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Documents*
Requests of the Board
Request for an investigation and public statement (this was never sent as Steven Koko removed Torben from the process after bringing him in)
Resignations
*Personal contact and financial information have been redacted and all documents were obtained either by those who created them or emailed to us directly by various CFC board members or lawyer emails in 2022
Misc.
One of the women having the contraceptive device removed after getting really sick for taking the plan B pill multiple times at Steven Koko's insistence. Nick and Zulmy took the pictures as they were there for support.
Steven Koko's first public post admitting sexual sin. The misleading information was very upsetting to the victims. For many it was the first time hearing him admit to sexual sin. For those of us who are 3-5 years down the road of that, we recognize it as an attempt to downplay what he's done and leave things open for his future return to a place of influence and abuse.
Communication attempts from the board after the group posted a public letter.
The text showing the board member names was a request to know who we were talking to after Steven Koko brought Torben in as a mediator. We mutually agreed to work through Torben in hopes of them doing a real investigation without websites like this publicly pushing them. The board went around or Steven Koko (we don't know what Steven Koko was actually communicating to the board) Torben as Torben had told Steven Koko that based on what Steven Koko had confessed to him directly that Steven Koko should step down from ministry permanently. Steven's pattern is to go to influential people to convince them of his version and then only keep those who allow him to continue in ministry. He cuts out and even discredits the others. At the time of this websites publishing, Steven Koko has not responded to Torben for over a month.
While in Costa Rica she couldn't leave and Steven wrote on the white board of what he liked and didn't like. The number beside the items is how many hits with a belt she would get if she made mistakes.
Steven Koko and "Sara" dodging check points in Costa Rica in 2020 while Solomon picks them up along the way. She went to marry him, but Steven changed his mind when she got there and Solomon left them alone for over a month.
The message says:
I only ask for the truth
- No sex in Costa Rica
- Nothing against your will
- No 4 hours in cold air. 30 minutes (referring to when he had her stand naked in front of an air conditioner as punishment for not doing what he wanted)
- I'm NOT going to report him. I've already forgiven him, and he forgives me.
After he saw her video, Steven messaged "Sara" asking her to make a video stating 4 things. He had called her and told her she was getting $10,000 as they were closing the ministry. She didn't make the video, she didn't get any money, and they didn't close the ministry.
This one says "How can I send money through PayPal?"
Travelling with "Sara". She isn't sure how many countries he flew her to, but Colombia was the most often. There are 7 passport pages of stamps showing their trips.
Media
Cancun, Mexico December 2018
A picture of one of the pages where she wrote her mistakes up to 100 times.
This was the extent of the investigation CFC did after seeing "Sara's" testimony about what Steven did to her.
Gary maybe was well intended in his message, but he owns a transportation consulting company and to our knowledge has no experience or training in working with potential victims or successfully overseeing ministries who are are facing allegations such as these. There are more things we could say about this message, but we'll leave it at the fact that she never knew Gary and was not comfortable with him or this message. Steven Koko was still in a position of power as well and influencing how the board viewed the situation. Read her feelings on how it was handled .
The partner newsletter that went out after the board was made aware of the abuse and multiple sexual partners. It mentions that Steven is going on sabbatical because of "poor decisions" and that Gary York will take his place as the president of CFC.
Share your story
If you have experienced harm or have concerns related to your involvement with Cities for Christ or its leadership, we want you to know that you're not alone. We understand that speaking up can be difficult, and we are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and confidential space for those who wish to share their experiences.
Know that sharing something doesn't mean it will be made public. Anything we've shared is with the permission and appreciation of the women. Our goal is to help anyone who has felt alone in their pain and/or confusion with how they were treated. Whether you are ready to share or not, know that there are people who care about what you've been through and are praying for your healing in it.
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