The longtime pastor of a Calvary Chapel congregation in south-central Texas has been arrested on child pornography-related charges and removed from his pastoral role by the church’s board.
Bruce Hollen, 63, of The Woodlands, Texas, was arrested May 8 by deputies of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office on charges of possession with intent to promote child pornography, a second-degree felony. Records indicate that Hollen is currently incarcerated at Montgomery County Jail, with bail set at $30,000.
Hollen is the longtime lead pastor of Calvary Chapel of The Woodlands in the north suburbs of Houston. The church rents the auditorium of McCullough Junior High for Sunday services.
The pastor’s arrest stemmed from a sting operation focused on internet crimes against children, according to local ABC affiliate KTRK. Court records reviewed by the media outlet describe the images that Hollen possessed as “of girls between the ages of 9 and 12 years old naked from the waist down . . . In some of the images, the girls were engaged in sexual activity.”
In a statement posted Saturday to the church’s social profiles, the board of Calvary Chapel of The Woodlands stated that Hollen has been “stripped of his role as lead pastor.” The statement continued that Hollen “no longer has authority” and “may not hold himself out as a leader in any capacity for the church.”
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The church statement did not address Hollen’s alleged crimes or victims.
According to public records, Calvary Chapel of The Woodlands was founded as a tax-exempt organization in April 2002, with Bruce Hollen listed as the sole organizational officer.
On Saturday, the church replaced its website with a static page displaying only the board’s response statement.
According to an archived version of the church website, as of early May, Hollen’s wife, Toni, served as women’s ministry director at the Calvary Chapel congregation and his son, Danny, was on staff as worship leader.
The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to Calvary Chapel of The Woodlands for comment but did not receive a response.
Recently, the church’s social media profiles have removed posts referencing Hollen, dating back several years.
However, on another social profile, a post from 2015 shows Hollen teaching students at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Dumaguete City in the Philippines. Social posts indicate that Hollen traveled on several mission trips to this ministry, as recently as March 2023.
According to videos and social posts online, Hollen was the main speaker of a children’s ministry conference in September 2019 at Calvary Chapel of Lone Mountain in Las Vegas, Nevada, which has since been rebranded as Fervent Church.
TRR contacted Fervent Church for comment on Hollen’s lead role at the conference and recent dismissal from his church but did not receive a response.
A representative of the Montgomery County 9th District Court told TRR that the arraignment hearing in Hollen’s case has not yet been scheduled.
Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith, culture, and public policy for several media outlets. He and his family live in the Washington, D.C. area.
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4 Responses
After listening to the tapes of John Todd, both his testimony & the info he shares, nothing about Calvary Chapel or any other 501c3 “Christian” organization surprises me. His real last name was Collins; the same Collins family who are the high witches of the satanic cabal. He was the high witch/warlock for Calif but came to Christ & was faithful to the LORD, preaching the Word & telling the truth that’s been kept hidden from us for thousands of years. You can find them on Rumble; YT has removed most if not all of them. God is revealing the truth & cleaning out the church.
Um, John Todd, the convicted rapist and lunatic, who died in an insane asylum? Totally credible source.
Why is the bail so low?
Do better American Judges these are the worst offenders.
Now I understand why JD Farag recently removed the name “Calvary Chapel” from his church and no longer associates with the group. He recently made the announcement, but did not go into specifics as to the reasons. Kudos to JD!!!
Kim Pierce