A Dallas-area megachurch, whose pastor recently resigned amid allegations of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl, employs a pastor who was convicted in 2004 of a child sex crime, according to Texas Department of Public Safety records.
Stephen Wilson, a convicted sex offender, is prison ministries campus pastor at embattled Gateway Church.
Last month, Gateway Pastor Robert Morris resigned, after a woman came forward with allegations Morris had sexually molested her from 1982—1986, when she was 12 to 16 years old.
In 2004, Wilson, a former middle school teacher, pleaded guilty to attempted indecency with a child, a third-degree felony. He was sentenced to two years in prison and required to register as a sex offender for 10 years. He also forfeited his teachers’ license.
According to Gateway’s website, Wilson founded G3 Prison Ministries in 2008, a nonprofit “determined to spread the Word of God inside the walls of the prison system.” In 2011, Gateway became official ministry partners with Wilson and G3. And in 2019, Gateway hired Wilson as campus pastor for prison ministries.
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Lawrence Swicegood, a spokesperson for Gateway Church, did not respond to an emailed question about whether church leaders knew details about Wilson’s guilty plea when they began working with his nonprofit or when they hired him. He also didn’t respond to a question about whether Gateway leaders ever alerted the congregation of Wilson’s past or status as a registered sex offender.
“He confessed his crime, (was) convicted of the crime, sent to prison, completed his sentence, went to back to school and working (sic) on his doctorate degree,” Swicegood stated in an email. “As a former inmate, who paid his debt to society, Stephen is uniquely qualified to minister in these prisons and help inmates who are also seeking forgiveness, seeking to connect with God and seeking to find meaning and purpose in their life – even those who are on death row.”
Swicegood said Wilson was restricted to working only in the prison ministry and that Wilson “has never worked around nor attended various student or children (sic) events.”
Wilson, now 55, worked as a science teacher at North Richland Middle School before he was arrested and charged with three counts of indecency in 2002, according to reports from the time in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. One Star-Telegram report states that Wilson was accused of touching a 13-year-old girl’s breasts and genitals and caused her to touch his genitals. As part of his plea agreement, the charge was modified to attempted indecency with a child.
Biographical information about Wilson on Gateway Church’s website previously stated that Wilson had a “Damascus Road” experience at age 33. This changed his life and led him to confess to a past crime that resulted in him being sent to prison, the archived page stated. Wilson was 33 at the time of his arrest for indecency with a child.
Since June 18, Wilson’s biographical information on Gateway’s site has been changed to remove the reference to a “Damascus Road” experience, Wilson’s time in prison, and his “confession,” which appears to be in question. Now, the website simply states that Wilson experienced a “radical transformation” that led him to submit his life to Christ.
Wilson did not respond to requests for comment.
Discrepancy in Wilson’s account of arrest
In addition to the Gateway’s archived website, Wilson also indicated on an appearance on the Point of View podcast in 2019 that he had confessed to his crime. On the podcast, he stated that his conversion to Christ led him to “confess to a crime that nobody knows about” and turn himself in to the police.
However, a 2002 column in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tells another story. According to it, the principal of North Richland Middle School claimed that fellow teachers reported concerns about Wilson’s interactions with a female student to school administration over several months. The principal said he then alerted police of those concerns in April 2002. Wilson was arrested in July 2002.
TRR submitted a public information request for the probable cause affidavit connected to Wilson’s arrest. The North Richland Hills Police Department, which arrested Wilson, closed the request after finding “no responsive records” related to the incident.
A 2019 article in Outreach Magazine doesn’t say when Wilson came to Christ but seems to imply it happened after his incarceration. It quotes Wilson saying that he grew up in a Southern Baptist church and had “head knowledge of the Bible but had never submitted his life to Christ.” It states that in prison, Wilson saw fellow inmates “praying in a prayer circle” and was profoundly impacted.
“It blew me away. I’d never thought about those things happening in prison,” Wilson told Outreach. “So I just said, ‘OK, God, I get it. When I get out, I’m going to come back and reach those guys just like that.’”
When asked about the discrepancies regarding Wilson’s arrest and conversion, Swicegood said he could not validate or confirm “other media accounts.”
Ann Marie Shambaugh has reported as a print journalist in multiple states, including currently in Carmel, Indiana.
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15 Responses
The lies weaving throughout both Gateway pastors’ “confessions” and recounts are so utterly concerning. If you read the Outreach Magazine article, he states he had an inappropriate relationship with his high school student. This was a middle school!
I absolutely believe God can forgive and restore and change anybody. But how are we to accept real conversions have happened when full truths and accountability aren’t being shared with these men’s redemption stories?! Pastor Wilson spends one year in jail and now goes around calling it a “12 year sentence”?
As a Christian therapist that works with adult survivors of childhood trauma, all of this is so concerning. The truth sets us free (John 8:32). If we feel the need to hide parts of our truth in order to function in certain ministry roles we believe we’ve been called to, then maybe we need to examine ourselves!
Seems to me there is a pattern: A man in a position of authority (e.g. preacher, school teacher, etc) comes into contact with a barely pubescent girl simply by virtue of his position of authority. He abuses her but tells her it is all just innocent “counseling” or “teaching moments.” Much, much later, that offender reworks the interaction, making a new version of the story in which he is either the hero (Stephen Wilson) or the victim (Robert Morris). In the new version, he sweeps “perpetrator” status under the rug; completely hides it if he can. Then, with the new story well honed and the crime glossed over and discounted, the man uses the new story to elevate himself in the eyes of starstruck Christians and advances himself in some Christian ministry (e.g. church planting, publishing, evangelism, podcasting, etc, etc.).
I am now convinced that ANY amazing personal story or remarkable testimony used by any person to advance their public life is most likely full of lies and half truths. Especially where that person stands to gain power (e.g. politics) or money (e.g. evangelism), or both. From here on, I am just going to assume that if a story from a public figure is too good to be true, then it is.
People in authority who abuse those entrusted to them should never hold authority again. period.
it doesn’t matter what kind of boundaries you put around that authority, they have already proven that when trusted with authority, they have the capacity abuse vulnerable people in their care. No one should ever get a second chance to do that.
restored to fellowship? sure, with plenty of boundaries. but never to authority.
It’s unsurprising that so much is coming out about Gateway now that anyone’s looking. Whatever sins the leaders have will be reflected in the congregation- whether those sins are known or unknown. This happens because leaders are likely to give those “sins” a pass- hold them less accountable as a means of projection and hope that they will ALSO be held less accountable. If the pastor of a church is abusive to people, even secretly, there will be abuse all the way down.
I hope that all of these lawsuits make Gateway uninsurable, like Cavey’s church, and it has to shut down. It’s just a factory churning out evil and trauma at this point.
Your description of the process hits the proverbial nail on the head Brent. And I too am a marriage and family therapist, working with abuse. While the social security numbers change, the pattern remains and the predator’s “story” – mixed with lots of lies, is super predictable. What’s really sad, is the way the system allows these pedophiles to peddle their stories in a way that avoids the real truth, the whole truth, and thus, they fail to protect children, making them “pedophile protectors.” And according to Ezekiel 3:16-19, if they protect sin/sinners, instead of warning them (and instead of protecting children), God places responsibility on them. So, to the degree they turned a blind eye, or to the degree they knew and did nothing, and/or to the degree they could have known more about Rober Morris or Wilson etc. they are 100% responsible for their choices and the domino effect of their choice to be blind, regardless of why they chose to blind. And as Jesus said, “they will die in their sins,” there is no excuse for their sins,” and His words will condmen them in the judgment. But they have a way of lying to themselves, deceiving themselves with the stories they present, after shaping the story to fit their agenda…which ironically, removes them from knowing their need for Godly repentance and Godly restitution.
Several years ago, Gateway laid off several employees only for those employees to find out they had to sign a severance agreement OR ELSE NOTHING because Gateway NEVER paid into the Texas unemployment insurance. These employees had no safety net except what Gateway decided to give them with a severance agreement. In the meantime, Robert Morris was building his wealth!
Every case needs to be discerned on the details, of course, but the headline seems to be trying to shock with facts that are not very surprising. Plenty of people in prison ministry have been to prison. (“and such were some of you…”)
If this brother had a “ministry” to kids, given his past, that’d be a headline. But if Christians who know him and are assured of his repentance and faith put him in this ministry, on the surface of things there doesn’t seem to be a problem.
If he lied about his testimony or his record–maybe another matter. I know that appeals to grace have been used to cover up all kinds of abuse in churches, and I appreciate–and support–the R Report’s work in uncovering all that. Is this that kind of case?
Sincerely wondering…
Amen! A man convicted of a heinous crime, 20 years in the past. He now works with others convicted of crimes. I don’t see the issue. Forgiveness and redemption are at the heart of following Jesus. Clearly he should not be working with young people (for everyone’s sake). But most of us would not take the time to share the gospel with those in prison. If he is bring the word of God the “least of these” then I wish him God’s blessings.
“ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’”
you can serve people and clothe people and feed people and visit prisons WITHOUT having the authority and power of leadership that allows you to abuse vulnerable people, if you’ve already shown that you’re willing to use your authority and leadership to abuse vulnerable people.
there are many incarcerated people who could be apt leaders when they are done with their sentences- but never anyone who’s crime was using power and authority to abuse- just like people who commit financial crimes can’t go back to working in banks. it’s ridiculous to put people back in positions that they’ve proven that they’re capable and willing to criminally abuse. And if you think it’s different because he’s not working with children, you don’t understand how power and abuse work. it’s the vulnerablity of the prey (which people in prison very much are, especially socially), not the age. Do I think he’d take sexual advantagte of the inmates he works with? probably not, but that’s not the only way to abuse one’s authority.
Storm, please see Katie Smith’s post above about the lies he’s been telling to minimize the severity of his “testimony”. Just further proof that he should not hold authority over any vulnerable people. people can absolutely serve in a prison ministry and put their lived experience to use without being the PASTOR of a prison ministry with power and authority to do harm.
Several years ago after the Ravi Zacharias debacle became public, I questioned the four faith based non-profits I supported regarding their compliance protocols and internal controls. I requested internal documentation as well as verification regarding how the protocols were audited and verified. Two responded adequately and two did not. Contributions to the two that did not were halted immediately. No questions asked and no second chance. One of them is an international organization most people on this blog would recognize. Both of those who responded promptly and effectively told me I was the only person to make such an inquiry. In each case they have over 10,000 partners in finance, prayer, volunteerism, etc. So I’m 1 in 10,000? If that’s typical its not too hard to figure our why this stuff never stops. The behavior that folks continue to wring their hands over will not stop until individuals ask hard questions and hit the door if they don’t get the answers they expect. Until each person does that, it can be said they are aiding and abetting whatever cringe worthy behavior is uncovered next. If you offer support, financial or otherwise, you are culpable to the extent you didn’t ask. The two that responded properly did not quote on verse of scripture in their response. One of those that abjectly missed the mark provided 53 scripture references. Spare me.
1 in 10,000? I couldn’t upvote this enough. Ignorance is not bliss. I also realized over time that giving mammon more often than not does not produce truly charitable results. What is lacking most of the time is character on the receiving end. When someone’s character actually improves usually the money issues begin to go away.
I’m very involved in advocacy in this space but for me this is actually a right and good fit. Those who have received the justified shame and justice following their crime need to find some source of hope in Christ. We must leave them someone who can demonstrate what redemption can look like. It seems to me that this man’s ministry, as long as his past is transparent is a good fit. Even the worst of the worst must find Jesus and who better to show them. This is one instance where this limited role of ministry for a past predator makes sense.
I agree that lived experience with prison is the right fit for this ministry, but I strongly disagree that THIS PARTICULAR type of lived experience should ever hold authority again. No one who holds authority and abuses a vulnerable person that they are in authority over should ever hold authority again. you don’t give people a second chance to hurt vulnerable people. period. there are MANY ways he could be involved in prison ministry in a non authoratative way. there are many ways he could use his experiences to serve others. but to make him a pastor? where he can manipulate and abuse vulnerable prison populations who are desperate for social approval? no way. I don’t think he’ll sexually abuse them- but that’s not the only kind of abuse.
Stephen Wilson is no longer on Gateway website. Not sure if he resigned or not?
Goodness when will people wake up and realise that all of these megachurches are rife with scandal and corruption. They’re all for profit enterprises for their well-coiffed, Mercedes driving, prairie mansion living leaders…the perversion of Jesus’ teaching ‘the meek shall..’ is beyond appalling/nauseating…and you mostly southern sheep continue to talk forgiveness, second chances, etc etc You all should be arrested for supporting the environment/institutions that allow this sort of thing to be a weekly occurrence…if there was agod.