All articles tagged with #pastor
A Kentucky Baptist church faces backlash after a viral video showed staff in military-style costumes performing a mock firing squad in front of children during vacation Bible school. The pastor says it’s a long-running, symbolic skit to defeat evil, while critics, including Moms Demand Action, call it disturbing and unsafe; the church has not commented further.
A former Utah youth pastor, David Vander Meer, was charged with murdering his wife Bernadette in 2006 after investigators said he pushed her from Angels Landing in Zion National Park; Vander Meer died by suicide in custody days after his arrest, and prosecutors indicated the death did not appear accidental. The case also included allegations of an affair with an underage girl and a life-insurance payout connected to Bernadette’s death.
A Louisiana pastor, Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, faces second-degree battery charges after police say he beat Scott Sherwin’s son eight times and wrestled him to the ground; Spell says he acted to protect his family after Sherwin’s son allegedly harassed Shaye Spell, flipped her off, followed them, and threatened rape and murder, part of a long-running feud that included a 2020 lawsuit over surveillance cameras; Spell is due in court September 15 and could face up to eight years in prison.
British pastor Cheryl Bartley was charged with gross negligence manslaughter after 61-year-old Robert Smith drowned during a backyard baptism at a private Birmingham home; the incident, reportedly livestreamed on Facebook, occurred in Oct. 2023 and Bartley is due in Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on May 14 as the case continues.
Christina Ennen, Senior Pastor at Gulf Shores 1st Presbyterian Church, died December 30, 2025 at University Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. Born March 24, 1974 in Decatur, Illinois, she pursued ministry after high school, led church and community initiatives, and is survived by her husband Mike Ennen and two children, Anne Sturm and Ty Ennen. A memorial service with visitation is planned February 7 at The Bridge in Greenville, Illinois (visitation at 1:00 p.m., service at 2:00 p.m.).
A South Carolina pastor, John-Paul Miller, was indicted on federal charges of cyberstalking and making false statements related to his wife Mica Miller's death by suicide in 2024, with allegations including posting her nude photo online and harassing her over a period of time. The case highlights serious issues of domestic abuse and cyber harassment, with Miller scheduled for arraignment in January 2026.
U.S. Marshals arrested Pastor Joseph Lyle Campbell in Missouri, who is accused of sexually abusing underage girls over a period of more than 40 years, involving multiple victims and multiple church affiliations.
A Maryland pastor and father of three, Daniel Fuentes Espinal, who overstayed his visa by 24 years after fleeing Honduras, was detained by ICE and is awaiting a court hearing. His family and community are advocating for his release, highlighting his contributions and the bureaucratic challenges he faced in obtaining legal residency. The case has drawn criticism from local lawmakers and community members, emphasizing concerns over immigration enforcement practices.
A Honduran-born Maryland pastor, Daniel Fuentes Espinal, who overstayed his visa by 24 years, was detained by ICE and is awaiting a court hearing, sparking community protests and calls for his release amid broader immigration enforcement concerns.
In Antioch, California, Pastor Nick Neves, who is trained in mixed martial arts, successfully subdued an axe-wielding vandal attempting to break into the First Family Church on Thanksgiving morning. Neves used his martial arts skills to wrestle the suspect to the ground and hold him until police arrived, without causing significant harm. The suspect was arrested, and Neves was unharmed. The incident occurred shortly after the church had completed a community project to help those in need.
Pastor Nick Neves of First Family Church in Antioch, California, used his martial arts training to thwart a burglary attempt on Thanksgiving. After responding to an alarm, Neves found a man who had broken into the church with an axe. Neves restrained the suspect using Brazilian jiu-jitsu until police arrived. The suspect, who caused significant damage, was arrested and faces multiple charges. Neves expressed no animosity towards the burglar, hoping the incident might lead to personal reflection and change.
A pastor in Antioch, trained in martial arts, successfully subdued an axe-wielding burglar who broke into his church on Thanksgiving. Pastor Nick Neves used his skills in jujitsu and kickboxing to wrestle the intruder in the church parking lot until police arrived. The church, known for its charitable work, had recently provided groceries to 130 families, highlighting the irony of the attempted theft. Neves expressed hope that the burglar would choose a better path in the future.
A pastor trained in martial arts thwarted a burglary attempt at his Antioch church on Thanksgiving by wrestling the axe-wielding intruder until police arrived. Pastor Nick Neves, who has a background in jujitsu and kickboxing, managed to subdue the burglar without causing harm. The church, known for its charitable work, had recently provided groceries to 130 families, highlighting the irony of the attempted theft. Neves expressed hope that the intruder would choose a better path in the future.
Reverend Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, a beloved Los Angeles pastor, civil rights leader, and community activist, passed away at 94. He served as pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles for 27 years, growing the congregation from 250 to 18,000 members. After retiring, he joined USC's faculty and established the Passing the Mantle program, leaving behind a legacy of service, community engagement, and spiritual leadership.
A pastor in California has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for allegedly paying hit men nearly $40,000 to shoot his daughter's boyfriend in a murder-for-hire plot. The pastor, Samuel Pasillas, and another man, Juan Manuel Cebreros, were arrested as part of the investigation. The victim was shot multiple times in October 2023 and the police later uncovered evidence that Pasillas met with the hit men, paid them, and provided information on the boyfriend's whereabouts. Both suspects have pleaded not guilty, and the investigation is ongoing.