Oklahoma Teenager Charged with Sexually Abusing Kenyan Orphans during Mission Trips

By Lauren Leigh Noske 23 Jul, 2014 17:03 EDT

Kenya Sex Abuse - Matthew Lane Durham — Matthew Lane Durham, 19, faces federal sex abuse charges after he allegedly admitted to abusing children at a Kenyan orphanage where he was volunteering. (Facebook)

Matthew Durham is being charged with engaging in sexual activity with several young children in an orphanage during recent trips to Kenya.

Charisma News reports that the nineteen-year-old has volunteered at the Upendo Children's Home, which houses neglected and disabled children, several times. Durham had requested to stay at the orphanage with the children during his most recent trip to Kenya, rather than with a sponsor family off-site.

Durham allegedly molested both girls and boys between ages four and ten. He was confronted by a caretaker at the missionary home, and confessed to several instances of sexually abusing the children. The Edmond Sun reports that one of the children was HIV positive, and that Durham also admitted to struggling with same-sex attraction and child pornography.

The Oklahoma teen is held without bond until a preliminary hearing on August 1, and it is not known whether authorities will attempt to extradite and try him in Kenya. It is a federal crime for a United States citizen to travel to a foreign country and engage in unlawful sexual conduct with anyone under the age of 18. Durham will face life in prison if convicted.

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Oklahoma Teenager Charged with Sexually Abusing Kenyan Orphans during Mission Trips

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues

2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.