A pastor and elementary school teacher in a small city on the shore of Puget Sound in Washington has been arrested and charged with nine counts of child molestation, according to Pierce County Superior Court records.
Jordan Henderson, a worship pastor at Wellspring Fellowship in Lakebay and teacher at public elementary school, was charged with nine counts of sexual molestation, involving children under 12 years old, court records reported. The 34-year-old pastor was arrested by Pierce County Sheriff’s office, following a two-month investigation, according to Fox 13.
Henderson’s father, lead pastor of Wellspring Fellowship, defended his son in a recent Facebook post on the church’s account.
“While some would have you focus on alarm bells and your greatest fears about what you do not know, I want to encourage you with confidence based on what I do know,” Lead Pastor Chris Henderson wrote. “I know Jordan to be of the highest character and quality as a man.”
Chris Henderson continued that his son is a “great husband, a great father, a great teacher.”
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“He and his family have the full confidence and support of our church,” Henderson said. “Please join us in asking that God reveal the full and complete truth regarding these allegations.”
The Roys Report reached out Wellspring Fellowship for more information but did not hear back prior to publication.
Jordan Henderson has been a pastor at the church since 2011, according to his profile on the church’s website.
Henderson was put on administrative leave in March at Evergreen Elementary School, where he taught 5th grade, according to Gig Harbor Now.
Peninsula School Superintendent Krestin Bahr reassured parents and staff that the school is taking the charges against Henderson very seriously in a statement, Gig Harbor Now reported.
“I take the safety and well-being of our students very seriously and want to assure our community that these allegations are in stark opposition to everything we stand for,” Bahr said. “As our community navigates this troubling situation, I want to thank you for keeping the safety and well-being of our students at the forefront of your thoughts and actions.”
Henderson has worked at the school since at least 2018, according to a public database of K-12 Washington employees.
Henderson’s mother also works at Evergreen Elementary as a 3rd grade teacher, according to Wellspring Fellowship website.
Henderson Allegedly Abused Multiple Victims
Henderson allegedly preyed on several fourth and fifth graders for the last several years, according to a probable cause court record. The record said that Henderson used his position as an educator to gain the trust of his victims and convince them that the assaults were normal.
The teacher is accused of rubbing children’s backs, thighs, bottoms, and genitals. The victims reported that sexual assaults would happen daily and even interfere with class. Henderson told the victims to not tell anyone, the record said.
Henderson likely had more victims, according to a press release from Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala (PCVA), a law firm representing one of Henderson’s victims.
“PCVA anticipates that more claimants will come forward once news of Jordan Henderson’s alleged sexual molestation is published and absorbed by the community,” the press release said. “We know that Jordan Henderson was a leader in his local church and adopted two toddlers for almost two years now.”
Henderson’s work at a school and church allowed him to be in “target rich environments” that easily enabled him to identify, groom, and sexually abuse children, the law firm said.
At an arraignment last Friday, a mother of one of the victims spoke up about Henderson’s alleged abuses, according to The News Tribune.
The mother, who is unnamed, said her daughter often has nightmares about Henderson.
“She won’t say his name, she just says, ‘My nightmare was about him again,’” the mother said.
She added that, “Every time we go into Target or Costco or any other store, we’re looking around to make sure we don’t run into him.”
Another woman, who is the mother of another victim, described Henderson as an “evil, evil person.”
This second mother said her daughter won’t “set foot in the school building. The nightmares, the trauma, it’s just been absolutely horrific.”
Henderson pled not guilty to his charges on Friday and was released on $100,000 bail on Friday, according to court records.
The court required Henderson to be electronically monitored and not to have contact with any children besides his own. He will next appear in court on May 10 for a hearing.
Freelance journalist Liz Lykins writes for WORLD Magazine, Christianity Today, Ministry Watch, and other publications.
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13 Responses
They all claim to be innocent, but it almost always turn out to be factual and true! I don’t anticipate any change in this unfortunate and evil situation where a grown man is willing to damage children. He needs his rear end beaten!
There are ( and have always been ) men and women who have used their positions to abuse others. However, in today’s evil culture, a man ( especially a white man ) is automatically considered guilty of every accusation – made by women or children – against him. I fear for my sons and grandsons…because, the cards are already stacked against them.
I challenge you to go read the transcribed interviews with the victims (available at the link) and not be convinced that something very bad was going on with this teacher. The events these little girls describe are quite damning. I wouldn’t be too worried about your sons and grandsons, because they very likely won’t be child molesters.
And seriously, do you think white men have it worse than black men in the department of false accusations?
Well said… sentiments exactly. Honestly, this so called pastor should have been locked up with without bail not free prior to the trial. An ankle monitor will not keep this evil predator from accessing images or making contact with minors online. Unbelievable how the court is handling this.
white men who don’t commit crimes against children will be fine. heck, for a very long time white men who DID commit crimes against children were fine, especially if they could hide behind a church position, and a father vouching for their “character”. I’m glad that this is beginning to change, and we’re holding everyone, including white male pastors, accountable.
Chancey Barnes, this is not some incident that was dredged up from years ago. This alleged child sexual abuse occurred within the past year, when memories of interviewees are still fresh, witnesses can be found, etc. This teacher will get his day in court, present his defense, the prosecution will present the evidence that can be cross examined by the defense and a jury will weigh the evidence and testimonies. He is considered innocent until proven guilty because the mothers of these children did the right thing and reported the suspected abuse to the proper authorities who are qualified to investigate and prosecute when they decide there is enough evidence. He is not “automatically considered guilty of every accusation”, because his case will receive due process.
Do you fear for your daughters and granddaughters as well?
What on earth makes people think his own children are safe?!
And if they are being abused they can’t tell their grandfather/ pastor as he will presumably believe his son rather than them.
Corruption and secrets.
My thoughts exactly! Why is he allowed to be free and with his own children with this number of victims coming forward? The home is an even more egregious place for men like this. I think there is a verse about it would be better to have a millstone around your neck and be tossed into the sea…
Does he have daughters? Why is he allowed contact with his own children?
Foster children and adopted children are in such danger!💔
Cases like this are very difficult to prosecute with huge political backlash if the defendant is determined innocent. A prosecutor isn’t going to press charges in a case like this unless they think have enough evidence get a conviction. Nine counts against this man says that very strong evidence exists that these charges are justified and accurate.
Defendants are not determined innocent. It’s either guilty or not guilty. A DA is more likely to get backlash for failing to prosecute. My guess is that a plea deal will be made to avoid having kids testify in court.