Morning Star Ministries founder Rick Joyner claimed Sunday that the ministry has ample evidence that former leader Chris Reed lied about having a physical relationship with a student in order to be promoted to leadership, when that should have disqualified him.
“I don't believe in going into the details, you know what I'm saying? I'm not going to get into that. I don't want to get into that. I don't want to smear people, but … I feel like there are things that have been done that disqualify Chris from being a leader in this ministry,” Joyner said. address To Morning Star Fellowship Church. “We've been deceived.”
Reed, who had worked at the church since 2021, suddenly stepped down as CEO and president of Morning Star Ministries last week, saying he would focus more on the “prophecy, pastoring, teaching, preaching and writing” that God had called him to do.
According to Christian PostHe also mentioned the 2023 arrest of a former church volunteer and police officer. Ericson Douglas LeeReed is accused of sexually abusing multiple underage boys in his youth group at Morning Star Fellowship Church, and has admitted that he and his wife, Missy, “experienced the evils of sexual abuse” as children.
“I did not want to lead a ministry that was handling the case against four victims who were abused as children by a former volunteer who was also a police officer. This happened before I came to Morning Star. [defend the lawsuit] “Because I know the family,” Reed said. Video Statement He spoke about it on YouTube last Thursday alongside his wife, saying: “I know the victims. Many of them are people we know. I made a painful, very painful choice, but I didn't care.”
Lee, 25, turned himself in to detectives on May 2, 2023, and was charged with distribution of obscene materials to a person under the age of 18, first-degree assault and battery, and second- and third-degree misdemeanor criminal sexual conduct, according to the release. release From the York County, South Carolina Sheriff's Office.
In his speech on Sunday, Joyner called Reid a dishonest, self-centered liar and unfit to lead.
“What surprised me even more was this [resignation] “There was very little consideration for the church, very little consideration for the pastorate, very little consideration for the many people in that letter. It was all about himself and his future and what he needed to do,” Joyner said.
“I wish him the best possible future, but I didn't feel he showed the heart of a shepherd. A shepherd gives his life for the sheep and cares about them. I didn't feel like I was being cared for, the board or anything else. We entrusted so much to him. I don't think anyone should be made to leave like that without notice,” he added.
Joyner said Reed returned to his chaplaincy after it emerged he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a former student before being promoted to leader and CEO of Morning Star more than a year ago.
Reed and the student assured Joyner that their relationship was based solely on text messages, but it was later revealed that they had been physically involved. Lloyd's Report They alleged that he sexually pursued, kissed and sent “horrible” sexual messages to the woman while he was senior pastor of Morning Star Fellowship Church in 2021. But at the same time, he denied the allegations of sexual contact.
“We had no choice but to take them at their word that they separated it, drew a line and nothing physical happened. But I can say with confidence now that that's not true. Neither of them told us the truth at the time. The evidence that something physical happened is abundant and continues to grow,” Joyner said at the church on Sunday.
“It may not have been intercourse. It may not have been sex as one of our former presidents defined it as, 'I didn't have sex with this woman.' I would say he had intercourse… that's me. I would say it was sex… but I'm just saying read between the lines,” Joyner explained.
“The evidence is mounting. I don't know where it will lead, but we're not going to cover up anything. We were lied to, and if I knew what I know now, I would never have turned this ministry over to them,” Joyner added.
WATCH: Rick Joyner discusses Chris Reed's departure and shares hopeful perspective
Photo credit: ©YouTube/Rick Joyner Official
