[Vision2020] Church Works Toward Recovery Following Arrest

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (November 13, 2006) Moscow-Pullman Daily News -

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Church works toward recovery following arrest; New Hope Baptist Church plans
to renew its vision

By Ryan Bentley, Daily News staff writer
Monday, November 13, 2006 - Page Updated at 12:00:01 PM

Moscow's New Hope Baptist Church plans to reach out to the community and not
fade away after being rocked by last month's arrest and extradition of its
pastor.

Dan Boone, of Pullman, chairman of New Hope's leadership board, said the
church recently met to accept William Malgren's resignation. Church members
also decided to move forward and renew the church's vision.

Moscow police and Ventura County, Calif., sheriff's deputies arrested
Malgren on Oct. 4 after California authorities issued a warrant that alleged
sexual abuse of a child.

Malgren pleaded guilty on Oct. 18 to two counts of lewd acts on a child
under 14 and two counts of lewd acts on a child under 16.

Mueve Fox, senior deputy district attorney for Ventura County, Calif., said
Malgren, 52, faces up to 11 years and four months in prison.

Boone said Malgren should take responsibility for his actions, but the
church has not abandoned him. Church members continue to pray for both
Malgren and his victim.

"What can you do?" Boone said. "When a building is burned down, you rise out
of the ashes and rebuild. That's what we plan to do."

Boone said directors with the General Association of Regular Baptists will
meet with church leaders this week to help form a new mission.

Boone said the congregation tentatively decided to focus its ministry toward
college students. Boone said the church is perfectly situated near downtown
and an empty building does not further its faith.

Boone started attending the church three years ago. He said he had no reason
to suspect Malgren of any misconduct.

Boone said Malgren started at the church six years ago. Members of the
hiring committee were aware of some situation in California, Boone said, but
nothing came up when they researched Malgren's past.

"I don't really know what happened," Boone said. "The people that made the
decision are not at the church anymore. We don't know how they made their
decision."

Boone said the arrest and allegations have brought church members closer
together. He said the congregation has reached out to provide support to the
Malgren family.

Boone said people in the church try to look beyond their shock and emotions
and focus on spreading their faith.

"There are a lot of people out there," Boone said. "No shortage of chances
to reach out."

Moscow Assistant Police Chief David Duke said no one in the Moscow area has
come forward with reports of sexual abuse by Malgren.

"I'm optimistic," Boone said. "We will continue to look toward the Lord.

"This whole situation may be a mystery to us, but it's not a mystery to
God."

Although the sexual abuse happened decades ago, the female victim contacted
the sheriff's department in recent months, Fox said. Detectives then taped a
conversation between Malgren and the victim and decided it was enough to
arrest him.

A precedent set in another case allowed California prosecutors to overlook
the statute of limitations and charge Malgren with the crimes.

Fox said the abuse occurred between 1983 and 1989 in California. The victim
was a student at Thousand Oaks Baptist School while Malgren was pastor of
Thousand Oaks Baptist Church.

The abuse began at the school when the victim was 7 years old and continued
until she was 14.

Malgren resigned as pastor of the Thousand Oaks Baptist Church in 1989 and
has since been involved with churches in Washington, Iowa and Idaho, Fox
said.

Malgren's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 5, Fox said. He is being held in
lieu of $1 million bail.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho


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"Sins can be committed in ignorance, and the fact that they were committed
in ignorance doesn't cause the sin to just disappear . . . "

- Princess Sushitushi (September 10, 2006)

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