These  leaders  then  referred  her  to  higher  church  leaders.  When  they  too  listened  to  this  young  lady’s  account,  and  then  heard  the  recordings  –  they  too  realized  she  was  telling  the  truth.  This  information  was  then  passed  on  to  the  next  church  level.  A  major  church  leader  then  contacted  Dr.  Pipim  to  inform  him  about  what  they  knew  and  had  proof  of  with  the  recordings.  With  all  of  the  irrefutable  evidence,  Dr.  Pipim  conceded  that  he  did  have  immoral  sexual  relations  with  this  20-­‐year-­‐old  student.  

 13. In  Botswana  they  kept  a  low  profile  on  this  matter,  seeking  to  not  drag  the  good  name  of  the  Church  through  the  mud,  while  at  the  same  time  

trying  to  help  the  victim,  whose  account  of  events  that  dreadful  night  has  remained  consistent.      

14. In  contrast,  however,  Dr.  Pipim  has  chosen  to  publicly  share  his  frequently  changing  and  distorted  version  of  his  crime.  For  example,  whereas  his  counseling  session  with  her  was  on  Friday  only,  he  now  claims  that  a  “desperate  woman”  came  to  him  for  advice  on  that  Saturday  night.  Also,  Dr.  Pipim  alleges  that   there  was  no  other   time  to  help  except   that  Saturday  night   (even  though,   if  he  needed  to  counsel  her  more,  he  could   have   done   so   on   Sunday  morning   or   later   before   he   flew   out   in   the   afternoon).   Also,   Dr.   Pipim   now   claims   that   his  mistake  was   in  allowing  a  young  lady  into  his  room  –  yet  Dr.  Pipim  is  the  one  who  had  orchestrated  time  alone  with  her  at  his  hotel,  late  on  Saturday  night!  

 15. There  are  several  other  concerns  regarding  Dr.  Pipim,  some  of  which  I  will  briefly  note  here:    

A. On  the  recordings,  Dr.  Pipim  says  to  the  young  victim,  “I  accept  full  responsibility,”  and  “would  not,  in  any  way,  blame  you  for  anything;”  yet,  Dr.  Pipim  has  publicly  (in  writing,  speaking,  etc)  blamed  and  accused  her,  repeatedly  –  even  though  he  repeatedly  apologizes  to  her  for  what   he   did   –   but   clearly,   his  main   concern  was   that   he   got   caught.   Is   it   true   repentance  when   he   continues   to   disparage   and   spread  misinformation  about  her?  “By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them.”  

B. And,  Dr.  Pipim  has  repeatedly  claimed  that  it  was  “a  temptation  of  a  moment;”  yet,  it  is  clear  that  his  actions  prove  otherwise.  And  because  he  kept  her  at  his  hotel  that  night,  at  least  the  second  time  he  violated  her,  was  indeed  pre-­‐meditated.  

C. Dr.  Pipim  alleges  publicly   that  he  came   forward  on  his  own  with  “candor”  and  “integrity;”  yet  he  kept  his   crime  a   secret   for  about   four  months,  until  he  was  confronted  with  irrefutable  evidence,  caught,  and  then  he  was  able  to  resign  –  thus  avoiding  being  fired.  

D. Dr.  Pipim  publicly  repeated  the  promise  of  “cancelling  all  speaking  appointments;”  and  yet  he  has  preached  and  spoken  dozens  of  times  in  various  countries,  while  he  was  not  even  a  church  member;  and  allowing  those  who  introduced  him  to  call  him  “pastor”  or  “elder”  or  “man  of  God”.   Furthermore,   he   tells   a   group   of   young   professionals   that   he   “reneged”   on   his   agreement   to   cancel   all   speaking   engagements  (Dallas,  November  2011).  Then,  see  some  of  his  more  recent  ministry/website/presentations  (scroll  down  to  March  18  through  31,  2012),  where  there  is  error  mixed  with  truth:  http://www.jocaed.com/recursos/metro-­‐new-­‐york-­‐mens-­‐prayer-­‐ministry-­‐archive.php  

E. Whereas  previously  he  preached  a  high  standard  of  biblical  ethics,  Dr.  Pipim  is  now  promoting  dangerous  anti-­‐biblical  views,  such  as,  when  one  cheats  on  one’s  spouse,  this  is  a  private  sin  –  and  only  God  and  the  sex  partner  need  to  be  confessed  to  –  and  not  the  spouse;  and  that  that  pastor  can  then  continue  in  fulltime  ministry  as  though  nothing  has  happened.  (This  means  that  a  pastor/person  could  cheat  multiple  times  and  just  confess  to  the  person  involved  and  God,  and  then  just  carry  on  with  the  ministry).    

F. Dr.  Pipim  claims  to  have  been  healed  and  restored  by  God  (so  that  he  can  “minister”  again);  yet  he  has  failed  to  really  make  things  right  with  the  victim  and  her  family.  He  does  apologize  many  times  on  the  recordings  for  what  he  did  to  her  –  yet,  because  he  still  continually  and  publicly  makes  false  accusations,  clearly  he  has  not  made  things  right.  

G. Also,  Dr.  Pipim  alleges  that  what  happened  was  “consensual”  “adultery”  (which  resulted  in  his  removal  from  membership,  his  ministerial  credentials  removed,  and  his  ordination  annulled);  yet,  based  on  evidence  that  he  forced  himself  on  her  sexually  (intercourse)  against  her  wishes,  the  church  has  retained  her  as  a  member  in  full  and  regular  standing  –  and  she  still  holds  a  church  office  as  well.  

 16. In  view  of  concerns  such  as  the  above,  I  would  like  to  urge  all  those  seriously  concerned  about  this  matter  to  prayerfully  consider  what  the  

proper  Christ-­‐like  response  should  be.  The  concern  of  leaders  in  Botswana  (as  well  as  myself)  is  essentially  four-­‐fold:  (1)  For  Dr.  Pipim  to  be  honest  about  what  he  has  done,  to  confess,  and  to  make  things  right  with  the  victim  and  her  family,  etc.;  (2)  For  healing  for  Dr.  Pipim’s  family,  friends  and  former  colleagues  who  have  been  deeply  affected  by  this;  (3)  For  spiritual  discernment  for  the  many  followers  of  Dr.  Pipim,  who  have  believed  his  repeated  manipulation  of  truth,  and  are  now  lapping-­‐up  his  new  non-­‐biblical  teachings;  and  (4)  For  courage  and  strength  for  the   victim   and   her   non-­‐SDA   family,   as   they   continue   the   journey   back   from   this   abuse,   inflicted   upon   them  by   a   professed   pastor,   youth  leader,   counselor   and   global   preacher.  While   in   Botswana,   this   victim’s   uncle/guardian   told  me   that   Dr.   Pipim   has   never   come   to   him   to  apologize,  for  what  he  did  to  his  20-­‐year-­‐old  niece.  

 As  a  pastor’s/administrator’s/professor’s  wife  of  nearly  33  years,  this   is  probably  one  of  the  most  difficult  things  I  have  ever  had  to  deal  with.  A  friend  of  mine  forced  himself  sexually  (intercourse)  upon  a  20-­‐year-­‐old  girl,  twice!  Now  what  do  I  do?  I  want  to  be  supportive  and  encouraging;  yet  I  do  not  want  to  enable  and  encourage  him  or  his  family  in  an  inappropriate  or  unhealthy  way.  But,  since  I  am  also  concerned  about  other  young  people,  and  about  the  church  at  large,  there  is  nothing  easy  about  this  –  either  way  a  friend  is  caught  in  the  middle.  I  am  sorry  it  has  come  to  this,  regarding  a  friend  of  mine  for  more  than  20  years.  I  have  shed  many  tears  over  this  matter,  and  it  is  with  deep  sorrow  that  I  presented  to  you  this  brief  summary.    I  trust  that  the  Lord,  by  His  grace,  will  continue  to  guide,  even  through  this  crisis,  for  His  glory.   Lynda du Preez  NOTE:  Due  to  the  time  lapse,  there  may  be  some  minor/inconsequential  details   in  which  there  might  be  a  slight  difference  of  recollection,  as   is  often  heard  when  witnesses  testify  in  a  court  of  law.  However,  the  overall  basic  truth  of  the  issues  is  corroborated  by  multiple  sources.