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Pastor Confesses Adultery During Sunday Worship Service; Survivor Unexpectedly Takes the Stage Describing It As Sexual Abuse

The congregation was audibly and visibly angry. Cries could be heard on the video. Church members could be heard yelling at Lowe, “If you did it, you need to admit it.”

“Yes, we did it,” Lowe said. “I can’t make it any better. That’s just the way it is.”

The pastor sought to discredit some of Bobi Gephart’s testimony, saying that not everything she said was true, “but that did happen…all I can do is ask you to forgive me.”

Following Lowe’s words, some of the congregants told their pastor they loved him, hugged him, and surrounded him as they prayed for him.

New Life Christian Church Releases a Statement

On Monday, New Life Christian Church and World Outreach released a statement about the incident that took place a day earlier.

“This long-held secret first came to light when a woman in the church came forward and disclosed the relationship to various people within the church,” the statement read. “When confronted by others in church leadership concerning that report, Pastor Lowe confessed privately that the adultery did, in fact, occur. The woman in question and her family did attend together and addressed the congregation, indicating that improper sexual conduct first occurred when she was 16 years of age and continued into her twenties. She tearfully described living with deep shame and pain over the ensuing years.”

Sharing that they are hurting and broken for Bobi Gephart, who has attended the church for many years along with her husband and family, the church said they are committed to helping “her through a process of healing.”

The church explained that they are also devoted to church members during this difficult season and hope they will experience “abundant grace, unity healing—all for the glory of God, and the preservation of His church.”

“Our brokenness extends to Pastor John B. Lowe II, his wife and family as well,” church leadership said. “For 42 years, New Life has taught and preached a Cross-driven message of repentance, forgiveness and restoration; a ministry of reconciliation which has been both led and modeled by Pastors John and Debbie Lowe. As healing occurs in their hearts, their marriage and family, we are committed to demonstrating the same support, encouragement, counsel and forgiveness that has come to define the collective heart and ministry of this body.”

Leadership said that none of the staff, ministers, or New Life personnel had any knowledge of the sexual abuse allegations prior to the events of Sunday.

“As with the church in general and the public at large, we too are responding to this without anticipation; praying and striving only to see that the Lord’s good, perfect and eternal plans will ultimately and visibly prevail,” the church said. “Life is messy. Believers are messy. Church is messy. God is not.”

According to WANE-TV, the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the alleged abuse.

Correction: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Bobi Gephart’s name.