Category Archives: Abusive Pastor

Justice and Redemption

January 12, 2018 By in Abusive Pastor, Jail, Justice, Repentance Leave a comment

Yesterday, I stood firm for justice on behalf of victims and their families in a criminal trial against an unrepentant youth pastor who sexually molested teenagers in his church.

He was convicted and hauled away to jail in restraints.

Today, I’ll go to that same jail to encourage and strengthen in the Lord a group of men who are repentant and not playing games …

Like using God and “church” to shield their guilt.

They are forgiven and finding freedom.

Those who think there is a contradiction between seeking justice and ministering redemption, understand neither …

Or my passion for both.

~ Jim Wright

See Related Stories:

Jury Convicts Manassas Megachurch Youth Leader of Sex Crimes, by Hannah Dellinger, Fauquier Times

Sexual Predation and Pedophilia at The Life Church in Manassas, Virginia, by Fulcrum Minisistries, Nathan’s Voice

No Apologies

October 29, 2013 By in Abusive Pastor, Christ Chapel, Frank Viola, Predatory Leaders, Sex Abuse 4 Comments

I know I have been posting a lot lately on sex abuse by church “leaders” – like author and “apostolic worker” Frank Viola, Sovereign Grace Ministry’s head C.J. Mahaney, and the recent case we helped wrap up at Christ Chapel Assemblies of God involving allegations of abuse by several pastors.

I know I have also been posting a lot about those – like Jon Zens, Bart Breen and even otherwise respected leaders like Felicity Dale – who condone such abuse by seeking to excuse or cover it up through threats, lies, slander and intimidation.

These are not issues with which I ever wanted to become involved.

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Christ Chapel: Pastoral Sex Abuse

December 2, 2011 By in Abusive Pastor, Christ Chapel, Justice, Predatory Leaders, Sex Abuse

Eventually, the truth comes out as people see with their own eyes see the arrogance, victim-blaming and lies that surface when a church and its senior leadership desperately try to deny responsibility for repeated instances of clergy sexual abuse.

Christ Chapel in Woodbridge, Virginia

Eventually, people – who may have been hesitant before – become very motivated to step forward and bear witness against the evil that occurred.

Eventually, tyrants through their own arrogance dig their own graves.

Just like what we’re seeing in the sports world and in the political world – where sexual predators and the institutions that supported them are becoming exposed despite initial denials – so it’s starting to happen with Christ Chapel Assembly of God, a large local church in Woodbridge, Virginia.

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Hypocrisy and Courage

September 10, 2011 By in Abusive Pastor, Christ Chapel, Courage, Predatory Leaders, Sex Abuse Leave a comment

Why is it that folks who condone sexual abuse by refusing to bear witness against sexual predators in our churches, often seem so concerned about young people otherwise staying sexually pure?

Condoning Abuse and Predation

If those folks don’t care enough about the sexuality integrity of our young to protect them from sexually exploitive church leaders, then why do they think our young will listen to their messages about sexual purity?

What stark hypocrisy!

I must add, however, how grateful I am for all who did come forward to bear witness against the evil that occurred over the last several years at Christ Chapel, a large Assembly of God church in the area. Thank you!

Your willingness to step forward, even though it was difficult and it took lots of courage, is making a difference. You have shown the world that there yet remains men and women of integrity in our churches.

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Abusive Church Leaders (Part 4) – Civil and Criminal Law

May 30, 2011 By in Abuse, Abusive Pastor, Church, Courage, Judgment, Pastor, Predatory Leaders, State 27 Comments
Abusive Church Leaders (Part 4) – Civil and Criminal Law

So you’ve tried to follow the procedure of 1 Tim. 5, as discussed in Part 3 of this series, by investigating and exposing church leaders who abused their positions of power and trust.

But what if you were rebuffed?

Or what if – despite public reprimand, confession and repentance – you reasonably fear that they may continue preying on others or the church is not providing restitution for the harm you’ve been bearing? Scripturally, do you have additional options?

More specifically, is it ever proper to seek help from the courts and secular authorities to deal with pastoral sexual abuse or churches which allowed it to happen? After all, doesn’t 1 Cor. 6 say we should not sue another brother?

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Abusive Church Leaders (Part 2) – How Should We React?

May 28, 2011 By in Abuse, Abusive Pastor, Christ Chapel, Church, Courage, Judgment, Pastor, Predatory Leaders, Sin 15 Comments

How should we react to an unrepentant pastor who’s used his position of trust and power to prey on women – often after turning to him for spiritual counsel and support during vulnerable times in their lives?

All the theory in the world is great. But one thing I’ve learned from experience is this: Those who want to help these women find justice and closure, and protect others, need an unflinching resolve to stand toe to toe against these predators.

Typically, a predatory pastor is not accustomed to being questioned or challenged by anyone. He often will try to deflect accountability either through intimidation or a charm offensive – or both! These men are master manipulators, and it takes a God-given strength of will to stand firm, force answers, stop the abuse, and expose their evil as a warning to others.

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Abusive Church Leaders (Part 1) – My Personal Angst

May 23, 2011 By in Abuse, Abusive Pastor, Christ Chapel, Church, Confession, Healing, Judgment, New Covenant Fellowship, Pastor, Predatory Leaders, Repentance, Sin, Woundedness 14 Comments

Much to my dismay, God keeps bringing people to my door who have been abused by a pastor or other trusted church leader.

Over the last year, I’ve taken on three cases against abusive pastors. Two involve significant embezzlement and fraud by pastors in different churches. A third involves extensive sexual abuse and misconduct by around half a dozen men on the pastoral and ministerial staff at Christ Chapel Assembly of God in Woodbridge, Virginia.

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My Prayer

September 26, 2010 By in Abusive Pastor, Church, Fakes, Leadership, Prayer, Repentance 1 Comment

How long, Lord, will you continue to tolerate those leaders among us who bring shame on your name and prey on your people?

How long, Lord, will you tolerate those who enable such predators, thus allowing even more harm to your precious children?

For your name’s sake, bring righteousness and judgment.

Purify your Church, Lord, of those building their kingdoms and manipulating your people to advance self interests, rather than Your Kingdom.

New Covenant Fellowship? Beware!

June 30, 2009 By in Abuse, Abusive Pastor, Church, Cult, Faith, Fakes, Manassas, New Covenant Fellowship, Pastor, Predatory Leaders, Sin 6 Comments
New Covenant Fellowship? Beware!

New Covenant Fellowship in Manassas, Virginia, started out as a great church twenty-five years ago under a gifted pastor who’s since left. Under Robin Bayles and the current “pastor/elders” (the term they choose for themselves), massive numbers of additional people have left as the church sinks into cult practices and cult doctrines. As a result, attendance has plunged from thousands to barely thirty adults on Sunday mornings.

  • Robin Bayles, the current senior “pastor/elder”, has been secretly enriching himself with around $200k annually from church funds for a sizable salary, a generous housing allowance, numerous benefits and various other perks amounting to somewhere around a million dollars in total Phonyover the last several years — despite the tiny size of the congregation and the fact that he doesn’t even work at the church but works for an unrelated organization. When his self-enrichment was exposed, he denied it and falsely claimed to have taken only a small fraction of the true amount.
  • Robin Bayles has personally acquired and gained wealth from numerous investment rental properties purchased with funds taken from the church. He also has been employed nearly full time for many years — and earns a significant income — from his separate employer. Nonetheless, he has tried to manipulate his shrinking congregation and justify his self-enrichment from church funds with false pleas of poverty.

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