Support Audrey Kauffman

My name is Havah Lynn and I’ve been invested in anti-human trafficking / child exploitation efforts since around 2010. God calls his people to “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8). Too often the church has embraced mercy but ignored justice. But there is no mercy if there is no justice. We have an epidemic of abuse within our churches coming from the highest levels and descending to the lowest ranks. Frequently, it goes unchecked. 


But that is not the way God intended it to be.


I knew Leroy Kauffman (Audrey’s ex-Father-in-Law) as a child. Mike (Audrey’s ex) and I were in second and third grade together. I know a lot of the extended Kauffman family. I love them and care deeply for them.


I met Audrey after she married Mike. We’d meet up at a family funeral or a conference. Our paths intertwined through mutual connections off and on for years. A few years ago, Audrey began to share with me some of what was going on in her home, with her family, and with the church she once loved and tried to please.


As someone who cares deeply about these issues, I tuned in. The fact is, no one initially knew what all had gone down or the lengths it would take to make the aggression stop. We still don’t know the end of the story. We do know that Audrey is fighting tooth and nail to protect and heal her children against an abusive system that has left them wounded and desolate. 


But God heals. He restores. Audrey has chosen to reach out to Christ and His body for that healing. That is a courageous decision, especially considering the church has been the scene of some of her deepest pain.


God calls His people to be active in justice against oppressors AND rich in mercy to those oppressed. We as a church need to embrace and help heal those that have been brutalized by people who claim to represent Christ. WE need to actually represent Christ.


As I have interacted with Audrey I have felt that one big way that the church can care for her and her family is by providing financial relief. To that end, I have set up a Go-Fund-Me account for people who feel called to engage in this expression of love and hope.


Please note the following:

1) This was my idea, not Audrey’s. She agreed to it after consultation with Wilma Fisher who has been intimately involved in Audrey’s situation.

2) Wilma Fisher (Audrey’s Aunt) is local to Audrey and will be setting up a designated account for these funds. She will use them to help pay legal fees and basic necessities of daily life and safety for Audrey and the children. This will provide additional assistance to Audrey as she already has many practical aspects of the cases and life to juggle. 

3) Please do not ask Audrey about this account or for personal details of her situation. We have asked her to direct any questions to either Wilma or I. Legal battles are complicated and messy. Many aspects of a case cannot be publicly discussed. While we support Audrey, we also agree with the foundation of our legal system “innocent until proven guilty.” This means that court cases are often far more complicated and intense that many realize. We want justice and truth to prevail, and for that to happen, we must give Audrey and her team the space they need. Feel free to reach out to Wilma or myself if you have questions.

4) We will post updates as prudence and the law allows. We do want to keep you involved and updated where we can. Your investment makes you a partener, not only of the work of Christ, but also of Audrey and her fight, and we want to keep you in the loop as much as possible.

5) Audrey is receiving very limited support from the children’s father. She is utilizing every resource available to her to help with costs. She is making her children a priority, and this means private school for them, which adds additional costs.
You can leave an encouraging note for Audrey and her children or you can give anonymously.

6) If you do not feel called to this need, we ask that you kindly move on. Again, this case is being legally handled using facts and evidence. Opinions, personal feelings, and vendettas are not helpful to anyone.

7) Finally, please be kind--to everyone. If you know the broader Kauffman family, you know there are a lot of people affected by what is taking place. People process things differently. As an outsider looking on, it may be hard to understand the way outer family members are processing this. This calls for compassion and care for those not directly involved but affected.