Xxxxxx < xxxxxx @yahoo.com> 4/27/2005 2:25:09 AM

Mr. Busby:

On 16 February, 2005, I alerted ECFA of a fraud conducted by GFA in Sri Lanka in the wake of the Tsunami. GFA petitioned its Christian donor base under the guise that the Sri Lankan government had asked GFA to take care of 10,000 Tsunami orphans. I alerted you to the truth and you responded with the following on April 24th, 2005:

We have been in contact with Gospel for Asia in recent days. While they initially believed 10,000 Tsunami orphans in Sri Lanka was an accurate number, they agree that the number is significantly less than 10,000. We have carefully reviewed their website and identified needed changes. They have already made most, if not all, of the changes we requested.

After a subsequent correspondence with you directly, where I further substantiated this fraud, you responded to me as follows:

ECFA's compliance process emphasizes the redemptive and restorative Process. GFA has corrected this situation. We will be alert to any other issues of this nature with GFA.

That said, I would like to share an excerpt from today's paper in Sri Lanka, the April 27, 2005, Daily News (page 9):

The most telling factor is the very small number of children who needed to be institutionalized in orphanages or homes after the disaster. According to State records, only 37 children were admitted to institutions of the 1700 who lost both parents. This is a hugely positive indication that Sri Lankan society, regardless of geographical area and ethnicity, still retain compassion and care for victims of so tragic a disaster.

There you have it. Nearly four months and a day after the disaster, a TOTAL of 37 children are being taken care of by orphanages and institutions in this country. I thought about letting this one go; but seriously, this is ridiculous!

It is apparent that the ECFA considers its mandate fulfilled through GFA*s website changes made months after the fact and the collection of funds. Where did the millions that GFA raised go? Did it go to what is now determined to be 37 institutionalized orphans?

Your mandate:

ECFA is committed to helping Christ-centered organizations earn the public's trust through developing and maintaining standards of accountability that convey God-honoring ethical practices.

I hope you improve your batting average.

I can do nothing more for you as an organization to spoon-feed you truth in hope that you may still willfully accept the truth and perhaps act to right this wrong. Your silence will speak for itself.

However, since I have saved all of the correspondence from GFA, K.P. Yohannan, as well as yourself, I do feel that I have sufficient evidence for the western press whom I feel would be interested to carry the story of an elaborate marketing campaign by a professed Christian organization(s) that clearly and irrevocably has financially profited off of the suffering and death of others.

The thief comes ONLY to STEAL and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

I hope to hear from you soon.

In Complete Truth,

Xxxxxx
Acts 20:24

--- Dan Busby <Dan@ecfa.org> wrote:

Xxxxxx,

Thanks for your follow-up.

ECFA's compliance process emphasizes the redemptive and restorative process. GFA has corrected this situation. We will be alert to any other issues of this nature with GFA.

Blessings!

Dan Busby
Vice President
ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability)
A higher standard. A higher purpose.
1-800-323-9473
Fax: 540-535-0533
www.ecfa.org

>>>Xxxxxx <xxxxxx@yahoo.com>
>>>2/27/2005 3:00:52 PM

Dear Dan,

Thank you for your mail. I appreciate the fact that the ECFA is looking into the matter with GFA and K.P. Yohannan. If you are open to the information, I would like you and the members of the ECFA to understand that GFA did not simply make a miss calculation in the number of Tsunami Orphans. They deliberately and intentionally distorted the truth for the purpose of fundraising, utilizing an opportunity and international media perception for their own personal and financial gain. Allow me to elaborate.

On January 12, 2005 GFA issued the following appeal to its donor base in the west:

Dear Fellow Christian,
I am writing to you from Sri Lanka, in the middle of the wasteland left by the tsunami. I traveled here to meet with our leaders and to work on a very important
project, which I would like to share with you: The government of Sri Lanka has asked Gospel for Asia to take on responsibility for 10,000 of the children orphaned in the tragedy. It saddens me to hear reports of people abusing these
helpless children. Because government officials know our ministry, they were confident they could trust us to take care of these little ones.

I had met with the National Child Protection Authority in Sri Lanka the day prior to receiving this e-mail from GFA and had the updated number of Orphans in Sri Lanka, along with an understanding of the government and national protocol for caring for Tsunami Orphans. There were at that point 3004 children that had lost only one parent. The 893 true orphans (lost both parents) were wards of the State, most of them were being cared for by extended family, not GFA. Coupled with the fact that the government of Sri Lanka is overtly anti-Christian, being a Buddhist nation, GFA was clearly deliberately misleading their donors. Not only was GFA*s claim a lie, but their actions put in danger the lives and activities of true Christian organizations in Sri Lanka engaged in legitimate and verifiable relief work in the midst of a delicate balance necessary in a hostile political and religious environment.

The same day that GFA sent out their appeal for funds (January 12th), based on fraudulent claims of activity and support given to the Sri Lankan people, I sent a response to their corporate headquarters in America. I questioned their information, based on the truth and the facts and I gave them 24 hours to send out a revised e-mail to their donor base and make changes to their website. I received an e-mail from Dr. K.P. Yohannan within 24 hours of my mail sent to GFA on January 12th, 2005, that stated the following:

Dear Xxxxxx,

Thank you so much for your email regarding our report on the terrible situation in Sri Lanka at this time. I very much appreciate you emailing us.

Immediately we are making corrections on our web and are sending emails to our friends who received our communication. We have 250 churches in Sri Lanka from which believers, missionary workers and pastors are serving day and night in many of these camps. And it was the local level government officials who asked us to help in many of these tsunami affected areas where we work. The government of Sri Lanka did not request us to do this. It was a misunderstanding on my part.

Thank you again for your help, and we continue to pray that God will continue to show His grace and mercy among these suffering people.

In His grace,

K.P. Yohannan

Please note that in Dr. Yohannan's e-mail to me he stated after being caught in a lie *Immediately we are making corrections on our web and are sending emails to our friends who received our communication.* This was sent to me on January 12th. When you and your team at ECFA reviewed the GFA site you know for yourself that the fraudulent information, particularly the claim about taking care of 10,000 orphans, was still on their site well over a month later. There is a reason for that however: money and a fundraising window. GFA took full advantage of the fundraising window that every NGO utilized to appeal for funds.

Two nights ago I met with the one of the heads from the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka. As it turns out ICRC has recently closed their appeal for Tsunami donations, UNHCR has closed their appeal as well. Numerous organizations and NGOs have closed their appeals, being unable to absorb or facilitate what they have already raised. Furthermore, the worldwide private based donations are beginning to dry up significantly. I don*t doubt that GFA is willing to change their website at this point. The bulk of the fundraising activity for Tsunami relief is now finished. The damage is done. But know for yourselves that GFA has been perpetuating this fraud, knowing the information they were presenting was untrue, for well over a month after promising to withdraw/correct it, before ECFA was informed and began its inquiry.

I have the original communication saved in my e-mail. These communications are electronically dated so it is apparent when they were sent. Included in what I have is a further appeal made by GFA on January 26, 2005, to their western donors where they said:

Gospel for Asia is committed to be there for these children as long as God gives us this privilege. Already, we are responsible for some 10,000 boys and girls who have no one else to turn to. And we are taking this privilege seriously*providing water, food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and the nurturing and counseling these traumatized children require.

I would be happy to forward on all communications that I have from GFA if you are convinced that what they did was fraud of the Christian donor community and if you will assure me that you will work on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka to do whatever you can to help bring about justice for them in the midst of the actions of GFA.

On a personal note, as an American, as a veteran missionary to Asia, and as a consultant and a capacity builder to seven of the largest local Sri Lankan Christian NGOs facilitating several million dollars in Tsunami aid allocated for the next three years I have a question for you and the ECFA.

What do I say to local Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims about organizations like GFA that are being exposed and that claim the name of Christ? What do I say to them when they research for themselves and find that GFA did what they did under the ECFA seal which they proudly display on the web site? What do I tell them is your response and the response of ECFA after knowing the truth? These are not rhetorical questions. I could use some help with answers as I am being asked these questions.

I always hope for honest people in positions of leadership that have the courage to put aside Christian politics and do what is right. Going by Dr. Yohannan's letter dated January 12th, 2005, I do not believe this to be true about him or the leadership of GFA.

I wish I was wrong about that.

Let me remind you of your organization*s mission:

ECFA is committed to helping Christ-centered organizations earn the public's trust through developing and maintaining standards of accountability that convey God-honoring ethical practices.

Your mission has been deliberately violated by one of your members. That trust has certainly been violated by GFA in Sri Lanka. This took place under your organizations seal of approval, without your knowledge.

In Sri Lanka I had a member in leadership in the National Child Protection Authority ask me when this first came out *how they (GFA) could do this?* I would like you to answer that question for me so that I could pass the answer on to her.

The only reason that I have not yet taken this to the press in Sri Lanka or in the U.S. is because of the potential backlash against legitimate Christian organizations in Sri Lanka working in what has been a very delicate situation, capable of becoming violent if spread through a willing anti-Christian mass media here. I am very close to taking all of the facts to the Western press, but I have been advised to restrain myself from doing so for the time being.

You and the ECFA have a position. With it comes responsibility. Ultimately, we are all accountable to Christ. Let us not continue to partner with those whose actions result in God*s name being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of their hypocrisy (Romans 2:24).

I look forward to your response so that I can know how to proceed next.

In Christ,

Xxxxxx,

P.S. I would suggest removing your seal of approval from GFA's site as the carry over to your other partnering organizations is not fair to those that seek to comply with your regulations and guidelines and conduct legitimate and honest ministry. For my peace of mind as a potential donor, assure me that your seal stand for something good.

Thank you for your time.

--- Dan Busby <Dan@ecfa.orgwrote>:

Xxxxxx,

Thanks very much for your email.

We have been in contact with Gospel for Asia in recent days. While they initially believed 10,000 Tsunami orphans in Sri Lanka was an accurate number, they agree that the number is significantly less than 10,000.

We have carefully reviewed their website and identified needed changes. They have already made most, if not all, of the changes we requested.

We will continue to monitor their donor communications to assure truthfulness in fund-raising.

Thanks again for contacting ECFA!

Dan Busby
Vice President
ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial
Accountability)
A higher standard. A higher purpose.
1-800-323-9473
Fax: 540-535-0533
www.ecfa.org

>>> Xxxxxx, <xxxxxx,@yahoo.com> 2/16/2005 12:18:36 PM
>>>

To whom it may concern:

I am writing you from Sri Lanka in the wake of what has been a horrible crime committed against the people of this nation by one of the members of your
association.

Gospel for Asia conducted an elaborate fund raising campaign after the Tsunami under the guise of caring for 10,000 Tsunami orphans in Sri Lanka. It was and continues to be a lie. They may still have it up on their website (http://www.gfa.org) under the list of relief activities.

Attached is a video that has already been posted on the internet (currently being accessed by concerned Christians in the west). Moreover, there is an e-mail forwarding campaign which is spreading quickly amongst outraged Christians who once believed GFA to be a credible organization.

Understanding that you do have an association with GFA (and you have approved them with your seal on their website) I was asked to consider contacting you. I contact you more than anything for the sake of your own credibility as an organization, and that of your other members. As GFA has been exposed those associated with them have also lost a substantial measure of credibility.

I do hope that you care, that there is a course of action that ECFA can pursue against criminal acts, and that the shameless opportunist exploitation that has taken place in Sri Lanka will not carry over to other ECFA members who do not make it a practice to exploit the innocent and the helpless.

I look forward to hearing from you, particularly with what course of action you intend to take.

Sincerely,

Xxxxxx

P.S. If you'd like to check the facts for yourself go to http://www.gfa.org/gfa/tsunamilist, then compare that with what you will find at http://www.cnosrilanka.org/ under childcare.