Faith Life Church, a megachurch in New Albany, Ohio, faces mounting scrutiny as a current abuse scandal prompts questions about past allegations to resurface. A recent string of sexual abuse allegations has an earlier financial investigation, and widespread criticism over its use of employee nondisclosure agreements (NDAs).
Gary and Drenda Keesee / Video screenshot
Sexual abuse allegations
The Licking County Sheriff’s Office launched a criminal investigation in February 2025 after multiple women, including the daughter of church founders Gary and Drenda Keesee, accused former Chief Media Officer Tom Keesee—a son of the church founders— and another former youth leader of sexually abusing them.
Some of the women—estimated to total at least 11—claim they were minors at the time of the abuse.
Pastor Tim Keesee, brother of the accused, publicly condemned sexual abuse on Facebook. He affirmed the church’s commitment to cooperating with law enforcement and acknowledged the emotional toll the allegations have taken on his family. “Words do not describe how broken we are as a family and as a brother for my baby sister Kirsten (shared with permission),” he said. “All their stories must come out.”
He said his family is committed to supporting efforts to uncover the truth, explaining that previous silence was due to procedural constraints rather than indifference.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, co-pastor Gary Keesee defended the church during a February service, saying he was unaware of any current staff member being implicated in the abuse. He reaffirmed the church’s mission, describing it as a family- and child-centered community created as an alternative to “a perverse and woke school system.”
The allegations have circulated extensively on social media, with one YouTube video garnering over 113,000 views in the two months it’s been posted. The accused, Tom Keesee, stepped down as chief media officer in August 2024.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that one of the women initially sought help from the Knox County Sheriff’s office but was told that Sheriff Daniel Weckesser would not investigate due to a conflict of interest. The conflict is related to Faith Life’s co-pastor, Drenda Keesee, who recently began her first term as a Knox County commissioner.
The Dispatch reported that the Sheriff’s Office referred the woman to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office instead. Yost’s office then said that he, too, had a conflict, being friends with Keesee, and would not take the case.
The response kick-started a petition drive to pressure Yost, who is running for governor in 2026. A Change.org petition with more than 2,500 signatures pressured Yost to explain his recusal publicly.
Yost publicly addressed the outcry by commenting on the petition acknowledging a friendship with Dendra Keesee.
“The suspect’s parents are friends and have been to my home for dinner. My relationship with them meant that we could not credibly perform the investigation,” Yost said.
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Yost said he informed Sheriff Weckesser that the Bureau of Criminal Investigations would not handle the case and suggested involving another sheriff’s office, offering assistance in finding one. He said his involvement could compromise the investigation’s credibility, as critics might question his impartiality due to his personal ties, while defense attorneys could argue he was acting out of political motivation.
Sheriff Weckesser referred the case to Licking County, and they accepted the work.
Faith Life Church has publicly acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations. In a statement given to The Columbus Dispatch by their attorney, Katie Taber, the church expressed compassion for those affected and affirmed its willingness to cooperate with authorities.
Financial investigation
The criminal investigation has resurfaced questions about the church’s financial governance. In 2022, a whistleblower prompted an inquiry by Yost’s office into the church’s leadership and financial transparency, particularly regarding its “Journey Campaign.” Some critics and former church members have said the church is overly focused on framing donations as “sewing seeds” in exchange for rewards and healing.
The Columbus Dispatch also reported that Gary and Drenda Keesee “operate several businesses, have book deals, appear on religious television programs and own a private plane.”
Though the state found no legal violations, the state deemed the consolidation of power and lack of transparency “fertile soil…for mistrust.” Recommendations included adding independent board members, enhancing financial reporting from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and seeking third-party oversight.
Taber told The Columbus Dispatch they have implemented several changes and added that the church board comprises a “well-rounded group of professionals who bring both expertise in their respective fields and a strong faith-based understanding of scripture and the Kingdom principles taught and practiced by the church.” She would not give specifics.
She also said Faith Life “engages an independent accounting firm and conducts annual audits,” as it has done for “many years, to ensure that the church is operating at the highest level of financial integrity” and “remains committed to ongoing improvement and best practices.”
“Faith Life Church takes stewardship seriously and will continue working diligently to manage its resources with wisdom and integrity,” she said.
Church use of nondisclosure agreements
Adding to the controversy, former employees have criticized the church’s use of NDAs, claiming the church required staff to sign NDAs for continued employment. Some claim Faith Life Church used these documents to suppress concerns and protect the church institution over victims.
Heidi Runion, a former administrative assistant and long-time church member, said she signed an NDA under financial pressure but was later fired for undisclosed reasons. Another staffer, Connie McVay, said her name was included without consent on her husband’s NDA after losing his church controller job.
Faith Life maintains that its NDAs are standard and do not prevent employees from reporting misconduct. “Our agreements safeguard confidential and proprietary information,” said church attorney Katari Buck, noting the documents do not restrict whistleblowing or reporting abuse.
A MinistryWatch survey found that nearly half of large Christian ministries in the United States use NDAs, while critics argue churches should prioritize openness and protection for victims. When addressing NDAs, the National Association of Evangelicals refers to its ethics code. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) told MinistryWatch that its standards don’t explicitly reference NDAs, the organization “discourages the improper use” of them. A past survey found that 93% of churches, missions, and universities believe NDAs should be waived when a leader faces credible abuse allegations.
Faith Life Church insists it remains committed to “transparency, accountability, and fostering an environment where employees feel empowered to voice their concerns.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Why does MinistryWatch report on sex crimes? These stories are tough to read and sometimes even tougher to report, but we think they are vital to our mission to bring transparency, accountability, and credibility to the evangelical church. To read more about why and how we report these stories, read “Why MinistryWatch Reports On Sex Crimes.” You can find that story here.
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