Assemblies of God Lawsuit & Investigations

Nearly 200 Assemblies of God pastors, employees, and volunteer leaders have been accused of sexual abuse over the last 50 years. Combined, they have abused nearly 500 individuals of which the majority were children at the time of abuse. In many cases, this abuse was facilitated by Assemblies of God as an organization, which continued to allow religious leaders who had prior lawsuits and allegations to hold positions of power by transferring or relocating to another church.

At Kayla’s Survivors, our law firm is actively taking on cases that involve claims against Assemblies of God churches, and we are here to support survivors of sexual abuse, assault, and misconduct. Get started with your claim by calling (800) 509-9747 or request a free case evaluation online. We’ve helped survivors recover over $1 billion in compensation as a result of settlements and verdicts, including claims of sexual abuse in churches and related claims made against priests and other religious leaders.

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Lawsuit Timeline & Key Events: Assemblies of God Churches

2023–2024

• NBC News identifies nearly 200 Assemblies of God leaders accused of sexual abuse since the 1970s, involving more than 475 alleged victims, mostly children.
• Lawsuits allege continued failures to report abuse, reinstate accused individuals, and protect minors.
• A 2024 lawsuit alleges a pastor groped a 10-year-old girl during Bible study.

2022

• Survivors of Allen Lehmann, a minister in Illinois, settle lawsuits against Assemblies of God entities.

2021

• Assemblies of God leadership formally rejects mandatory safeguards after legal counsel warns of lawsuit exposure.

2019

• At the General Council meeting, a proposal is introduced to mandate child-safety policies and discipline churches that fail to protect children.
• Denominational leadership delays action due to legal liability concerns.

2010s

• 2018: Lehmann pleads guilty to child rape and receives a suspended prison sentence. In the same year, Shawn Butler (New Jersey), previously convicted of child sexual assault, is convicted again after years of access to children through an Assemblies of God-affiliated church.
• 2016: Tony Waller pleads guilty to rape and is sentenced to life in prison.
• 2015: Survivors of Mark Holliday report him to police; the case is closed due to expired statutes of limitations.
• 2014: Illinois eliminates the statute of limitations for future child sexual abuse civil claims.

Mid–Late 2000s

• 2006–2007 (Arkansas): Waller, the children’s pastor at First Assembly of God in Jonesboro, allegedly molests two sisters over several years while remaining in ministry.
• Churches in multiple states employ or retain individuals with known prior convictions or allegations.

Early 2000s

• 2004–2005: Mark Holliday is sent to Emerge Ministries, a counseling program, after admitting inappropriate conduct. He is later allowed to continue working with children.
• 2004 (Arkansas): Children’s pastor Tony Waller is accused of secretly filming children undressing at church. Church leadership suspends him briefly and later reinstates him.
• 2002: Following national scrutiny of church abuse scandals, Assemblies of God publicly claims a “zero tolerance” policy, though no clear enforcement mechanism is disclosed.

1990s

• 1999: Denominational leadership urges delegates to reject mandatory bans and background checks; proposal dies.
• 1998: Timothy Scarr is convicted again for abusing additional boys and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
• 1997: Assemblies of God debates banning convicted child sex offenders from ministry credentials; the proposal is delayed.
• 1993–2000: Lehmann allegedly abuses three more children during church mission trips.

1980s

• Late 1980s: Youth counselor Mark Holliday allegedly abuses boys at church camps and later becomes a youth pastor.
• 1988: Five days after Scarr’s release from prison, his father reinstates him as worship leader at the same church.
• 1985 (California): Worship leader Timothy Scarr pleads guilty to molesting two boys.
• 1980-1981: Assemblies of God officials deem Lehmann to be fully rehabilitated and allow him to return to ministry ahead of schedule. He then transfers to a new church in Kentucky.

1970s

• 1979 (Illinois): Minister Allen Lehmann is accused of molesting two elementary-school-aged girls. Church leaders suspend his credentials and place him in a restoration program instead of reporting to police.

The long history of lawsuits and continued allegations against Assemblies of God churches demonstrate a clear and long-standing pattern in which accused or known abusers were shielded through secrecy, forgiveness-focused discipline, and a lack of mandatory safeguards, rather than removed from positions of authority.

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Get Help From The Church Sexual Abuse Attorneys at Kayla’s Survivors

At Kayla’s Survivors our attorneys have a proven track record of holding churches and other religious institutions accountable through civil sexual abuse lawsuits. If you or a loved on has suffered from abuse, assault, or sexual misconduct as a result of Assemblies of God churches or other religious organization, you may be eligible to recover financial compensation and hold the responsible individuals and their organization accountable.

Get started with your case by calling (800) 509-9747 or tell us what happened online. Our legal team is here to listen and provide support. Our law firm has helped recover over $1 billion as a result of settlements and verdicts, including claims made against priests, clergy, and other religious leaders.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is eligible to pursue a claim against Assemblies of God churches?

Any individual (child or adult) who was sexually abused or assaulted by an Assemblies of God pastor, employee, volunteer, or church leader may be eligible to pursue a civil claim.

What compensation can be recovered if I choose to come forward?

Survivors may be able to seek compensation for harms such as emotional distress, trauma, therapy and counseling needs, loss of quality of life, and other long-term impacts of sexual abuse. In some cases, claims may also allege institutional negligence or concealment that contributed to continued harm.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit against Assemblies of God churches?

The deadline to file a lawsuit is known as the statute of limitations for sexual abuse, which varies by state and whether the abuse occurred during childhood or adulthood. Many states have extended, paused, or eliminated statutes of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims, while others impose strict deadlines. An attorney can help you better understand your legal options, along with any considerations associated with filing deadlines.

News Coverage

• NBC News. (2025, October 30). Assemblies of God churches shielded accused predators — and allowed them to keep abusing children. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/assembly-god-church-shield-predators-child-sex-abuse-allegations-rcna240213