On Sunday (Dec. 18), protesters gathered outside Rock Church International in Virginia Beach, VA, to call upon the church to remove pastor John Blanchard. Blanchard was one of 17 men arrested last year in a prostitution sting operation, wherein Blanchard allegedly solicited sex from an undercover officer whom Blanchard believed to be an underaged girl. Blanchard’s … [Read more...] about Virginia Church Faces Pressure To Remove Pastor Accused of Sex Crimes
Church
Testimony Calls Into Question How Early Brian Houston Knew About His Father’s Child Sex Crimes
As the trial of former megachurch pastor Brian Houston continues, the testimony of two key leaders who informed Houston of his father’s abuse has revealed that each had the impression that they were the first to break the news to him, despite their conversations with him coming roughly one month apart. Hillsong general manager George Aghajanian also revealed that the … [Read more...] about Testimony Calls Into Question How Early Brian Houston Knew About His Father’s Child Sex Crimes
Matt Chandler Set To Return to Pulpit This Weekend on 20-Year Anniversary as Pastor of The Village Church
Matt Chandler, author and lead pastor of The Village Church (TVC) in Flower Mound, Texas, is set to make his return to the pulpit this weekend following a three-month leave of absence that was both “disciplinary and developmental.” Chandler’s temporary removal from the pulpit arose from the revelation that he had engaged in an inappropriate, though not sexual or … [Read more...] about Matt Chandler Set To Return to Pulpit This Weekend on 20-Year Anniversary as Pastor of The Village Church
‘Too Much Jesus’—Megachurch Criticized for Elaborate Christmas Program
Earlier this week, Tony Daussat posted a video on TikTok taken at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, showing drummers suspended from the ceiling of their auditorium, practicing for their annual “The Gift of Christmas” program. Daussat’s caption read, “Casual Christmas worship service in TX.” The video has been viewed over 2.3 million times and … [Read more...] about ‘Too Much Jesus’—Megachurch Criticized for Elaborate Christmas Program
SBC President Barber Would ‘Permanently Defrock’ Johnny Hunt If He Had the Authority
On Nov. 30, Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Bart Barber released a statement regarding the announcement of former SBC president Johnny Hunt‘s restoration to ministry after being credibly accused of sexual abuse in May’s Guidepost Solutions report. Barber reminded Southern Baptists of the resolution they adopted in 2021, titled “On … [Read more...] about SBC President Barber Would ‘Permanently Defrock’ Johnny Hunt If He Had the Authority