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January 16, 2013
Megachurch Connected To More Abusive Pastors Than Just Jack Schaap, Claims Report
(UPDATED) Details of relationship with teen emerge as pastor sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Update (Mar. 21): Schaap has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after a judge ruled that a 10-year plea bargain did not meet minimum federal requirements. He will also be registered as a sex offender.
“I thought I wanted to be this family’s savior,” said Schaap during his sentencing, according to the Chicago Tribune's detailed report. “Sometimes people try to be heroes … in trying to be a hero, I became a fool.”
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Update (Mar. 15): The ex-megachurch pastor who pleaded guilty to having an affair with a girl in his congregation wrote to the 17-year-old to say God sanctioned their relationship.
Prosecutors quoted from letters between Jack Schaap and his victim in a sentencing memo released Wednesday, according to reports from area media, including the Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune.
"You have affectionately spoken of being 'my wife,’ he wrote. “That is exactly what Christ desires for us. He wants to marry us + become eternal lovers!"
The memo said that Schaap, the former head of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, “groomed” the teen into a sexual relationship with him through these communications and counseling sessions meant to address the teen's “self-destructive behavior," the Tribune wrote.
The document included photographs of them together at Schaap’s homes and referred to 637 text messages and 25 phone calls they exchanged in June and July.
Schaap is seeking a minimum 10-year sentence. His sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.
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First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, voted Sunday to select John Wilkerson as its new head pastor. But among the many challenges Wilkerson will face as he prepares to lead what used to be one of the nation's largest megachurches will be the legacy of its previous pastor: Jack Schaap, who awaits sentencing in a nearby federal courthouse.
Last fall, the 54-year-old Schaap, heir to Jack Hyles's famous pulpit, pleaded guilty to charges of "transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity." Later, Schaap signed a plea deal admitting to sexual encounters with a 16-year-old member of his congregation. Many supporters and detractors have come forward since.
But a new report from Chicago magazine alleges Schaap was "part of what some call a deeply embedded culture of misogyny and sexual and physical abuse."
"Multiple websites tracking the First Baptist Church of Hammond have identified more than a dozen men with ties to the church—many of whom graduated from its college, Hyles-Anderson, or its annual Pastors’ Schools—who fanned out around the country, preaching at their own churches and racking up a string of arrests and civil lawsuits, including physical abuse of minors, sexual molestation, and rape," states the magazine in its January 2013 issue.
CT sought comment from church spokesman Eddie Wilson, who could not be reached by time of publication. However, church attorney Rick Hammond told The Times of Northwest Indiana that the media must "separate the message from the messenger" and not overlook the good works of the church.
Of the court cases referenced, Schaap's case is the most well known. He made headlines in the fall when he told a federal judge that what he did "'was a sin. It was wrong.'" But Schaap also claimed he did not realize it was illegal at the time. (Schaap and the girl met three times last summer in out-of-state locations in Illinois and Michigan. The meetings began when she was 16 in June, but continued after she turned 17 in July. In Indiana, where the girl is a resident, the age of consent is 16; however, federal law forbids transporting any minor under age 18 across state lines with intent to engage in a sexual encounter.)
The scandal prompted some to note Schaap as a high-profile example of "moral failure." But according to LifeWay Research president Ed Stetzer, Schaap's actions were more than just failure in a case of sexual immorality.
"How dare someone compare abuse of a minor with an immoral act between consenting adults?" Stetzer wrote. "Both are sin, but one is a crime."
CT reported when First Baptist Church of Hammond was sued for negligence in 1997 in connection with sexual assaults on a mentally disabled church member. CT also reflected on the 2001 death of Hyles, an innovative pastor who used Sunday school and a bus program to grow the church into one of the nation's largest.
CT has also, unfortunately, reported regularly on abuse, including sexual abuse and child sex abuse.
Comments
I would like this reporter to spend a week-end with a bus captain at First Baptist Church, Hammond and really see the real dedicated members of this great place. Shame on the media for always finding the dirt instead of reporting the great work that is going on there. We lived there for seven years and worked in this church and we saw Nothing immoral going on. There are thousands and thousands of members there that are above aproach. What Jack Schaap did was horrible and has hurt us all but we who know the heart of this church are unshaken. Thousands of bus child will still be picked up, the blind and deaf will still be ministered to, the homeless will still be feed and sheltered. This church will not close its door. It will be still there long we are dead. So, get use to it, they are like a mighty army that will not be defeated by reports like this one.
Posted By: Jean Williams | January 17, 2013 8:49 AM
People at FBCH will immediately thrust their good works in front of anybody who is horrified by their extremely bad works. They seem to think it is a trade-off. It isn't. The innocence and peace of children cannot be bought off because you give meals to the poor. Your pastor and many men who have sat at his feet have been indicted, convicted, reported for molesting children. Sure you have some good works. But God condemns people because of their sin, not their merits, a belief that Christian Fundamentalists are supposed to believe, and yet FBCH just keeps justifying itself, in spite of the travesty of numerous child molesting preachers emerging from its congregation and its attached seminary, Hyles-Anderson College.
Posted By: Grace Jovian | January 17, 2013 1:15 PM
First Baptist Church will not Immediately thrust their good works because they have been doing good works for many, many, many, many, many, many, many years. You say that God condemns people because of their sin, not their merits. Do you have any sin? Yes you do, then God condemns you. First Baptist Church has a former pastor who is sitting in in jail right now because 100 deacons voted him out and reported his crimes to the police. They would Not put up with criminal behavior in their church. Don't go if you don't like this church. They don't need your attendence. They don't need your tithe. They don't need anything from you. Go to the church of your choice. This is America, not one is forcing you to go anywhere. But there are thousands and thousands of people who do love going. Stop focusing on their sins and look at yourself in the mirror. You will face your creator one day and you might not like what He will say to you. Do your own merits. Do you own good works. They will be just fine.
Posted By: Jean Williams | January 18, 2013 4:25 PM
This really is sad....Christians fighting. God is looking for humility in His children. Remember love one another.
Posted By: Stephanie Pink | February 3, 2013 3:04 PM
Poor Jean Williams has drunk the Kool Aid. the church has been a cesspool of sexual abuse for decades. thousands are complicit. it should be closed and the assets given to the hundreds of abused. it truly is Satan at work
Posted By: Joe Deacon | February 12, 2013 12:02 AM
Anyone who has been at this church more than a week and chooses to ignore 30 years of documented abuse (3 books, 2 documentaries, many articles, thousands of first-hand accounts of abuse) deserves neither credibility nor respect. Paul wrote Corinthians based solely on "things reported commonly among you." Jack Schaap's corruption and perversion were on display weekly for 11 years. Jerry D. Kaifetz, Ph.D., author of Profaned Pulpit---The Jack Schaap Story."
Posted By: Dr. Jerry Kaifetz | March 1, 2013 6:30 PM
It is all sad, but what I think we all have to realize is in a church of 100 members you will have your adulterers and law breakers etc. because not everyone in a church is saved or serving Christ. But maybe its one in a 100. When you have a church the size of FBC unfortunately you see a lot more wickedness by percentage... This does not make the hearts of the other mebers bad. It is so disheartening to see what Schaap did.... it is horrible and needs to be punished... but my friends.... we donot need to continue to bash everything about the church he happened to pastor. We should be forced to realize Satan is real and will not stop attacking Gods ppl and we need to be aware of his attacks and help our bretheren. Not waste our time trying to destroy.... God is still in control... He will take care of things... If alll these accusations are true He will shut it all down.... He hasnt done that yet! I believe God sees the heart of the majority of the ppl and I believe He is all powerful and will continue to weed out the bad. He doesnt need us to do His work for Him! I pray ppl will begin to focus on Christ and His greatness and not the sins of others. Satan wins with every negetive comment weather or not its true!!!
Posted By: Justa Thought | March 8, 2013 8:17 AM
i wonder about these people who comment bad about this church also talk bad about other churches?... putting that aside did you realize that the pastors of this church and other churches around the world are being attacked every day? the bigger the church the BIGGER the target...plus every pastor sins everyday like any other person so dont bash others exalting yourself like u are perfect... instead of hating on a person who has actually done more in changing lives for God pray for him if you were truly a so called Christian, pray for the worst sinners in the world.
One more thing do more research on this guy and this ministry you would be surprised in what he has helped do in the surrounding cities trying to make a difference. just another thought.
Posted By: Clarence Monroe | March 8, 2013 12:36 PM
I'm glad that First Baptist fired Jack Schaap when they discovered the crime committed. For that I am greatful. But it appears there are those trying to defend Jack Schaap and/or the history of First Baptist Hammond by employing two logical fallicies: (1) minimization and (2) blame-shifting.
They minimize grotesque sin by writing about the great things that have been done by people mentioned like Schaap or Hyles. This defense will not stand. It is the same one many lost people will use before the Lord (cf. Matt. 7:21-23) and He will not allow it.
They also employ the "if you are a sinner then you have no right to condem another sinner" arguement. They want to shift the arguement to your sins. I'm sure they think they have Jesus behind them when He said, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7). This from people in a church with a long history of casting stones at anyone who had a differing opinion from theirs. I'm not referring to major doctrinal issues but rather preferences that are treated as if they are sins. Jack Hyles was notorious for this. With a history like this they now wonder why people focus on Schaap's "real" sin. The Bible does allow for one sinner to confront another sinner even if the latter has done great things for God. Read Galatians 2:11.
Note: If seeing many people saved is an excuse to withhold criticism of a preacher then why did Jack Hyles criticize Billy Graham?
Posted By: Lord help us | March 11, 2013 2:06 PM
What I don't understand is after doing my research why no one didn't see that was has been going on isn't normal in church..
Jack Schaap is a disgrace and the people of the church just watched this happen? Right..
During the case, it was alleged that Schaap and the girl had sex in his office at the church in July 2012, while a youth conference was underway on the premises? And you wonder why people talk down on your church...
Also to respond to a post:
'every pastor sins everyday like any other person so dont bash others exalting yourself like u are perfect' Wow... No but we don't all go and sexually abuse children. When the offender is a 54 year old Pastor, taking advantage of a 16 year old child, seeking counsel from her Pastor, it is NOT a relationship, it is not only a 'sin' it is child abuse.
Some people from this church must not understand the facts of this case. He was a 54-year-old man in a position of trust, power, and authority over this girl. She was a 16-year-old -- a MINOR -- who went to him for counseling. He was her pastor (position of trust) as well as the superintendent of her high school (position of power and authority) and the chancellor of the college where she was also taking classes (position of power and authority.) Making ALL of their sexual contact illegal, a crime, punishable with imprisonment. Uuuhhhh . . . Jesus would NOT sanction that. It was not even a relationship. It was multiple acts of rape. Jesus Christ would NEVER sanction rape -- especially the rape of a child.
Posted By: georgia | March 15, 2013 11:34 AM
This article brings a deep burden to my heart. I am praying for everyone involved in this situation.
Posted By: Dustin Walters | March 17, 2013 4:10 PM
Some Baptists teach and believe that once you are in grace, always in grace.... once saved, always saved...no matter what you do or how you live. I do not know that this is the case here....however if it is, it would explain more. Its a terrible thing to have happened to this young lafy....wolves in the pullpit is all I have to say. Heartbreaking.
Posted By: Alynn | April 30, 2013 7:47 AM
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