Assemblies of God churches shielded accused predators — and allowed them to keep abusing children
By Mike Hixenbaugh and Elizabeth Chuck ~
This article is part of “Pastors and Prey,” a series investigating sex abuse allegations in the Assemblies of God.
A children’s pastor was caught filming girls in a church bathroom in Arkansas. Elders suspended him for a few weeks.
In Illinois, a preacher was accused of sexually abusing children. Church leaders sent him to therapy rather than call police.
In California, a worship minister went to prison for molesting boys. His congregation threw him a party when he returned.
All of these men remained in ministry in the Assemblies of God, the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination. All went on to abuse more children.
Since the 1970s, Assemblies of God churches have repeatedly reinstated ministers and volunteer leaders accused of sexual misconduct, returning them to pulpits and youth groups
[...]
Survivors say they were violated in sanctuaries, at pastors’ homes and in tents on camping trips.
Read the entire NBC news article here: LINK. Watch the video of the reporting below.
A children’s pastor was caught filming girls in a church bathroom in Arkansas. Elders suspended him for a few weeks.
In Illinois, a preacher was accused of sexually abusing children. Church leaders sent him to therapy rather than call police.
In California, a worship minister went to prison for molesting boys. His congregation threw him a party when he returned.
All of these men remained in ministry in the Assemblies of God, the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination. All went on to abuse more children.
Since the 1970s, Assemblies of God churches have repeatedly reinstated ministers and volunteer leaders accused of sexual misconduct, returning them to pulpits and youth groups
[...]
Survivors say they were violated in sanctuaries, at pastors’ homes and in tents on camping trips.
Read the entire NBC news article here: LINK. Watch the video of the reporting below.