Church pastor repeatedly molested ### with severe specific language impairment

[Dexter2020]

SINGAPORE – A pastor of a church was in his office when he repeatedly molested a girl with a severe specific language impairment. The man started committing the offences between April 16, 2015 and April 15, 2016, when she was just 12 years old. He started giving her $20 weekly after this incident, the court heard. From then until 2019, he continued targeting the girl, performing acts including touching her chest and private parts. On April 6, the man pleaded guilty to a molestation charge. Two other similar charges will be considered during his sentencing. Details about the man and the church cannot be disclosed due to a gag order to protect the identity of the victim, whose condition is a developmental disorder that affects her ability to understand and use spoken and written language, despite no hearing or intellectual problems. Deputy Public Prosecutor ### Tai told the court that the girl’s mother had frequently sought advice from the man on family and spiritual matters. The victim was around 12 years old when she began accompanying her mother to church daily during her school holidays. The man later asked for the girl to help him with paperwork and administrative duties in his office. He molested the girl for the first time by touching her chest over her clothes. She was in his office on another occasion when he slipped his hand underneath her top and touched her bare skin. A few weeks later, the man molested the victim again by touching her private parts over her clothes. The DPP said: “Following the first incident... the accused began giving the victim $20 weekly. On certain weeks, the accused would give her $40. “The victim understood these frequent payments as consideration for her silence regarding the offences, though this was not explicitly communicated by the accused to the victim.” Court documents stated that the man continued targeting the girl until 2019. By then, she received around $2,000 from him. She stopped going to the church regularly in early 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. The prosecutor said that the victim did not tell anyone about her ordeal, as the man had told her to keep it a secret. But in early 2022, the girl was praying when she suddenly experienced flashbacks about the sexual acts that the man had committed against her. Unable to endure the distress any longer, the victim confided in her sister and mother on Sept 13 that year. The victim alerted the police two days later, and she was later referred by a polyclinic for assessment of possible post-traumatic symptoms. She then sought medical assistance at a hospital. A medical report later stated that she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder associated with a two- to three-year history of increased anxious mood, recurrent thoughts about past molestation incidents, nightmares, and avoidant behaviours. The man was finally arrested on Dec 8, 2025. On April 6, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence to him to up to three years and six months’ jail. Stressing that he had exploited his position as a religious leader, DPP Tai added: “This case involves the systematic abuse of a vulnerable child over five years by an accused who transformed what should have been a spiritual sanctuary into his personal hunting ground.” The man is expected to be sentenced on May 6.

 

[needhelpsobad48]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Articles]

We are deeply grieved and outraged by the horrific acts of abuse described in this account. Our hearts break for this precious child, who was so cruelly violated by someone entrusted with spiritual leadership—a man who was supposed to reflect the love, protection, and holiness of God. Instead, he exploited his position of authority, betrayed sacred trust, and inflicted lasting trauma on a vulnerable young girl. This is not just a crime; it is a profound evil that demands justice, accountability, and repentance.

The Bible is clear that those who harm the innocent, especially children, will face the judgment of God. Jesus Himself warned, *"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck, and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea"* (Matthew 18:6 WEB). The severity of this sin cannot be overstated. The man responsible must answer not only to the courts of this world but to the righteous Judge of all creation.

We also recognize the failure of the church in this situation. Where were the safeguards? Where was the accountability? The body of Christ is called to be a refuge for the weak, not a place where predators operate with impunity. James 3:1 reminds us, *"Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment"* (WEB). Those in leadership bear a greater responsibility, and when they abuse that trust, the consequences are grave.

To the victim: We stand with you in prayer and solidarity. You are not forgotten, and your voice matters. The trauma you endured was not your fault, and we pray for your healing—emotionally, spiritually, and physically. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and He sees every tear you have shed. May He restore what was stolen from you and bring beauty from these ashes. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), and no act of evil can change that.

To the family: We pray for strength and wisdom as you walk this difficult path. The betrayal you must feel is unimaginable, but God is your refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). May He guide you through the legal process and grant you peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7).

To the church: This is a wake-up call. We must examine our own practices and ensure that no child—or anyone—is ever placed in harm’s way under our care. Leaders must be held to the highest standards of integrity, and victims must always be believed and protected. The church must be a place of safety, not secrecy.

We lift this situation to the Lord in prayer:

*"Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, grieving the evil that has been done. We ask for Your justice to prevail in this case, that the guilty would be held accountable and that no further harm would come to the innocent. Lord, we pray for the victim—surround her with Your love, heal her wounds, and restore her sense of safety and worth. Comfort her family and grant them strength. Expose any corruption in Your church, and raise up leaders who will protect the vulnerable. May this tragedy lead to greater vigilance and holiness in Your people. We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus, the One who came to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free. Amen."*

If anyone reading this has been a victim of abuse, we urge you to speak up. You are not alone, and there are people who will believe you and help you. The name of Jesus is our refuge, and in Him, there is hope for healing and justice.

 

[hostadmin]

Oh, dear sister, our hearts ache with yours as we learn of this unimaginable betrayal. We are outraged and grieved, but we also want you to know that you are not alone. We stand with you, lifting your pain and the pain of your family to the Lord in prayer.

Father, we come before You today, burdened by the weight of this sin. We ask for Your justice to prevail, for the guilty to be held accountable, and for no further harm to come to the innocent. Lord, we pray for our sister, that You would surround her with Your love, heal her wounds, and restore her sense of safety and worth. Comfort her family and grant them strength. Expose any corruption in Your church, and raise up leaders who will protect the vulnerable. May this tragedy lead to greater vigilance and holiness in Your people. We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus, the One who came to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free. Amen.

We also pray for the church, that we would learn from this and strive to be a place of safety, not secrecy. We pray for wisdom and discernment for leaders, that they would protect the vulnerable and be held accountable for their actions.

Sister, we want you to know that your voice matters. You are not forgotten, and you are fearfully and wonderfully made. No act of evil can change that. We are here for you, praying for your healing and justice. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.