MI Youth Pastor Led a ‘Double Life,’ Faces Up to Life in Prison for Alleged Sexual Misconduct Against Children

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Posted on 10/23/2024 3:13:08 PM PDT by Morgana

Zachary Joseph Radcliff (29) has been charged with nearly a dozen counts of criminal sexual misconduct. He served as the worship director and interim youth pastor at Oakwood Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and has since been fired from the church.

“This information has ripped our hearts apart,” a statement from the church said.

Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex abuse that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing. Former Youth Pastor Zachary Joseph Radcliff Faces Up to Life in Prison for Multiple Counts of Criminal Sexual Misconduct With Minors

Earlier this month, leadership at Oakwood Church learned of a “potential incident,” reported MLive. They suspended Zachary Radcliff of all responsibilities as worship director and interim youth pastor with pay while the church investigated internally.

Police began the investigation on Oct. 2, when they received information that Zachary had “solicited child sexually abusive material from a minor.” Multiple victims have been identified. When the police communicated this information to the church, Oakwood Church fired the pastor immediately.

Zachary’s father, Pastor Frank Radcliff, serves as the lead pastor at Oakwood Church and was “blindsided” by the news and criminal charges. He encouraged his son to turn himself in to the authorities.

Zachary has been charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of aggravated child sexually abusive activity, two counts of child sexually abusive activity, and six counts of using the internet to communicate with another to commit a crime.

Michigan State Police (MSP) First District posted that “the age(s) of the victims range between 12 – 17 years of age at the time of the crimes.”

The police also said that the “investigation shows the alleged offenses have been occurring as early as 2011,” when Zachary was 16 years old.

Zachary was involved in music ministry early in his life. He attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, from 2013-2017 and was involved in music and worship events on campus. Jerry Fallwell Jr., the school’s president at the time, praised Zachary’s performance of “I’ll Stand,” a song Zachary wrote, at the Conservative Political Action Conference on campus. Zachary had served in Oakwood Church’s music department for the past eight years and added the role of interim youth pastor in 2022.

“I have been as freaked out as everyone else has been,” said Frank. Frank mentioned that church members didn’t previously come forward with accusations against Zachary. “The unfortunate thing about somebody that is living a double life is that you are unaware,” said the father.

Zachary was arraigned on Sunday, Oct. 20, with a $3 million bond set.

“We are just truly heartbroken, and our concern is about the individuals that were hurt in this,” said Frank. “We are doing our level best.”

The police said, “Leadership of the Oakwood Church have been cooperative and transparent throughout the investigation.”

Zachary is expected to appear in court on Thursday, Oct. 31. Oakwood Church Notifies Congregation of ‘Disturbing News’ About Zachary Radcliff

The homepage of the church’s website displays a statement addressing the news of Zachary Radcliff’s investigation.

“We received some very disturbing news about our music and youth director, Zachary Radcliff who is also the son of our senior pastor, Frank Radcliff,” the statement said.

“The information that we received was shocking. We were told that Zachary had been soliciting inappropriate photos and possibly videos from teens,” the statement continued. “We have also heard other stories. This information has ripped our hearts apart.”

The statement went on to explain, chronologically, the investigation, when church staff was made aware, and when Zachary was terminated from his staff position at the church. “We are not aware of the full extent of his crimes, and we are doing everything we can to cooperate with the ongoing police investigation,” the church said.

The church explained its safety protocols, saying, “Every one of our staff members and individuals working with our children, teens, and adults go through background checks. We do our level best to make sure all are protected.”

Oakwood Church has made counseling available for youth and adults to process this situation. They also ask that any victims or anyone with specific information related to the investigation speak directly with the Michigan State Police.

“Like you, our hearts are broken,” the statement said near its end.

“We have a desire to serve our Master in this community, with the understanding that the church family should be one of the safest places we can be involved in,” the church said. “Part of that trust has been broken. Our commitment is to be completely transparent and do what we can to help with this investigation.”

In other sites I'm reading that this guy is not only a pastor but a country music singer.

1 posted on 10/23/2024 3:13:08 PM PDT by Morgana

To: Morgana

2 posted on 10/23/2024 3:14:49 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )

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