WHEN SHEPHERDS PRAY
E
DR. RON CANTOR
SPEAK UP FOR THE SILENCED.
SHIELD THE SHEEP.
STOP THE SCANDALS.
When the shepherd becomes the wolf, who will protect the flock?
Few wounds cut as deeply as those inflicted by a trusted spiritual leader. When abuse occurs in the name of God, the trauma reaches beyond the body—it shatters the soul, distorts faith, and devastates entire communities. When Shepherds Prey confronts the growing epidemic of clergy sexual abuse within the Church and the systems that enable it.
With compassion and courage, Dr. Ron Cantor exposes how spiritual power can be twisted into manipulation and coercion—as “consent” disappears when one party holds authority over another.
Drawing on survivor testimonies, biblical insight, and years of ministry experience—including his firsthand involvement in advocating for truth and justice in two recent high-profile clergy abuse cases—Dr. Cantor dismantles the myths that silence victims and protect predators. He addresses some of the tools that the enemy uses to keep victims in the shadows, from minimizing abuse to intimidation, from labeling whistleblowers as “accusers of the brethren” to telling them that reporting abuse is gossip. It’s not. Ron shows us how some leaders will weaponize Scripture for their own benefit.
When Shepherds Prey calls the Body of Christ to repentance—not to destroy the Church, but to cleanse it. It’s a sobering, hope-filled cry for truth, justice, and healing.
Because the Church should be the safest place on Earth—and when it’s not, we must speak.
“Abuse is not a lapse in judgment—it’s the weaponization of trust.”
– Dr. Ron Cantor, When Shepherds Prey
🔥 On Abuse and Power
“When you use your spiritual authority to manipulate someone under your care for your own sexual gratification, you are not merely committing sexual sin—you are abusing sacred trust and inflicting profound trauma upon that person’s soul.”
“To shepherd God’s flock is not a pathway to privilege, but a summons to sacrifice. It is a sacred trust that demands humility, integrity, and a servant’s heart.”
💔 On the Church’s Response
“As long as pastors pressure rape victims into silence, we need bloggers … As long as church boards protect corporations instead of the flock, we need podcasters … And thank God for courageous journalists who bring light to what others try to bury.”
“The Church must become a place where truth is told and healing is possible. That requires courage—not image management.”
🌿 On Healing and Integrity
“Healing begins not when we shield our institutions from shame, but when we stand beside the wounded and say, ‘What happened to you was evil—and it was not your fault.’”
“To reject accountability is to deny one of the most loving acts the Church can offer to a fallen minister: the opportunity to repent and be restored.”
🕊️ On Truth and Repentance
“True repentance is not found in public tears or polished statements, but in confession, restitution, and stepping down from power—at least for a season.”
“If I genuinely love the fallen minister, the last thing I will talk to them about is a restoration to public ministry—but their marriage and family. We will focus on restoration to Jesus and the healing of their soul.”
NOTES
Most of the videos are timestamped in the link, therefore we did not include timestamps in the note. If you click the link, it is queued up to the moment of the quote.
1 Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, The Hiding Place (New York: Bantam Books, 1971), 238.
2 ten Boom, Sherrill and Sherill, The Hiding Place.
3 ten Boom, Sherrill and Sherill, The Hiding Place.
4 Nik Popli, “These House Republicans Want All of the Epstein Files Released,” Time, July 21, 2025. https://time.com/7304138/epstein-files-house-republicans.
5 James Holler, “Investigation of Mike Bickle and the International House of Prayer Kansas City,” Firefly —Independent Sexual Abuse Investigations, February 3, 2025, https://drron.org/firefly.
6 Holler, “Investigation of Mike Bickle,” 43.
7 One study found 5.6% to be false reporting, another 7.1%, while another as low as 2.1%. National Sexual Violence Resource Center, “False Reporting Overview,” National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 2012. https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/Publications_NSVRC_Overview_False-Reporting.pdf.
8 Callie Marie Rennison, “Rape and Sexual Assault: Reporting to Police and Medical Attention, 1992-2000,” Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2002. https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsarp00.pdf.
9 Holler, “Investigation of Mike Bickle,” 9.
10 It was originally called Beth Messiah Apostolic Ministries. Beth Messiah (BMC) was one of the early flagship congregations of the messianic Jewish movement. BMC both birthed congregations and served as a hub for other congregations in the Washington, DC metro area. As that influence begin to grow geographically BMAM became Tikkun International and later Tikkun Global.
11 Rick Joyner, “Rick’s Rants: November 6, 2023,” November 6, 2023, YouTube video, 1:02:00, https://youtu.be/SK97_6rXKoY?t=462.
12 Julie Roys, “Eric Metaxas Defends Mike Bickle Amid Sexual Abuse Allegations,” The Roys Report, accessed February 3, 2026, https://julieroys.com/mercy-culture-church-michael-brown-returns-ministry-sexual-abuse-allegations/eric-metaxas-mike-bickle/.
13 Walter L. Liefeld, Ephesians, vol. 10, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997), Eph 5:3–14.
14 “This concise 8-minute video by Baylor University’s Center for Church & Community Impact (C3i) adeptly explains clergy sexual abuse of adults and how churches should respond.” David Pooler, “What is Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse,” Clergy Sexual Misconduct Information & Resources, accessed August 29, 2025, https://clergysexualmisconduct.com/featured-video.
15 Sarah Dawn, “Bethel Survivor Sarah Shares Her Experience of Clergy SA by Ben Armstrong *Trigger Warning*,” Wake up and Win, February 14, 2026, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/eCV3OGkTrZE?t=2475.
16 Danny Silk, Unpunishable: Ending Our Love Affair with Punishment (Redding, CA: Bethel Church, 2016), 15–25.
17 Kat, “Blame the Bikini,” Heaven Bent Podcast, accessed February 6, 2026, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heaven-bent/id1513489117.
18 Holly Pivec and Doug Geivett, “The Implosion of IHOPKC: Eight Overlooked Lessons,” Holly Pivic, May 18, 2024, https://www.hollypivec.com/blog/implosionofihopkc.
19 Rebecca Hopkins, “EXCLUSIVE: Woman Says IHOPKC Founder Mike Bickle Used Prophecy to Sexually Abuse Her,” The Roys Report, November 30, 2023, https://julieroys.com/woman-says-international-house-of-prayer-founder-mike-bickle-used-prophecy-to-sexually-abuse-her. Bickle’s Sermon notes: https://julieroys.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Notes-Bickle-Sermon.pdf.
20 Mike Bickle, “Remembering Our Prophetic History,” International House of Prayer of Kansas City, 2019, https://cdn.subsplash.com/documents/JWB53X/_source/3cc9fe7b-ddba-4948-80d8-fd4acaab5c12/document.pdf.
21 Kris Vallotton, “Why So Many Church Leaders Are Falling (And What We Can Do) w/ Kris Vallotton,” Moral Revolution, July 1, 2025, YouTube Video, https://youtu.be/I9IHtkUBQTs.
22 Danielle Wiener-Bronner, “McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook is out for ‘consensual relationship with an employee’,” CNN, November 4, 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/03/business/mcdonalds-ceo-steve-easterbrook-steps-down/index.html?utm_source=CNN+Five+Things.
23 Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel, and Adam Schefter, “Michigan Fires Sherrone Moore for Inappropriate Relationship,” ESPN(Australian edition), December 11, 2025, https://www.espn.com.au/college-football/story/_/id/47269785/sources-michigan-fires-coach-sherrone-moore-9-3-season.
24 Hopkins, “EXCLUSIVE: Woman Says IHOPKC Founder Mike Bickle Used Prophecy to Sexually Abuse Her.”
25 Judy Thomas, “Woman says IHOPKC founder groomed, sexually abused her when she was 14 in the 1980s,” Kansas City Star, March 25, 2024, https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article285203117.html.
26 Susan Raine and Stephen Kent, “The grooming of children for sexual abuse in religious settings: unique characteristics, and select case studies.” Aggression and Violent Behavior 48 (1019) 182, https://www.courts.michigan.gov/48e0ba/siteassets/educational-materials/cws/supplemental-handouts/raine-kent-2019-grooming-of-children-for-sexual-abuse-in-religious-settings-unique-chars-and-case-studies.pdf.
27 John Hook and Dawn Devereux, “Sexual Boundary Violations: Victims, Perpetrators and Risk Reduction,” BJPsych Advances 24, no. 6 (2018): 3, https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2018.27.
28 Hopkins, “EXCLUSIVE: Woman Says IHOPKC Founder Mike Bickle Used Prophecy to Sexually Abuse Her.”
29 Holler, “Investigation Of Mike Bickle and The International House of Prayer Kansas City,” 9.
30 In the Kingdom Accountability Project, of which I was one of the authors, we recommend that every congregation have a trauma informed advocate (TIA) as the first person that a victim would report abuse to. This person would be trained in sexual trauma and empowered to launch an investigation.
31 Rick Joyner, “The Revolution that’s Begun,” Rich Joyner Official, August 12, 2025, YouTube Video, 27:18, https://youtu.be/OycO5_KeS_0.
32 Michael Brown, in email to Tikkun leaders, November 16, 2024.
33 Brown, email to Tikkun leaders.
34 Miller & Martin PLLC, Report of Independent Investigation into Sexual Misconduct of Ravi Zacharias, February 9, 2021, accessed via Courthouse News, PDF, 12 pages, https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zacharias-report.pdf.
35 Mike Bickle, in email to Deborah Perkins and her husband, November 27, 2023, https://julieroys.com/woman-says-international-house-of-prayer-founder-mike-bickle-used-prophecy-to-sexually-abuse-her.
36 Julie Roys, “Report: Mike Bickle Had ‘Inappropriate’ Sexual Contact with 2nd ‘Jane Doe,’ Likely Abused Power,” The Roys Report, February 1, 2023, https://julieroys.com/report-mike-bickle-had-inappropriate-sexual-contact-with-2nd-jane-doe-likely-abused-power.
37 Thomas, “Woman says IHOPKC founder groomed, sexually abused her when she was 14 in the 1980s.”
38 Rebecca Hopkins, “Exclusive: Open Letter to Mike Bickle from Alleged Victim, Tammy Woods,” The Roys Report, February 15, 2024, https://julieroys.com/exclusive-open-letter-to-mike-bickle-from-alleged-victim-tammy-woods.
39 International House of Prayer Kansas City (@ihopkc), “Words cannot express the anger,” X (formerly Twitter), February 9, 2024, https://x.com/ihopkc/status/1755780539984781776.
40 Julie Roys, “Main Alleged Victim of Mike Bickle Won’t Participate in IHOPKC’s Investigation,” The Roys Report, December 12, 2023, https://julieroys.com/alleged-victim-mike-bickle-wont-participate-ihopkc-investigation.
41 Shane Holden, letter to IHIPKC board, April 17, 2014, https://www.reddit.com/r/ihopkc/comments/1co1d9l/shane_holdens_resignation_letter_leaked_it.
42 Kris Vallotton, “Bethel Church Service | Kris Vallotton Sermon | Worship with Austin Johnson, Hannah Waters.” Bethel, February 18, 2024, 1:35:29, https://youtu.be/J7YXUR_kY2E?t=5730.
43 Louis D. Brandeis, Other People’s Money and How the Bankers Use It (New York: Frederick A. Stokes, 1914), 92.
44 Kurt Fuller, notes from Zoom meeting between IHOPKC board members and Tikkun leaders, July 2024.
45 Rebecca Hopkins and Julie Roys, “Third Woman Says Mike Bickle Groomed, Sexually Abused Her Beginning at Age 15,” The Roys Report, January 26, 2024, https://julieroys.com/third-woman-says-mike-bickle-groomed-sexually-abused-her-beginning-at-age-15.
46 Jennifer J. Freyd, “What Is DARVO?” Dynamics of Trauma (blog), University of Oregon, accessed September 9, 2025, https://dynamicsoftrauma.com/darvo/.
47 Fuller, “Zoom meeting.”
48 Fuller, “Zoom meeting.”
49 Diane Langberg, “It misrepresents God…” X, 3, 2022, https://x.com/dianelangberg/status/1525087866996633601.
50 Cassiano Terra Rodrigues, “Informal Fallacies,” in Introduction to Philosophy: Logic, LibreTexts, accessed February 4, 2026, https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Philosophy/Logic_and_Reasoning/Introduction_to_Philosophy%3A_Logic_(Assadian_et_al.)/04%3A_Informal_Fallacies.
51 Fuller, “Zoom meeting.”
52 Bob Smietana, “IHOPKC Cuts Ties with Mike Bickle Over ‘Inappropriate Behavior,’” Word & Way, December 26, 2023, accessed February 4, 2026, https://wordandway.org/2023/12/26/ihopkc-cuts-ties-with-mike-bickle-over-inappropriate-behavior.
53 Kurt Fuller, text message to the Author, February 9, 2024.
54 Technically, a pedophile is someone who’s attracted to children, not under age teens. The legal word is not widely used, but is Hebephilia and an offender is a Hebephile.
55 This source also confirmed directly to me, in later correspondence, that Bickle and Brandt were in contact.
56 Isaac Bennett, “Keeping Our Eyes of Jesus | Dr. Michael Brown,” International House of Prayer, YouTube video, November 5, 2023, https://youtu.be/4R1NvYR621c?t=134.
57 Bob Scott, Some Said They Blundered: Breaking My Decades Of Silence On Mike Bickle, The Kansas City Prophets and International House of Prayer- Kansas City (Overland Park, KS, Joseph Company Global, 2025). 25, Kindle.
58 Scott, Some Said They Blundered, 27.
59 Michael Brown, email sent to the author, October 20, 2024.
60 Florida Statutes § 784.03 (2025), “Battery; felony battery,” Florida Public Law, accessed February 4, 2026, https://florida.public.law/statutes/fla._stat._784.03.
61 See U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Fact Sheet: Sexual Harassment Discrimination (noting unwelcome sexual conduct that creates a hostile work environment violates Title VII), and Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998) (employer liability where supervisor creates hostile work environment).
62 Michael Brown, “So, You Want to Be an Apostle?” The Line of Fire, August 1, 2025, YouTube video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7vnij4m5bQ&t=2556s.
63 Michael Brown, Heather Schott, Jaco Booyens, Les Cody, “Dr. Brown Tells His Story,” Mercy Culture, May 21, 2025, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/uwTCulZn2xM.
64 Mary Ellen Mann, Religious / Institutional Abuse, accessed February 5, 2026, https://www.maryellenmann.com/religious-institutional-abuse (noting common manipulative tactics such as minimizing, rationalizing, and claiming spiritual motives to downplay abusive behavior).
In the context of clergy sexual abuse, minimizing refers to the practice of downplaying, reframing, or trivializing abusive behavior in order to reduce its perceived seriousness, moral weight, or institutional consequences, often by redefining abuse as misunderstanding, mutuality, temptation, or isolated failure rather than exploitation of power.
65 Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or group makes someone question their own reality, memory, or perceptions. Over time, this can lead the victim to feel confused, anxious, and unable to trust their own judgment. Mark and Nicki Pfeifer, Kingdom Accountability Project (not copyrighted, 2026), 24.
66 Leonardo Blair, “Perry Stone Slams Secular Media after He’s Accused of Misconduct,” Christian Post, December 27, 2021, https://www.christianpost.com/news/perry-stone-slams-secular-media-after-hes-accused-of-misconduct.html.
67 Bill Johnson, “Bethel Church Service | Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton | Worship with Leah Valenzuela,” Bethel, January 25, 2026, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/QMywWJY5azQ?t=6279.
68 There is very little that I share in this narrative that is not already in the public domain. This particular story was in the Firefly Report, but also told to me directly by the witness.
69 Brown, “Dr. Brown Tells His Story,” https://youtu.be/uwTCulZn2xM?t=2766.
70 Joanne Archambault and Kimberly Lonsway, “Incomplete, Inconsistent, and Untrue Statements Made by Victims: Understanding the Causes and Overcoming the Challenges,” End Violence against Women International, accessed September 15, 2023, https://evawintl.org/wp-content/uploads/Victim-Statements-08-10-12.pdf.
71 Sarah Jane Runge, “‘It Could Have Been Worse’: The Dangers of Disclosure Trauma and Minimization,” Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assult, November 29, 2021, https://mcasa.org/newsletters/article/it-could-have-been-worse-the-dangers-of-disclosure-trauma-and-minimization.
72 Sarah Monk and Kris Bennett, text messages on facebook messenger, 2020, https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:d6f2eee8-619f-410a-a9c4-91995e473b72.
73 The Firefly Report called his behavior with Sarah, “sexually abusive misconduct.”
74 Mike Brown and Londa Parker, Facebook Messenger texts messages, November 3, 2025, https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:36a68755-4b71-4e1e-96bc-99b86edca77b.
75 Mike has said on numerous occasions that Sarah said that nothing sexual or romantic happened. That is how he represents her text messages to Kris Bennett. But in truth, she merely says that nothing sexual happened, but never says it was not romantic. In contrast, she portrays which started as a father daughter relationship as moving into something that was not healthy and impure, something that she felt ashamed of. She clearly portrays that it turned into a romantic, even if not sexual by the clinical definition.
76 Michael Brown, voice text sent to Londa Parker, November 2024, https://jmp.sh/s7fJX0Ku.
77 Michael Brown, Email to Tikkun Leaders, November 16, 2024.
78 “Brown Witness Report,” 68.
79 You can read Tom and Carolyn’s full testimony under brownwitnessreport.com.
80 Mike Winger, in “Brown Witness Report,” 91-92.
81 Mike Winger and Ron Cantor, “The Truth About Michael Brown's 23 Years of Cover-up,” Mike Winger, July 18, 2025, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/5r1PV9buNzM.
82 Winger and Cantor, “The Truth About Michael Brown’s 23 Years of Cover-up,” https://youtu.be/5r1PV9buNzM?t=3719.
83 Michael Brown, in email to Tikkun leaders, November 17, 2024.
84 All quotes from Bob Gladstone are from his sections in the “Brown Witness Report.”
85 Robert Gladstone, “Brown Witness Report,” accessed February 6, 2026, 46. https://files.constantcontact.com/5b42bfe3701/a64ca022-434b-4316-b966-80fbc4938a56.pdf
86 In a text message to a pastor, Mike wrote in December 2024 that Sarah’s 2020 “account … mirrors mine.”
87 Michael Brown, Email Line of Fire, December 4, 2024, https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:58c110f5-2fae-46eb-aa88-04e67562521a.
88 Michael Brown, “Pressing Forward,” email to Line of Fire mailing list, December 4, 2024, https://drron.org/lofnewsletter.
89 Brown, “Pressing Forward.”
90 In a WhatsApp message one of the Tikkun leaders wrote to us after speaking to Dr. Brown: “Mike says the following and it may be true or may not be. … He shared it with the elders at the time.”
91 “During this interview, BROWN admitted to what he called an ‘emotional affair’ during the second half of 2001 with IS #1 via phone calls, texts, and emails. BROWN stated they ‘both said some sinful things to each other and that it was the most despicable thing he had ever done.” Holler, “Firefly report,” 12.
92 Ron Cantor, Facebook post, December 6, 2024, Facebook, https://drron.org/cantor-statement.
93 Brownwitnessreport.com, 13.
94 Holler, “Investigation of Mike Bickle,” https://drron.org/firefly.
95 Wade Mullen, Something’s Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse—and Freeing Yourself from Its Power (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2020), 9, Kindle.
96 Michael Brown and Joel Richardson, in voice text correspondence, March 2025,https://jmp.sh/JfVmmxDe.
97 James Holler, “Investigation into the Allegations of Sexually Abusive Misconduct Involving Michael Brown,” Firefly—Independent Sexual Abuse Investigations, April 12, 2025, 27, https://drron.org/investigation.
98 Holler, “Investigation into the Allegations of Sexually Abusive Misconduct Involving Michael Brown,” 24.
99 “The Michael Brown Witness Report” accessed March 24, 2026, https://files.constantcontact.com/5b42bfe3701/a64ca022-434b-4316-b966-80fbc4938a56.pdf
100 Mullen, Something’s Not Right, 89.
101 Winger and Cantor, “The Truth About Michael Brown’s 23 Years of Cover-up,” https://youtu.be/5r1PV9buNzM?t=11899.
102 Brown, “Dr. Brown Tells His Story,” https://youtu.be/uwTCulZn2xM?t=5726.
103 Ron Cantor, in email between the ad hoc team and the LOF board, February 4, 2025.
104 LOF Board, in email to ad hoc team, February 5, 2025.
105 Mullen, Something’s Not Right, 89.
106 Mullen, Something’s Not Right: 91.
107 Rebecca Hopkins, “Witnesses Call for Michael Brown’s Resignation in Bombshell Report; Board Member Resigns,” The Roys Report, May 13, 2025, https://julieroys.com/witnesses-call-michael-brown-resignation-bombshell-report.
108 Michael Brown, “Dr. Brown Shares His Heart,” Line of Fire, May 7, 2025, YouTube Video, https://youtu.be/KnS79QU7R6Q.
109 Winger and Cantor, “The Truth About Michael Brown’s 23 Years of Cover-up,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r1PV9buNzM.
110 Mike Lubanovic, quoted in James Holler, “Firefly report into Dr. Michael Brown,” 22.
111 Ray, quoted in Ron Cantor, “Response to Mike Brown interview from Husband Ray and Daughter Jordan,” Ron Cantor, May 31, 2025, YouTube Video, https://youtu.be/uHm1-fxi7ak.
112 Michael Brown, in text message to anonymous pastor, (forwarded) January 18, 2025.
113 https://drron.org/ray-letter; https://drron.org/jordan-letter.
114 After saw, defeated the Amalekites, he set up a monument in his own honor. Samuel rebuked him for not following the Lord’s instructions. He told him that God have rejected him as king over Israel. “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you.” (1 Sam. 28). Saul’s response was to beg Samuel to honor him before the elders and the people (v. 30). Being honored before man was more important to him them being right before God.
115 Gregory the Great, Pastoral Rule, Book II, chap. 1, §1, in Pastoral Rule (Book II), New Advent, accessed August 22, 2025, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/36012.htm?utm.
116 I’m not a Catholic, and we cannot deny the massive scandal in the Catholic Church regarding priests and children. But for a New Testament Pastor, that is excellent advice. The idea of their needing to be a dividing wall between the leadership of the church and the congregants is completely unbiblical.
Carol Glatz, “Pope Francis: Priests Should be ‘Shepherds Living with the Smell of the Sheep,” The Catholic Telegraph, March 28, 2013, https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/pope-francis-priests-should-be-shepherds-living-with-the-smell-of-the-sheep/13439.
117 Charles Spurgeon, “The Lambs and Their Shepherd,” The Spurgeon Center for Biblical Preaching at Midwestern Seminary, Novermber 15, 1863, https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-lambs-and-their-shepherd/#flipbook.
118 People, “Carl Lentz Admits to ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ with Nanny in ‘The Secrets of Hillsong’| PEOPLE,” People, May 15, 2023, YouTube video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB7wmbk_a6E.
119 Ron Cantor and Rozanne Strydom, “#Bethel Survivor tells her story—Will they care? Affair or Abuse?” February 8, 2026, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/o66lZtYIHZ0.
120 Cantor and Strydom, “Bethel Survivor,” https://youtu.be/o66lZtYIHZ0?t=1436.
121 “Spooky Single Stories: Duran Duran, ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’” Rhino, October 30, 2019, https://www.rhino.com/article/spooky-single-stories-duran-duran-hungry-like-the-wolf.
122 Rachael Denhollander, What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum, 2019), 37, Kindle.
123 Liam Hess, “Over 500 Survivors of Larry Nassar’s Abuse Will Receive $380 Million Settlement,” Vogue, December 14, 2021, https://www.vogue.com/article/larry-nassar-abuse-survivors-settlement.
124 Bridget Read, “What the #MeToo Movement Can Learn from the Women Who Put Larry Nassar Away,” Vogue, January 26, 2018, https://www.vogue.com/article/what-metoo-can-learn-from-women-who-put-larry-nassar-away.
125 Denhollander, What Is a Girl Worth? 264.
126 Dr. Dénouement, “Evvvvv-ry-body Does It,” Substack (DrSuzzle), April 22, 2024, https://drsuzzle.substack.com/p/evvvvv-ry-body-does-it-tammy-woods.
127 Mark Chironna, “The Rise of the CEO Pastor,” Dr. Mark Chironna, February 17, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VlrObE7NNU.
128 Lamar Eugene Cooper, Ezekiel, vol. 17, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 298.
129 Rachel Beck, ‘The Liberty Way’? Woman Alleges Sexual Harassment & Cover-Up by Former LU President and VP,” Julie Roys, September 23, 2025, YouRube video, https://youtu.be/NT-DPDSuPXo?si=jFnhl-Q4NbIrDytm.
130 Beck, “The Liberty Way.”
131 Silk, Unpunishable, 158.
132 Positive Reset Eatontown, “Understanding Covert Narcissistic Personality Disorder,” November 11, 2023, https://positivereseteatontown.com/covert-narcissistic-personality-disorder/
133 Diane Langberg, Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2020), 7, Kindle.
134 Judith Lewis Herman, Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence—From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror (New York: Basic Books, 1992), 1.
135 Brown, Email to Tikkun Leaders.
136 Tony Wright, “The Consequences of Speaking Out: The Harmful Impact of Negative Reactions on Survivors,” Forward Assist, February 25, 2025, https://www.forward-assist.com/blog/2025/2/25/the-consequences-of-speaking-out-the-harmful-impact-of-negative-reactions-on-survivors.
137 Rennison, “Rape and Sexual Assault.”
138 Holler, “Investigation into the Allegations of Sexually Abusive Misconduct Involving Michael Brown.” 23.
139 “Delayed Disclosure, Child USA 2024 Factsheet,” Child USA, accessed on August 25, 2025, https://childusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Delayed-Disclosure-2024.pdf.
140 We will discuss DARVO later, it is an acronym that explains how many abusers respond to allegations by Denying the allegation, Attack the victim and then, Reverse Victim and Offender, whereby the abuser is portrayed as the victim.
141 Sandra Moncrief-Stuart and David Pooler, “Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Institutional Betrayal Trauma,” Traumatology, published online 2025, 2, https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000542.
142 Tara Jean Stevens, “Blame the Bikini,” Heaven Bent, S10E01, February 5, 2026, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heaven-bent/id1513489117?i=1000748428354.
143 Heather Schott, “Dr. Michael Brown Tells His Story,” https://youtu.be/uwTCulZn2xM?t=5055
144 Ron Cantor (@RonSCantor), “When a minister abuses someone sexually or spiritually…,” X (formerly Twitter), December 24, 2024, https://x.com/RonSCantor/status/1941840562622996800.
145 Mullen, Something’s Not Right, 80–82.
146 Langberg, Redeeming Power, 71.
147 Londa Parker, “April 13, 2025,” Uncaged with Londa Parker, April 13, 2025, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/UMwucvdUfTU.
148 Londa Parker, in Whatsapp messaage to the author, March 31, 2026.
149 Sean O’Neill, “Chris Brain Victim: Church told me to keep quiet about abuse,” The Times, August 22, 2025, https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/chris-brain-victim-interview-rave-church-9njslb7p5.
150 O’Neill, “Chris Brain Victim.”
151 O’Neill, “Chris Brain Victim.”
152 O’Neill, “Chris Brain Victim.”
153 “Statistics about Sexual Violence,” National Sexual Violence Resource Center, accessed September 7, 2025, https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/publications_nsvrc_factsheet_media-packet_statistics-about-sexual-violence_0.pdf.
154 Rennison, “Rape and Sexual Assault.”
155 Langberg, Redeeming Power, 8.
156 Joel Bowman, “Preying preachers: Confronting clergy sexual abuse.” Baptist News, March 30, 2023, https://baptistnews.com/article/preying-preachers-confronting-clergy-sexual-abuse.
157 “Ex-Male Prostitute Who Brought Down Pastor Ted Haggard Is Speaking Out for the First Time,” Inside Edition, CBS Media Ventures, February 1, 2010, https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-media-ventures/shows/inside-edition/releases/?view=24052-ex-male-prostitute-who-brought-down-pastor-ted-haggard-is-speaking-out-for-the-first-time.
158 Jim Spellman and Eric Marrapodi, “New Haggard accuser: ‘He really thought he was invincible,’” CNN, accessed February 10, 2026, https://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/28/colorado.church.haggard/#:~:text=At%20the%20time%2C%20he%20was,his%20end%20of%20the%20agreement.%22.
159 “Baylor University Conducts Largest National Study of Clergy Sexual Misconduct with Adults,” Baylor University, September 9, 2009, https://news.web.baylor.edu/news/story/2009/baylor-university-conducts-largest-national-study-clergy-sexual-misconduct-adults.
160 “Rule 1.8 Conflict of Interest: Current Clients: Specific Rules – Comment,” American Bar Association, accessed February 10, 2026, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_1_8_current_clients_specific_rules/comment_on_rule_1_8.
161 Bowman, “Preying preachers.”
162 Tim Challies, “Guest Post: Church Safety—Protecting the Vulnerable,” KidCheck Blog, accessed October 4, 2025, https://www.kidcheck.com/blog/guest-post-tim-challies.
163 Tim Challies, “6 Reasons Why Sexual Predators Target Churches,” Challies, March 9, 2015, https://www.challies.com/articles/6-reasons-why-sexual-predators-target-churches.
164 Joe Sullivan and Anthony Beech, ”Professional Perpetrators: Sex Offenders Who Use Their Employment to Target and Sexually Abuse the Children with Whom They Work,” Child Abuse Review 11, no. 3 (May–June 2002): 153–167, https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/professional-perpetrators-sex-offenders-who-use-their-employment. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/professional-perpetrators-sex-offenders-who-use-their-employment#:~:text=Any%20organization%20or%20institution%2C%20whether,those%20who%20might%20protect%20them.
165 The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United State, May 2011, https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/upload/The-Causes-and-Context-of-Sexual-Abuse-of-Minors-by-Catholic-Priests-in-the-United-States-1950-2010.pdf.
166 David Pooler, “It’s not an Affair. It’s Abuse,” Julie Roys, April 16, 2025, YouTube video, 22:01, https://youtu.be/Le0dxHMErkw.
167 Pooler, “It’s not an Affair,” 23:39.
168 Megan Briggs, “The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations (Part 1): Lawsuits, NDAs, and Email Threads,” Church Leaders, October 12, 2020, https://churchleaders.com/news/383717-the-story-behind-the-ravi-zacharias-allegations-part-1-lawsuits-ndas-and-email-threads.html/5.
169 Lynsey Barron and William Eiselstein, “Report of Indepentent Investigation into Sexual Midconduct of Ravi Zaxcharias,” February 9, 2021, https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zacharias-report.pdf
170 Carson, “Recovery & Empowerment: A Path Forward - Lori Anne Thompson,” Uncommon Pursuit, November 2023, https://up.uncommonpursuit.net/t/recovery-empowerment-a-path-forward-lori-anne-thompson/3181.
171 Ivery DeJesus, “Altoona man abused by priest kills himself just days after defeat of reform measure in bill,” Penn Live, July 4, 2016, https://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/07/altoona_victim_statute_limitat.html.
172 Briggs, “The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations.”
173 Lori Anne Thompson, “Lori Anne Thompson: In Her Own Words || Interview with Glen Scrivener || March 2021,” Glen Scrivener (Speak Life), March 8, 2021, YouTube Video, https://youtu.be/oHUU-nVKT-0?t=1508.
174 “Disgraced pastor Haggard admits second relationship with man,” CNN, January, 29, 2009,
https://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/29/lkl.ted.haggard.
175 Lori Anne Thompson, “Lori Anne Thompson: Victim Impact Statement,” Lori Anne Thompson, February 8, 2021, https://loriannethompson.com/2021/02/08/lori-anne-thompson-victim-impact-statement.
176 Sarah Monk, In text message to Kris Bennett, 2020.
177 Brown denies that he ever kissed her on the lips, but Sarah adamant that was part of their routine. Sara has never lied to me that I know of. Dr Brown has lied over and over again to me and I have the receipts in writing, so I tend to believe the mother and housewife who has literally nothing to gain in so much to lose by coming forward over the man who is trying to save his reputation and ministry.
178 Sarah Monk, In text message to Kris Bennett, 2020.
179 Phil Saviano, “What took you so long?” Snap Network, July 20, 2002, https://www.snapnetwork.org/survivors_voice/phil_saviano_votfspeech.htm.
180 Thompson, “Lori Anne Thompson: Victim Impact Statement.”
181 Mike Winger, “The skeletons in Bethel’s closet are now going to speak,” Mike Winger, January 17, 2026, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/GH05S53QlY0?t=8520.
182 Lori Ann Thompson, “Lori Anne Thompson on Trauma & Truth + Ruth Malhotra’s Testimony,” Julie Roys, June 4, 2022, YouTube video, 34:30, https://youtu.be/hLNRelP28Kg?t=2072.
183 Langberg, Redeeming Power, 7.
184 Beverly Engle, “The Psychological Impact of Clergy-Perpetrated Sexual Abuse,” Psychology Today, November 16, 2023, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-compassion-chronicles/202311/the-psychological-impact-of-clergy-perpetrated-sexual-abuse.
185 David G. Bromley and Anson D. Shupe Cress, ”Toward a Sociology of Clergy Sexual Misconduct,” in Sex, Lies, and Sanctity: Religion and Deviance in Contemporary America, ed. David G. Bromley (Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, 2000), 145, quoted in Diana R. Garland and Christen Argueta, How Clergy Sexual Misconduct Happens: A Qualitative Study of First-Hand Accounts (Waco, TX: Baylor University, 2009), 3.
186 Kim Roberts, “What to Know about Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse,” Ministry Watch, July 17, 2025, https://ministrywatch.com/what-to-know-about-adult-clergy-sexual-abuse.
187 Pooler, “It’s not an Affair,” 09:27.
188 Pooler, “It’s not an Affair,” 10:08.
189 “Larry Nassar case: USA Gymnastics doctor ‘abused 265 girls’,” BBC, January 31, 2018, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42894833.
190 David Pooler, “Is Misty Edwards A Victim? - Podcast with Dr. David Pooler,” Julie Roys, March 15, 2024, YouTube video, 57:07, https://youtu.be/tjJP8vDgoBA?t=3420.
191 Pooler, “It’s not an Affair,” 15:01.
192 Pooler, “It’s not an Affair,” 15:41.
193 David Pooler, “Is Misty Edwards A Victim? - Podcast with Dr. David Pooler.” https://youtu.be/tjJP8vDgoBA?t=2148.
194 Diana R. Garland and Christen Argueta, How Clergy Sexual Misconduct Happens: A Qualitative Study of First-Hand Accounts (Waco, TX: Baylor University, 2009), 23.
195 Vanessa Bohns, “McDonald’s fired its CEO for sleeping with an employee – research shows why even consensual office romances can be a problem,” The Conversation, November 4, 2019, https://theconversation.com/mcdonalds-fired-its-ceo-for-sleeping-with-an-employee-research-shows-why-even-consensual-office-romances-can-be-a-problem-126231.
196 Bohns, “McDonald’s fired its CEO for sleeping with an employee.”
197 Roberts, “What to Know about Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse.”
198 Garland and Argueta, How Clergy Sexual Misconduct Happens, 4.
199 Garland and Argueta, How Clergy Sexual Misconduct Happens, 4.
200 Marcus Mescher, Kandi Stinson, Anne Fuller and Ashely Theuring, “Measuring & Exploring Moral Injury Caused by Clergy Sexual Abuse,” Xavier University, accessed August 27, 2025, https://www.xavier.edu/moral-injury-report/documents/xu-report-on-moral-injury.pdf.
201 Julie Roys, “Spa Co-Owner & Victim of Ravi Zacharias Speaks: He Threatened to ‘Ruin’ Me,” The Roys Report, April 13, 2021, https://julieroys.com/victim-of-ravi-zacharias-speaks-he-threatened-to-ruin-me/
202 Bill Gothard was a Christian leader with a cult-like influence over tens of thousands. He ran the Institute in Basic Life Principles, which was extremely fundamentalist in its views. It turns out that he himself was not living according to the principles and was dismissed in 2014 after being accused of sexually harassing more than 30 women.
203 David E. Garland and Diana R. Garland, Flawed Families of the Bible: How God’s Grace Works through Imperfect Relationships (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2007), 154.
204 Garland and Garland, Flawed Families, 155.
205 Martie G. Haselton and David M. Buss, “Error Management Theory: A New Perspective on Biases in Cross-Sex Mind Reading,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 78, no. 1 (2000): 81–91.
206 No one knows for sure why Uriah was called “the Hittite.” One thought was that he was a gentile who lived among the people of Israel. Some scholars believed that he was a convert to the Hebrew faith. A third theory is that he was a Hebrew who lived among the Hittites.
207 “King David’s Palace,” City of David, accessed August 26, 2025, https://timeline.cityofdavid.org.il/event/king-davids-palace.
208 Garland and Garland, “Flawed Families,” 156.
209 Garland and Garland, Flawed Families, 156.
210 Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, vol. 7, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 364-365.
211 Eugene H. Peterson, First and Second Samuel, ed. Patrick D. Miller and David L. Bartlett, Westminster Bible Companion (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1999), 183.
212 “Inspiration and the Relationship of Divine and Human Authorship,” St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, accessed February 11, 2026, https://stpaulcenter.com/posts/inspiration-and-the-relationship-of-divine-and-human-authorship.
213 Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, vol. 4, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 304.
214 Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, 364.
215 Abba Anthony, quoted in John Chryssavgis, In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Bloomington, IN: World Wisdom, 2002), 29.
216 Abba John (John the Dwarf), quoted in Gerald L. Sittser, Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries (IVP Books, 2007), 75.
217 Baumeister, R. F., Catanese, K. R., & Vohs, K. D. (2001). Is There a Gender Difference in Strength of Sex Drive? Theoretical Views, Conceptual Distinctions, and a Review of Relevant Evidence. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5(3), 242-273. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327957PSPR0503_5.
218 Malachi O’Brien, Time to Rise (Lake Mary Florida, Charisma House, 2025) location 238-329.
219 “List of Luther's Insults,” Ergofabulous, accessed February 11, 2026, https://ergofabulous.org/luther/insult-list.php.
220 O’Brien, Time to Rise, xiii. To be clear, Obrien is referring to those who are spreading lies, but my experience is that many of these leaders often accuse those who are actually telling the truth of spreading lies about leadership.
221 Steve Strang, “Breaking News Live: Strang Report with General Kurt Fuller,” Strang Report, Charisma Podcast Network, January 25, 2025, https://www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/strangreport/breaking-news-live-strang-report-with-general-kurt-fuller.
222 Steve Strang, “Is Redemption Possible? Perspectives on the IHOP-KC Investigation,” Strang Report, Charisma Podcast Network, February 5, 2024, 04:04, https://www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/strangreport/is-redemption-possible-perspectives-on-the-ihop-kc-investigation.
223 Wyatt Massey, “Women in Perry Stone's ministry allege sexual misconduct, say FBI is investigating televangelist,” Chattanooga Times Free Press, December 25, 2021, https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2021/dec/25/women-perry-stones-ministry-allege-sexual-mis.
224 Leonardo Blair, “Televangelist Perry Stone slams secular media after report alleges sexual misconduct,” December 27, 2021, https://www.christianpost.com/news/perry-stone-slams-secular-media-after-hes-accused-of-misconduct.html.
225 Leah MarieAnn Klett, “Perry Stone Won’t Face Charges in Sexual Misconduct Case,” The Christian Post, April 5, 2023, https://www.christianpost.com/news/perry-stone-wont-face-charges-in-sexual-misconduct-case.html.
226 Leonardo Blair, “Televangelist Perry Stone Slams Secular Media.”
227Dan Cameron (@dan_cameron99), “Perry Stone's cryptic warning while talking to Joseph Z,” X (formerly Twitter), February 19, 2025, https://x.com/dan_cameron99/status/1892772791486681366.
228 Joseph Z, quoted in “More Lies & How to Spot Them: Reviewing Joseph Z and Lisa Bickle Stribling’s Statements,” The Remnant Radio, August 12, 2025, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/douCHfM5bv8?t=586.
229 Joseph Z, “More Lies,” https://youtu.be/douCHfM5bv8?t=535.
230 Joseph Z, “More Lies,” https://youtu.be/douCHfM5bv8?t=569.
231 Robert Gladstone, letter to Tikkun leaders, March 14, 2025.
232 Joseph Z, “More Lies,” https://youtu.be/douCHfM5bv8?t=582.
233 Joseph Z, “More Lies,” https://youtu.be/douCHfM5bv8?t=465.
234 Michael Roundtree, Michael Miller, and Josh Lewis, “More Lies & How to Spot Them: Reviewing Joseph Z and Lisa Bickle Stribling’s Statements,” The Remnant Radio, August 12, 2025, YouTube video, 12:12, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=douCHfM5bv8.
235 Rightwing Watch (@RightWingWatch), video of Ché Ahn speaking at a rally in Washington, DC, January 5, 2021, posted to X (formerly Twitter), January 5, 2021, https://x.com/RightWingWatch/status/1351278346420809732.
236 In the Instagram post from our chapter on social media, the elders reference that “Pastor Landon warned prophetically,” about the accuser of the brethren spirit. Like so many others, they assume because Landon Schott says he heard from God, he has heard from God. But if one tests that word against Scripture, it could not have been God. Real sin against women being exposed is not Satan, but God! Landon Schott, “Landon Schott Warns of ‘Accuser of the Brethren,’ Leads Ovation for Michael Brown - Feb. 23, 2025” Julie Roys, February 26, 2025, YouTube video, 0:06, https://youtu.be/2Lu1drSv4A0.
237 Schott, “Landon Schott Warns.”
238 Schott, “Landon Schott Warns.”
239 Landon Schott, “Honor Based Warfare | Pastor Landon Schott,” Mercy Culture, June 1, 2025, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/rTtGpyPhsE4.
240 “Responding To Culture Of Honor,” The Remnant Radio, October 13, 2022, YouTube Video, https://youtu.be/7XlUPjWRqpc. This is the part one of two.
241 Matthew Lilly, “Five Verses About Exposing Sin That Get Taken Out Of Context,” Presence Pioneers Media, Substack, August 25, 2025, https://presencepioneers.media/p/five-verses-about-exposing-sin.
242 Holler, “Investigation into Mike Bickle.”
243 Thomas, “Woman says IHOPKC founder groomed, sexually abused her when she was 14 in the 1980s.”
244 Hopkins, “Woman Says IHOPKC Founder Mike Bickle Used Prophecy to Sexually Abuse Her.”
245 Mike Bickle, “The Last Sermon of Mike Bickle,” Ex Eventu, November 20, 2023, YouTube Video, https://youtu.be/IwAI0AVmFio.
246 Hopkins, “Woman Says IHOPKC Founder Mike Bickle Used Prophecy to Sexually Abuse Her.”
247 Should it not be deeply concerning that the three most prominent voices of the Kansas City Prophets were all guilty of severe moral failures?
248 Julie Roys, “Mike Bickle’s Abuse Victim: We All Went to War,” Julie Roys Podcast, February 4, 2025, https://julieroys.com/podcast/mike-bickles-abuse-victim-we-all-went-to-war.
249 Department of Church Accountability (@DeptOfChurch), "Did Mike Bickle's main accusers..." X (formerly Twitter), August 6, 2025, https://x.com/DeptOfChurch/status/1953125089697779942.
250 Scott, Some Said They Blundered, 71.
251 Deborah Perkins, “Decades after her abuse, Deborah Perkins was shocked to learn that Mike Bickle has a current victim. She also discovered that Bob Jones once told Bickle he could do…” Julie Roys, February 6, 2025, Facebook video, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1410789926959764.
252 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison, ed. Eberhard Bethge (New York: Macmillan, 1972), 281.
253 While it is true that the Jews living under Roman rule did not have the authority to carry out capital punishment, we do have to wrestle with Stephen being martyred in Acts 7. It is likely that this was illegal, but not widely enforced. James (Jacob), the bother of Yeshua was killed by the Pharisees in the early part of the 60s CE, when Judea was in between governors. The fact that it was carried out while awaiting a new governor shows that it was illegal.
254 Of course, there are some who do expose and confront online with wrong motives. But Jesus told us never to judge the motives of someone’s heart. Unless there is clear evidence of their motives, we leave that to God. We judge what can be proven, not what we think or assume to be real.
255 Bernice Scheidler, “A Message to the Body of Christ,” Whose side are you on?” Facebook post, March 30, 2026, https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10234796655560782&id=1332430749&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=Q9BgusNdWFMwoLx7.
256 This is a link where you can sign up to be mentored by Jeremiah Johnson and Bernis Scheidler for $299, https://drron.org/4bUUfNX.
257 Kim Roberts, “Morris Pushes Back, Says Gateway Knew Details of His Sexual Abuse,” Ministry Watch, June 4, 2025, https://ministrywatch.com/morris-pushes-back-says-gateway-knew-details-of-his-sexual-abuse.
258 Under U.S. law, digital penetration (using a finger or object) on a 12-year-old by an adult is legally treated as rape or a similarly severe sexual offense, even if statutes might use different terminology. An indictment was “secured … against Maurice in Oklahoma for five counts of Lude or indecent acts with a child.” (https://ministrywatch.com/morris-pushes-back-says-gateway-knew-details-of-his-sexual-abuse) However, Oklahoma considers it second-degree rape to insert an instrument, including a body part, into someone under 16 years of age. (https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/state-laws).
259 Ryan Abbott, “Maryland Church Accused of Horrific Abuses,” Courthouse News Service, October 25, 2012, https://www.courthousenews.com/maryland-church-accused-of-horrific-abuses.
260 Bob Allen, “Sovereign Grace mom testifies in favor of longer statute of limitations on child sex abuse,” Baptist News Global, March 19, 2015, https://baptistnews.com/article/sovereign-grace-mom-testifies-in-favor-of-longer-statute-of-limitations-on-child-sex-abuse.
261 Tiffany Stanley, “The Sex-Abuse Scandal That Devastated a Suburban Megachurch: Inside the Rise and Fall of Sovereign Grace Ministries,” Washingtonian, February 14, 2016, https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/02/14/the-sex-abuse-scandal-that-devastated-a-suburban-megachurch-sovereign-grace-ministries.
262 Stanley, “Scandal That Devastated a Suburban Megachurch.”
263 Stanley, “Scandal That Devastated a Suburban Megachurch.”
264 Darla Melancon, The Things I Learned After Being Kicked Out of Church (Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2010), Chapter 1.
265 Melancon, The Things I Learned After Being Kicked Out of Church, Chapter 1.
266 Klett, “Perry Stone Won’t Face Charges in Sexual Misconduct Case.”
267 Cameron, “Perry Stone's cryptic warning while talking to Joseph Z.”
268 Wikipedia, “Perry Stone,” Wikipedia, accessed February 13, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Stone.
269 Mark Pfeifer, Nicki Pfeifer, Daniel Juster, et al, The Kingdom Accountability Project (no copyright, 2026), https://www.docdroid.com/fgrLK8k/kingdom-accountability-project-updated-122225-pdf.
270 Sarah, “Bethel Survivor Sarah Shares Her Experience of Clergy SA by Ben Armstrong *Trigger Warning*” Wake Up and Win, February 14, 2026, YouTube Video, https://youtu.be/eCV3OGkTrZE?t=946.
271 This video of Ben Armstrong has been deleted but we have a copy downloaded. https://fb.watch/Fdl8jaPvei/?mibextid=wwXIfr&fs=e.
272 John and Cheri Willey, in a private message to the author, February 3, 2026.
273 Silk, Unpunishable,” 18-19, Kindle.
274 Ron Cantor and Rozanne Strydom, “#Bethel Survivor tells her story—Will they care? Affair or Abuse?” https://youtu.be/o66lZtYIHZ0.
275 Washington Post Editorial Board, “The Hunter Biden Story Is an Opportunity for a Reckoning,” Washington Post, April 3, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/03/hunter-biden-story-is-an-opportunity-reckoning.
276 Michael Brown and Heather Schott, “Dr. Michael Brown Tells His Story,” https://youtu.be/uwTCulZn2xM?t=5727.
277 CBS News Texas, “New Documents Reveal What Gateway Church May Have Known Before Abuse Allegations,” CBS News, June 1, 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/gateway-church-abuse-allegations-new-documents.
278 J. Michael Little, Letter from law firm regrading Daniel Savala and Chi Alpha Ministries, April17, 2023, https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/278504/8159695/University%20XA%20Demand%20Letter.pdf.
279 Stephanie Martin, “Televangelist Perry Stone Admits He’s Not Perfect But Calls Abuse Accusations ‘Demonic’” Church Leaders, December 30, 2021, https://churchleaders.com/news/413751-televangelist-perry-stone-admits-hes-not-perfect-but-calls-abuse-accusations-demonic.html.
280 Anna Kitko and Melissa Dougherty, “Cult Specialist Shows the Surprising Connection Between Narcissism and Cover Up Culture: Prelest,” Melissa Dougherty, February 6, 2026, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/LHB2MePXC4E?t=626.
281 Charles A. O’Reilly III and Jennifer A. Chatman, “Transformational Leader or Narcissist? How Grandiose Narcissists Can Create and Destroy Organizations and Institutions,” California Management Review 62, no. 3 (Spring 2020): 5–27, https://cmr.berkeley.edu/assets/documents/promo/62-3-oreilly.pdf.
282 Mickey Butts, “How Narcissistic Leaders Infect Their Organizations’ Cultures,” Haas News | UC Berkeley Haas, October 3, 2020, https://newsroom.haas.berkeley.edu/research/how-narcissistic-leaders-infect-their-organizations-culture.
283 Mike Winger, “I Can Finally Show You The Evidence,” January 28, 2026, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/FyoR5HQjI6w?t=197.
284 This is a modern English quote from Thomas Fuller, The Church History of Britain, from the Birth of Jesus Christ until the Year 1648 (London: John Williams, 1655), 493.
285 Kathyrn Post, “Rash of Charismatic Christian Leaders Departs Daystar Amid Ongoing Scandal,” Ministry Watch, January 10, 2025, https://ministrywatch.com/rash-of-charismatic-christian-leaders-departs-daystar-amid-ongoing-scandal.
286 Mercy Culture and Heather Schott, “To those who have operated as self-apoointed accountitbility police,” Instagram, April 30, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJDR7dJM-lF/?img_index=6.
287 Jeremiah Johnson, “Today is a very significant day in the body of Christ…,” Facebook, April 28, 2025, https://www.facebook.com/jeremiah.johnson.715832/posts/689457983583914.
288 Jake Kail, “Why I No Longer Endorse the Ministry of Jeremiah Johnson,” Jake Kail Ministries, January 31, 2026, https://jakekail.com/why-i-no-longer-endorse-the-ministry-of-jeremiah-johnson.
289 Joshua Harris, “Part 2: False Recognition & Jeremiah Johnson’s Evolved Narrative About the Trumpet Prophecy,” Joshua Harris, October 26, 2025, YouTube Video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBUwSNh-r0w.
290 Ron Cantor, “From Pulpit to Pyramid? Jeremiah Johnson's Church and MLM!” Ron Cantor, March 20, 2026, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/jSl0kDofGsU.
291 Catherine Mullens, Cancel Culture, Gossip & Slander: How to Discern the Spirit Operating with @catmullins,” Daystar, August 14, 2025, YouTube video, 12:58, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvzJoNptfLI.
292 Jim Holler, “Investigation into the Allegations of Sexually Abusive Misconduct Involving Michael Brown,” April 18, 2024.
293 Jim Holler, “Investigation into the Allegations of Sexually Abusive Misconduct Involving Michael Brown,” April 18, 2024.
294 R. V. Scheide, “Losing His Religion: A Former Bethel Student Speaks Out,” Anewscafe, December 12, 2018, https://anewscafe.com/2018/12/12/redding/losing-his-religion-a-former-bethel-student-speaks-out.
295 Jeff Crippen, “Exposing Sin and Evil is not Gossip.” Unholy Charade – Jeff Crippen, March 22, 2025, https://unholycharade.com/2021/03/exposing-sin-and-evil-is-not-gossip.
296 Dr. Michael Brown, “Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus | Dr. Micahel Brown,” YouTube video, November 5, 2023, https://youtu.be/4R1NvYR621c?t=1483.
297 Ché Ahn, “Pastor Che Ahn Speaks on Accountability Within the Church,” Harvest Rock Church, February 2, 2026, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/TlrYnfSlOmk?t=216.
298 Darla and Isaiah Melancon: https://youtu.be/52r71SOzFHY. Pia Hugo: https://youtu.be/FhctdrNGrlA.
299 Jim Holler, “Firefly report into Dr. Michael Brown,” 12.
300 Paul Engleman, The Brown Witness Report, 116.
301 Londa Parker, The Brown Witness Report, 27-28.
302 Michael Brown, in email to Tikkun leaders, November 16, 2024.
303 Scott, Some Said They Blundered, 163.
304 Michael Brown, “Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus | Dr. Michael Brown,” https://youtu.be/4R1NvYR621c?t=1935.
305 James Holler, “Investigation of Mike Bickle and the International House of Prayer Kansas City,” 44.
306 Bob Smietana, “Diane Langberg On Church Leaders And Abuse: ‘We Have Utterly Failed God’,” The Roys Report, January 13, 2020, https://julieroys.com/diane-langberg-church-leaders-abuse-we-have-utterly-failed-god.
307 Russell Moore, “Restoring Trust in the Church Requires the Whole Truth,” Christianity Today, January 12, 2023, https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/01/russell-moore-ct-church-abuse-scandals-trust-requires-truth.
308 Moore, “Restoring Trust.”
309 “‘Never Be Afraid’: William Faulkner’s Speech to His Daughter’s Graduating Class in 1951,” Open Culture, May 5, 2020, https://www.openculture.com/2020/05/never-be-afraid-william-faulkners-speech-to-his-daughters-graduating-class-in-1951.html.
310 Yisrael Meir Kagan, Sefer Chafetz Chaim (Vilna, 1873).
311 Torah.org, “Speaking Lashon Hara—When It’s Permissible,” Chofetz Chaim: Ethics of Speech, Chapter 10, https://torah.org/learning/halashon-chapter10.
312 Brady Boyd, “Brady Boyd on Gateway Church, Robert Morris Scandal and Cindy Clemishire,” Julie Roys, June 12, 2025, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/M7FOgfq_KLg?t=199.
313 Scott Palmer, “New Life Elders: ‘Brady made statements (we) believe to be inaccurate’- Jun. 22, 2025,” Julie Roys, June 28, 2025, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/HoSsCEjPTjs.
314 Chad Hawley (chadhawley21), “Join the club. Chris Reed said to me directly “May God strike me dead if I’m lying to you” and then proceeded to lie to me.” X, February 13, 2026, 5:58 PM EST, https://x.com/chadhawley21/status/2022083020120109281.
315 Mike Winger, (@MikeWingerii), “This image will show to reasonable people that Chris Reed the fake prophet swore to me in God’s name and was lying.” X, February 12, 2026, 1:05PM PST, https://x.com/MikeWingerii/status/2022054552326013066.
316 Anugrah Kumar, “Vineyard Pastors Knew of Son’s Child Sex Abuse Allegations but Failed to Act: Report,” The Christian Post, November 23, 2023, https://www.christianpost.com/news/vineyard-pastors-knew-of-sons-sex-abuse-allegations-probe-finds.html.
317 Matt McConico, “96 page independent investigation done after sexual misconduct allegation at Duluth Vineyard Church,” Northern News Now, November 22, 2023, https://www.northernnewsnow.com/2023/11/23/96-page-independent-investigation-done-after-sexual-misconduct-allegation-duluth-vineyard-church.
318 McConico, “96 page.”
319 Kumar, “Vineyard Pastors Knew.”
320 Robb Morgan, “Written Notice of Concern re: the Conduct of the Duluth Vineyard Church Council and Interim Senior Pastor,” March 6, 2025, https://bit.ly/49R2xHg.
321 Leonardo Blair, “Pastor John Kliewer Leaves Duluth Vineyard, Wife Claims Church’s Defamation Gave Husband PTSD,” Christian Post, November 11, 2025, https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-john-kliewer-leaves-duluth-vineyard.html.
322 John Gray, “PART ONE FULL INTERVIEW: John and Aventer Gray on Their Marriage, and More!” The Real Daytime, March 16, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wewJ6blxD_k.
323 Bill Johnson, “Bethel Church Service | Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton | Worship with Leah Valenzuela,” YouTube video, January 25, 2026, https://youtu.be/QMywWJY5azQ?t=6466.
324 Rick Joyner, “Rick Joyner says cheating is what men do—’Get used it,’” Ron Cantor, August 20, 2025, YouTube video, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uF-Dp1CUa3I.
325 “Half-truth,” Wikipedia, last modified November 6, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-truth.
326 Langberg, Redeeming Power, 24-25.
327 Joyner, “Rick Joyner says cheating is what men do—‘Get used it.’” https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uF-Dp1CUa3I.
328 Jedidiah Hartley, “Healed-ish: Ep. 10 Raised by a False Prophet,” Jubilee Dawn, July 1, 2025, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/saNdO-qepuU?t=2548.
329 Chris Reed, Text messages with student, November 7, 2021, https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:caee01be-68d5-404e-891a-470cd01e590b.
330 Rebecca Hopkins, “Chris Reed Attributes Sexual Misconduct to Being ‘Under Attack,’” The Roys Report, August 31, 2024, https://julieroys.com/chris-reed-attributes-sexual-misconduct-to-being-under-attack.
331 Rick Joyner, “Rick Joyner - Morningstar Fellowship Church - Sept 2, 2024 - Clip Two,” Julie Roys, September 3, 2024, 03:1, 6https://youtu.be/D_tTPQy8uCc.
332 Hopkins, “Chris Reed.”
333 Brown says this in the Mercy Culture video at 11:00 and Bickle says this is December 12, 2023, public confession.
334 Rebecca Hopkins, “Rick Joyner Says Evidence is ‘Mounting’ Against Chris Reed, While Justin Perry Challenges Morningstar’s Timeline,” The Roys Report, September 3, 2024, https://julieroys.com/rick-joyner-evidence-mounting-chris-reed-justin-perry-challenges-morningstars-timeline.
335 Hopkins, “Evidence is ‘Mounting.’”
336 Hopkins, “Evidence is ‘Mounting.’”
337 Rick Joyner, “2009 Special Bulletin #17,” accessed August 23, 2025, https://msm.morningstarministries.org/publications/todd-bentley-begins-restoration-process-0.
338 Jake Kail, “Why I No Longer Endorse the Ministry of Jeremiah Johnson,” Jake Kail Ministries, January 31, 3036, https://jakekail.com/why-i-no-longer-endorse-the-ministry-of-jeremiah-johnson.
339 Robert Gladstone, “An Open Letter about Jeremiah Johnson,” Robert’s Substack, March 3, 2026, https://robertgladstone.substack.com/p/an-open-letter-about-jeremiah-johnson.
340 Rebecca Hopkins, “‘His Time’s Not Up’: Rick Joyner Says Mike Bickle Should Be Restored to Ministry” The Roys Report, https://julieroys.com/rick-joyner-says-mike-bickle-restored-ministry.
341 Alexander Venter, “How do We Move Forward with Alexander Venter,” The Dwyane and Jennifer Podcast, March 26, 2026, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/Nd78nBW6ctM?t=1689.
342 Stephen Strang “When Is A Pastor Disqualified?” Julie Roys, April 4, 2024, YouTube Video, 15:36, https://youtu.be/uaYHJrgdwhA?t=94.1.
343 Julie Roys, “When is a Pastor Disqualified,” The Roys Report Podcast, April 3, 2024, https://julieroys.com/podcast/when-is-a-pastor-disqualified.
344 “Disgraced pastor Haggard admits second relationship with man,” CNN, accessed August 24, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/29/lkl.ted.haggard.
345 Yonat Shomron, “Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard faces new allegations,” Religion News Service, July 26, 2022, https://religionnews.com/2022/07/26/disgraced-pastor-ted-haggard-faces-new-allegations.
346 Mark Taylor, 1 Corinthians, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 28, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2014), 223.
347 Taylor, 1 Corinthians, 224.
348 Vallotton, “Bethel Church Service | Kris Vallotton,” https://youtu.be/J7YXUR_kY2E?t=6076.
349 Rozanne Styrdom, “Bethel Survivor.”
350 Ben Armstrong, “How a Culture of Honor works: A Conversation with the Armstrong’s” Loving on Purpose, July 13, 2018, YouTube video, https://youtu.be/JKiMIMpz9kY?t=393.
351 One of the best pieces of advice I ever received came from the director of our Bible school in Long Island. I wanted to go straight into ministry from Bible school. He told me I should get a job first and become successful. When you go into ministry you should be taking a pay cut, not a pay increase. It should be a sacrifice, not an honor.
352 Bill Johnson, “Bethel Church Service | Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton | Worship with Leah Valenzuela,” YouTube video, January 25, 2026, https://youtu.be/QMywWJY5azQ?t=6187.
353 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, rev. ed., trans. R. H. Fuller (New York: Macmillan, 1963), 47.
354 David Pooler, “Is Misty Edwards A Victim? - Podcast with Dr. David Pooler,” Julie Roys, March 15, 2024, YouTube video, 48:05, https://youtu.be/tjJP8vDgoBA?t=2887.
355 Leonardo Blair, “Americans rank clergy at record low in honesty and ethics ratings: Gallup,” Christian Post, February 15, 2026, https://www.christianpost.com/news/americans-rank-clergy-at-record-low-in-honesty-and-ethics-ratings.html.