Wednesday, May 14, 2025

The 40-year Mission to Stop a Preacher Accused of Abuse

They had been taught as children that God hears all prayers, but getting adults to listen was another story.

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We spent 6 months investigating a children's pastor accused of being a serial rapist. His accusers have spent 40 years fighting to stop him. Today he works for disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker and runs a secluded camp for kids in the Ozarks. My latest w/ @ahylton26.bsky.social for @nbcnews.com

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-- Mike Hixenbaugh (@mikehixenbaugh.com) May 12, 2025 at 8:02 AM

Comments

More from the article ...

... The women have spent decades trying to forget, but some memories haunt them. The way the children's pastor wrapped them in his arms. The terrifying stories he told about demons and the warmth in his voice as he promised to protect them. The chill of his hands on parts of their bodies where no grown man's hands should be. The blood some of them found in their underwear afterward.

They can still picture the spaces where it happened: A church nursery. A childhood bedroom. His garage during a youth group sleepover.

This, they say, is the dark secret behind the public ministry of Joseph Lyle Campbell, a magnetic Pentecostal preacher who built a national following with fiery sermons on sin, salvation and America's moral decline. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-12 08:24 PM

Scatberg is a preacher? That tracks.

#2 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-05-12 08:27 PM

The country elected a predator.
Overwhelmingly, according to his supporters.
Rape is just a way of life for Republicans.
And even for some Democrats.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-05-12 08:28 PM

QAnon: Not *those* child rapists!!

#4 | Posted by hamburglar at 2025-05-12 10:25 PM

"Who knew the Preacher was Trans?"
-MAGA Faithful

#5 | Posted by Sycophant at 2025-05-12 10:55 PM

So now we know Rein's real name is Joe Campbell.

#6 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-05-13 05:29 PM

More from the article ...

... "Joe Campbell needs to be in jail," said Cheryl Almond, who says he lured her to his home when she was a teenager, pushed her onto a bed and penetrated her with his finger. "I just pray one day I can hear a judge tell Joe, You're guilty, and here's your sentence.'" ...

#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-14 07:23 PM

"pushed her onto a bed and penetrated her with his finger"

^
These are the kinds of allegations Republicans are conditioned to knee-jerk deny.

Any assertion that a woman's bodily autonomy was not respected is viewed skeptically by Republicans. Because Republicans do not believe in bodily autonomy for women.

The sole exception to this rule is allegations that can be used to drag a Democrat through the mud. (Like Hunter Biden's Sister's Diary. Which doesn't even make allegations remotely close to the violations described above.)

#8 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-05-14 07:29 PM

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