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Fla. Pastor, Church Members Face Life in Prison or the Death Penalty After Arrest for Sexual Abuse That Spans Over 30 Years

Lisa Stroud, Teschendorf’s step-daughter, said her step-father was a youth leader at one point. “He’s hurt a lot of people,” she said. First Coast News (FCN) reports that Teschendorf was arrested in 1985 for “Sexual Battery – victim mentally defective,” but that it is unclear how the case resolved. 

Former church member Paul Bennett also described an isolated, controlling environment. He said Dyal mentally and physically abused him, at one point with a belt. Said Bennett, “[Paul Dyal] grabbed me by my hair and threw me on the floor. Then he started beating me as well so I had like bruises all over my arms and legs.”

A resident of Jacksonville who has family members in Dyal’s church told First Coast News, “After the abuse that has been happening at this ‘church’ for years, it is time the victims are able to get the justice they deserve.” 

One of the survivors described the impact Dyal’s abuse had on her life: “You never feel clean, you never feel good enough, you never feel pretty after any of that, ever…If you can do that to a child and say you’re a pastor and a man of a God, you’re a monster.”

JSO believes there are more victims and witnesses who have yet to come forward: “We are asking that anyone who feels they have information regarding these incidents to please contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500 or JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.”

ChurchLeaders has reached out to The Jacksonville Assembly of the Body of Christ for comment and will update this article in the event of a reply.