Wes Campbell, the owner and manager of the Christian band the Newsboys, continues to grapple with scandal. Newsboys is dealing with sexual assault allegations against former lead singer Michael Tait. That news, which The Roys Report broke on June 4, led to Newsboys being dropped by its label and to the band’s music being pulled from Christian radio stations.
Campbell’s brother Steve Campbell, the Newsboys’ tour manager, has denied accusations of covering up sexual abuse. The band’s management has distanced itself from Steve Campbell, according to correspondence sent to reporter Jessica Morris.
RELATED: Former DC Talk, Newsboys Member Michael Tait Accused of Pattern of Sexual Misconduct
Now The Roys Report revealed that Tennessee Pastor Randall Schrum filed a $5.4 million civil lawsuit on June 3 against Wes Campbell, Campbell’s parents (Colin and Nancy Campbell), and two of Campbell’s siblings (Rocky Campbell and Evangeline Johnson).
Randall Schrum Sues Members of Campbell Family
In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Hickman County, Schrum accused the Campbells of defamation, conspiracy, infliction of emotional distress, and obstruction of justice. Schrum is a former elder at Hilltop Fellowship House of Prayer, a church founded in 2021 by Colin and Nancy Campbell in Primm Springs, Tennessee. Nancy Campbell, a pioneer of the Quiverfull movement, operates the ministry Above Rubies.
Schrum alleged that the Campbells and multiple other defendants falsely accused him of trying to steal Hilltop Fellowship and Above Rubies, defaming him in the process. Schrum is seeking nine jury trials (one per count), $1.8 million in compensatory damages, and $3.6 million in punitive damages.
Schrum, who now leads Refuge Ridge Fellowship in Primm Springs, claimed he made “substantial” contributions to Hilltop Fellowship, including donating as much as half of his income to aid the church and its members. These contributions reportedly included $35,000 toward Colin and Nancy Campbell’s property and $3,500 toward marital counseling for Evangeline Johnson, their daughter.
In the legal filing, Schrum claimed that in early 2024, Hilltop Fellowship leaders investigated “improper conduct” by Johnson. Because she had reportedly stopped attending worship, elders attempted a restoration process. According to Schrum, Colin Campbell refused to practice his usual church discipline against Johnson, his daughter.
The lawsuit states:
Colin opposed the actions and conclusions of the Hilltop Leadership, not because they were false or inconsistent with the beliefs and practices of Hilltop Fellowship—indeed Colin had agreed with similar responses to similarly errant behavior in the past—but because they involved his daughter, [Evangeline].
In response to Colin’s opposition—which was both hypocritical and constituted a dereliction of his duties as the pastor of Hilltop Fellowship—the Hilltop Leadership issued a confidential report that outlined (1) [Evangeline’s] conduct; (2) the efforts of Hilltop Leadership to address the same; and (3) the negative consequences, including under biblical scripture, that the Hilltop Leadership believed would befall Hilltop Fellowship if Colin refused to address his daughter’s conduct and continued to treat her differently than every other single member of Hilltop Fellowship.
Rather than spur Colin Campbell to action, Schrum stated, that confidential report resulted in the Campbells and their supporters allegedly conspiring “to harass, attack and defame” Schrum.
, and two of Campbell's siblings (Rocky Campbell and Evangeline Johnson).){kind=link}