Sex Abuse Allegations in Assemblies of God Church

A significant lawsuit filed in Craighead County Circuit Court highlights disturbing allegations of sexual abuse by Tony Waller, a former children’s pastor at Refuge Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The lawsuit, brought by six women, accuses the church and the Assemblies of God leadership of ignoring reports of Waller’s misconduct, allowing him to exploit, abuse, and secretly film girls for years.

Alarming Warnings and Reports

As early as 2000, girls at the church warned leaders about hidden cameras and inappropriate behavior by Waller. Despite these warnings, church leadership took limited action. Waller was briefly suspended in 2004 after a camera was found in the church bathroom, but he was soon reinstated. His predatory actions continued until 2015 when his wife found incriminating images, leading to his arrest.

Legal Accountability Sought

Plaintiff Stephanie Davis stated her intent to hold church leaders accountable and pressure the Assemblies of God into enforcing stricter child protection policies. Davis, drugged and secretly recorded by Waller as a child, emphasized that the case extends beyond Waller’s actions, targeting systemic failures in oversight and policy.

NBC News Investigation

NBC News conducted a yearlong investigation, identifying about 200 Assemblies of God pastors and volunteers accused of abuse over 50 years. The reporting highlighted a pattern of reinstating accused ministers without mandatory protections or police notification. The denomination’s resistance to mandatory child protection measures is a significant concern.

Church and Denomination Responses

The Assemblies of God issued a statement claiming they only became aware of allegations against Waller in 2015. They asserted that Waller’s ministerial credentials were revoked immediately and stressed their zero-tolerance policy. Refuge Church, now with improved child safety measures, did not respond to requests for comment.

The church’s former senior pastor, Mike Glover, faced accusations of negligence in the lawsuit. Although he acknowledged some reports, he denied awareness of the full extent of Waller’s misconduct.

Calls for Change

The lawsuit seeks broader nationwide reforms in the Assemblies of God to prevent similar incidents. Survivors like Davis urge for enforced safeguards and mandatory reporting to protect future generations from abuse.

Davis explained, “These things could have been prevented if somebody had listened.”