By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 17, 2026 at 3:36 PM
In a recent lawsuit, six women from Arkansas have accused the Assemblies of God church in Jonesboro and its leadership of failing to act upon allegations of sexual abuse by a former children’s pastor, Tony Waller, over a span of 15 years. The lawsuit claims that despite being aware of the allegations as early as 2004, the church and its leadership did not report the abuse to authorities, allowing Waller to continue his position.
Tony Waller, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2016 for child rape, is alleged to have abused two generations of girls at Refuge Church, previously known as First Assembly of God. The lawsuit details that when Waller was hired in 2000, there were warnings from a detective, a school principal, and a resource officer about suspicions of his misconduct at a local elementary school. Despite these warnings, the lawsuit alleges that the church leadership, including former pastor Mike Glover, failed to take appropriate action.
The suit further alleges that Waller installed hidden cameras in the bathrooms and showers, creating child pornography within the church premises. This material was discovered by police years later. The lawsuit claims that in 2004, two sets of mothers and daughters reported the sexual assaults and the presence of hidden cameras to Pastor Glover. However, the response from the church was minimal, with Waller only being suspended for a few weeks before resuming his duties.
The plaintiffs argue that the Assemblies of God’s leadership, including the district and general councils, had access to evidence of Waller’s misconduct but chose not to report it to law enforcement. This alleged inaction is seen as a significant failure in governance and accountability, raising concerns about financial integrity and public trust in religious organizations.
This case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability within institutions, echoing the biblical principle found in Micah 6:8, which calls for justice, mercy, and humility. The lawsuit serves as a reminder of the need for organizations to prioritize the safety and well-being of their members, ensuring that justice is served and trust is maintained.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
