Woman crying in church. cotonbro@pexels
“Abuse is never deserved; it is an exploitation of innocence and physical disadvantage, which is perceived as an opportunity by the abuser.” – Lorraine Nilon, Breaking Free From the Chains of Silence.
My son-in-law sent me an article for this post that was titled “Raped by Demons,” along with his comment: “This sounds like one for you.” Even my own family… 🙂
Mica Miller/ John Paul Miller recap
In May 2004, I wrote {Update:5.8.24} Pastor John-Paul Miller Said Mica, His Wife, Died of Suicide. Friends and Family Think Otherwise. Death Ruled Suicide. The NY Post summarized what happened in Mica Miller’s pastor husband allegedly raped 15-year-old girl, used church as ‘sexual playground’: lawsuit.
Miller has faced national scrutiny ever since his 30-year-old wife was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in North Carolina’s Lumber River State Park on April 27, 2024 — just days after serving him with divorce papers.
Mica’s death was ruled a suicide by the Robeson County medical examiner but her family has pleaded for cops to “deeply” investigate her demise amid allegations the pastor had abused his wife.
She had contacted police several times in the leadup to her suicide to level allegations against her husband — including that he had “groomed” her when she was a teen before they got married in 2017.
The pastor, for his part, has strenuously denied any allegations of grooming and abuse.
Here is a timeline by WBTW News 13.
John Paul Miller is accused of assaulting two underage girls.
John Paul Miller is now accused of raping a 15-year-old girl when he was 19. According to the NY Post:
(MIller) has been accused of raping a 15-year-old girl nearly 30 years ago — and using his church as a “sexual playground,” a new lawsuit claims.
Pastor John Paul Miller, 44, allegedly attacked the girl — only identified as “Jane Doe” — in 1998 while at Sunday school at his father’s church, according to the complaint filed Tuesday in Horry County Circuit Court.
…She claims Miller — the controversial pastor at Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach — assaulted her again years later when she ran into him during a trip to the city in 2023.
The pastor leaned in to give her a hug before suddenly shoving “his hand down her pants touching her genitals without consent,” the suit alleged.
…The alleged victim said she felt “immense guilt” after learning about the death of Miller’s wife last year — and believed if she’d spoken up sooner, she could have prevented more harm.
“She had heard that there were multiple other victims over the years…
He is also accused of molesting a 14-year-old student when he was an uncertified teacher in a repurposed bowling alley. According to WBTW News 13 on March 5, 2025, in Myrtle Beach pastor accused of sexually assaulting 14-year-old girl while teacher at father’s Christian school, new lawsuit says.
With no certified teachers, legitimate coursework or structured academics, the classrooms were carved out of a repurposed bowling alley were incomplete, with uneven, slick floors.
…She barely had time to react before JPM’s hands moved down her back, past her waist and under her clothing and touching her bare butt,” the lawsuit says.
The victim wasn’t sure what to do, so reported the action to a teacher. From there, she was sent to Reginald Wayne Miller’s office, where John-Paul was waiting as well.
“RWM demanded she repeat her accusation with his son standing beside him. Jane Doe #2’s voice waved, and she told the truth,” the lawsuit says.
After shouting to her not to lie about his son, Reginald Wayne Miller forced the girl to write “I will not lie about John-Paul Miller” 5,000 times.
Raped by demons for reading Harry Potter?
According to WBTW News 13 in Raped by demons:’ Myrtle Beach pastors accused of sexual, psychological abuse.
Jane Doe #2 says when she brought a Harry Potter book to school, she was called into the office where “[t]hey berated her, called her a servant of Satan and told her that if she continued down this path, she would be raped by demons. Then, right in front of her, they set the book on fire. [Reginald Wayne Miller] then beat her with a Bible and Poured water over her head. She was sixteen years old.”
The lawsuit may be read in its entirety at the above link.
Were both John-Paul Miller and his father guilty of serious sexual misconduct with underage girls? In summary:
For years, John-Paul Miller… and Reginald Wayne Miller… have presented themselves as devout religious leaders. They built their reputations in the Myrtle Beach community and beyond as men of faith, dedicated to spreading God’s word and training future church leaders. But this image was a lie. Behind their religious facade, John-Paul Miller and Reginald Wayne Miller engaged in sexual abuse and predatory conduct — often targeting minors. They used their positions of power to manipulate and exploit vulnerable victims while concealing their actions from the public,” the summary section of the lawsuit reads.
…[T]his was not accidental — it was part of a calculated plan to groom victims while simultaneously gaining the community’s trust and financial support,” the lawsuit reads. “…The Defendan both individually and together — have built, maintained, and concealed a system of sexual misconduct that harmed numerous minors, including Plaintiff Jane Doe #2.”
The lawsuit accused church leadership of suppressing allegations against John-Paul and silencing victims, “enabling his continued leadership within the church.”
…The Plaintiff states in the lawsuit that she’s in possession of a text “purportedly from [John-Paul Miller] to another person where he admits being in ‘relationships’ with two different fifteen (15) year old girls when he was nineteen (19) years old.”
John Paul Miller’s mother heard rumors about her husband and fears her son has adopted his abusive practices.
Susan Miller, the wife of John Paul Miller’s father, Reginald Wayne Miller, said in a 2007 sworn testimony:
Susan Miller’s 2007 sworn testimony “detailed how [Reginald Wayne Miller] physically and emotionally abused his family and exercised absolute control over both his household and his church congregation,” the lawsuit stated.
Jane Doe’s lawsuit cites Susan’s affidavit again, stating Reginald Wayne Miller’s “obsession with power and control extended beyond his immediate family and into the church, where he engaged in inappropriate relationships with young men and women, many of whom were vulnerable members of the congregation.”
Susan’s testimony states she’d heard “rumors” and “sexual innuendo” regarding her husband, and after WPDE aired a five-part story about Wayne in 1989, in which several young men from his congregation appeared with blurred faces and disguised voices, sharing stories of how “Wayne tried making sexual advances towards them,” Susan says she “became fearful for my children and for [herself].”
“Plaintiff is informed and believes that [Reginald Wayne Miller]’s predatory behavior spans decades and that his son, [John-Paul Miller], learned and adopted his father’s abusive practices,” the court filing says.
Final thought
These new accusations might lead thoughtful people to reconsider the sad death of Mica Miller. Stay tuned.
I have known people who were, outwardly, confessionally orthodox but whose consciences seem to not have been changed by a renewal of the “inner man”. For them, it seemed that people were resources to be used, not image-bearers to be respected and cherished.
In round numbers, the proportion of these people among the totality of the believers I have known well enough to hold opinions about is similar to the 4% proportion of the general population that, according to the psych professionals, has sociopathic personality traits.
I suspect that sociopathy is as prevalent in the churches as outside them. Perhaps the Gospel does not “work” on this personality type, or perhaps it does “work”, but only on some. Or perhaps sociopaths are members of that group called, in Reformed thinking, “reprobate” — unredeemable by Divine Decree.
One could wish that they at least had a measure of “fear of the Lord” to restrain them.
Samuel Conner(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Convenient timing, that.
Are any of the authorities members of Pastor Miller’s Church?
Grooming Friends in High Places who can quash any “unpleasantness” about Mine Anointed is always an advantage, nay, a necessity for a successful career of this type.
Headless Unicorn Guy(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Anyone else remember The Satanic Panic?
DEMONS, DEMONS, DEEEEEEMONS Everywhere?
In Your Closet, Under Your Bed, and in that sweater you got at the thrift store?
All “discerned” by Spectral Evidence from a Spiritual Warfare Guru?
(Looking at my “Brown Box” set of original D&D as I type this.)
Isn’t there a saying “The Greater the Piety, the Greater the Perversion”?
That is the ORIGINAL meaning of “Generational Curses”; passing on your “proclivities” unto the next generation (and the next and the next). More “Like Father, Like Son” than “The Purple Thumb O’God”.
Headless Unicorn Guy(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Read the lawsuit.
Sounds like other MenaGAWD who have come under scrutiny on this and other church corruption/abuse blogs. Nothing new under the sun.
Two things that could work against the plaintiffs:
1) South Carolina, in the Bible Belt. A CHRISTIAN(TM) State. GOD vs Satan, Whose Side Are YOU On?
2) Lawsuit is using “repressed memory” of the plaintiffs. Problem is, during the Satanic Panic in the Eighties “Repressed Memory” evidence was used so often and turned out to be bogus “false memory implantations” often enough that it ended up discrediting the whole concept. The memory of false accusations can cast doubt on the genuine ones, even after 40 years.
However, point (1) might offset point (2), as Christians are the most likely to believe Repressed Memory (they sure were during the Satanic Panic).
Headless Unicorn Guy(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
There are only two directions for living … the path to Heaven or the path to Hell.
“Choose you this day whom you shall serve.”
“As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.”
Churches have a special class of those who claim to have the gift of pastoring, which is ONE of the 18 GIFTS of the Holy Spirit. Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 list the 18: pastoring is listed once. Yet this special class gets PAID for their GIFT. Do you get paid for your GIFT of the Holy Spirit? Why are you paying a man for his claim of “pastoring?” That is the beginning of church corruption right there. But church people LOVE to do this as they clamor tooth and claw and their earned dollar bills tithing to their favorite freeloader, to be in that freeloader’s seemingly powerful INNER CIRCLE.
By the way, it’s not God’s inner circle – which is actually the Heavenly inner circle as opposed to the paid pastor’s Hell bound inner circle of folks and their secular church leader all headed for that other place. The Heavenly inner circle supports needy orphans and widows, as well as the needy innocent displaced. Not the freeloader expecting payment for his GIFT TO THE CHURCH FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT, the paid “pastor.” What a disconnect that is: PAYING for this particular GIFT of the Holy Spirit.
Paying for a GIFT of the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with God. Nada. Anyone who actually has the GIFT of pastoring from the Holy Spirit would NEVER demand nor accept payment for his/her gift. NEVER. The payment is the very corruption that exposes the FALSE claim of “pastor” right there. Churches are full of false pastors getting paid for their GIFT.
There are civic orgs that function very well without paid salaried leaders. AAUW, at least our local chapter, is one. No one is salaried. We pay for services such as a CPA and a caterer but no members, even the president, get even $1 from the org.
Paid pastors are from the get go extorting their churches 1) to build their dynasties, 2) to let them get away with all of their fantasies including crimes, and 3) to live the life of an empowered special class of “christian.” The moment they embark, they are doomed. The whole arrangement is corrupt. Until this very fundamental flaw is addressed, Good Luck. We just see the same over and over again im churches, here as reported at TWW, and keeping law firms like BOZ and Anderson Associates in business. This flaw of church corruption is job security for these types of writers and lawyers.
Martin Luther was disturbed by the priests and popes of his day. Is our Protestant Preacher Class the answer he was looking for?
The religious in our community serve without getting away with crimes and running away with people’s money, without an inner circle. Yes, they are Catholic, and yes lawyers of the likes of Anderson Associates (attorney Jeff Anderson types) work diligently to clean house. There have been payouts to victims for the evil ones among the religious. However, the religious serve without salaries, without the power of a protected personally empowered paid pastor. Moreover, being one of the “religious” is not listed in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, or Ephesians 4.
The structure of the religious is in no way the Protestant Preacher Class that we deal with in our beloved Reformation created churches. There seems to be no end in sight for the crimes and dynasties of our beloved very special Protected Sacred Protestant Preacher Class caste. Top drawer status committing the lowest of low crimes. We love these guys, we pay these guys, we defend these guys. Without end. Keeping the blogosphere and the legal profession dancing. Busy as the Father of Lies misleads our churches in the myth of paid pastor fantasies.
George Muller refused to embrace the myth and served God tremendously. If we are faithful, we will meet him in Eternity some day as Muller chose to, unlike the church trends of his time, serve the Lord. He refused salary as a pastor and ended up in the ministry of orphans, exactly as Jesus taught, the least of the least.
Ava Aaronson(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Ava Aaronson,
re: paid vs. volunteer ministry, I think there is a case to be made from Paul’s letters that full-time ministry workers ought to be paid for their work. But I think one can also make the case, from Paul, that the pay should not be so lucrative that people are attracted to the work for the sake of the pay rather than for the opportunity to do good to others (“not lovers of lucre”, etc.).
My private “theology of gifts” is that these are not “endowments of competency” so much as “dispositions of heart,” orientations toward different kinds of ministry (so that there is a lot of room and need for growith in wisdom and skill). Whether they are imparted supernaturally or are natural seems to me almost beside the point; it seems to me that Paul’s concern is with how they are used, in humility, regarding others’ interests as well as one’s own. Perhaps this is part of the “one another” emphasis that runs through much of the Pauline letters. Local congregations were, in Paul’s conception, to be knitted together with mutual concern/love/help. I suspect that something similar is in view in Jesus’ prayer that the disciples would “be one” as a testimony to outsiders that Jesus was from the Father.
Sadly, the “see how they love one another” character, which attracted the notice of the pagans in the early centuries, seems in our day to be eclipsed by a “look at the rapacity of that leader” character, in terms of “what are the churches notorious for?”
I suspect that a lot of the present disorders could be avoided or at least ameliorated if congregations were small enough that it was possible for the laity to know the officers well, and if officers were promoted from among the laity, following Paul’s criteria of good character (which would imply that the people were well known already, and so probably not as young as typical present-day new recruits into ministry.) Pastors ought not, IMO, be air-dropped in and approved after preaching a few times — how can one know what kind of person this actually is?
—
I suppose that on a civilizational time-scale (the Church is an ancient thing), we can expect that there will be reaction and correction of some kind. Sin and folly are self-limiting, and at some point the problems will be recognized, even if only because they are visibly damaging the institutions. Too many people will continue to be harmed until that happens.
Samuel Conner(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
For them, it seemed that people were resources to be used, not image-bearers to be respected and cherished.
Samuel Conner
resources to be used, not image-bearers to be respected and cherished = girls and women…females
Nancy2(aka Kevlar)(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Everyone but the pastor “volunteers” their GIFTS or does not expect/demand/charge for … their GIFTS. How odd.
Room and board as they traveled, and the workers as guests, were told not to stay more than a couple of days in one place. More recently, modern day missionaries might be similar. However, the SBC is in a Slash and Burn mode regarding the concept of missions. Missionaries don’t bring in revenue to the Executive Suites of the church back home. Missionaries require support to be out on the field. The Precious Paid Pastor Class would rather Collect and Keep than support missionaries.
There is no NT record of paid salaries for GIFTS from the Holy Spirit.
The present prevalent model of salaried pastors running churches is simply not documented in the first churches. So, if this model is a post- Reformation solution to corrupt priests and popes, it is an astounding failure. Houston Chronicle’s Abuse of Faith is enough evidence but the same story is a daily repeat with no end in sight.
These criminal “pastors” in no way have the Holy Spirit GIFT of pastoring.
But then, right from the jump, they show up in church and charge money, a salary, demand payment, for their GIFT from the Holy Spirit. Wrong. Off the mark. The outcomes of this very prevalent practice prove it is up to no good.
Ava Aaronson(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
In general agreement and appreciative with much of the input on this matter of the evolution and pros and cons of clergy remuneration.
Part of the problem TODAY is that ‘stewardship’ – of time, finances, resources, skills – is often overlooked or non existent in codes of conduct and church/denomination policies and prerequisites.
Have heard numerous reasons why ‘stewardship’ isn’t included and brought to bear and yet to find such reasons – or push backs – overly convincing.
Ian Docker(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Are you referring to the Precious Protected Pastor Class?
There are pewsitters that are excellent stewards of their real job earned wages, unlike the freeloaders charging payments for their GIFT of the Holy Spirit. Are you referring to the pew people? Church board members?
Granted there may be pastor types with only good intentions, at the outset. Are they reading their Bibles, the whole Bible?
It seems there is a systemic flaw as noted above. Placing one GIFT from the Holy Spirit as a Paid Professional so-called entitled “GIFT,” is the disconnect. It is exactly what it appears to be, a disconnect, a contradiction, a human invention that has nothing to do with God. How could anything good come out of this?
George Muller, for one, figured this out. He actually studied his Bible and took heart to obey God. His outcome was completely different from run-of-the-mill clergy.
Ava Aaronson(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Hell is hot and hell is long for pulpit-predators.
Max(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
It should be pointed out that the SBC was formed specifically for the purpose of churches collaborating to send missionaries. The New Cals always prattling about the founders seem to carefully avoid this bit of history.
Aside from outrageous pastor salaries, another issue I saw in the modern SBC was the removal of members from using their gifts in any capacity in favor of paid staff, often family or hired from outside the church from seminary friends, etc. As a musician, I was extremely offended by this, especially when the musicians hired were openly seeking fame.
As for Miller, you all might be encouraged to know that his church sees protestors most Sundays. He tried to seek restraining orders against some of them for “screaming like a demon” in front of his church. His request was denied.
ishy(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Ava Aaronson,
Yes Ava, I had in mind renumerated men and women clergy who serve in churches that are affiliated and accountable to a broader body in the form of church councils, presbyteries and denominations. Hence, in theory and practice, not independent churches or para church bodies which potentially can be a law unto themselves.
Completely understand the aversion of the church of Christ being utilized as a ‘stalking horse’ for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a career, profession, income, status, entitlement, or anything else to gain personal profit or pleasure.
But working with the way things presently stand – though for some including myself not theologically and biblically ideal – and seeking attainable reform for best ethical ministry practice, it is essential that paid or ‘compensated’ trained clergy and churches infuse ‘stewardship’ (of time, finances, assets, resources, skills & gifts) as an essential and measurable principle and practice within all of church life and governance. The positive and broad ethical and moral outcomes of such an approach I believe is significantly underestimated.
Ian Docker(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
No one can accuse the New Calvinists of being evangelistic and mission-minded. Long-standing Southern Baptist belief and practice are fading into the sunset, as the SBC sun sets behind the horizon. The remnant of SBCers will fuss about jots and tittles of theology as darkness settles over the denomination, while the Gospel (the real one) no longer echoes through their churches.
Max(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Ian Docker,
The only problem with “stewardship” being a measure and practice of integrity and accountability in the church is that many churches already use that language as a smoke screen for their nefarious, corrupt character. Gateway Church had/has a “stewardship culture” in which Robert Morris, Steve Dulin, et al. claimed to be “faithful stewards” of God’s resources and the proof was in the fact that they raked in millions of dollars for “the kingdom”; their own personal wealth was preached as being God’s favor and approval of them and their actions. It was a Pyramid scheme through and through.
If we want to preserve financial integrity in the Church, than those who preach and minister should not be the ones making the financial decisions; the financial decisions belong to an independent board who can objectively (more so than the pastors involved) choose how to allocate funds and are accountable not only to the congregation, but to the community at large, publishing the budgets and expenditures of the churches for all to see and judge. And while the board would truly ultimately answer to God and the parishioners for their financial decisions, including the community in the review of the financial reports would create better transparency and cause the board to have more pause before saying “yes” or “no”. And in institutions where there seems to be a lack of fear of God, at least their fear of public opinion and prosecution might curb some corruption by keeping the shadow games in the light. There would be no dirty laundry to air if all the laundry were laid out in the open to dry.
Judges 4-5(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Navel-gazing Sin-sniffing and attempt after attempt to PROVE to themselves that THEY are of the Elect (and You’re NOT).
Headless Unicorn Guy(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Because Missions are useless when Your Eternal Destiny was Written on Your Forehead by GOD before the Foundation of the World. Everything Hath Been Predestined by God’s Sovereign Will (or is that Whim?) — ask Islam how that core doctrine acted out in real-life.
Headless Unicorn Guy(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
A simple matter of Revenues & Expenses, Profit & Loss.
“If I lay off all my employees, I’ll save so much on salary and medical insurance expenses that I’ll show a profit from equipment depreciation alone — Fat Management Bonus, Here I Come!”
— Dilbert, “Your Boss’s Brain”
Headless Unicorn Guy(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Not odd.
It’s the foundation of every Mooch-and-Sucker Show:
“I GOTTA HAVE EVERYTHING FOR FREEEEEE! YOU GOTTA GIMME! GIMME! GIMME! GIMME!”
And Pastor Mooch has a weapon to induce Guilt or Threaten Volunteer Suckers (plural): GAWD!
Headless Unicorn Guy(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
… “There is no Hate like Christian Love”. (actual meme)
Headless Unicorn Guy(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Millions of non-Calvinist Southern Baptists should have smelled the coffee cooking in the mission kitchen when New Calvinist David Platt, former President of SBC’s International Mission Board, recalled 1,000 career missionaries from foreign fields. Platt cited a funding shortage, but at the same time his NeoCal bud Kevin Ezell was spending $60 million per year on a church planting program to plant 1,000 new churches annually. Reckon what theological flavor these young church planters were? Yep, “slash and burn” is a good way to describe the dismantling of SBC’s evangelistic and mission emphasis for over 150 years, before Al Mohler and his band of Mohlerites showed up.
Max(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Ava Aaronson,
I would suggest that 2 Corinthians 9 says otherwise.
Lowlandseer(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Lowlandseer,
2 Corinthians 9
““They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;…
…This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people…”
++++++++++++++++++
to me this doesn’t mean salaries, honorariums, ‘company credit cards’, and certainly not luxury gifts (like watches, cars, paid trips to fabulous destinations, etc)
i haven’t been in a church that wasn’t chiefly concerned about their paycheck & other perks, and for whom caring for poor people wasn’t a highly intermittent afterthought.
elastigirl(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
elastigirl,
Agreed. Few corners of the 21st century church would fit the description of the 1st century church outlined in 2 Corinthians 9 in regard to distribution of funds gathered for the work of the ministry.
Max(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Max,
I think the whole church would be very different… sigh..
As I mentioned on another post, so much of “orthodox Christain tradition” is just that, tradition…. if you really dig into it, it is scary how much is “extra-biblical”… or, “one sided Biblical” which ignors verses that say things very differently….
Jeffrey J Chalmers(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Jesus warned us to not forsake the commandments of God for the teachings and traditions of mere men (Mark 7:8). But 2,000 years later, we hang our religious hats on what men have developed rather than what God commanded. It’s a long road back to the genuine, but there are so many counterfeit obstacles and detours I’m not sure this old guy will ever see the church restored to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I hope you do in your lifetime, Jeffrey.
Max(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Yes this is encouraging. Mica’s story was heartbreaking to read about and I hope there can be justice.
Christie24(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Judges 4-5,
If you’re referring to unaccountable “churches” that have been set up and controlled by “Jack & Jill” types which have shallow affiliations and superficial policies that are akin to motherhood statements, then I quite aggree. As mentioned, these people and their establishments are a law unto themselves.
My reference to ‘stewardship’as a significant ethical principle and practice not being properly addressed was in the context of affiliated churches that have forceable codes of ethics and accreditated clergy.
Ian Docker(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Ian Docker,
Correction- ‘enforced’ codes of conduct
Ian Docker(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
“We are told by the Commissar that we have Volunteered(TM).”
Headless Unicorn Guy(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)