Pastor Jan Willem M. stands before the court today in Groningen. He is suspected of repeatedly sexually abusing of a woman. The suspect was for a long time the person in charge of the Dutch branch of the Kwa Sizabantu Mission. He also preached until recently from a Christian center in the north of the country. The 54-year-old pastor is suspected of repeatedly sexually abusing a woman from 1999 to 2010. According to the indictment, the abuse allegedly took place when she was between the ages of 16 and 26.
During the mentioned period, the accused held a high position within Kwa Sizabantu Mission (KSB). This interdenominational foundation was founded in the 1960s by Erlo Stegen, who died in 2023 deceased Erlo Stegen. KSB wanted to equip believers and be a revival movement within churches. From that movement, the victim allegedly had a dependency relationship with M.
KSB’s center was in Kwasizabantu, from which the foundation takes its name. The movement began in South Africa but expanded to several countries. Starting in 1988, KSB also organized conferences in the Netherlands that attracted a wide audience attracted: from the Pentecostal movement to the Old Reformed congregations.
From the year 2000, however, there was much criticism of the movement. For example, followers would be made too dependent on the leadership of Erlo Stegen and there would be no room for dissent. Sexual abuse would also be kept under wraps. Others saw influences of the traditional Zulu religion reflected in the meetings. As a result, many adherents left the movement.
Jan Willem M., who was responsible for the Dutch section, defended the foundation against these allegations for a long time. Until recently, M. was still preaching through an interdenominational Christian center in the north of the country, which was previously under KSB Netherlands, but is now independent.
Vandaag NIEUWS, 16.7.2024