Judge Rejects Bid to Dismiss Charges Against Former Christian Aid Ministries Worker

Case against Jeriah Mast, accused of abusing Haitian minors, will proceed.

A U.S. District Court in Ohio has rejected an attempt by former Christian Aid Ministries worker Jeriah Mast to dismiss federal charges accusing him of sexually abusing minors in Haiti.

Photo of Christian Aid Ministries sign by Tom E. Puskar (AP Photo via RNS) / Inset of Jeriah Mast

The ruling means the charges against Mast will proceed in federal court. The indictment accuses Mast of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with four Haitian minors during trips to Haiti with Christian Aid Ministries, an international Christian relief and development organization that provides humanitarian aid in poverty-stricken nations around the world.

In May 2026, Mast filed a motion to dismiss the indictment under the federal statute — 18 U.S. Code §2423 — claiming the statute doesn’t apply to him because the sexual acts at issue were “non-commercial” and that Congress exceeded its constitutional authority in criminalizing his acts.

Mast acknowledged in his motion that a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit precludes him from prevailing on his argument, but he said he wanted to preserve the matter for an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The district court followed the 6th Circuit’s precedent, finding that Congress has authority to implement the federal statute under the Necessary and Proper Clause to enforce treaties under Article I of the Constitution. The court denied Mast’s motion to dismiss and the case will proceed.

During a May 2019 interview with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio, Mast “admitted to law enforcement that he molested 30 or 31 boys in Haiti over a span of about 15 years.” The current federal indictment involves the abuse of those Haitian minors.

In 2019, Mast pleaded guilty to two counts of gross sexual imposition and was sentenced to nine years in prison. He was granted early release in October 2025 and was on probation when he was indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Christian Aid Ministries admitted in a 2019 letter that two of its managers had known about Mast’s sexual abuse of minors as early as 2013, after he admitted to sexual activity with boys under 18. They were later placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

The board of Christian Aid Ministries agreed to provide assistance to confirmed Haitian victims, including at least $420,000 in payments for housing, business startup funding, relocation costs, and vocational training.

In May 2020, Christian Aid Ministries announced it had reached a settlement in a civil case brought by Haitian sexual abuse victims.

In order to prevent such cases in the future, the ministry said it is working to improve its hiring process and supervision of staff.

“Current efforts are focused on more robust background checks and screening. [Christian Aid Ministries] is also strengthening current whistleblower and accountability programs. To accomplish these goals, [Christian Aid Ministries] will provide updated training to employees on how to take more effective action should they become aware of inappropriate behavior or abuse,” the ministry said.

According to its website, Christian Aid Ministries is still working in Haiti, providing supplies, medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and other medical supplies to various clinics throughout Haiti through its Medicines for Multitudes program.

In the MinistryWatch database, Christian Aid Ministries has an A Transparency Grade, and Financial Efficiency Rating of 5 out of 5, and a Donor Confidence Score of 96.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: MinistryWatch exists to help donors become more effective stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them. So, 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. Donors who are supporting these ministries need to know this information. Ministry leaders and others can learn lessons from these stories. Victims feel supported.  To read more about why and how we report these stories, read “Why MinistryWatch Reports On Sex Crimes.”

Another reason we report on sex crimes is to highlight for ministry and church leaders the importance of employing best practices for hiring and supervising employees in Christian environments.

Below is a list of best practices, curated from content on ministrywatch.com. These are adapted from discussions on Christian ministries, churches, and Christian educational institutions.

Clarifying Mission and Faith-Based Requirements

• Clearly define and document the organization’s religious mission to guide all hiring decisions, ensuring that faith alignment is central.
• Assess personnel needs based on what is required to fulfill the mission, recognizing that requirements may vary by role (e.g., teachers in a Christian school might need to model faith in curriculum delivery).
• Develop detailed job descriptions that explicitly link positions to the mission, including necessary faith commitments, conduct standards, and how they connect to the religious identity.
• Require candidates to affirm a statement of faith (e.g., a restatement of the Apostles’ Creed) to ensure they share the organization’s beliefs, as this is protected under federal laws like Title VII for religious nonprofits.
• Implement policies where employees assent to the mission, receive training on their role in it, are held accountable, and are treated consistently in evaluations or issues.

Avoiding Nepotism and Conflicts of Interest

• Create written anti-nepotism policies prohibiting direct reporting relationships between relatives (e.g., spouses or siblings) and limiting family members’ involvement in hiring, firing, or reviews.
• Establish boundaries to prevent conflicts, such as excluding relatives from decision-making roles in personnel matters.
• Promote transparency and open communication with staff and stakeholders about family hires to build trust and address potential issues.
• Adhere to any denominational guidelines, such as restrictions on family members serving on oversight boards or committees.
• Use resources like sample policies from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and seek professional advice to tailor policies.

Thorough Vetting and Background Checks

• Conduct comprehensive investigations into candidates’ past, especially regarding allegations of misconduct like abuse, using independent firms if needed for objectivity.
• Create confidential channels for reporting concerns or additional information during the hiring process.
• Make relevant assessment findings public (while protecting sensitive details) to demonstrate integrity.
• Include spousal interviews or family vetting to assess overall fit with organizational values, though this should be handled carefully to avoid legal risks.

Legal Compliance and Conduct Expectations

• Hire based on shared faith and mission alignment, as federal law (e.g., Title VII) allows Christian organizations to prioritize believers without discrimination claims.
• Enforce a code of conduct aligned with “Judeo-Christian” values (e.g., prohibiting gossip or certain personal behaviors), but ensure it complies with anti-discrimination laws and does not overreach into protected areas like pregnancy or religion.
• Train new hires on core values, such as working “as unto the Lord,” to integrate them into the ministry culture.
• Be aware of limits: Secular aspects of the organization cannot mandate specific religious practices, and at-will employment allows flexibility but must avoid violations of federal protections.

These practices emphasize stewardship, accountability, and protection against legal challenges, such as those from employment laws or state requirements.