Several Men Accuse Dunamis Ministries Pastor of Sexual Assault

A man in his twenties says a pastor made repeated unwanted sexual advances on him more than four years ago, and that he and other men have since given statements to police.

News 5 is not naming the man.

However, the church has made a public statement. Dunamis Ministries said, “The leadership of Dunamis Ministries is aware of the criminal proceedings involving the founder of our church and acknowledges the concerns expressed by members and the public. We wish to make it clear that the Church does not intend to prejudge the matter or express any opinion concerning the guilt or innocence of the individual charged. These are questions to be determined exclusively by the Court upon consideration of the evidence presented.”

It added, “The Church recognises the seriousness of the allegations and remains committed to the principles of accountability, fairness, integrity, and respect for the rule of law. While these proceedings continue, the Church will take such appropriate administrative measures as may be necessary to ensure the uninterrupted operation of its services, the spiritual welfare of its congregation, and the protection of all persons within its ministry.”

The man, who spoke to News 5 on condition of anonymity, said the incidents happened around late 2022, when he was a young member of the church. He said he looked up to the pastor as a mentor and role model.

“I looked up to this man. Like an example,” he said.

He said the pastor made unwanted sexual advances on him more than once. He said he rejected them each time. He said he did not report it then and told himself it might not have been deliberate.

“I felt like I was the only one,” he said. “That’s why I never made a big deal about it.”

The man said he stopped attending the church soon after. He claims the pastor later told members of the church untrue things about why he left. News 5 has not independently confirmed this.

He said he stayed silent for years, in part because of the difficulty of speaking about it as a man.

“As a male, that’s not easy to talk about,” he said.

That changed about four to five months ago, he said, when another young man from the church contacted him. The man said that person shared a similar experience. Through further conversations, he said, they identified other men with comparable stories. He said they now believe there is a pattern. He described it as young men who joined the church, attended for a while, and then suddenly stopped.

According to the man, the group then arranged a meeting with the pastor, roughly three months ago, hoping to resolve the matter peacefully and get some acknowledgement. He said the pastor denied everything. He said church leaders and members of the pastor’s family sided with the pastor and accused the men of lying in order to leave the church.

He said he later went back to the church for a service and was surprised to see the pastor preach as usual.

The man said he and other men then went to the police. He said he gave his statement about three weeks ago. He said four men in total are involved. He said he gave his statement later because of work. News 5 has not confirmed the number of complainants. As of the time of this report, he said, no one has been charged.

He said he decided to speak publicly because he feared the behaviour could continue.

“I just want it to stop,” he said. He said he worries others could be harmed, adding that some people struggle to cope with experiences like this.

He said he is also encouraging other people who may have had similar experiences to come forward.