A group of protesters demanding justice for Mica Miller say a member of Solid Rock Church assaulted them Sunday (June 30) by spraying them with a lawn sprinkler. As they have each Sunday since June 2, some vocal residents gathered outside the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, church before worship in support of Miller, who died April 27.
Mica Miller, 30, was the wife of Solid Rock Pastor John-Paul Miller, who has denied any role in her death and has threatened to sue over “false accusations.” Solid Rock Church reportedly relieved John-Paul Miller of “ministerial functions” but has not said he’s been fired.
As ChurchLeaders has reported, local officials ruled Mica Miller’s death a suicide, but the FBI is now investigating. Her family and true-crime devotees allege that John-Paul Miller, 44, was abusive. The pastor has a criminal record, with multiple counts of aggravated assault and battery.
Church Member Appears To Aim Sprinkler at Protesters
In video posted to social media, a man who seemed to be connected to Solid Rock Church approached protesters who were standing on a sidewalk chanting Sunday. He picked up a hose with a sprinkler attachment and walked toward the group.
Water appeared to hit a few people, including a figure dressed in biblical garb. A woman who flinched after getting sprayed yelled back, “That’s assault!”
After the church member set the sprinkler back on the lawn, a police officer moved it away from the protesters. Police have not confirmed a report that several people filed assault charges as a result of the incident.
According to the Sun News, John-Paul Miller set out the sprinklers before worship on Sunday. Protesters weren’t deterred. Before getting sprayed with water, they had been shouting, “No people, no church!”
John-Paul Miller: Protesters ‘Make a Mockery of the Christian Faith’
In an email to the Sun News, John-Paul Miller expressed displeasure with the weekly contingent gathering outside the church. He wrote:
These people are not protesting. Solid Rock believes in the right to protest. These people are pagans who are trying to stop Christian’s [sic] from worshipping. They slander, they speak evil lies, they take pictures of children, and they wear masks while standing in front of parishioners who try to enter and leave the house of the Lord. These vicious pagans stand in the streets, use illegal blow horns, and laugh at the city police because the city is doing nothing to stop them from harassing Christians who simply want to worship together for one hour.
Miller added, “They make a mockery of the Christian faith having a man dressed up like Jesus walk around scaring innocent parishioners as they enter church.”
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