Pentecostal Bishop Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing $199,900 in COVID-19 Funds

An Illinois Pentecostal bishop has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for embezzling COVID-19 relief funds intended for his church. Terry L. Hall pleaded guilty in March 2024 to multiple financial crimes, including wire fraud and making false statements regarding the church’s pandemic assistance.
The sentence was handed down on November 21, with Hall required to repay the nearly $200,000 he misappropriated. He held the position of bishop at the 250-member Turning Point Church of God in McLeansboro, Illinois, a role he assumed after being ordained by the Cleveland, Tennessee-based denomination in 2019.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Hall used the funds, obtained through a government loan program designed to aid religious institutions during the pandemic, for personal gain. Specifically, he diverted the money to cover his mortgage and to build a pole barn, actions that starkly contrast with the biblical principle of servant leadership found in Matthew 20:25, which Jesus condemned for worldly ambition.
Prior to his sentencing, Hall served as the church’s pastor from 2008 to 2022. Church members reported his leadership style was verbally aggressive and dictatorial, likening his approach to the rulership Jesus criticized. An interim pastor described Hall as a manipulator who sought to dominate others.
The fraud began in April 2020 when Hall applied for a forgivable loan but concealed the application from church leadership. He deposited $92,900 into his personal account. Subsequently, in April 2021, he sought additional funds, but officials later informed the church that a new policy required direct deposits into church accounts.
When the church received the second round of funds, Hall falsely claimed it was a personal loan sanctioned by denomination officials. This misinformation led the congregation to transfer $107,000 to his personal account without question. The church only discovered the extent of the fraud in 2022 during an investigation prompted by government inquiries about loan forgiveness.
The revelation of the theft triggered a formal report to law enforcement, leading to Hall’s indictment and conviction. The case underscores the importance of financial integrity and transparency within religious organizations, demanding accountability and adherence to ethical standards, as emphasized in Micah 6:8.

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