Alleged Victims Sue Avant Ministries and Church of the Nazarene Entities for Enabling Sexual Abuser

Zack Winfrey and Derrick Fox allege they were sexually abused by Bradley Earl Reger, a former camp counselor and youth leader at Echo Ranch in Juneau, Alaska. Winfrey, whose family attended Susanville Church of the Nazarene, stated Reger first abused him at age 10 under the pretense of medical care. Reger, who served as a youth leader, accompanied dozens of minors on two-week trips to Echo Ranch, where the abuse allegedly occurred multiple times per trip. Reger often justified being alone with children by citing illnesses or injuries.

Troy Wilson, another alleged victim, said Reger invited him and two other boys on a trip to California under the guise of a family outing. Wilson’s parents, who worked at Echo Ranch, trusted Reger. The abuse continued under the guise of medical attention, according to Wilson. He described Echo Ranch as a mechanism Reger used to gain access to children and their families.

In August 2023, Reger was indicted on federal sex abuse charges. A superseding indictment in September 2024 added seven more charges, including transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and coercion. The Department of Justice stated Reger, a licensed nurse practitioner in California from 2003 to 2023, sexually abused more than a dozen victims under the pretense of medical examinations at his clinic and in hotel rooms and camp sites globally.

Two lawsuits have been filed alleging civil sex trafficking, conspiracy, and assault based on Reger’s alleged abuse of hundreds of minors from 1998 to 2023. The lawsuits name Avant Ministries, the owner of Echo Ranch, and other Church of the Nazarene entities as defendants. The legal action claims Reger used his positions at Echo Ranch to recruit children for events and abuse them.

The lawsuits allege that Reger’s abuse extended beyond camp settings to include mission trips and medical care. The Church of the Nazarene, through its affiliated entities, is being held accountable for enabling Reger’s actions. The cases highlight the need for accountability and transparency in religious institutions, as emphasized in Micah 6:8, which calls for acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.

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