Rick Joyner says ‘deceitful spirit’ at play in Reed’s resignation

By Leonardo BlairSenior reporter Thursday, August 29, 2024

Days after MorningStar Ministries leader Chris Reed abruptly resigned citing, among other things, the sexual abuse of minors by a former volunteer and police officer, the organization’s founder Rick Joyner blamed the departure on “the most deceitful spirit” he had ever met. , suggesting that Reed “is in a fight for his future.”

In an extended statement shared on X, Joyner revealed that the family of one of the four teenagers sexually abused by the former volunteer has filed a lawsuit against the South Carolina organization. He says they are making “many outrageous things about the ministry that are not true” and the organization is defending itself in court because “we are confident we can prove our innocence.”

Joyner’s post It has apparently since been removed, but screenshots have been shared on social media, charismatic news sites and discerning blogs.

Get the latest news for FREE

Subscribe to receive daily/weekly emails of the best articles (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

In a letter to MorningStar staff shared at X, Reed announced his resignation effective Monday and explained that it is up to Joyner to lead the ministry to focus more on what God has called him to do, which is to “prophesy , to shepherd, to teach, to preach. and write.”

Reed pointed to the 2023 arrest of former church volunteer and police officer Erickson Douglas Lee, who is accused of sexually abusing several minors connected to a MorningStar Fellowship Church youth group. He then revealed that both he and his wife, Missy, “dealt with the evils of sexual abuse” as children.

Joyner noted in his statement that he wanted to “clear some things up,” suggesting that Reed’s resignation may not have been the right move and may have seemed bizarre to his followers.

“This resignation may seem bazaar (sic) and confusing to those who have followed, and I hope this clears some things up. First, I want to thank everyone who has communicated your prayers and support for Chris and us.” he began.

“This is a serious situation and I have seen this type of thing many times over the 50+ years I have been in ministry and have seen it rob some with very powerful gifts of years of effective ministry. One was on me because this deception came upon me and cost me more than ten years of ministry, I saw it cost Bob Jones eight years and I believe it cost Paul Cain his most deceptive purpose that I have ever dealt with, and right now I think Chris Reed is in a fight for his future,” Joyner said.

“Later I will elaborate on this, for I have seen many Christians led astray from their purpose by this, at incalculable cost to the body of Christ. However, I have seen some wake up, restored even when they lost many years of effective ministry, the Lord avenges them,” he added. “That’s why I never give up on anyone, no matter how far they seem to go. Many of the great voices in Scripture and history also experience this. Not all recovered, but those who did were used in an even greater way. .”

Joyner did not immediately respond when asked Thursday by The Christian Post to explain more about this “deceiving spirit” and how he saw it at work in both Reed’s life and his own.

“Chris has an important call this time, and I feel at least partially responsible, taking it the way I do, because I don’t see it coming to him. I could have done better (helping him) endure. Even so, whether in the short or long term, I’m confident that Chris will overcome this and take his place by doing what he’s called to do,” he said. said Joyner. “That doesn’t mean that leaving MorningStar will cost people their purpose. Many come to MorningStar for a period of time to get what they need from us, then they have to leave to continue their purpose.”

A statement from the York County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina said they arrested Lee after turning himself into detectives on May 2, 2023. He was charged with disseminating obscene material to a person under 18, first degree assault and battery and criminal mischief. second and third degree minor sexual conduct.

Warrants for Lee’s arrest cited by WSOC-TV said that between December 2020 and June 2022, Lee had committed a sexual act with a victim under the age of 16 up to 30 times over a 1.5-year period.

Investigators allege that on or about July 22, 2022, Lee, who served as a youth leader for a 17-year-old victim, injured him by “non-consensual touching” while the victim was intoxicated at his home. Lee also allegedly played a pornographic video for the teenager.

Warrants show Lee did the same to at least three other victims who were under the age of 18 at his home from August 2021 to January 2023.

Reed took over the ministry more than a year ago, but worked with MorningStar Ministries for three years before stepping down on Monday.

While he did not reveal the specifics of the allegations against MorningStar Ministries, Joyner insists they were not negligent in their handling of the volunteer, but the family of one of the victims disagrees.

“Overall, we felt that the victims and their families handled this with remarkable grace, but one decided to sue us. They have claimed many outrageous things about the ministry that are not true. None of MorningStar’s leaders have been accused of anything or implicated in any way. No negligence on our part was found. The police officer charged drinking and pornography, but as far as we know, none of that happened at a MorningStar event. he said.

Joyner also noted that the ministry brought in a professional agency to review how they handled the situation, and the agency found no negligence on their part.

“Of course, the lawsuit filed claims otherwise and accuses the ministry of some very outrageous things that are not true. Because these allegations are so outrageous, we do not intend to settle them, but we want to go to court where we are confident that we can prove our innocence.” , Joyner said.

“We are saddened by what has happened to these young people and the hurt it has caused to everyone affected by it. Even though it may have been innocent negligence (sic) in this, we have offered to handle any counseling or ministry he needs. these families because we want to help any of God’s people that He has placed in our care to heal from any spiritual or emotional wounds and turn what the devil meant for evil…into good as he is so good God willing,” he added. “In this day and age, this kind of thing is becoming much more common and we’re looking to use it as much as we can to help any victim.”