Mercy detached from justice grows unmerciful  –C. S. Lewis

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Cheryl grew up accepting that men would abuse her.

Cheryl said she has been waiting for years to tell her story of abuse by Pastor Joe Campbell while he was at Eastland Assembly of God Church. She was 14 years old when this happened. Her story is particularly painful because Cheryl was also being sexually molested by her stepfather, Jim, at home. He was involved in the church and helped to drive the church bus. Her mother reportedly knew of the abuse but recently claimed that she tried to do something about it but was unable to do so. Her mother stayed married to him, but Cheryl removed him from her family’s life.

It is not unusual for pedophiles to target kids who have a difficult home life. Some of these kids are particularly vulnerable and often seek a relationship with an empathetic man or woman. Cheryl learned a dark lesson from this. “Men abused her, and she just had to learn to accept it.” Joe Campbell merely reinforced this lesson. Yet he claims to be a “pastor to pastors worldwide.” It’s time to let the worldwide pastors know that Pastor Joe appears to be hiding a dark secret.

Joe abused Cheryl. She believes that Becky knew about it. (Warning: Graphic description of sexual abuse.)

Cheryl helped out in the children’s program; in that capacity, she got to know Joe. It started with what appears to be grooming. For example, when he asked her to help, he would touch or hold her hand for a minute. At other times, he would put his hand around her waist. Things escalated during a car ride. Becky and Joe were in the front seat. Joe asked her to sit up front between them while placing her legs around the gear shift. As he shifted the gears, his hand and arm were between her legs. She noticed that Becky had what appeared to be a smirk on her face. She believes that Becky knew about Joe and thrived on these actions.

Then, the abuse escalated. He would get her alone and begin to fondle her. He put his hands down her panties and used his fingers to penetrate her digitally and did the same thing with his tongue.

What did she and others at Eastland AG know or hear about?

Cheryl took matters into her own hands and began to avoid Campbell. She stopped helping in the children’s department and limited her contact with him. Eventually, Cheryl and her family left Eastland. Sadly, she was later raped by a young man in the youth group.

Years later, she would confide in one person who was a spiritual mentor. When she said something, the response of this person was:

You were molested by him, too?

When Cheryl asked her to clarify, she told her that there had been a story of “several children who Joe had molested.” This person was heavily involved in Eastland and had a son who was allegedly exposed to pornography by the Campbells.

Cheryl meets up with Kerri.

She had heard about Kerri’s story and decided to seek her out. She also found Phaedra, and they got together to share their stories. Cheryl was particularly concerned about the meeting held by the AOG mothership in Springfield, Missouri, when the girls had to stand before a bunch of men, as well as Joe and Becky Campbell. These “men of God ” called Kerri and Phaedra liars. Cheryl was angry. But what could anyone do? Years later, we are all trying to answer that question.

Cheryl’s message to Eastland AG

Cheryl was also made aware that there were other victims. Their group has contacted some. She believes that Eastland was involved in covering up the abuse by Joe Campbell. Even though many years have passed, she believes there are still people in the church’s leadership who were involved. She thinks they should be called out and made to step down from leadership. She was willing to make a police report along with the others.

Cheryl still believes in God. Although the churches harmed her, she realized it was the people, not God.

What can be done

• Even though decades have passed, Eastland AOG, Versailles AOG, and the AOG denomination headquarters are responsible for these women. They are hurting from being exposed to an abuser and were told they were liars. These organizations knowingly passed this alleged abuser (I believe he is an abuser) between churches. If a church building is constructed, and 40 years later, due to a defect in the construction, pipes break and damage the church, the damage must be fixed. The members can’t simply say, “It was the fault of those 40 years ago.” They repair the damage. These organizations must repair the damage caused to these women.
• AOG central needs to explain this internal trial they conducted. Does that still happen? They should meet with Kerri and Phaedra and apologize to them. If they do not, they must be called out for their unjust practices toward abused children. They called them “liars.”
• I will reach out to Joe and Becky Campbell for a statement.
• I have recommended that the women file police reports, and a local person will go to the police station in Oklahoma with them. I will assist Phaedra in filing a police report from Missouri.
• I will be contacting Jim Bakker for a statement. Does he know about Joe Campbell’s credible accusers?
• I will be recommending that Eastland AOG and Versailles AOG conduct an independent, third-party investigation to attempt to identify other victims and to see how the churches failed these women.
• I also believe that the AOG mothership and the involved churches offer to assist these women as they continue counseling due to the damage caused by the church members and leaders.
• One teen was taken over state lines to help Joe. Isn’t that a felony? This needs to be explored.
• I believe there could be many more victims.

I have some other thoughts on this matter. I will explore all angles to expose Joe Campbell’s abuse and report on the steps I take at TWW.

Pray for justice for the victims of Joe and Becky Campbell.