Perspectives  

Abusive Pastors in the Pulpit

by Lynn Green

More and more we are seeing innocent women and children being sexually abused in various ways by pastors. As hard as this is to believe, many people go into the ministry strictly for the purpose of gaining trust and access to potential victims.

Recently in Maryland there was a case of a popular “Apostle” named Gerald F. Griffith. He first came to my attention when I saw on my mother’s kitchen table a magazine that his church had produced. In that magazine there was no mention of Jesus or God in general.

Instead, there were numerous pastors, ministers and church folk singing the praises of the “Apostle”.  That was odd to me. Why would the pastor of a church feel comfortable accepting all that praise---instead of directing people to honor the Lord with the praise.

I remember telling my mother, “I would not sit under his ministry for a second”---to which she replied, “Me neither.” She went on to tell me that a fellow pastor had given her that magazine to check out.

Several months following that incident, Gerald F. Griffith was arrested for child sexual abuse and he is now serving 15 years in prison. He is also scheduled to go back to trial to answer for FIVE more children whom he sexually abused while supposedly “counseling” them.  READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE

Parents, please. NEVER allow your child to go into a pastor’s office alone. That pastor should always have a witness available. Likewise, ladies---NEVER go into the office of a pastor alone. I don’t care how holy or great you believe he is. There should always be a witness present. Always. I know of pastors who bring their wives into the counseling office with them for session. Perfect! As long as that wife is either born again or a minister herself, that’s the perfect set up. It protects all involved.

The bible instructs us to  Be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you as is fitting for saints. (Ephesians 5:1-3)

Pastors know that fornication and child molestation and adultery are wrong. But many of them choose their FLESH over the truth of the Word of God.

Recently, I interviewed Minister Garlena Hines on the subject of child abuse. Be certain to listen to the interview here.  It’s located in the Archives section.  PRESS HERE

In the interim, if you have been abused by a pastor, check out this website for guidance:

Press here

And pray this prayer:  Precious Father, in the most Holy and High name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I ask Your forgiveness of every sin I’ve committed this day by thought, word or deed.

Lord I pray that You heal my mind of the pain that comes with the memories of the abuse. I pray Father that You heal every scar left on my soul and spirit from the abuse.

Father I pray for the abuser. I pray that s/he opens his/her mind to all You to heal him/her of the desire to abuse. I pray that you help that person to see the error of his/her ways and see the sin for what it is. I pray that not another person ever fall victim of that individual’s abuse.

I uplift this pray to You in Jesus name. ~AMEN~

Email, PRESS HERE 

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