On today’s program, St. Andrew’s Chapel, the church founded by RC Sproul and now led by controversial pastor Burke Parsons, delays its long-awaited vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America. We’ll have details.
The murders of two women at a Kentucky church this month point to a troubling trend—and churches are seeking help to prevent more violence. We’ll take a look.
Plus, two years ago, Child Evangelism Fellowship set a goal of reaching 100 million children a year with the gospel through its ministry initiatives. MinistryWatch reporter Kim Roberts checked in for an update.
First, former pastor Brady Boyd is starting a new ministry—just one month after being asked to resign from his Colorado Springs megachurch.
The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Kathryn Post, Jessica Eturralde, Henry Durand, and Christina Darnell.
A special thanks to the Christian Index for contributing material for this week’s podcast.
Until next time, may God bless you.
MANUSCRIPT:
FIRST SEGMENT
Warren:
Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Natasha:
And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast.
Warren:
On today’s program, St. Andrew’s Chapel, the church founded by RC Sproul and now led by controversial pastor Burke Parsons, delays its long-awaited vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America. We’ll have details.
And, the murders of two women at a Kentucky church this month point to a troubling trend—and churches are seeking help to prevent more violence. We’ll take a look.
Plus, two years ago, Child Evangelism Fellowship set a goal of reaching 100 million children a year with the gospel through its ministry initiatives. MinistryWatch reporter Kim Roberts checked in for an update.
Natasha:
But first, former pastor Brady Boyd is starting a new ministry—just one month after being asked to resign from his Colorado Springs megachurch.
Warren:
Brady Boyd, who resigned as lead pastor of megachurch New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in June, has started a new ministry — Psalm 68 Ministries.
Psalm 68 Ministries says its mission is to serve widows, orphans and the forgotten, as well as ministry leaders.
Natasha:
Boyd had served at Gateway Church, founded by Robert Morris, from 2001 to 2007. He claimed he didn’t know that Morris had allegedly abused Cindy Clemishire when she was 12 years old.
Warren:
New Life elder Scott Palmer told the congregation on Sunday, June 22, that the elders believed Boyd’s insistence that he didn’t know Clemishire’s age was untrue. It is the primary reason the elders asked Boyd to step down.
Natasha:
Next, St. Andrew’s Chapel delays vote on leaving PCA.
Warren:
St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida, was scheduled to vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) on Sunday, July 20.
Instead, in something of a surprise move, the congregation referred the matter to the church’s board of elders, also known as its session, to study the situation and return with a recommendation.
Natasha:
St. Andrew’s was originally formed as an independent congregation in 1997 with Dr. R.C. Sproul as its founding pastor. It then joined the PCA in 2023.
Warren:
Its pastors are ordained by and members of the Central Florida Presbytery.
In June, a judicial commission of the Central Florida Presbytery found St. Andrew’s Senior Pastor Burk Parsons guilty of three charges and indefinitely suspended him from the duties of teaching elder in the PCA. He has appealed the judgment. Parsons is also a teaching fellow with Ligonier Ministries.
The St. Andrew’s session is expected to report back about the decision to leave the PCA in January 2026.
Natasha:
Next, a lawsuit against anti-trafficking figure Tim Ballard has been dismised.
Warren:
A lawsuit alleging that Tim Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad, assaulted and raped his assistant, Celeste Borys, has been dismissed.
Third District Judge Todd Shaugnessy dismissed the lawsuit against Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad because of the way evidence was acquired, not based on the merits of the case.
Natasha:
Can you give us more context?
Warren:
The suit claimed Ballard promoted a technique called the “couples ruse” that called for women who worked for OUR to pretend they were married to him and engage in sexual contact in order to ensnare traffickers. In some cases, he flew workers to be with him so they could develop the “sexual chemistry” necessary to pull off the ruse.
As his executive assistant, Borys had access to some of Ballard’s email and electronic document accounts, which she then accessed after ending her employment.
“The court lawfully cannot excuse Ms. Borys’s conduct even if the court assumes that she is a victim and Mr. Ballard is a predator,” the judge wrote.
Natasha:
Borys’ attorneys said in a statement they are disappointed in the decision and are considering an appeal.
Warren:
In a separate case, women filed a federal lawsuit against Ballard in October 2024 accusing him of violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). The lawsuit also names Our Rescue as a defendant and is still ongoing. Our Rescue is the new name of Operation Underground Railroad.
In the MinistryWatch 1000 database, Our Rescue earns a 1-star financial efficiency rating, a C transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 49 out of 100.
Natasha:
Let’s look at one more story before our break, what do you have?
Warren:
The Bible Chapel advertises its special-needs ministry as “a place where you can attend church services without worry.”
It also boasts that all its staff and volunteers are “rigorously screened, cleared, and trained.”
But one family claims the nondenominational megachurch, located in the McMurray suburb of Pittsburgh, negligently enabled a known sexual predator to abuse their 13-year-old son, who has Down syndrome.
A June statement from attorneys representing the family says that on Jan. 5, the victim was assaulted in Bible Chapel’s sanctuary during a youth group event. The alleged perpetrator, Daniel Gould, is an adult on the autism spectrum. Both individuals were participants in the special-needs ministry.
Natasha:
The statement claims. “The abuse lasted more than seven minutes and ended only after other children who witnessed the assault alerted youth group leaders. During that entire time, the abuser, the victim, and the other children had no adult supervision,” “Bible Chapel didn’t tell the child’s father about the abuse until he arrived around 8:30 p.m. to pick up his son.”
Warren:
According to the lawsuit, Gould was supposed to be supervised by his father at all times because of previous bad behavior. Allegedly, one of those prior incidents was a sexual assault of another minor at the church. Attorneys claim Bible Chapel was also aware that Gould had been banned from attending a previous church due to “similar misconduct.”
However, when the latest incident occurred, Gould’s father was not present.
The entire assault was captured on surveillance video, but police declined to file criminal charges, “stating that both individuals involved were special needs,” the attorneys’ statement said.
Natasha:
In addition to negligence, the family is suing Bible Chapel Ministries—the parent organization that operates multiple church campuses—for violating Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law, which stipulates reporting requirements.
Natasha:
This incident led our reporter Tony Mator to ask the question: What can churches to do help stop abuse before it occurs? What did he find out?
Warren:
Lifeway Research recommends abuse prevention guidelines, including background checks for all leaders and anyone with access to minors, and never allowing a child to be alone with just one adult. It also recommends MinistrySafe, a consulting service founded by civil trial attorneys to help churches protect children from sexual abuse. The organization offers legal services, staff training, and tailored policies and procedures.
Childhood evangelism and discipleship consultant Cheryl Markland echoed the importance of a “two adult rule” and advocated “clear sightlines into every gathering/teaching space.” However, she warned that good policies, by themselves, are insufficient if they lack teeth. A church that looks good on paper can still be ripe for abuse.
While background checks are critical, Markland noted that many abusers have no criminal record. Thus, reference checks and in-person interviews should also be required of anyone seeking to serve with minors.
Natasha:
Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, church violence appears on the rise—prompting church leaders to seek outside security help.
I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.
BREAK
SECOND SEGMENT
Natasha:
Welcome back. I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.
Next, the story we promised before the break.
Warren:
When Beverly Gumm and her daughter, Christina Combs, were fatally shot at a small rural church in Lexington, Kentucky, they became the latest victims of a growing problem that is raising alarm among pastors, advocacy groups, and even the FBI.
That problem—a rise in violence targeting houses of worship—has spawned a cottage industry of organizations offering ways to keep churches safe.
Natasha:
Last Sunday,...
