Does Julie Roys hate the church? If not, why does the founder of The Roys Report air its dirty laundry?
Journalist Roys gets asked these sorts of loaded questions—or is accused outright—almost daily. And perhaps that makes sense.
Many don’t understand Christian investigative journalism and are protective of institutions or leaders they love. They see the negative press and often assume bad motives.
But calling out sinning leaders is not The Roys Report’s idea; it’s God’s. And in this talk from Restore 2025, Roys explains the biblical basis for the work we do, drawing from both the Old and New Testaments.
In fact, holding leaders and ministry boards accountable, and exposing them when they’re not, has a firm biblical basis. So does the work of journalism, seeking out witnesses and chronicling their words with context.
Roys also suggests why a holy God would want those who represent him to be holy. And she explains why He would judge those who fail to uphold his standards.
If you’ve ever wondered why we do what we do at TRR or why accountability is so crucial, you’ll find this talk extremely helpful and informative.
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Julie Roys
Julie Roys is a veteran investigative reporter and founder of The Roys Report and The Restore Conference. Julie previously hosted a national talk show on the Moody Radio Network, called Up for Debate. She also has worked as a TV reporter for a CBS affiliate in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and as a newswriter for WGN-TV and Fox 32 in Chicago. Julie’s articles have appeared in Christianity Today, Religion News Service, WORLD Magazine, and The Christian Post. She and her husband, Neal, live in the Chicago area and have three children and multiple grandchildren.
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21 Responses
Think of how many of us have been deceived by these “ministries!” These so-called ministries have bought, for themselves, multi million dollar homes, properties galore, jets, massive vacations, etc., ALL with donors money!! Keep reporting, keep investigating! Anyone who is offended must have something to hide! People have been SILENT too long! God bless you
You have answered so many questions I had concerning your ministry.
Thank you for what you are doing and I well become a regular supporter.
I was enthralled listening to this podcast.
Thank you
This was so powerful live, in Phoenix.
It’s even better in replay.
Thanks, Julie, for persevering. You’re quite a reasonable preacher, too! :-)
I think I like, “He will humiliate us, before He allows us to humiliate Him.”
Great reporting, thank you for your bravery and willingness to stand up for God’s Glory. Jewels Tangira
Your Restore message was awesome Julie. Thank you for speaking truth to the church! Thank you for standing for righteousness and calling out sin.
There is no doubt God is cleaning house. Otherwise, how can his Bridegroom return for His Bride, without spot or wrinkle!
You are in my prayers. Keep speaking TRUTH and calling out SIN wherever it is found. “Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
This is truly an eye opener! I love how she has bible scriptures to back her up , I’ve been up front with a pastor about something’s because I felt God urging me to ,it was about sin in the church , I was brushed off …sad but true, who allows someone that had an affair with a former pastor to teach children and make her a victim ! She was willing !! now there’s absolutely no holding me back !
Thank you, Julie! So well said. I appreciate your courage and boldness, tempered with wisdom SO much!
May God continue to strengthen, protect and bless you!
Jesus said “many are called and few are chosen”. Seeing that there are many distractions and weaknesses we have in our lives naturally as Christians, we don’t need the help of shady and deceptive ministers, preachers, and teachers that can lead Christians astray. Christianity is so watered down now and it has alot to do with leadership. If someone is up to no good, I want to know it and I think most people do. Many people are in ministry that have no business being there and that needs to be uncovered as well. I often wonder how many preachers are really saved. They can love God for a time, then fall away. Then they’re worthless and need to get a real job.
If not for you, Julie, alot of these problems in the church would probably not be uncovered and would go on to weaken and contaminate the church. I think God wants us to know. Good job! I know it stinks sometimes being the tip of the sword.
Excellent, excellent! You are so right on about airing the church’s dirty laundry! You gave a very balanced explanation of your work and why you are in the fight for the church and for God. You have a strong backbone to do what you are doing, and you are a blessing, not a curse!! Shalom!
Why shine a light on darkness?
Because.
Jesus!
Men are abusing women and children while “leading” in His name.
Men are seeking their own kingdoms and building bigger barns to store up earthly treasures in His name.
Men are using the Bride of Christ to feed and further their own earthly ambition in His name.
What they sow, they will be reaping.
Their destruction isn’t sleeping!
Powerful! So well said! Thank You!
Julie- Thank you so much for the Restore message! You did an amazing job explaining everything in such an easy to understand way. You obviously are blessed to share and help us in such a time as this!! I really appreciate your willingness to give of your time, and expertise with everything that is going on with these powerful ministries. Thank you for helping me realize I have been exalting pastors, instead of our loving and merciful God! Jean
I’m going to expose two people who grossly mishandled me in 2001, while I was employed at Marilyn Hickey Ministries in Denver, Colorado: Gina Hilbrich and Stephen Kiser. I recently learned by YouTube that Stephen still works there in 2025.
There, I did it. I said their names.
The day before they fired me as a duo, Marilyn Hickey came to my desk for the first time in six years, and my desk alone, and said, “I just want you to know that I love you and I’m so glad you’re here.”
She then released her staff to have their way with me, and it was ugly.
I forgave Marilyn first, then a year later I forgave Stephen; but Gina could not be forgiven. She needed to pay for what she did. God needed to strike her down but keep her alive, make her know how bad she was, and I wanted God to inform me of how He did it. But He didn’t cooperate.
Three years passed before I could let it go. Nothing external could change how long it took: it was me, God and Gina.
However, God‘s word told me to forgive her, vengeance is His, so I genuinely forgave her.
Now, what is that to you? Why are you in my business? Why do you need to know details of what they did in 2001?
They didn’t commit a crime, and if they did, that would be for the courts.
Other than that, what I just did was to shame them so perhaps they may learn they were bad. But that’s not God’s will.
Did Christ call us to shame or take revenge? Are we Jews in the story of Esther?
Thank You Julie! Thank you for being a Clarion Call🎺 for the Kingdom of God. I pray for your continued strength, perseverance, wisdom, passion and love for the body of Christ. Thank you for being a strong voice and giving a voice to the victims. YAH be praised always.
Sister Julie you have been called to a challenging mission indeed but I know even as I am listening to the words coming from your mouth, I can feel they are coming from your heart💕🎺💕 and the heart of Adonai. Thank you Adonai for your daughter. Yeshua be praised always.
Thanks Julie, what you are doing is very important. The Bible says that judgement begins with the house of God. This is just the beginning of this cleansing work of God. True prophets, as with your example of Jeremiah, are concerned for the holiness of God and his people, his church. The Church has a PR problem not because of what you are doing but because of those who are serving hypocritically and the sooner they are called out and dealt with the better.
Julie-
Have you ever collected data from the church congregations which have been dissolved in part by your input in order to determine how many of those people never came back to their former church, and never finding another one?
Having attended HBC, I know over 20 such past-Christians.
Sad. Several of them were seekers.
btw- You look nothing like your photo.
I don’t have the resources or training to conduct the kid of study you’re suggesting. But you seem to be suggesting that I’m somehow responsible for the scandal at Harvest Bible Chapel (HBC). In this case, you are talking about a pastor, James MacDonald, who mercilessly bullied his staff–so much so, many decades afterwards are still in counseling. And, after I exposed his wickedness, he physically assaulted a 59-year-old woman in California, breaking her femur so she had to have surgery, spend 3 weeks in the hospital, and will never walk normally again. Would you prefer this man’s evil remain buried so he could continue to parade as a man of God while actually serving Satan?
As for my photo, it was taken 7 or 8 years ago. I probably should get a new one but just haven’t gotten around to it.
Speaking of James MacDonald, I wonder what is the latest on his criminal (and potential civil) trial for this aggravated assault of that poor woman.
He claimed his PTSD caused the assault that left the woman with a broken femur and received a mental health diversion by a California judge. If James completes treatment, the assault will be expunged from his record. It’s a complete travesty of justice.
I suppose one could hope that if MacDonald does this again, the intended victim will exercise their 2A rights in self-defense and put him down like a rabid canine
I appreciate what you’re doing I don’t like the sin. It’s like what I told my friend in Texas it’s like debridement of a wound – you can’t get healthy until we get this sick out. When I heard Landon at his Church in Fort Worth, Texas, had a meeting explaining to the church God told him to forgive the bookkeeper who lost all that money, and not to follow what the attorneys said and press charges. Of course he turned off the cameras at that point. Makes you wonder was he part of it? Was that why he let it go? it wasn’t just his money that was stolen it was the people’s money.