On February 20, 2004, David Gray, a former teacher at John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church (GCC), was charged with multiple counts of sexual and physical abuse of children.
Five days later, Carey Hardy—an associate pastor at Grace Community Church (GCC) and personal assistant to John MacArthur—emailed a letter to the church, which reportedly was posted at GCC’s website.
In the letter, Hardy defends David Gray and challenges the credibility of Gray’s wife, Eileen Gray, whom GCC had shamed and excommunicated just 18 months earlier for separating from David. Eileen also had reported Gray’s abuse to the Los Angeles Police Department in June 2003.
“I’m sure you know by now that one of our own, David Gray, has been arrested,” Hardy stated in the letter. “The accusations being brought against him have to do with child abuse. Most likely, these accusations come from his estranged wife, Eileen.”
Hardy wrote that the church was first made aware of the allegations two to three years ago. But he added that after “a time of counseling,” the church became “very concerned with the integrity of Eileen’s statements” and had to “disfellowship” her.
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Hardy’s letter is no longer available online. But The Roys Report (TRR) has obtained a copy of the letter that retired L.A.P.D. Detective Nancy Nelson confirmed she downloaded in 2004 from GCC’s website.
In his letter, Hardy did not mention that just three months earlier, David had filed for divorce. Hardy also claimed in the letter that David did not admit “any guilt” regarding abuse of his children.
However, as documented in TRR’s previous report, Eileen stated in sworn court testimony that David Gray confessed he repeatedly kicked and even tried to suffocate one of his children in 2001—not just to Hardy but to GCC staff pastor Bill Shannon. Within weeks of that confession—in July 2001—GCC decided not to renew David’s teaching contract.
David also submitted a handwritten confession of abuse to Hardy during a 2001 counseling session, Eileen testified. And, in a sworn declaration, a pastor who heard tape recordings of Hardy’s 2001 counseling sessions with Eileen and David stated Eileen was being told to submit to David despite “his admitted abuse of her and her children.”
Yet Hardy disclosed none of this in his 2004 letter.
Instead, he wrote: “Many of you have interacted with David on a personal level. And, like those of us on staff who know him, you have great difficulty believing the accusations that have been brought. It ends up being an issue of character—whether or not David has demonstrated the type of character that fits these accusations or not. . . . (W)e can still strongly say that the accusations do not fit with what we know of David.”
Hardy then detailed an effort to raise $20,000 cash for David’s bail, $250,000 in collateral “to complete the bail amount,” and $20,000 for lawyer’s fees.
Hardy writes that he “cannot and am not asking anyone to contribute,” but then asks the reader to “pray about” and “consider what you . . . might do according to your conscience.”
Today, David Gray is serving 21 years to life for aggravated child molestation, corporal injury to a child, and child abuse.
Just last Friday, the California Board of Parole denied Gray parole for 10 years.
The transcript of that hearing is not yet available. But according to retired detective Nelson, who participated in Gray’s parole hearing via zoom, commissioners described Gray’s crimes as atrocious and said the evidence against him was overwhelming. Commissioners added that Gray weaponized religion and used the church to gain trust, Nelson said.
Yet neither the evidence presented at Gray’s trial, nor his conviction in 2005, appears to have dampened GCC’s support for him.
Instead, TRR has obtained evidence that GCC leaders helped start and sustain a ministry Gray launched from prison.
A 2012 newsletter for Gray’s ministry, called “Grace Prison Fellowship,” even contains an alleged endorsement from John MacArthur. And on Gray’s Facebook page, which was active until earlier this week, GCC staff and church members repeatedly affirmed Gray and his ministry in posts as recent as 2018.
TRR reached out to John MacArthur, Carey Hardy, and several other pastors at GCC repeatedly to explain their apparent support for Gray. None of them responded.
Meanwhile, Eileen told TRR that John MacArthur and Grace Community Church have continued to shun her.
At David’s 2005 trial, Eileen testified, “They (GCC) rejected me. Every single person rejected me.”
After David’s conviction, Eileen said she called John MacArthur at his office, which is recounted in a 2007 email to a friend that Eileen shared with TRR.
Eileen wrote that MacArthur’s secretary “immediately knew who I was” and put Eileen on hold for five minutes. Then MacArthur’s secretary returned and said she would give Eileen’s number to MacArthur.
“I told her that people were asking me if he had apologized to me yet and I wanted to make it easy for him to call and apologize,” Eileen wrote in the email to her friend.
Eileen told The Roys Report MacArthur never called back.
Grace Prison Fellowship
“Dear friends, I wish to relate to you what the Lord has done by His grace through this ministry so that He may receive the glory,” wrote David Gray in a December 2012 newsletter to supporters of his Chains for Christ Ministry. “Over the past seven years, He has seen fit to use me, an unworthy servant, to share the Gospel of Christ to many inmates . . .”
Gray adds that he has started a “leadership group using John MacArthur’s book on leadership and expository preaching,” which has become the core of an additional ministry called “Grace Prison Fellowship” (GPF).
Gray also mentions that GPF has been blessed “with the support of Grace Community church (sic) supplying Bibles, CDs and commentaries.” Gray ends his newsletter with “testimonies of others,” including one allegedly by John MacArthur:
Dear David . . . Your steadfast faithfulness in the midst of such a difficult trial is truly a monument to the grace of God in your life . . . It is such an encouragement to my spirit to hear of your work on the Lord’s behalf there at Corcoran. I am moved to hear of your steadfast faithfulness to the truth of Scripture in the face of much prevalent error . . . for now, however, you are our missionary to Corcoran State Prison, and we pray that the Lord will give your (sic) tremendous strength, overwhelming grace, and great patience to fulfill your mission.
Gray’s 2012 newsletter was posted on Gray’s Facebook page for years, where Gray, with the help of then-GCC member David Johns, would periodically post from prison.
TRR reached out to Johns via email for comment. Johns replied, “GCC did not believe some of Eileen’s accusations as credible, but the justice system did. That should NOT have happened—but it did. . . . Both the justice system AND GCC should have come to the same conclusion.”
This week, Gray’s Facebook account vanished.
Earlier, TRR had reached out to several GCC staff, asking about their apparent involvement with Gray, which was mentioned on Gray’s Facebook page. TRR also sent MacArthur and pastors at GCC a copy of Gray’s 2012 newsletter, asking if Gray’s claims of support were accurate. No one responded.
Screenshots of posts and comments on Gray’s Facebook page reveal a very supportive relationship between GCC and David in 2012 and beyond.
On August 27, 2015, David posted that he thanked God “for this prison trial,” adding that God “has ordained sorrows, pain and loss.”
In the post, David also announces the first publication of a new newsletter for Grace Prison Fellowship and thanks several people for “all their help,” including GCC Pastor Mike Riccardi.
On the comment thread for the post, GCC Minister of Music Bill Brandenstein writes, “I can’t imagine what it is like walking this path the Lord has given you, but His grace (obviously!) is sufficient. May that sustaining grace and the power of God’s Word continue to be abundantly evident through your life.”
TRR reached out to both Riccardi and Brandenstein, asking specifically about the nature of GCC’s help for Gray and any personal support, but neither responded.
On December 22, 2017, David announced on Facebook that he was teaching Greek and biblical counseling classes to prison inmates and starting a “School of Ministry and Discipleship.”
In response, Dave Costanzo, a career development specialist at The Master’s University where MacArthur served as president (now chancellor), wrote, “(W)hat an encouragement this is to my heart brother! We all would have written a different chapter in your life man but what others meant for evil God meant for good. . . .”
TRR reached out to Costanzo for comment, but he did not respond.
Last Sunday, TRR downloaded the friends page on David’s Facebook account. At the time, Gray had 250 friends, including Bill Brandenstein and GCC Pastors Mike Riccardi, Tom Patton, Bill Shannon and Shannon’s son-in-law, Jesse Johnson, a former GCC outreach pastor who’s now lead teaching pastor at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia.
TRR reached out to all these men, asking why they were Facebook friends with Gray. Only Johnson responded.
“I’ve never met David Gray, I’ve never talked to him, and don’t know him,” Johnson said. “After receiving your email I looked into it and realized we are connected on Facebook, but we’ve never interacted there or elsewhere.”
Open support
Yet according to two former GCC members who spoke with TRR, GCC leaders were very open about their support of David Gray.
Christine Kent, who attended GCC from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2007—2014, said she heard about David Gray in GCC’s Sojourners fellowship group, which included several hundred people.
Kent said the church portrayed David Gray as a victim who was wrongly convicted and Eileen Gray as a wicked woman who had falsely accused her husband. Kent said she believed everything GCC said at the time and would regularly write David Gray in prison and send him Bibles for inmates.
Similarly, former GCC member Sheri Evans said she learned of David Gray and his ministry from the Sojourners group, as well.
Both Kent and Evans said David Johns would routinely visit Gray in prison and give updates on Gray in front of the entire Sojourners group.
A post on Gray’s Facebook account on February 12, 2014, states: “I am going to visit David Gray on February 22nd. If you would like to pass on any greetings to him, write a comment below (or message him) and I will pass the messages on to him. David Johns”
Evans wrote a weekly prayer letter for Sojourners from 2000 to 2010 and said she would always include a reminder to pray for David Gray.
Evans said she believed GCC’s narrative about Gray, as well. And even after leaving GCC for what she described as “spiritual abuse,” Evans continued sending the prayer letter to family and friends. Less than two weeks ago, Evans sent a prayer letter urging recipients to pray for David Gray’s upcoming parole hearing.
After reading TRR’s first article about David and Eileen Gray, Evans says she’s removing anything about David from further communications.
“I was misled,” Evans said. “I wish I had known the truth because I wouldn’t have been doing it (promoting Gray) all these years. They (GCC) kept saying he’s innocent. He’s innocent. He’s innocent.”
Evans added that she wanted to reach out to Eileen and tell her how sorry she is for what Eileen endured.
Kent similarly said she was stunned by TRR’s article.
“I just feel so stupid, like, ‘What in the world?’,” she said. “Until your report, I was still a full-on supporter and that really bothers me . . . I sided with the abuser and not with the wife and children.”
TRR also reached out to William Varner and Bob King, who used to co-lead the Sojourners group.
Varner, who left GCC in 2021 but remains a Bible professor at The Master’s University, told TRR he doesn’t recall anything about David Gray.
King, a former GCC elder who left the church three years ago, stated in a text that Eileen Gray’s case “was handled by staff and I knew little about it at all. Discipline issues are presented to the board of elders by the pastor in charge of the case. He presents the ‘facts’ and a vote is taken.”
King added, “Seems typical of how marriage problems are handled at GCC. Wife is at fault and should repent.”
Defending Carey Hardy
Not only has GCC rallied around David Gray. They also enlisted the support of Dr. Albert Mohler after Los Angeles police charged Carey Hardy in June 2004 with failing to report David Gray’s abuse and intimidating a witness—Eileen Gray.
Mohler is the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention. And in March 2004—less than two weeks after David Gray was arrested—Mohler was a keynote speaker at GCC’s annual Shepherd’s Conference.
In a recent interview with TRR, Mohler said that after Hardy was charged, a GCC elder, whose identity he couldn’t recall, asked him to write a paper in Hardy’s defense.
Mohler said the elder presented the case as a religious liberty issue.
California has an exemption to its mandated reporter law for clergy who hear about abuse within the context of the confessional. Mohler said the elder claimed that since Gray’s abuse was divulged within the context of biblical counseling, the exemption should apply.
Mohler said that’s essentially what he argued, though Mohler doesn’t have a copy of his paper anymore. He added that he no longer believes there should be any exemption for clergy when it comes to reporting child abuse.
TRR tried to obtain court documents for Hardy’s case but was told by a Los Angeles Superior Court that records for misdemeanor cases are destroyed after five years. An online summary of the case says it was “dismissed or not prosecuted.”
Hardy’s case may have been dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired. Eileen reported David’s abuse to L.A.P.D. in 2003, but Hardy’s crimes allegedly occurred in 2001.
TRR spoke with Attorney David Gibbs III, president and general counsel for the National Center for Life and Liberty. Gibbs confirmed that the statute of limitations in California for most misdemeanors is one year.
He added that California’s clergy-penitent privileges would not apply to Hardy’s situation. The exemption applies only to one-on-one confession, he said, not to counseling where others, like a spouse, are present.
Redeeming the pain
Today, Eileen Gray is safe, as are her grown children, though scars remain.
“I’m not bitter,” she told TRR. “Was I wounded beyond belief? Did I go through anger? Absolutely. I went through everything—every painful emotion. But I did it before the Lord, asking Him to bring healing.”
Eileen said she was devastated by GCC’s rejection of her, the shock of learning David had molested her children, and the turmoil of his trial. So were her children.
“I cried a lot. . . . I cried and I cried to God,” she said. “And I said, ‘I don’t know what good could come out of this? How you could ever bring glory to yourself?”
But, she added, “I know the Lord. And I know Jesus isn’t anything like them (GCC). . . . And I can’t blame what they’re doing, or what David did, on the Lord.”
For years, Eileen concentrated her energy on her kids’ and her own healing. But she said she also asked the Lord to help her find hurting women she could help.
At first, Eileen volunteered in a nursing home. But then, someone invited her to minister to women in the local jail, where she flourished.
Today, Eileen serves as a local missionary in the jail, leading Bible studies and church services and helping women to overcome addictions. She also has a free hotline for inmates installed in her home, where they can reach her anytime, day or night.
Eileen’s also received training in trauma care and critical incident debriefing and serves as a law enforcement chaplain for a local sheriff’s department.
Looking back, Eileen says David’s abuse and the ordeal at GCC was “horribly hard,” but said, “God drew me closer to himself and deepened my faith through the whole thing.”
She added, “I saw God turn it to good, years later. . . . He gave me a heart for hurting women, a deep heart. And after a time of healing, of course not total healing, but healing . . . I was saying to the Lord, ‘Okay, Lord, You’ve been comforting me, strengthening me. Where are the hurting women? Show me. I want them to know you like I’ve come to know you.’”
This article has been updated.
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121 Responses
If people doubt this story, they should read the court documents from the trial. Horrific and vial. Far worse than you can imagine. And if you think the family is lying, there is a violin student that testified with disgusting details. If you say you didn’t know, then it is time to apologize for your mistake TO Eileen, and reverse your decision to the congregation.
Where can we read the court documents please.
Check out David gray on Feb and you’ll find christine pack Mar 11 posting and there you’ll find links.
I am not understanding checkout Gray on Feb. Julie can you help. And are they still there at this moment? I am most interested in read the court documents i am sure others are too. Thank you
I think it’s supposed to be FB, as in Facebook, not Feb. Christine Pack has a link to court documents from her Facebook page, although you may have to scroll down her feed to find it.
MS. Thompson, where did you get these court documents to read? Are not these documents extremely expensive from the courts? I wish somebody would write a full length story on what is in these cost documents.
I believe the court documents that individuals have been been referencing are not the actual court documents from David Gray’s trial; but instead, are the court documents from one of David Gray’s appeals. The appeal court documents are readily available online and do summarize the original criminal proceedings. You can access those via a link on the YouTube channel for Honest Youth Pastor. He linked them under a “drop down” tab beneath the red Subscribe button for his discussion titled “Three’s a Crowd-The Roy’s Report Part 2.” My understanding is that in order to view the court documents from David Gray’s criminal trial, you would need to go to the actual courthouse and ask to look at either paper records or electronic records of the case.
How did you find the court documents? I am looking and unable to locate… still searching.
The “drop down” tab would be the words “Show More” that are to the left of the page under the “Subscribe” button. The link is still there.
Freddy and Greg. What planet are you on? Typical excuse making and attempting in a bad way to use scripture to justify evil. If rolls were reversed would you be so pious in your ways. I am always amazed at people who demand of others and never tested to see how they would react. Commit the crime and do the time. Forgiveness sure why not. But to allow a second chance. Never. Go find other employment. And thinking God is standing there ready to allow a second chance. Well sure but only with YOUR kids and the children of other supporters of your ideas. I think it’s called putting your money where your mouth is. As for me. I wouldn’t allow them anywhere near my kids. And I have no problem with the discernment God had given me is more important than your misguided guilt. Have a nice day.
Greg was not defending Macarthur or GCC.
Actually Gordon. He was. And now you stick up for him.
Gary, go back and read all of his comments again. They are obviously intended as sarcasm. I’m “sticking up for him” because I believe you have misread him. It would be helpful if he responded here to offer clarification himself.
I was hoping that John MacArthur and Grace Community Church would announce that they had made a mistake. I also wondered why Phil Johnson said in a tweet that he was going to talk to a lawyer friend, who is an elder, before any decisions would be made about a response to the TRR article. After reading this second article, my hopes of seeing John MacArthur apologize have been dashed.
I cannot understand how an apology from JM is so difficult. It almost seems like a personality disorder or something.
Power and apologies/humility don’t go hand in hand in narcissism. Common theme these days.
For people used to having their own way in everything and not use to having their word challenged, an apology is an admission of failure and an unacceptable loss of face. That’s why people like MacArthur will stonewall and then, more often than not, go on the attack. I wouldn’t be surprised if Julie Roys and her team are accused of the grave sin of attacking a man of God. It wouldn’t be the first time, for sure.
We see the same sins committed over and over again by mega churches and mega church pastors. They are almost always nondenominational, and their boards or elders are almost always selected by the pastors, so there is little to no true spiritual supervision. In congregations that treat their pastors as gods, pride often creeps in. The pastor and his staff come to see themselves as above the law—of man and of God. They come to worship their own ministry and believe they must protect the ministry and its reputation at all costs—ALL costs. Sound familiar?
Which mega church pastor would you say is characterized most by humility? Definitely not John MacArthur, nor the dozens of other mega church pastors whose sins have had to be exposed in the Roys Report over the past few years, rather than them confessing their sins before the Lord and their congregations and stepping down from ministry.
These horrible things happen in small churches just as often, only they don’t make headlines because they are small. I just listened to a podcast where multiple people terrified t sky the spiritual abuse from the pastor of a church that only had about 70 people in it. It happens everywhere, large and small. And it can happen in a denomination, too, although perhaps not as often. Chuck DeGroat wrote an excellent book, “When Narcissism Comes to Church.”
I’ve read the court documents and it made me just sick to my stomach. The word abuse is no where close to what this monster did to his children and wife. What john, carey, bill did to eileen is cruel, immoral deserving of the worst. Eileen, you did suffer for Jesus, in the hands of three despicable men who know nothing about His love. These men lied to their church and to this day are lying to everyone.
Do you have a link?
Christine Pack on Fb has the links and more details
Dear JM, your steadfast faithfulness to David in the midst of 10 counts of child abuse is truly a monument to the absence of truth in your life. It is such a discouragement to my spirit to hear of your refusal to answer nor apologize to Eileen and her children. I am moved to tears at your steadfast denial and silence in the face of much prevalent truth…for now, however, we are grateful that the missionary you support who is a sadistic predator who weaponized religion continues to stay at the Corcoran State Prison. We pray that you will have tremendous strength, overwhelming grace and great patience to face up to your error, apologize and fulfill your mission.
an enlightened ex-GCC cult member.
Spiritual Justice- Sweet irony that JM’s neglect did not yield good fruit. The Master Puppeteer playing his dystopian message of Lordship Salvation. I say, “Live by the sword, die by the sword.” Take JM’s perfect thousand dollar tie and suit off, put him in a pair of sandals and jeans, and presto! Just another Pharisee huckster.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this:to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep one self unstained from the world. Jam 1:27
When David started abusing his wife and children, he made his wife a widow and children orphans.
A religion that cannot defend the widow and protect the orphan is a false religion. A church that cannot see that is a false church.
this is horrific and these people need to apologize and ask for forgiveness, in front of the entire congregation. As well as this poor woman and her children are deserving of huge compensation. Unfortunately the leaderships behaviour is cult like at best. Wake up church, come Lord Jesus.
I think this latest story is all part of a pattern: JM creates his own reality. When there were problems with TMU accreditation through WASC he said it was an attack from Satan. When the pandemic started he said it was fake. When he got sick with COVID, he only admitted it long after it happened. When he was told about an abusive husband, he said the husband was fine and the wife was abusive.
It seems to me that members of GCC don’t have permission to think with anyone except JM. They’re not allowed to read the WASC report and recognize the problems at TMU. They’re not allowed to read the reports from the worldwide medical community and conclude there’s a pandemic. They’re not allowed to know JM is sick with COVID. They’re not allowed to hear Eileen and the court’s testimony and come to the conclusion David is an abusive man.
The only reality they are allowed is the one that springs from JM’s imagination. This is what Steven Hassan describes as “instilling a new map of reality”.
This is why many mega churches are more cults than churches. Like Disney needing to add sexual themes in some cartoon movies, yet people (parents) still go to Disneyland vs boycotting. Moth to flame theory.
I really think one has to look closely at the specific megachurch before coming to a conclusion like that.
As an aside, I thought “Turning Red” was great! If Christians can’t get behind a very tasteful and hilarious take on what it’s like for a teenage girl to realize she’s starting to like boys (and other revelations about growing up), I just think it’s more indicative of a general “Bah, humbug!” attitude than any stand for righteousness.
Paul have you read what the Disney employees are supporting? You’re okay with k-12 teachers secretly trying to coach kids to be gender fluid? You defend Disney over one movie? You better review how karma works and pray your children don’t ever become victims. Anything Disney should be boycotted.
We have been down here in Florida for 2 months to escape the cold of upstate NY. We have followed this story. First, the legislation was concerning K-3rd. Sure wish it was through 12 though. Secondly, many of the locals and neighbors in the community we are renting in…..work at Disney and totally disagree with the CEO. He was swayed by a few protestors, made a stupid woke statement and people are furious. There is a silent majority who support the governor signing it.
People are ripping up their annual FL resident Disney passes, won’t renew them. Pray!!
Very concerning as I was very disappointed with his treatment of Beth Moore at the 2019 “Truth Matters Conference”. I’m not a fan of her politics but, she is a sister in Christ. It wasn’t very “Christlike” to say the least, which is our goal, correct? His statement to her to “Go home” because she spoke from a church pulpit on Mother’s Day, does not make her a preacher. I’ve listened to Kay Arthur and Elisabeth Elliot in person, and men were in the audience. Treat women as Jesus did…be respectful.
This reminds me of situations where an individual hurts another, everybody sees it and knows it, but the first individual just refuses to ask forgiveness for their wounding. When a person apologizes and seeks forgiveness, it actually shows them to be much more mature than the individual who refuses to acknowledge that their hurt someone. I suppose what is taking place here (per comment from PJ) is that they have to seek legal counsel lest they end up with a lawsuit. Just “man up.” I don’t see Jesus instructing to seek forgiveness for hurting another individual … if you can protect yourself from a lawsuit. Seems to me that JM messed up. Confess and seek forgiveness – not matter what the legal implications are. However, looks like the wife isn’t bent on suing since she has taken a different path.
I just want to asked Julie Roy’s that you have many more years to say this to Pastor and spread this kind of article but you pop out in the middle of age where John MacArthur is old enough to explain, what are you trying to exposed from people that John can’t discipline that man and ignored the beaten up woman and children? what this article for being FEMINIST?? or getting such money when you trying to attack the Pastor or GAINING ATTENTION you can chose freely.. no matter how or what you’ll be doing in this earth you gain what you did but LOOK UP! GOD saw you and what you are trying to destroy..poor SOUL you’ll get burn in the LAKE OF FIRE!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!!
Sophie, that is an incredibly judgmental comment. I don’t know the writer’s reasoning for breaking this story now, but I can say it sure brought back pain when I read it. I was a victim of molestation perpetrated by a pastor on staff at Grace in 1979. I won’t go into the story, but what I can say is that this particular pastor was believed over me (even after I found out I wasn’t his only victim in 2003). Even so, over four decades ago, I was told in a letter written by JM himself that the pastor would be counseled by him personally. It never happened. How many other grossly mishandled reports of molestation and/or child abuse must there have been over the decades? If awareness surrounding the issue of how abuse accusations are handled by the church as a whole increases through Eileen’s story, than God bless her. Her story seriously broke my heart.
I’m so sorry. Wendy.
Note: We waive our requirement to give a full name for survivors of abuse.
So sorry. Praying for you!
Sophie, would you mind providing a biblical context for what you have said? I do not understand how speaking the truth condemns someone to hell. I thought as Christians we are supposed to speak the truth.
The court documents found on FB reveal horrific details of multiple child abuse by David Gray. Not even holy JM, Phil or his elders would ask his own daughter to take back this monster or stay any longer in this hell hole. The fear of retribution and murder, emotional scars, mental anguish at the thought of coming home to David doing the same thing or worst to the children justifies their leaving. As a mother, she protected her children against a monster, unexpectedly against a pack of wolves in sheep clothing, against a church family who turned on her. She demonstrated tremendous courage under fire and faith in God, in the face of pastors lying and twisting scripture. After being incarcerated for 17 years, David has shown no remorse to merit a parole. Macarthur and other elders named in the article and GCC members who condoned the crime and ostracized Eileen are all accomplices by commission or omission to David’s heinous crime of child abuse. John, let’s sing amazing grace…
John MacArthur, November 13, 2006: “But we all get tainted by this and this gives the critics of Christianity reason to throw us in with all the other scandals, such as the one in the Roman Catholic Church with all the pedophile and homosexual priests that are there. We just get tainted with that broad brush…And while I’m always grieved to find out that some trusted pastor is a full-blown hypocrite, at the same time I am grateful that his hypocrisy has been discovered, because that church needs not to be a victim of that any longer than necessary, nor does anybody else.”
John MacArthur, May 1, 2005: “This is absolutely ridiculous, given the sexual perversion of the priesthood which even Benedictus XVI tried to sweep under the rug with a silly comment about, “Well, the percentage of perverted priests” – and he wouldn’t use that word, but – “the percentage of pedophile priests is no different than the normal population.” All of this is brushed under the carpet as fast as it can be in an effort to protect the illusion of holiness.”
Indeed.
Unfortunately the attitude displayed at GCC is one that exists across many mainline church denominations. Luckily it often doesn’t manifest itself with such extreme examples, but the attitude is often there.
I sought a divorce from my PCA church a few years ago for an emotionally manipulative and repeatedly adulterous wife. While the particulars of my situation were not anywhere near the extremity faced by Eileen, the general attitude displayed by MacArthur and GCC was also present in my own church:
FOR THE PERSON WHO TRANSGRESSED: Soft rebukes, sympathy, and love
FOR THE PERSON TRANSGRESSED AGAINST: The elders trying to figure out what “you did” to cause your spouse to act this way, a crushing weight of needing to “forgive”, and accusations of being a false Christian for not wanting to continue to live with the person who (repeatedly) shattered your life.
I am a male and this happened to me. But I also recognize it disproportionately affects females even more.
There is a major conflation of “forgiveness” and “reconciliation” in Christian circles. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
I will say this though, praise God for the faith he gave Eileen. Truly, I relate to every one of her words in the last section. With the benefit of hindsight, I can see the ways God worked in my life and my heart to turn an objectively horrific situation into one that has drawn me closer to him and melted my heart for the plight of others. Eileen, I look forward to giving you a big, all-encompassing hug in eternity.
Clarke, I completely feel the authenticity & sincerity in your words. Without a doubt, I know that our Father in heaven will be saying to you both, “Well done, my good & faithful servants.” You & Eileen are precious examples of being like Christ, in suffering, in y’all’s walk. Thank you, Clarke, for your precious message to Eileen. I hope she sees it. I’m grateful for your words to her & I’d like to convey the same compassion to you both.
To the reporter of these stories:
I just accidentally stumbled on this story of Eileen Gray on Fb. I am a counselor to victims of abuse & soooooo many domestic violence victims. Members of churches have caused so much harm to so many victims (mostly women but as Clarke can attest, men, too). My heart goes out to my fellow Christians who are retraumatized at the hands of God’s children within the church. It breaks my heart for these victims.
Thank you, Julie Roys, for exposing the darkness that disguises itself as the light. Thank you for using your reporting skills to shine light on the truth. Glory to God!
Clarke-
“FOR THE PERSON TRANSGRESSED AGAINST: The elders trying to figure out what “you did” to cause your spouse to act this way, a crushing weight of needing to “forgive”, and accusations of being a false Christian for not wanting to continue to live with the person who (repeatedly) shattered your life.”
I’m so sorry this happened to you. I hope you know this had nothing to do with you and was 100% about a lack of character in your ex-wife. How any church justifies the way you were treated is beyond me, but it seems to happen over and over again.
This whole story is so disturbing and upsetting. I wish JM or someone in charge would address the situation. To stay silent is just wrong. GCC, please make things right with this lady. Especially since there are court documents available to the public that vindicate Eileen.
Its a twenty year old matter…which means that John MacAurther has remained hard hearted and unrepentant for the last twenty years while he passed judgement on everyone from A to Z.
My thoughts exactly. I am reminded of the scripture where it says that the measure you use to judge others by will be used against you.
Why is it that when John does wrong and people calls him out he calls it persecution and whenever he calls someone out or publicly shames an abused wife its biblical ? He has made a fortune from a gospel that isn’t his, that he didn’t suffer for and simply stole or plagiarized the works of others then made it his own. He doesn’t bleed biblene , he bleeds dollars. If the prosperity gospel preachers are whom he calls “garbage” then he is no different because he prospered from the gospel.
Please post the available court link/links directly here.
There are MANY Christine Packs on FB.
For a very occasional FB user I could not find the post with the link.
For proper disclosure and verification of these serious matters, a temporal FB link is inadequate.
Please someone post the direct link..!
– Thank you.
Hi, Larry. I posted this about 25 minutes ago in replying to Margaret—the YouTube channel for Honest Youth Pastor has a link for court records from a drop down button beneath the red “Subscribe” button for his discussion titled “Three’s a Crowd—The Roy’s Report Part 2.” These court records are from one of David Gray’s appeals, not the actual criminal trial; and are the same records others have linked. The appeal records do summarize the criminal case and take a while to read through; but my understanding is that the criminal trial records can only be accessed by going to the actual courthouse and requesting the paper or electronic records to look at.
Thank you Anne. I found the link as you described.
– The appeal case number B184183 agrees with the appeals case number from a Master’s Survivor twitter post I found when I searched twitter for “David Gray”. The post listed: Criminal LA045233, Appeal B184183 and recent (unsuccessful) CA Supreme Appeal S148868.
– Substantial verification has now been personally achieved. Yuck. Exposing darkness indeed.
– Note to Julie: You could host first source material in well labelled “hazardous, evil zone” on your site for those who want to verify, acknowledging the poisonous, exposed darkness contained therein.
I hereby compliment you for your reasonable PG descriptions of the established, legal facts.
ONCE A CHILD MOLESTER ALWAYS A CHILD MOLESTER.
I think Mr. Macarthur needs help
Danielle Downing:
I am both aggrieved for you and encouraged by your words.
Firstly, Re; The covid debacle of John Macarthur, while lying about covid, JM got it himself. I am sure he got tip-top medical help on the QT to assist with that cover-up. …. he much later conceded. Then going to law with the high powered attorneys who succeeded on a slam-dunk, improper rendering recently found after that
elsewhere to oppose his own perspective to not go to the … than the bretheren.
I was personally sickened by his disregard to public health, stating the Health authorities were conspiring to end all churchs( and his collection plate, donations were down)
WHERE IS HIS HIS HEALTH DEPT. HEALTH TO END THE WORLDS CHUCHES NOW?
I am so relieved J.M. Inc. saved us from the, right?
HERE IS HIS HIS HEALTH DEPT. HEALTH TO END THE WORLDS CHUCHES NOW?
I am so relieved J.M. Inc. saved us from the, right?
I state that my beliefs are that of a Reformed Baptist. As does he, as I understand it. FURTHER, I had great confidence, belief and trust in JM until then. RED FLAG!
Being a fruit inspector and NOT an adjudicator, I looked further
I will stop to also interpose to say that I DO NOT BELIEVE IN POSTIONAL OFFICES OF CLERGY,,
ESPECIALLY “SO CALLED PASTORS” THE ONLY biblical authority is as the bible says. of the the APOSTLES and the church, that is the congregation, thru whom the Holy Spirit anoints ELDERS, IN HOUSE (lest how else whom they might be assesed, save otherwise an Apostle directed.?) Notwithstanding, Paul, appointed the CONGREGATIONS, to appoint ELDERS< FULL dolatry, well intentioned or otherwise.
I do state that my beliefs are that of a Reformed Baptist. As does JM, as I understand it. FURTHER, I had great confidence, belief and trust in JM until then. RED FLAG
Being a fruit inspector and NOT an adjudicator, I looked further
I will stop to also interpose to say that I DO NOT BELIEVE IN POSTIONAL OFFICES OF CLERGY,,
ESPECIALLY “SO CALLED PASTORS” THE ONLY biblical authority is the APOSTLES and the church, that is the congregation, thru whom the Holy Spirit anoints ELDERS, IN HOUSE (lest how else whom they might be assesed, save otherwise an Apostle directed.?) Notwithstanding, Paul, appointed the CONGREGATIONS, to appoint ELDERS< FULL STOP!
Away with this scourge of popes like J Macarthur and his ilk back to the second generation of Christ's starting church.
Upon remembering a little detail that someone slipped to me while I was incarcerated, I was amazed to find out that David Gray was a child molester and was in prison. He happened to be my ex Science teacher when I was younger, and I was subsequently excommunicated from the church and expelled from the school on allegations of being a Satanist, due to the fact that another student and I had wrote and put together a very shocking history project that conveyed viewpoints that they could not stomach on Egyptology.
My brother allegedly was abused by someone else at this church, but I would let him break his silence when he chooses and will refrain from making any further mention of that.
Truthfully, that place (GCC) was always weird.
Satan loves American churches.
Just look up the 50 Christian Forums website to see how the 50 forums and how their members and seen how many are selfconfessed atheists, pagans, witches etc.
American mega pastors do a lot of preaching but not much Bible Truth.
I have had a terrible time for years finding a church and even a pastor who preaches and protects the word. I had just started listening to Dr. MacArthur’s sermons which are packed with information and I was gleaning from them. I am now very sorry and shocked to hear about all Eileen and her children have gone through. Dr. MacArthur-please apologize and make this right. It doesn’t make you less of a man or pastor. Jesus would. We need you…without anything in the way. We are starving to hear truth. I would think it would make you feel better, too. We all make mistakes. Yes, this was a big one, but do this for Eileen, the children, for the sake of the remainder of your ministry, and all who need to hear God’s truths. 3500 sermons? Thank you for your years of service and faithfulness to God. Support Eileen and her children, and all the those who, like me and my children, suffered abuse, as well. Your silence is confusing, and a stumbling block. I encourage you to distance yourself from David. Satan is using him against you. Sincerely.