megachurches

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Megachurch Leader Admits Sex Abuse, Resigns

Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Texas says it occurred decades ago; the girl was 12

(Newser) - The pastor of a Texas megachurch has resigned after a woman said he had sexually abused her on multiple occasions in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12. Gateway Church's board of elders said in a statement that they'd accepted the resignation of Robert Morris, the church's...

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...

Neighbors Say They Warned Cops About Megachurch Shooter

Her former mother-in-law is also speaking out

(Newser) - The neighbors of Genesse Ivonne Moreno, the woman who opened fire in Joel Osteen's Houston megachurch on Sunday before she was fatally shot by police, say they'd been trying to warn authorities about her for years. The six women held a news conference to describe the harassment and...

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 ...

Sweet End for Plumber Who Found Cash in Megachurch Wall

He'll walk away $20K richer

(Newser) - Update: The plumber who stumbled on cash and checks inside a megachurch wall will walk away from the experience a little richer. While police haven't disclosed the amount that was found, evidence suggests it is connected to theft of $600,000 from Lakewood Church in 2014, reports NBC News...

Megachurch Pastor Is Latest COVID Case Linked to White House

Greg Laurie attended Rose Garden event

(Newser) - One of the latest COVID-19 cases to be linked to the White House: Greg Laurie, a California megachurch pastor. Laurie, the leader of Riverside's Harvest Christian Fellowship, attended the Rose Garden ceremony at which President Trump announced his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, Politico reports....

Megachurch Leader Once Again Charged With Child Rape

Charges against Naasón Joaquín García had been dropped in April

(Newser) - California on Wednesday charged the leader of a Mexican megachurch with child rape and human trafficking, months after a court dismissed the previous allegations because of prosecution errors, the AP reports. Naasón Joaquín García, the self-proclaimed apostle of La Luz del Mundo, was charged with three dozen...

The 'Apostle' Sees His Sex-Abuse Case Dismissed

Appeals court finds issue with timing of Naason Joaquin Garcia's preliminary hearing

(Newser) - "Oh my goodness, praise God." Such is the reaction of one of the followers of La Luz del Mundo, a Mexico-based megachurch whose leader had faced child rape, child porn, and human trafficking charges—which were dismissed on Tuesday. Naason Joaquin Garcia, known as the "apostle" to...

Pastor Charged After Hundreds Attend Sunday Services

Sheriff had warned church about social distancing rules

(Newser) - Florida officials have arrested the pastor of a megachurch after detectives say he held two Sunday services with hundreds of people and violated a safer-at-home order in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus. According to jail records, Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne turned himself in to authorities Monday in Hernando...

Church Cancels $46M in Debt for 45K Families

Crossroads Church teams up with RIP Medical Debt to abolish debt

(Newser) - Imagine having all your medical debt paid off, out of the blue. Now imagine a church paying off $46.5 million in said debt for over 45,000 families. That's pretty much the story as Crossroads Church in Cincinnati works with RIP Medical Debt to eliminate debts for residents...

Christian Who Wrote Anti-Dating Book: 'I Am Not a Christian'

Joshua Harris getting divorced, apologizing to LGBT community, saying dating actually is OK

(Newser) - More than 20 years ago, he wrote a popular Christian guide to relationships that said dating—including holding hands, kissing, and couples spending time alone together—was bad and a "training ground" for divorce. Now, after pointing out the "flaws" more than a year ago in his I ...

Megachurch Pastor: 'I Have Been Accused of Many Things'

Bill Hybels steps down, acknowledges 'making people feel uncomfortable'

(Newser) - A pastor and former spiritual adviser to President Clinton has stepped down from one of the largest evangelical churches in the country over allegations of misconduct with women. Bill Hybels, 66, planned to retire from the Chicago-area megachurch he founded 43 years ago in October. But at Willow Creek's...

Megachurch Founder Accused of Molesting 4-Year-Old

Girl told police Bob Coy abused her for years

(Newser) - The founder of one of Florida's biggest megachurches was in 2015 accused of molesting a young girl for years, starting when she was just four years old, the Miami New Times reveals for the first time. In August 2015, a woman contacted police to say she had discovered that...

Billy Graham's Grandson Resigns After Sex Scandal

Tullian Tchividjian says both he and his wife had affairs

(Newser) - The grandson of famed evangelist Rev. Billy Graham stepped down from his Fort Lauderdale megachurch pastorship yesterday after admitting to an extramarital affair. In a statement provided to the Washington Post , Tullian Tchividjian writes, "Last week I was approached by [Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church] leaders and they asked me...

Crystal Cathedral Megachurch Founder Dead at 88

Robert Schuller's influence had faded in recent years

(Newser) - The Rev. Robert H. Schuller, the Southern California televangelist and author who beamed his upbeat messages on faith and redemption to millions from his landmark Crystal Cathedral only to see his empire crumble in his waning years, has died. He was 88. Schuller died early today at a care facility...

Foul-Mouthed Pastor: Women Are 'Penis Homes'

Mark Driscoll takes break as troubled megachurch shuts branches

(Newser) - Mark Driscoll routinely curses and makes biblical references to oral sex during his sermons at his Mars Hill megachurch—but the Seattle pastor’s controversial words may have finally done him in. A female blogger at Patheos dug up comments Driscoll made under a pseudonym on a church message board...

Anti-Vaccine Megachurch Hit by Measles Turns to Vaccine

Texas church now hosting vaccination clinics

(Newser) - A Texas megachurch whose founder has linked vaccines to autism is now hosting vaccination clinics after being linked to at least 21 cases of measles. The outbreak began when a person who was infected with measles overseas visited Eagle Mountain International Church near Fort Worth, the AP reports. Most of...

Amazingly Elaborate Hoax Targets Megachurch Pastor

Joel Osteen has renounced his faith, online hoax claims

(Newser) - Somebody has put a massive amount of work into a hoax claiming that pastor Joel Osteen has renounced his faith and is resigning from the Texas megachurch his father founded, the Houston Chronicle reports. The hoax includes a fake Twitter feed, a YouTube video from "ChristianityNews" containing mockups of...

After Son's Suicide, Rick Warren 'Overwhelmed' by Support

Matthew shot himself Friday morning: report

(Newser) - Rick Warren's Saddleback megachurch is grappling with the aftermath of his son Matthew's apparent suicide , with the pastor taking to Twitter and Facebook to thank followers for their support, the AP reports. Wife "Kay and I are overwhelmed by your love, prayers, and kind words," he...

One Dead in Megachurch Shooting

Gunman at large after slaying at Georgia's World Changers church

(Newser) - A shooter killed one person inside a megachurch near Atlanta this morning, police say. The suspect is still at large after fleeing the World Changers Church International, reports MyFoxAtlanta . The victim has not been identified, but police say it was a volunteer staffer who was leading a prayer service at...

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