On This Date in MinistryWatch

Wesley Biblical Seminary grows, Charles Stanley dies, Agape Flights attacked in Haiti, Tates Creek Presbyterian investigations Chris Rice, Tony Spell arrested for assault

ONE YEAR AGO: On April 19, 2024, MinistryWatch reported about Wesley Biblical Seminary in Ridgeland, Mississippi, a seminary that is defying expectations by growing enrollment in an age of shrinking theological schools. Read more here.

TWO YEARS AGO: On April 18, 2023, MinistryWatch reported that Charles Stanley, the pastor at Atlanta megachurch First Baptist for 51 years and longtime leader of the Southern Baptist Convention, died at the age of 90. His life motto was “Obey God and leave all the consequences to him.” In Touch Ministries launched a free online Christian educational platform in his memory. Read more here.

THREE YEARS AGO:  On April 20, 2022, MinistryWatch reported that a plane operating in Haiti by Agape Flights was burned by what were believed to be anti-government gangs, leaving many towns and villages without access to vital supplies. Read more here.

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FOUR YEARS AGO:  On April 21, 2021, MinistryWatch reported that Tates Creek Presbyterian Church (TCPC) in Lexington, Kentucky, launched a survey to collect information for GRACE as part of its investigation into allegations of sexual abuse/misconduct made against musician and artist Chris Rice during his participation in TCPC events. As MinistryWatch reported in October 2020, TCPC hired GRACE to investigate allegations of sexual abuse by Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter Chris Rice after a former student told Senior Pastor Robert Cunningham that “Mr. Rice has sexually assaulted him on multiple occasions.” The investigation eventually found the evidence that Rice engaged in grooming and sexual abuse to be “credible.” Read more here.

FIVE YEARS AGO: On April 23, 2020, MinistryWatch reported that Louisiana authorities arrested pastor Tony Spell on an assault charge after he admitted he drove his church bus toward a man who has been protesting his decision to continue holding mass gatherings at church in defiance of public health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials said Spell also had outstanding traffic tickets. Read more here. 

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