The article forms part of the ‘Pastors and Prey’ series, focusing on sex abuse allegations within the Assemblies of God. Tony Waller, a former children’s pastor, is central to the case. Before police discovered videos of naked children on his computer, several girls at his church in Arkansas alerted adults to misconduct, according to a lawsuit filed by six women this week.
The civil suit in Craighead County Circuit Court implicates Refuge Church in Jonesboro and both regional and national Assemblies of God leaders. They allegedly ignored repeated reports of Waller’s misconduct, enabling him to groom, abuse, and secretly record girls for 15 years. The complainants say adults were informed about hidden cameras in a church bathroom and Waller’s inappropriate behavior, but their warnings went unheeded.
The lawsuit claims the first alerts regarding Waller reached church leaders in 2000. Despite this, minimal action was taken. Although suspended briefly in 2004 following the discovery of a hidden camera, Waller was quickly reinstated and continued his abusive activities. The abuse ceased in 2015 when images were found on Waller’s computer by his wife. Waller admitted guilt to raping two girls in 2016 and received a life sentence in prison.
Stephanie Davis, one of the plaintiffs, revealed she approached church leaders after Waller had drugged and recorded her naked at the age of 12. Her lawsuit aims to hold the church accountable and push for robust child protection policies within the Assemblies of God.
NBC News investigated similar claims as part of a yearlong inquiry into sexual abuse within the denomination. Their findings uncovered a historical pattern of reappointing accused ministers and failing to report abuse. Approximately 200 cases of abuse by church officials over the past five decades were identified.
“Unfortunately, nobody else had the courage to put their foot down,” said Stephanie Davis regarding the church’s failure to remove Waller.
Survivors described a repeating cycle of ignored warnings and church leadership providing protection to wrongdoers, allowing further harm. After NBC News publicized their investigation, more victims surfaced, contributing their experiences to Davis’ legal efforts.
Joshua D. Gillispie, the women’s attorney, criticized the Assemblies of God for failing to alert authorities in 2004 despite evident evidence against Waller. In response, the General Council of the Assemblies of God stated they were unaware of allegations against Waller until 2015, claiming they acted according to their zero-tolerance policy.
The General Council has defended its attempts at child protection and encourages affiliated churches to adopt prevention measures. Refuge Church later implemented enhanced child safety measures after Waller’s arrest, including background checks and mandatory reporting.
The church’s former senior pastor, Mike Glover, named in the lawsuit, denies negligence, asserting he was unaware of any reports involving hidden cameras or sexual misconduct. Under Glover’s tenure, reports of inappropriate behavior by Waller were ignored or minimized. However, according to the lawsuit, Waller was left unchecked, continuing his abusive behavior for years.
New allegations detail how Waller recorded and groomed additional victims between 2008 and 2014. Two plaintiffs accuse Waller of molestation, grooming, and drugging them, actions later confirmed through police investigations.
The legal case highlights larger concerns about systemic failures within the Assemblies of God and aims to encourage regulatory changes to prevent future abuse. Davis stresses the importance of listening and acting on children’s reports to avert preventable harm.