Pastors and Prey
This version of Pastors Prey - Breaking News | NBC News Clone was adapted by NBC News Clone to help readers digest key facts more efficiently.
A yearlong NBC News investigation exposed decades of sex abuse and cover-ups in the Assemblies of God, the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination, triggering a pastor’s arrest and calls for reforms to protect children.
PART ONE
The 40-year mission to stop a Pentecostal preacher accused of raping children →
Joe Campbell says his calling is to share God’s love, but a group of women say he sexually abused them as girls. An NBC News investigation uncovered decades of missed warnings and failures to act.
September Dawn Bottoms for NBC News
September Dawn Bottoms for NBC News
IMPACT
Longtime children's pastor Joe Campbell arrested on child sex abuse charges →
The former Assemblies of God minister was indicted in Oklahoma after an NBC News investigation revealed decades of missed warnings.
Photo illustration by NBC News; PTL
Photo illustration by NBC News; PTL
PART TWO
How a Christian college ministry glorified a sex offender and enabled him to keep abusing students →
Daniel Savala urged generations of Chi Alpha members to get naked in his Houston sauna. Why did Assemblies of God pastors keep bringing teenagers to his home?
Courtesy Olivia Wolf
Courtesy Olivia Wolf
PART THREE
Assemblies of God churches shielded accused predators — and allowed them to keep abusing children →
NBC News uncovered a 50-year pattern of sex abuse, silence and cover-up in the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination.
Houston Cofield for NBC News
Houston Cofield for NBC News
PART FOUR
Dozens of boys say they were abused in a Christian scouting program that vowed to raise godly men →
Courtesy Reger Family
Courtesy Reger Family
Boys in the Assemblies of God join the Royal Rangers for Bible study and backpacking. But the ministry has also drawn sexual predators, an NBC News investigation found.
DOCUMENTARY
The Children’s Pastor: The 40-year mission to stop a preacher accused of raping children→
NBC News follows a group of women who allege they were sexually abused by their former pastor as children. Now, decades later, they’ve reunited and found the courage to speak out, determined to stop the alleged predator from harming others.
SOLUTIONS
Australia's Assemblies of God church imposed rules to prevent child sex abuse. Why won't the U.S.? →
The Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world, does not require its churches in the U.S. to adopt strict child safety rules.
Justine Goode; NBC News
Justine Goode; NBC News
Impact and Updates
IMPACT
Assemblies of God pastors call for change after churches fail to oust accused abusers →
Ministers spoke out after an NBC News investigation revealed 50 years of abuse and cover-up allegations in the largest Pentecostal denomination.
Terra Fondriest for NBC News
Terra Fondriest for NBC News
IMPACT
‘We’re not those little girls anymore’: Women who accused pastor of abuse see him in court →
Nearly a month after Joe Campbell was arrested on charges that he sexually abused two girls decades ago, he appeared in an Oklahoma courtroom. His accusers attended, too.
September Dawn Bottoms for NBC News
September Dawn Bottoms for NBC News
IMPACT
Assemblies of God leaders address sex abuse scandal that roiled Chi Alpha campus ministry →
After a convicted sex offender abused students through an Assemblies of God program, officials announced policy changes. Some say it's not enough.
NBC News
NBC News
IMPACT
Judge rebukes the Assemblies of God for failing to turn over records in sex abuse case →
The Pentecostal denomination hasn't complied with discovery orders in a lawsuit accusing it of failing to protect students from a sex offender.
Courtesy Ron Bloomingkemper Jr.
Courtesy Ron Bloomingkemper Jr.
