pastor

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Controversial Pastor Comes Home to a Scary Scene

Tennessee cops say gunshots were fired at home of Global Vision Bible Church's Greg Locke

(Newser) - Tennessee police are investigating after they say gunfire rained down Tuesday evening upon the home of controversial Christian pastor Greg Locke. Dozens of rounds were fired at the Global Vision Bible Church leader's residence, garage, and vehicle, though Wilson County Sheriff's Office Capt. Scott Moore says there were...

Joel Osteen Lauds 'Heroes' of Megachurch Shooting
Joel Osteen
Returns to
His Church
Feb 19, 2024 8:22 AM CST

Joel Osteen Returns to His Church

Pastor praises law enforcement, his Houston megachurch's security team after Feb. 11 shooting

(Newser) - Lakewood Church was back in business on Sunday, a week after a shooting at Joel Osteen's megachurch in Houston left the shooter dead, her young son critically injured, and another man hurt. The congregation offered up prayers for the injured, as well as for 36-year-old shooter Genesse Moreno, while...

Pastor Throws God Under the Bus After Fraud Charges

'The Lord told us to,' Colorado's Eli Regalado tells his flock

(Newser) - A pastor in Colorado stands accused of bilking his flock out of millions of dollars in a cryptocurrency scheme to fund a lavish lifestyle, reports NBC News . And in a video to his followers, Eli Regalado admits that he and wife Kaitlyn did indeed pocket $1.3 million in the...

Evangelical Leader Besieged by Multiple Claims of Sex Abuse

International House of Prayer founder Mike Bickle allegedly violated marriage covenant, intimidated victims

(Newser) - The founder of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri, has agreed to step away from public ministry amid an investigation stemming from numerous claims of clergy sex abuse. Leaders of the evangelical church announced Sunday that "we have recently become aware of serious allegations including sexual...

Pastor Ordered to Pay $2.45M in Herpes Case

Jury found Texas megachurch pastor liable for giving woman genital herpes

(Newser) - A pastor at a Houston megachurch was spreading more than the good word, a jury determined. The Rev. Ralph D. West II was ordered to pay $2.45 million to a woman who said he infected her with genital herpes, KPRC reports. After a three-day trial, the jury found the...

Cops: For Years, Girl's Killer Acted Like 'Friend' of the Family

Former pastor David Zandstra charged with 1975 killing of another pastor's daughter

(Newser) - A former Pennsylvania pastor who reported the disappearance of a neighboring pastor's daughter when she failed to turn up at summer Bible camp in 1975 has admitted to murdering the girl who refused to remove her clothing for him. Eight-year-old Gretchen Harrington had set out from her home on...

Feds Nab Pastor, Son in Alleged $8.4M COVID Scam

Evan and Josh Edwards accused of setting up fake ministry, trying to buy posh home near Disney

(Newser) - In early July, NBC News filed a report about a Florida pastor and his family, accused by federal prosecutors in late 2020 court papers of pulling off a big-bucks COVID relief scam. "Why haven't they been charged?" the news outlet asked regarding the "curious" case. That question...

FBI: Ohio Pastor Proclaimed Hallelujah at Capitol Riot
Pastor Charged
in Capitol Attack
Oct 5, 2022 7:30 PM CDT

Pastor Charged in Capitol Attack

FBI: William Dunfee proclaimed Hallelujah on Jan. 6

(Newser) - FBI agents on Wednesday arrested a church pastor from Ohio who was filmed telling rioters to "rise up" during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. William Dunfee, 57, faces felony charges of interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, in addition to obstruction of an...

Black Pastor Plans Suit After Arrest While Watering Flowers

Michael Jennings said he was taking care of neighbor's Ala. home when cops showed up

(Newser) - A Black pastor is ramping up for a lawsuit after he says Alabama police wrongfully arrested him outside his home in Childersburg while he was watering his neighbor's flowers. NBC News reports on footage released this week by lawyers for Michael Jennings that shows his May 22 arrest, "...

Pastor's Sermon Goes Viral for Eyebrow-Raising Guilt Trip

Carlton Funderburke berated congregation for not buying him Movado watch, among other items

(Newser) - It's not surprising to occasionally feel guilty in church. But one Missouri pastor's recent sermon has gone viral after he dressed down his congregants and told them he was "disgusted" with them for not buying luxury items for him. NBC News reports that the sermon delivered by...

For This Megachurch, a 'Swift and Stunning Decline'

In just a few weeks, more than half of Hillsong's US churches shutter

(Newser) - Just two weeks ago, Hillsong Church—the popular Sydney-based megachurch that has counted Justin Bieber, Bono, actor Chris Pratt, and the NBA's Kevin Durant among its devotees —had 16 campuses spread across the US from coast to coast. Now, in a plotline that seems lifted from The Righteous ...

Priest Resigns After 20-Year-Long Semantics Error

Rev. Andres Arango of Phoenix used the word 'we' instead of 'I' in baptisms, rendering all invalid

(Newser) - If you or any of your children have been baptized in San Diego, Arizona, or Brazil over the past two decades, you might want to check who the presiding pastor was at that purification ceremony. That's because the Rev. Andres Arango, a priest in the Diocese of Phoenix, has...

Police: Pastor, Wife Locked 8 Disabled People in Basement

Other pastors speak up for suspect who says he was operating a ministry

(Newser) - Curtis Keith Bankston and Sophia Simm-Bankston say they were operating a ministry to help people in need in their rented Georgia house. Griffith police say they found eight people locked in the basement, "essentially imprisoned against their will," NBC News reports. All of them are mentally or physically...

Pastor Warns Things 'Might Get Nasty.' They Did
Pastor Warns
Things 'Might
Get Nasty.'
They Did
in case you missed it
Jan 22, 2022 1:20 PM CST

Pastor Warns Things 'Might Get Nasty.' They Did

Michael Todd of Tulsa's Transformation Church under fire for rubbing spit on man during sermon

(Newser) - "One touch from God can bring clear vision" reads the caption accompanying the most recent upload from an Oklahoma church, showing "a very special Sunday" service that definitely got people buzzing about not God's touch, but its pastor's. The Tulsa World notes that thousands of people...

Hero Pastor Tackles, Disarms Gunman

Suspect waved firearm at Nashville congregation

(Newser) - A pastor in Nashville, Tennessee, says he was acting as God's instrument when he tackled and disarmed a man who had been waving a gun at his congregation. Police say the heroic actions of pastor Ezekiel Ndikumana and other members of the Nashville Light Mission Pentecostal Church "saved...

Pastor: Wear a Mask, and 'I Will Ask You to Leave'

Tennessee church has opposed vaccinations throughout the pandemic

(Newser) - Pastor Greg Locke has told his congregation that coronavirus restrictions have no place in his church. His stand, announced Sunday, apparently was sparked by federal health officials' reconsideration of mask recommendations and mandates as coronavirus cases jump. "If they go through round two and you start showing up (with)...

Pastor Allegedly Killed by His Threesome Partners

That would be his wife and her/their lover, according to police

(Newser) - "I love you so much, David!!!!" Kristie Dawnelle Evans wrote of her husband and "best friend" in a March 20 Facebook post. A day later, David Evans was shot in the head in the middle of the night as he lay in bed, per KFOR . His wife...

Pastor Admits He Wrote Scathing Email to Journalist

Rev. Dave Muns says he 'just caved,' but Sarah Jeong isn't accepting his apology

(Newser) - A Michigan pastor admits he crossed the line by unloading on a journalist from his church email account, the Detroit Metro Times reports. "How about if we took all the little bitter Asian woman and had a lottery and cut their [explicit] like the Muslims do," Rev. Dave...

Pastor Sorry for 'Horrible Choice of Words' on Slavery

Megachurch pastor Louie Giglio caused uproar by calling it a 'blessing'

(Newser) - Megachurch pastor Louie Giglio has apologized for what he calls a "horrible choice of words" during a church event Sunday. The Atlanta pastor with the Passion City Church described slavery as a "blessing" in a recorded conversation with Christian rapper Lecrae and Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy, NBC News...

Cops on Defiant Pastor: He 'Has Chosen to Embarrass Us'

Tony Spell continues to hold church services in Louisiana despite virus mandate against gatherings

(Newser) - The Rev. Tony Spell said he would keep holding church services during the coronavirus pandemic until he was forced to stop. Tuesday evening found the Louisiana pastor once again preaching to congregants at Central City's Life Tabernacle Church, despite Spell being hit with six misdemeanor charges earlier that day...

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