Mike Hixenbaugh
@mikehixenbaugh.com
NBC News senior reporter | Author of THEY CAME FOR THE SCHOOLS | Co-creator of SOUTHLAKE & GRAPEVINE podcasts | Retired t-ball coach
www.mikehixenbaugh.com
www.mikehixenbaugh.com
Last year we got a tip about a children's pastor who'd managed to stay in ministry for decades even as allegations of sex abuse trailed him across four states.
I kept pulling thread and found something far bigger: a 50-year pattern of abuse and cover-up in the largest Pentecostal denomination 🧵 1/
I kept pulling thread and found something far bigger: a 50-year pattern of abuse and cover-up in the largest Pentecostal denomination 🧵 1/
November 7, 2025 at 2:13 PM
6/ Read the full story here. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
How Assemblies of God churches shielded accused predators as they abused children
NBC News uncovered a 50-year pattern of sex abuse, silence and cover-up in the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination.
www.nbcnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
6/ Read the full story here. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
5/ Now, the context.
My colleagues and I spent months investigating the history of sex abuse in the Assemblies of God, documenting decades of allegations — both before and after the 2019-2021 meetings.
This is what we found: bsky.app/profile/mike...
My colleagues and I spent months investigating the history of sex abuse in the Assemblies of God, documenting decades of allegations — both before and after the 2019-2021 meetings.
This is what we found: bsky.app/profile/mike...
We spoke to dozens of survivors, read thousands of pages of court and police records, identified 200 alleged church abusers across decades.
Our investigation reveals a 50-year pattern of sex abuse, silence, complacency & cover-up in the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination.
Read it here:
Our investigation reveals a 50-year pattern of sex abuse, silence, complacency & cover-up in the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination.
Read it here:
Assemblies of God churches shielded accused predators — and allowed them to keep abusing children
NBC News uncovered a 50-year pattern of sex abuse, silence and cover-up in the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination.
www.nbcnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
5/ Now, the context.
My colleagues and I spent months investigating the history of sex abuse in the Assemblies of God, documenting decades of allegations — both before and after the 2019-2021 meetings.
This is what we found: bsky.app/profile/mike...
My colleagues and I spent months investigating the history of sex abuse in the Assemblies of God, documenting decades of allegations — both before and after the 2019-2021 meetings.
This is what we found: bsky.app/profile/mike...
4/ Barrett shared voluntary child safety guidelines that churches could adopt.
Then the denomination's longtime chief legal counsel, Richard Hammar, rose to explain his thinking. The legal risks of mandating child-protection policies, he said from the stage, “outweighed the benefit.”
Watch:
Then the denomination's longtime chief legal counsel, Richard Hammar, rose to explain his thinking. The legal risks of mandating child-protection policies, he said from the stage, “outweighed the benefit.”
Watch:
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
4/ Barrett shared voluntary child safety guidelines that churches could adopt.
Then the denomination's longtime chief legal counsel, Richard Hammar, rose to explain his thinking. The legal risks of mandating child-protection policies, he said from the stage, “outweighed the benefit.”
Watch:
Then the denomination's longtime chief legal counsel, Richard Hammar, rose to explain his thinking. The legal risks of mandating child-protection policies, he said from the stage, “outweighed the benefit.”
Watch:
3/ The Assemblies of God's General Council voted to study the resolution.
When it reconvened two years later, top leaders advised rejecting it.
General Secretary Donna Barrett said mandating child safety policies would have played “right into the hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”
Watch:
When it reconvened two years later, top leaders advised rejecting it.
General Secretary Donna Barrett said mandating child safety policies would have played “right into the hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”
Watch:
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
3/ The Assemblies of God's General Council voted to study the resolution.
When it reconvened two years later, top leaders advised rejecting it.
General Secretary Donna Barrett said mandating child safety policies would have played “right into the hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”
Watch:
When it reconvened two years later, top leaders advised rejecting it.
General Secretary Donna Barrett said mandating child safety policies would have played “right into the hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”
Watch:
2/ But before the resolution could be voted on, the Assemblies of God's former general superintendent, George Wood, stood to share "grave legal concerns."
If the denomination adopted rules, he said, it could be held liable in lawsuits for failing to enforce them.
Listen to how Wood framed it:
If the denomination adopted rules, he said, it could be held liable in lawsuits for failing to enforce them.
Listen to how Wood framed it:
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
2/ But before the resolution could be voted on, the Assemblies of God's former general superintendent, George Wood, stood to share "grave legal concerns."
If the denomination adopted rules, he said, it could be held liable in lawsuits for failing to enforce them.
Listen to how Wood framed it:
If the denomination adopted rules, he said, it could be held liable in lawsuits for failing to enforce them.
Listen to how Wood framed it:
Thank you! Hope you’re holding up ok amid it all
October 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Thank you! Hope you’re holding up ok amid it all
That's so awful, Aron. Would you mind sending me an email? mike.hixenbaugh@nbcuni.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:55 PM
That's so awful, Aron. Would you mind sending me an email? mike.hixenbaugh@nbcuni.com
Please give the story a read and share. Let us know what you think. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
How Assemblies of God churches shielded accused predators as they abused children
NBC News uncovered a 50-year pattern of sex abuse, silence and cover-up in the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination.
www.nbcnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Please give the story a read and share. Let us know what you think. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
The decision left survivors reeling. In interviews, they described being molested in a church van. Stalked in a church nursery. Raped with a statue of Jesus plucked from a mantle. Told to repent.
Now they are demanding change.
Now they are demanding change.
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The decision left survivors reeling. In interviews, they described being molested in a church van. Stalked in a church nursery. Raped with a statue of Jesus plucked from a mantle. Told to repent.
Now they are demanding change.
Now they are demanding change.
The Assemblies of God has long known of this danger.
A few years ago, it considered making child safety policies mandatory at all its churches—but then backed away after lawyers warned it could expose the denomination to lawsuits.
The legal risks, their top lawyer said, “outweighed the benefit.”
A few years ago, it considered making child safety policies mandatory at all its churches—but then backed away after lawyers warned it could expose the denomination to lawsuits.
The legal risks, their top lawyer said, “outweighed the benefit.”
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The Assemblies of God has long known of this danger.
A few years ago, it considered making child safety policies mandatory at all its churches—but then backed away after lawyers warned it could expose the denomination to lawsuits.
The legal risks, their top lawyer said, “outweighed the benefit.”
A few years ago, it considered making child safety policies mandatory at all its churches—but then backed away after lawyers warned it could expose the denomination to lawsuits.
The legal risks, their top lawyer said, “outweighed the benefit.”
“They made me feel like something was wrong with me and not the person abusing me,” said Meza, one of nearly 20 people suing an Assemblies of God church in California accused of concealing decades of abuse.
Others said preachers twisted scripture to silence them.
"Touch not the Lord's anointed."
Others said preachers twisted scripture to silence them.
"Touch not the Lord's anointed."
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
“They made me feel like something was wrong with me and not the person abusing me,” said Meza, one of nearly 20 people suing an Assemblies of God church in California accused of concealing decades of abuse.
Others said preachers twisted scripture to silence them.
"Touch not the Lord's anointed."
Others said preachers twisted scripture to silence them.
"Touch not the Lord's anointed."
In some cases, denomination officials oversaw the restoration and reinstatement of accused child abusers. In others, churches put convicted sex offenders in charge of youth groups.
In total, these men were accused of abusing more than 475 people, mostly children.
In total, these men were accused of abusing more than 475 people, mostly children.
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
In some cases, denomination officials oversaw the restoration and reinstatement of accused child abusers. In others, churches put convicted sex offenders in charge of youth groups.
In total, these men were accused of abusing more than 475 people, mostly children.
In total, these men were accused of abusing more than 475 people, mostly children.
A children’s pastor filmed girls in a church bathroom.
A preacher accused of abusing children was sent to therapy.
A worship minister who molested boys got a welcome-home party from his congregation .
All remained ministers in the Assemblies of God — all went on to abuse more children.
A preacher accused of abusing children was sent to therapy.
A worship minister who molested boys got a welcome-home party from his congregation .
All remained ministers in the Assemblies of God — all went on to abuse more children.
How Assemblies of God churches shielded accused predators as they abused children
NBC News uncovered a 50-year pattern of sex abuse, silence and cover-up in the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination.
www.nbcnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
A children’s pastor filmed girls in a church bathroom.
A preacher accused of abusing children was sent to therapy.
A worship minister who molested boys got a welcome-home party from his congregation .
All remained ministers in the Assemblies of God — all went on to abuse more children.
A preacher accused of abusing children was sent to therapy.
A worship minister who molested boys got a welcome-home party from his congregation .
All remained ministers in the Assemblies of God — all went on to abuse more children.