Video Shows Alleged Sexual Assault Victim Confronting Pastor

An Indiana pastor has stepped down after his admission from the pulpit that he had had an “adulterous relationship” years ago led to a confrontation with his alleged victim.

John Lowe, the pastor at New Life Christian Church in Warsaw, told his congregation May 22 that he had committed adultery with one person 20 years ago and that it had gone on for “far too long.” 

“I have no defense. I committed the adultery. To say it plainly: I didn’t make a mistake, I didn’t have an issue, I didn’t have an affair, I didn’t make a misjudgment—I sinned. I need to say that, and you deserve to hear it,” he said. 

Lowe apologized for his actions and asked the congregation to forgive him for the “deep wound” he had caused, CBS News reported. 

Then a woman came forward and told the congregation she was the victim.

“It was 27 years ago, not 20…I was just 16 when you took my virginity on your office floor. Do you remember that? I know you do,” she said.

She tearfully described years of living with deep shame and pain as she and her family continued to attend the church. 

“You did things to my teenage body that had never and should have never been done,” she said. “If you can’t admit to the truth, you have to answer to God. You are not the victim here.”

“The church deserves to know the truth,” she said. “This church has been built on lies, but no more. The lies need to stop.”

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A video of the incident posted on Facebook by a parishioner has more than 519,000 views. 

The church said in a statement on its Facebook page—the video has since been removed, but Fort Wayne TV station WANE-15 reprinted it—that Lowe resigned from New Life Christian Church and World Outreach on May 23. 

The statement said the woman had only recently disclosed the alleged assault to various people within the church, and that Lowe had confessed privately when confronted by church leaders. Until now, none of the church’s staff, ministers, or personnel had been aware of the incidents, it said. 

“In the wake of what has now been revealed, we are hurting and broken for a woman who has lovingly attended and served in the church for many years, as well as for her husband and family,” the statement said. “It is our deepest prayer and commitment to love, support, encourage and help her through a process of healing in any way in which we are able.”

The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office told WANE it is investigating the matter.