Has anyone heard of the missionary organization, Adventures in Missions (AIM)? I recently published a book entitled, Missions, Mysticism & Magic: A Closer Look at the Missionary Organization, Adventures in Missions (April, 2012), on Kindle (Amazon.com). It's a small, inexpensive, 80 page, easy to read book exposing the beliefs and cult-like methods of this organization and, primarily, its founder, Seth Barnes, a Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) graduate.

I first heard of this worldwide organization which is based out of Gainesville, GA when my niece and her husband decided to go on an eleven month mission trip with them. Being a researcher for approximately 20 years on the ways in which the occult has infiltrated churches and Christian schools, I wanted to know more about who my relatives were going to be with for almost a year. What I found was shocking.

Combining concepts from the New Age Movement, the Emergent Movement, and various Charismatic/Pentecostal streams, he, and other leaders of AIM, are indoctrinating young adults (who are their target) into Eastern mysticism, the occult, and socialism. The objective of AIM, according to Barnes, is “to thrust over-protected young people out into the world to formulate their own world view and collide with their destiny.” Intensive training is provided (during which they are encouraged not to contact their families). These naïve young people are to “leave their belief systems behind” when they go on to the mission field—yet, they must place full trust in AIM's staff leaders who guide them on their “journey.”

The “Western concept of God” is mocked, capitalism is looked down upon, and in its place, leaders of AIM are teaching them the rightness of social justice (socialism), that they are “becoming God with skin on,” and must change themselves in order to transform the world, fulfill the Great Commission, and bring in God's Kingdom on earth, among other things. From the subtlety of the required practice of “listening prayer” (occult meditation), to the promotion of the occult belief of alchemy, minds of participants are being turned toward a different worldview and an occult view of who God is. Other beliefs include being able to acquire on the powers Jesus had, including raising the dead.

I hope anyone reading this who is involved with AIM, or knows of others involved, will heed my warning.

If anyone has any pertinent information regarding this issue, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Claris Van Kuiken
Author: Battle to Destroy Truth: Unveiling a Trail of Deception
Contributing Author and Researcher for: Trojan Horse: How the New Age Movement Infiltrates the Church

Dear Claris,

I am also looking for information. My daughter graduated last Dec and is 24 1/2 has decided she wants to go on this trip. Never mind that she has bills, a dog and committments that make a whole year more like running away. She knows of a couple of kids who have gone and are going soon so she sees pics and comments on facebook all the time. I have been feeling so disturbed about the whole thing. She knows this but hopes we change our minds. I think its the seemingly obsession with going and the disrespect of our opinion..When I found your letter to Ingrid and then the ebook, I felt that you have helped me understand why. Thank you so much for all your work. I am praying about when and how to present this information to her. She usually can tell when things aren't quite right. I think she has high hopes of being healed and finding herself etc. that she is willing to overlook other things...

I am trying to find other parents who are aware of the danger of this ministry, or a support group or something. It seems hard to find anything. Have you heard from anyone or know any new information. I would like to keep in touch if you have the time. Thank you so very much.

Sandra Vaughn

Dear Sandra,

Thanks so much for writing and letting me know that my book has been of some help to you! I understand your frustration and concern. I just visited with a friend of mine whose grandson went on one of AIM's trips and is also very concerned for him. Sad! She's trying to get him to read my book. It would be so useful for your daughter to read BEFORE she joins in with AIM on a mission trip. I hope and pray the Lord leads your daughter to do so! If she does with a prayer for insight and discernment from God and tests everything against Scripture, her eyes, God willing, will be opened. Maybe, not right away--but hopefully soon. The leaders of AIM are false teachers and are deceiving young adults who, at their age, are vulnerable--wanting to feel important and loved. Some, are in a rebellious stage and this group has much appeal to them. While these leaders claim to want to help young people find themselves, they are taking advantage of their situation and feeding their egos with beliefs and practices that will ultimately lead them to believe a different gospel--one that will help usher in the New Age of Aquarius leaders like Luciferian David Spangler are hoping for.

I found an article by Zoe Erler (7/28/2011) that Adventures in Missions partnered with the emergent Catalyst Conference on the "role of social justice in the gospel story." This was a redefining of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration in which particpants learned "about four great social ills: unsafe water, slavery, orphans, and poverty." Of course, once again, the whole focus is that they can help restore creation back to its "created state." This is socialism-- and its partner, occultism, seem to go hand in hand from what I've read over the years, just as occultism and Nazism are joined together at the hip. It shows just whose behind the movement, doesn't it?

Please feel free to contact me anytime! And, if you have any more questions, concerns, or would like more info on something particular, let me know. If you need my e-mail address, please let me know as well.

I will be praying for you and your daughter! I would be very interested in knowing how she reacts. Try to ask questions gently--questions that will make her think about what this group is actually teaching.


Claris
p.s. Do what you can to spread the word around both about AIM and my book as I believe it is the only one out there showing the deception of this mission organization!

Dear Claris,

Yes I would love to have your email! It's so hard not to be able to contact the people I am finding information from. I actually came across your letter to Ingrid through the Sola Sisters website. They have a page on AIM then at the bottom there was a link to the letter. I'm not sure how I found your book but I do hope she will read it. It is helping me understand what is beneath it all. I have contacted some christian research organizations in hope to get the word out. One was" well some good some bad" not committing and the Lighthouse Trails has said that they have gotten a few calls and thinks its time for an article!! I mentioned your name as well. We'll see how that goes but Im praying about when and how to talk to her about it in case she is defensive. But we just got through another christian issue before graduation, 1 year ago, now this. She is will be moving back home in a few weeks so I hope to have time with her then, but I'm not sure if I should wait. I felt that I needed to understand more myself before I try to talk about it. But it still boggles my mind that this is happening.

Thank you for your parayers. Much needed! I wish there was a way to start a group for concerned parents to pray for our kids and speak out together. It is under the radar and not much info. But I saw on Seth Barnes wesite the 11 books for 11months recommended. Number 10 is Richard Rohr. There were other names I didn't recognize and some I did. Still need to research them but the one guy was enough! I pray God helps us do what He wants in this and can use us to rescue 1 person at a time. Thanks Claris!

[Moderator's note: It is agains the rules of this message board to post contact information. There is a private messaging system]


p.s. I don't have a kindle so I read it on my computer. Do you have any plans of being able to print it to be able to get it out to other people?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2012 08:47PM by rrmoderator.

Hi Sandra!

Saw the moderator's note so--just use my e-mail address that's found on the copyright page of my e-book--it's towards the bottom of the page and I'll make sure I check it!

I talked with Lighthouse Trails and tried to get them to provide a link to my letter almost a year ago. They gave me a reason why they could not put it on their website, but did encourage me to get it out. I also sent them a PDF file for my book (if I remember right)--or I sent them a note about it. I didn't hear back from them at all. Perhaps they've changed their minds. I know Ingrid Schlueter was very disappointed that Lighthouse Trails didn't do so for their own personal reasons--which didn't have anything to do with the main contents of the letter. Please pray that Lighthouse Trails prays about it and decides to do a review of my book. Maybe, I will talk to the editor again
and see if I can change their minds. I'm hoping to get my book in print soon--probably will just order a hundred or so since it will be out-of-pocket.

What is happening boggles my mind too! It would be unbelievable except for the fact we know God warns us this will happen! I haven't had a chance to check Barnes' posts lately, but I will definately check out those books! I'll let you know if I find anyone else besides Rohr that I know. It is so tragic that young people are falling all over this stuff without thinking it through. I do believe some go on these mission trips partially for the "adventure" of it. The word, adventures, makes it sound like so much fun, exciting, a trip to get away from home, etc. It's all too appealing to them. Couple that with the idea that they can change the world, have all the powers Jesus had, feel needed and loved by their "team" and new "family," and you have the potential for spiritual disaster if one is not alert and well-equipped to stand firm.

Have you asked your daughter what she knows about Adventures in Missions yet (very innocently, of course--not mentioning my letter or book)? Or, if her friends researched the organization before they decided to go with them? Does she know much about the New Age/Emergent movement? When you talk with her--try to keep the conversation as light as possible. It's not easy to talk against something your kids want to do or see their friends doing. And they HATE to be wrong about anything! I hope she's receptive and understands you're just looking out for her because you love her!

Hope to hear from you soon. When I find out where you're at and get your e-mail address, we can discuss this a little more freely.

Take care!

Claris
p.s. I know about Christian issues--we've had to go through many and it's not easy!

Recently, Jeff Goins, now communication director for Adventures in Missions, has published a new book. Unfortunately, I heard his interview with Chris Fabery on Moody Bible Institute's radio station (out of Chicago, IL) promoting his book that was, unbelievably, published by Moody Publishers. I haven't read it yet, but will be soon. What a way to appeal to young adults who may have no clue as to what Goins has actually been "preaching." If you would like a deeper understanding of how Eastern/occultic mysticism is infiltrating this mission organization, please read my book, Missions, Mysticism & Magic: A Closer Look At The Missionary Organization, Adventures in Missions.

Sandra,

I have a 21 year old daughter who has been talking about this group for several months. I had hoped that the pricetag would cause her to lose interest, but instead it seems to have turned into an obsession. I have remained ignorant about the whole thing until now, and am just scratching the surface as I begin my research. What I'm reading is scary and now I am looking for help. My daughter is planning to take the 2014 trip, after graduating from school. I have some time, but am afraid I have wasted too much time already. If you have any information not already posted in the chats with Claris, I am asking that you please share it with me. Did your daughter take the 2013 trip?? If so can you share any details of that with me? You are the first source I am reaching out to. I pray your daughter is safe..

Bill

Bill,

I happened to look up Rick Ross Institute today and saw your comment. I've been in touch with Sandra. I do know her daughter decided not to go. She was SO relieved. It would be good for you to hear her story of how this came about. I don't know if you have done so already, but just doing a search on Adventures in Missions & The World Race you will find blogs by former World Racers--or those who are on the race now and be able to read their posts. Many examples are given in my book (above). Of course, when you read some of their blogs, they will sound like a great opportunity for a Christian to witness. And, others, well, you will see the subtle ways in which these young adults are being led down a path of deception. Some will be strong and discerning enough in their faith to see through this if they've been taught discernment about these things in the home. However, young people are, of course, young in their faith, and much of what is being taught sounds so Christian and good, that by the time they get out of that 11-month long trip, whether they realize it or not, many will have been introduced and indoctrinated into a different gospel. I hope you hear from Sandra soon. If I can be of help, please let me know!

Claris

Bill,

Just a p.s. to the note above--I will be keeping you and your daughter in my thoughts and prayers! We are in a tremendous spiritual battle today and the young are especially being targeted by New Age/Emergent leaders in all different areas. People can't seem to grasp Jesus' warnings about false teachers/prophets and false christs. They listen to what their "itching ears want to hear." I pray your daughter's eyes will be opened and she will--after doing some research of her own, will see the deception taking place. Keep encouraging her to test everything!


Claris

Claris,

Thanks for your response. I'm very happy to hear about Sandra's daughter. I downloaded your e-book last night and read it. More armor for me. It is a blessing. While being afraid for my daughter at the moment, I am optimistic for several reasons. I have 10 months before her trip, she's a good kid and listens to me and her mother (most of the time), and she clings to her strong upbringing in the church. She has been very involved in Campus RUF, and I can probably go her campus minister for support if needed. I do wonder how she heard of this group and wonder if the campus ministry is aware of AIM. One of the next items on my agenda...

Hopefully I can get this successfully resolved within a month or so. If I do, I want to say in advance that your efforts are part of the solution. Without your research, I would not have 1/10th the understanding of this insidious group, that I now have.

Thank you so much for bringing me this far. If you don't mind, I'll keep you updated.

Bill