Ep. 459: Dr. Michael Brown, Bob Jones University, The Salvation Army

On today’s program, Dr. Michael Brown of The Line of Fire was the subject of an independent investigation late last year. The findings of that report have now been released, allegedly finding that Brown DID engage in misconduct with two women who were not his wife. We’ll have details. And, is Bob Jones University facing closure? The school’s president says no—but alumni aren’t so sure. We’ll take a closer look. Plus, The Salvation Army in Denver is embroiled in protests, violence, and a failed $3 million bid to provide housing to the city’s homeless population. The ministry says the city is using it as a ‘scapegoat’ even as it faces an overwhelming homelessness crisis. But first, a female victim has joined the fray in suing Kanakuk Kamps for negligence after she was abused by former staffer Peter Newman when she was just 9 years old. 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, Jessica Eturralde, Tony Mator, Bob Smietana, and Brittany Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you this week 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, Dr. Michael Brown of The Line of Fire was the subject of an independent investigation late last year. The findings of that report have now been released, allegedly finding that Brown DID engage in misconduct with two women who were not his wife. We’ll have details. And, is Bob Jones University facing closure? The school’s president says no—but alumni aren’t so sure. We’ll take a closer look. Plus, The Salvation Army in Denver is embroiled in protests, violence, and a failed $3 million bid to provide housing to the city’s homeless population. The ministry says the city is using it as a ‘scapegoat’ even as it faces an overwhelming homelessness crisis. Natasha: But first, a female victim has joined the fray in suing Kanakuk Kamps for negligence after she was abused by former staffer Peter Newman when she was just 9 years old. Warren: The plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe due to the sensitive nature of the allegations, filed suit on Monday, April 14 against Kanakuk Heritage, Kanakuk Ministries, KUKORP, and Joe White for negligent retention, negligent supervision, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and sexual battery. The lawsuit was filed in Taney County, Missouri, where Kanakuk is located. This is the first known female victim of Newman to come forward with a lawsuit, according to a press release by Monsees & Mayer, the law firm representing the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleges she was sexually molested by Peter Newman in 2008 when she was just 9 years old and attending K-Kountry, one of the summer camp programs for 6- to 11-year-old children. Natasha: I know these cases are extremely sensitive for the victims but why didn’t she bring the lawsuit sooner? Warren: According to the lawsuit, Doe’s memory of the events was repressed until December 2024 when she regained the memories of abuse and began to question Kanakuk’s conduct and responsibility for Newman’s actions. Missouri’s law allows for a pause of the statute of limitations related to childhood sexual abuse when memory of the abuse was repressed. Natasha: Our next story brings to light more unfortunate news Warren: An independent investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Dr. Michael Brown of The Line of Fire “concluded that Brown’s actions toward the two females were inappropriate and unacceptable for his leadership position within the ministry.” Brown was accused of sexual misconduct by crossing physical boundaries with a 21-year-old woman, Sarah Monk, who was working as a secretary at Brown’s FIRE School of Ministry, based in Concord, North Carolina. Natasha: While admitting to a close relationship with his accuser, Brown claimed the relationship was “totally non-sexual in every way.” Warren: The investigation conducted by James Holler Jr. of Firefly Independent Sexual Abuse Investigations looked into the allegations by Monk and allegations that Brown engaged in another inappropriate relationship with a married woman in the congregation, who is now deceased. The alleged conduct took place between 2001 and 2002. According to the report dated April 12, Brown’s conduct “violated the ethical standards expected of someone in his role and undermined the trust and integrity essential to leadership within the church community.” The Line of Fire did not reply to a request for a statement about the report before the time of publication. Natasha: Megachurch Founder's Son Indicted on 27 Charges of Sexual Abuse Warren: An Ohio grand jury has indicted the son of Faith Life Church leaders Gary and Drenda Keesee on 27 counts related to sexually abusing minors. On Monday, April 21, the jury charged Gary Thomas "Tom" Keesee Jr. for crimes that allegedly happened between May 2002 and October 2011, including those against his own younger sister. Out of the 27 charges, 11 counts are of first-degree felony rape and third-degree felony gross sexual imposition. Police arrested Keesee last Friday. The Licking County Sheriff's Office said they are holding Keesee at the Licking County Justice Center. The office will host another press conference with the Licking County Prosecutor's Office on Monday, April 28. Natasha: Next, a new law is hoping to stop all the stories we’ve just covered from happening. Warren: States are increasingly passing laws that criminalize not only sexual abuse, but the grooming process that often precedes the abuse. At least 13 states — Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia — have made grooming a criminal offense, independent of any sexual abuse conduct that may follow. Natasha: Gregory Love, an attorney and founder of MinistrySafe, wrote in an article about the grooming laws, “Grooming a child for inappropriate sexual activity and the inappropriate sexual activity itself are now two separate criminal charges in the above-referenced states. It is not a defense to the grooming charge that the underlying inappropriate sexual activity did not actually occur,”. Warren: Love told MinistryWatch in an interview that he is unaware of any prosecutions under these laws, but most of them have been in effect only about a year. He sees these laws as another tool in the tool box of prosecutors who are dealing with sexual predators. For example, if victims won’t testify because the abuser is a family member, these laws would allow for a charge if others can testify that grooming took place. The laws can also act as a deterrent before the sexual abuse itself occurs. Natasha: The criminal laws are fairly broad in their definition of grooming. While the definition is broad enough to take in a range of grooming behaviors, it can also bring challenges. Warren: “Grooming laws have always been difficult because of challenges in differentiating between innocent behavior and culpable behavior,” said Theresa Sidebotham, a Colorado-based lawyer who assists ministries with child protection. “It looks like the new laws are targeting lower-level sexual behavior, as well as showing children inappropriate material,” she added. Sidebotham added that reporting requirements for ministries should be updated to reflect the anti-grooming laws that have been passed. “Churches and ministries need to stay up to date with the laws in their jurisdiction and be ready to report appropriately. Failure to report could always bring about liability, and I suppose civil liability could be expanded by the definitions of grooming,” Sidebotham said. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, the latest from Bob Jones University. 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: Falling enrollment, faculty cuts, and administrative resignations — Bob Jones University appears to be a college in turmoil. While some alumni are critical of recent decisions, they are also cheering for change in hopes the school they love can survive. Last May, Bob Jones University (BJU) in South Carolina named Josh Crockett as president. Crockett recently announced that, after only 10 months on the job, he has sought to be re-hired as senior pastor at Morningside Baptist Church in Greenville, the position he held before taking the reins at BJU. He told students on Tuesday (April 8) that he recommended the board bifurcate the leadership of the university. He would remain as president in a more pastoral and spiritual leadership capacity, while the school should hire a CEO to run the business side of higher education. “The university is not going to close, and I have not resigned,” Crockett told students. Natasha: A group called “BJU-New Contract” has proposed a series of actions they say the university must take if it is to survive. What are they? Warren: In an open letter to Crockett and BJU Board Chairman Dr. Sam Dawson, the group described themselves as “a robust network of BJU alumni and friends who have some connection to the university and desire to see [it] survive and thrive.” Two primary actions they recommend are the resignation or termination of