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Lakeland Church Volunteer Accused Of Sex Abuse

Billy Townsend/THE TAMPA TRIBUNE

The Lakeland Police Department is conducting an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of middle school to high school aged students who attend The First Baptist Church at the Mall

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By BILLY TOWNSEND and JASON GEARY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 29, 2007

Video: Congregation Informed Sunday

LAKELAND - The Lakeland Police Department is investigating allegations of sexual abuse involving middle school and high school students who have attended First Baptist Church at the Mall.

A person who says they were a victim, now an adult, has spoken with police, said Lakeland police spokesman Jack Gillen.

Gillen refused to provide further details about the ongoing investigation. The church is cooperating fully with police, he said.

About a week and a half ago, someone talked with police about a volunteer with the church's student ministry.

The volunteer has been issued a criminal trespass warning, according to church officials.

'We asked the individual not to be here while the investigation is going on,' said Tim Parcheta, the church's executive director.

About 400 middle and high school students take part in the church's student ministry at any given time, Parcheta said.

Lakeland police publicly disclosed the investigation Sunday morning. The church's senior pastor, the Rev. Jay Dennis, told congregants about the investigation during Sunday services.

The Tribune was allowed to attend a 12:30 p.m. service for young adults on the condition that members of the congregation not be interviewed.

A video message, apparently filmed in Dennis' office, was shown near the end of the service on a large screen inside what was once a commercial movie theater.

The message offered few details, beyond confirming the abuse allegations were sexual in nature.

Investigators asked that church officials not disclose the names of those involved or other details of the investigation, Dennis said.

The pastor said the church would not tolerate any member trying to harm children. He described himself as 'saddened, angered and outraged' by the allegations.

Dennis said he'd often warned his congregation that Satan would try to attack and harm it. This time, he said, 'the attack of the enemy came from a person we thought was a friend.'

He urged anyone who knows anything about the allegations or who may be a victim to speak to police.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Lakeland police Sgt. Gary Gross at (863) 834-8980.

After Dennis' statement was played, Brett Durbin, who presided over the service, asked the congregation to pray with him:

'God, we come to you with a heavy heart,' he said. 'We ask that this community rally around all who are involved.'

More than 9,000 people attend the church, which is housed in a 32-acre complex at the old Lakeland mall property on Memorial Boulevard.

In 2005, the church hosted the investiture ceremony for Sheriff Grady Judd, who has been a member for several years.

'I'm very comfortable that whatever happened will be immediately addressed,' Judd said.

Like a lot of large churches, First Baptist relies heavily on volunteers, and anyone who works with children is screened, Judd said.

'I know the pastor has a plan in place,' the sheriff said. 'He's very proactive.'

Even with safeguards in place, though, children can still be at risk.

'Pedophiles' goal in life is to subvert the system and have unfiltered access to children,' Judd said. 'They don't have that tattooed on their foreheads for everyone to see.

'It can happen to any church.'

Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at (863) 284-1409 or wtownsend@tampatrib.com. Reporter Jason Geary can be reached at (813) 865-1505 or jgeary@tampatrib.com.

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