The following is an update from the Zero Abuse Project investigators on the status of the Hillcrest school investigation. You can find the original notice about the investigation here: Hillcrest School Investigation.
Summary of the Investigation as of June 2025
In the past six months, Zero Abuse Project investigators have conducted 31 witness interviews; seven additional interviews are scheduled for the next several weeks, and they continue to dialogue with other potential witnesses. By the end of July, they anticipate their investigators will have received more than 75 hours of testimony.
They have also requested documents from Hillcrest school, the missions who signed the cost-sharing agreement, the Hillcrest Survivors Steering Committee, and the witnesses they have interviewed or corresponded with. As of this date, they have received at least 640 distinct documents, with many documents consisting of multiple pages. One document, for example, is 594 pages in length. They anticipate receiving additional documents in the weeks ahead.
The Survey
To assist in collecting additional information, Zero Abuse Project has developed a confidential survey that can be completed by anyone with knowledge they are willing to share with the investigators. They are interested in learning about the experiences of past or present teachers or students of Hillcrest, as well as parents or caregivers who had or have a student at the school. Administrators, employees, governing authorities, missionaries, volunteers, or others with knowledge are also encouraged to consider taking the survey.
If you wish to take the survey, or would like to learn more, click on this link: Hillcrest Survey.
In addition to this public posting of the survey, Hillcrest School and the eight missions who signed the cost-sharing agreement have agreed to assist in distributing the survey to individuals they know who worked at or attended Hillcrest, using the last known address or other contact information. Zero Abuse Project will also reach out to those for whom they have contact information. Mission agencies who are not signatories to the cost-sharing agreement may also assist in distributing the survey, and Zero Abuse Project encourages them to do so. Lastly, the Hillcrest Survivors Steering Committee has agreed to aid in distributing the survey to their contacts.
Zero Abuse Project will keep the survey open for the duration of the investigation.
Victim Advocacy and Support
Questions about abuse can be difficult and triggering. Accordingly, please take care to make sure you are comfortable taking the survey. To support survivors and potential witnesses, the mission agencies have funded an organization called Accord to provide victim advocacy services. Those wishing to contact Accord can do so at advocacy@accord.llc.
Contacting Zero Abuse Project
If you wish to contact Zero Abuse Project before taking the survey or would like to consider being interviewed for this investigation, you may contact them at hillcrest@zeroabuseproject.org.
You can find out more about the ongoing investigation by visiting the Zero Abuse Project website.
We invite the entire North American Baptist Conference to continue to pray over this entire process, particularly for the survivors of any of the alleged abuse.