Prestonwood Baptist Church: perceived vs. actual threats

Lastly, he comments how he feels like Luke Skywalker circling the beast as he approaches the Death Star.

Sounds like an excerpt from a science fiction novel right? It's an actual statement from the Plano Police Department harassment complaint (embedded below) filed by Prestonwood Baptist Church executive pastor Mike Buster (see emails from Mike and Neal Jeffrey to me, embedded below) on longtime church member Chris Tynes. Prestonwood described Chris Tynes to the police as a "suspicious person" after he arrived in the church parking lot (see video) hoping to catch Mike Buster to ask Mike why he refused to meet with him regarding questions about the church's handling of  "past indiscretions by a former pastor."

Tynes had questions about the church's handling of child sex abuse allegations by former youth music minister John Langworthy who pleaded guilty in January 2013 in Jackson, Mississippi to child sex crimes there prior to his employment at Prestonwood.

Asking questions is the best place to start. Don't stop. Seek the truth. I was 20 and a youth staff intern at Prestonwood when Jack Graham fired Langworthy for sexually abusing boys, some of them my friends. I waited 22 years to speak up. I wish I had done so back then in 1989, though I was not powerful, wealthy, or an executive staff member...or an owner of a professional sports team in Dallas who come to pose for pictures with Jack Graham in his office. Langworthy was my youth music minister when I was in high school. He confessed to my dad, and to Neal and Jack. They fired him but failed to obey the child abuse mandatory reporting law in place in Texas since 1971. They have never called the police about Langworthy. 

I also know the names of 3 other Prestonwood child sex abuse perpetrators that the staff knew about but also have failed to report to police. Thus, kids are still in danger from these offenders, wherever they may be. Predators rarely have just one victim, and they never retire from offending, unless they are in jail or dead.

Prestonwood's egregious actions regarding Langworthy didn't end in 1989 when they fired him. They continue to wound victims and victims' parents to this day, as well as endanger more kids with their silence. After the first WFAA story, one victim's parents went to Prestonwood to seek a meeting with Jack Graham but he refused to meet with them. Also, another one of the Langworthy survivors, who recently came forward to the police, had never told ANYONE until a few months ago. This survivor may have had the courage to tell sooner and get help to heal had Jack and Neal Jeffrey not cowered in silence for 24 years. If one has suffered in silence alone for 24 years, are there others?

The tragic irony is so obvious, glaring in fact, that Prestonwood immediately reported the perceived threat of an executive staff member by Chris Tynes to the police, yet did not, and has never reported the acual threat, acted out, of child sex crimes by Langworthy against innocent children in the church. You can read here what he did to children, boys ages 6-13, in his Mississippi criminal case, also embedded below. These crimes were committed between 1980-84. He came to Prestonwood soon after and worked there until his firing in 1989 for sexually abusing more boys.

  Prestonwood Baptist Church police report by watchkeep

  Langworthy State's Response by watchkeep

  Email from Mike Buster

  Emails from Neal Jeffrey, associate pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church by watchkeep

Chris Tynes and The Wartburg Watch: What is going on?

A Tale of Two Jacks

WFAA:

 A senior pastor at The Church of Corinth was allegedly recorded in about two hours of audio files attempting to persuade a female juvenile to undress, read an arrest affidavit released Thursday morning. Jeffrey Dale Williams was jailed on charges of attempted sexual performance by a child. Bond was set at $10,000.

 I'm sure there are more, perhaps many more victims. Predators rarely have only one.

Interviews guaranteeing complete confidentiality and immunity from prosecution, conducted by Emory University psychiatrist Dr. Gene Abel*, uncovered that:

· Male offenders who abused girls had an average of 52 victims each.

· Men who molested boys had an astonishing average of 150 victims each.

Only 3% of these crimes had ever been detected

We applaud this brave young girl and hope that others will have the courage to come forward to the police as well.

And yes, former Prestonwood Baptist Church minister, John Langworthy, also has many more victims from 3 decades of child sex crimes.


Thank you to WFAA and Brett Shipp for covering and exposing the story of Langworthy's confession and Prestonwood's failure to report him to the police in 1989 when they fired him for allegations of child sexual abuse of several boys in the church.

Prevent Abuse Now:

Among victims of sexual abuse, the inability to trust is pronounced, which also contributes to secrecy and non-disclosure. Children often fail to report because of the fear that disclosure will bring consequences even worse than being victimized again. The victim may fear consequences from the family, feel guilty for consequences to the perpetrator, and may fear subsequent retaliatory actions from the perpetrator.

That's why it's so critical that kids and adult survivors of child sexual abuse hear that we believe them. That's why what Prestonwood continues to do by refusing to speak out and decry Langworthy's child sex crimes at Prestonwood is so damaging.

Imagine the life-changing and eternal impact for good on the souls of kids Langworthy has abused both in TX and MS, particularly the younger, more recent and current (scared) victims, if Jack Graham used the multitude of resources at his disposal to reach out to them publicly, calling for an end to the silence protecting John and calling on all harmed by him to call police, seek help and justice and protect other kids? Like Jack did when he immediately took to the pulpit to decry the criminal behavior of Joe Barron after his arrest in 2008.


Jack Graham is not taking the bold stance that earned him praise from a few years back, though.

Why did Prestonwood report Chris Tynes to the police but not child molester John Langworthy? WFAA ran a story about that report but failed to ask anyone at Prestonwood why they reported Tynes to the police but not Langworthy. That's the most relevent question that should have been asked. It's not too late to ask it, and we hope someone in the media will. The victims deserve that.

In the few months before and few weeks since the story of Tynes appeared, some brave survivors that were sexually abused by Langworthy at Prestonwood have come forward to police in the Dallas area. We hope others will as well, to heal, pursue justice and protect other kids. Langworthy is now a convicted sex offender in Mississippi, but he is not in jail. In fact, he is living large in and around Clinton and Jackson, out and about discussing "prayer" according to one eye witness, a concerned Jackson citizen.

Langworthy publicly confessed to molesting at least one child from Jack Graham’s time at Prestonwood. That survivor came forward to Mississippi prosecutors (MS court document embedded below). It's past time Jack Graham show consistency and authenticity. Joe Barron was arrested in a sting operation. Thankfully the child he thought he was meeting was an undercover police officer in Bryan, Texas. Langworthy's victims are many and they have real names...and souls.

We urge anyone who has seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes by Langworthy to call police, get help, heal and protect other kids.

In Dallas, call 214-671-4211. This is the child exploitation unit of the Dallas Police Department which has already had one victim from Prestonwood call to report.

In Mississippi, call Josh Frazier in the Clinton Police Department at 601-925-6106 or call the main number and ask for Josh at 601-924-5252.

The light of truth and knowledge is our greatest tool to protect kids.


Phone call with Allen (my dad) discussing then confessed and since convicted child sex offender John Langworthy, former minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church, redacted only to protect the names of victims/possible victims. Responses by Amy Smith in bold to a few of the statements by Allen. Transcript provided by Allen, a former deacon at Prestonwood Baptist Church:

  Transcript of Matt's Call August 20 2011 by watchkeep

  Letter to Neal Jeffrey by watchkeep

  Langworthy State's Response by watchkeep

Of Questions and Cowards

[I’ve asked Amy to let me write a guest post.  I had one condition: she had to let me post it without any input, editing, or contribution on her part.  She agreed; every word below is mine.]

I’ve told our story many times over the last two years.  How nearly thirty years ago John Langworthy molested several boys in his hometown of Clinton, Mississippi.  How he moved from Clinton to Dallas, attended seminary, worked at Prestonwood Baptist Church and befriended my wife’s family.  For years at Prestonwood, he molested several more minors.  I've told how Prestonwood’s leadership discovered the behavior, fired him, but did not report him to the police.  About how Langworthy quickly moved back to Clinton, got jobs at a school and a church.  And finally how my wife looked him up two years ago, learned he had been working with youth, and reported his past crimes to the authorities and the media.

Thanks in small part to Amy and to several brave victims, John Langworthy has been convicted for child molesting in Mississippi.  He still hasn't faced justice for the more recent abuse he committed in Texas.

Every time I tell this story, people tell me how disgusting Langworthy’s crimes are, and tell me to keep supporting Amy.  Many have told her “thank you”, “keep it up” and “good job.”  But sadly, these feelings are not universal.  My wife has also received insults, baseless accusations, legal threats, and even been disowned by her parents for reporting a child molester and calling on Prestonwood to do the same. 

Nowadays whenever I start this story I have to ask, “Do you think an adult that has sexual contact with a 16-year old should go to prison?”  Everyone I've faced says, “yes, of course,” and then wonder aloud why I would have to ask them this question.  That has been the law in Texas for decades.  So why do I ask people this question?

I’ve discovered there are some people who don’t embrace this law.  I’ve discovered that discussing Langworthy’s actions in terms of legal/illegal makes a handful of people very uncomfortable.

One of those people is Jack Graham, Head Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church.  If I could talk to him, I would ask: do you think an adult that has sexual contact with a 16-year old should go to prison?  According to multiple sources, Langworthy had sexual contact with several boys under 16.  And according to one of your deacons at the time, you knew this when you fired him, but you did not report him to the police¹.  If you think men should be prosecuted for this crime, why didn't you report him?  What is your moral, Biblical, or legal standing for not reporting a man who confessed to you that he sexually molested three boys? (more have come forward since you fired him)

Another person is Neal Jeffrey, Associate Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church.  If I could talk to him, I would ask: do you think an adult that has sexual contact with a 16-year old should go to prison?  Amy reached out to you early in this story, and at least then you expressed regret at how the situation was handled, but since that time you've silently sat on the sidelines.  I recently sent you a letter with some of these same questions and some personal requests, and I have yet to get any kind of response.  Why was Langworthy fired?  Do you fire employees for "inappropriate behavior"?  Or did you fire him because he was having sex with minors?  Did the church’s attorney Randy Addison inform you of the fact that Langworthy’s behavior was (and still is) a felony under Texas State law?

Another person who seems uncomfortable is Mike Buster, current Administrative Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church.  Mike was not working at Prestonwood in 1989, but has stepped up as the voice of the church on this subject.  If I could talk to him, I would ask: do you think an adult that has sexual contact with a 16-year old should go to prison?  By your own admission, the church “handled” the Langworthy situation “firmly and forthrightly.”  But the question is: did church leadership report what they knew to the police?  If they did, why didn’t you say so?  And if they didn’t, why not? 

Finally, my in-laws have been very uncomfortable discussing Langworthy’s actions as crimes.  They were personal friends of Langworthy’s and my father-in-law was a deacon.  They have been so “hurt” by Amy’s public cries for justice that they have written us that they are “moving on with our lives without you in it” on three separate occasions.  They haven’t returned a call in almost a year, and they have rejected our requests to get together twice.

So If I could talk to him, I would ask Allen: do you think an adult that has sexual contact with a 16-year old should go to prison?  If not, please write your state congressman and tell him that you think the age of consent should be lowered.  If you do agree with the rest of society that scum like Langworthy belong in prison, then why admit Langworthy had sexual contact with a minor, but call Amy’s pursuit a “witch hunt?”  Why say “no children were involved,” “He didn't molest any kids,” and “to say he molested anybody against their will is absolutely false”?  Why have you never once spoken or written a single negative thing to me about Langworthy or his behavior, aside from calling it “inappropriate?”

One of my father-in-law’s claims is that Prestonwood tried to “handle it discretely, as any church tries to do.”  A church that does not report child sexual abuse is skewed – and criminal.  In 1971 the State of Texas began requiring any person who suspected child abuse to report it to the authorities.  Do you think this law should be removed, revised, or ignored?  If so, stop criticizing those who support the law and lobby your legislator to remove child abuse reporting laws. 

I sometimes hear people argue that it is solely up to the victims to report the crime.  They claim that if the victims ask their pastor not to report it, shouldn't the pastor compassionately concede?  I feel awful that these victims had to endure the pain of being molested, and I feel terrible that they have to relive the pain at a public trial.  Unfortunately, this is a necessary process to prevent molesters from hurting more kids.  As a father, I don’t want pastors keeping quiet out of compassion because I don’t want filth like Langworthy working in our schools.  I want him in a prison cell.  The blame here is not with the advocates who call for molesters’ prosecution, but with criminals like Langworthy.

Finally, I believe strongly that the Truth is always something that is public, open, and revealed for everyone.  Only sin, corruption, and shame hide in the dark.  Throughout history, corrupt men hid their deeds under the cover of darkness, with masks or hoods shrouding their disgraceful acts.  Today, it is too easy for shameful men and women to make anonymous online attacks, or hire publicists to draft empty written statements, or piously preach sermons about how Jesus “remained silent”.

Courage is found only in those who rise up, reveal themselves, and stand against the darkness.  It is found in those men and women who, through conviction, show their faces to the world.  They are exposed and vulnerable, but our lives are better for their struggles.   Amy has done all she has done publicly and with conviction, while cowardly men criticize and condemn from the shadows. 

So answer the questions, if you can.  I’ll be here waiting, right by her side.

Matthew Smith

1 – I recorded my last conversation with my father-in-law because it was easier than taking notes.  We sent him the audio file.  He wrote me that he was thankful I recorded it, then he typed up a transcript (attached), and emailed it to others.  I assume he is okay with me posting this until I hear otherwise.

Prestonwood Baptist Church: Silent No More

#PBCSilentNoMore- to challenge Prestonwood Baptist Church leaders to answer questions and be accountable

I first learned from my mother and father that the reason for John Langworthy's dismissal from Prestonwood in 1989 was due to allegations of child sexual abuse. It wasn't until 2011 that I had the opportunity to speak with several of Langworthy's victims and confirm these allegations. My father was a deacon at Prestonwood in 1989.  He recently reminded my husband of some key points about the circumstances surrounding John Langworthy's dismissal from Prestonwood Baptist Church where he had been employed as the youth music minister:

- There were several boys involved, and at least one of the victims was 15 when it started.
- Randy Addison was the attorney who handled it for the church and was in direct contact with some of the boys and their families.
- Bill Taylor, Administrative Pastor, was the point man at the church, who went on to become a director at LifeWay Resources, part of the Southern Baptist Convention.
- Neal Jeffrey was there. He was the youth pastor.
- Jack Graham became the Head Pastor at Prestonwood the month before Langworthy was dismissed.
- They tried to handle it discreetly.

- He doesn't remember anyone contacting the police.

My dad also reminded me and my husband of his warning to us in August 2011, just a couple of weeks after my WFAA interview:

I don’t want to have this conversation anymore. You can go back to 22 years ago. You and Amy are going to pay a big price for what has been done here. I’m telling you. You don’t go on witch hunts from 22 years ago. You don’t. 

I obtained the above comments from a *recorded phone call of my husband to my dad in August 2011. The recorded phone call to my dad was about 2 weeks after the initial WFAA interview ran, and my parents’ angry email to me that I had done that interview. My husband called him in response to their email and recorded the call so that I could hear what my dad had to say. We have the audio and a few months ago I shared it with my parents so that they were fully aware that I knew what my dad had said and why we were so disturbed. I have never shared the audio publicly. Earlier this week my dad emailed us the transcript of the entire call that he put together, so apparently he is proud of his stand and statements.

*In addition to federal law, thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have adopted "one-party consent" laws and permit individuals to record phone calls and conversations to which they are a party or when one party to the communication consents.

Therefore, if you operate in Texas, you may record a conversation or phone call if you are a party to the conversation or you get permission from one party to the conversation in advance.

Since I have spoken out about the truth about Langworthy's child sex crimes and Prestonwood's failure to report him to the police as required by law, my parents have disowned me. They have stated in writing that they want no more contact with me.

That WFAA story for the first time publicly exposed the truth about the child molesting minister and school music teacher Langworthy and when Jackson, Mississippi news media began covering the story right after it aired in Dallas, one brave survivor of abuse by Langworthy went to the police followed by several others. He pleaded guilty on January 22, 2013 to the child sex crimes detailed and embedded below in the State of Mississippi vs. John Langworthy. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison but all of it is suspended. He will be a registered sex offender for life. But kids would be safer if he was in prison. Child molesters never retire.

I recently learned that after Prestonwood fired Langworthy in 1989, and he moved back to Mississippi, he continued to call the home of one of his victims from Prestonwood attempting to speak with him.

 Silence only helps the predator but by speaking up there's a chance for healing and protecting other kids.

We urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes by Langworthy to call the police, get help, heal and protect other kids.

If you were a victim of Langworthy’s child sex crimes in Dallas, call Doreen in the Dallas police department at 214-671-4211.

If you were or are a victim of Langworthy's child sex crimes in Mississippi, please call Josh Frazier in the Clinton Police Department at 601-925-6106 or call the main number and ask for Josh at 601-924-5252

  Langworthy State's Response by watchkeep

No More Silence: An interview with Boz Tchividjian 

The greatest failure of the church/Christian organizations when it comes to responding to abuse is institutional self-protection. Too often Christian institutions have been willing to sacrifice the individual human soul in exchange for the protection of their own reputation. What makes such responses even more heinous is that they are often justified in the name of "protecting the name of Christ." Such a justification is nothing but a pious attempt at self-protection. It may come as a surprise to some but Jesus does not need us to protect His name! In fact, it was Jesus who sacrificed Himself for the soul of the individual.

I have yet to encounter an abuse situation that was handled "in house" where the consequences were not extremely harmful to the abuse survivor. All too often these issues are handled "in house" in a church-centered attempt to avoid public scrutiny and to bring the matter to a close as quickly as possible so that the church can return to more "productive Gospel work." 

Not surprisingly, this church-centered response leads to devastating consequences in the life of the abuse survivor. Such responses to abuse have nothing to do with the Gospel, and everything to do with placing the institution over the individual.

Church calls cops on inquiring member

Prestonwood Baptist Church Scandal is a Deadly Poison

It seems a little strange that Al Mohler, president of Southern Seminary in Louisville and an SBC “kingpin,” has nothing to say on this issue. Mohler was more than happy to share his thoughts on the Sandusky scandal at Penn State, but has no comment when a church in his own denomination is involved.

Failure to protect the children that are under our care and speak up on their behalf will make a circus bigger than anything produced in State College, PA. We bear a much greater responsibility than any football program ever did, and we claim a Lord and Savior that forbids us to look the other way.

If we do not remove this poison, it will be suicide for a lot of churches beyond Plano, TX.

I will never apologize for the truth. The light of truth and knowledge is our greatest tool to protect kids.

Protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, prevent the abuse.

Sex offenders in the Church like John Langworthy: Who they are and how they operate

Silence allows abuse to continue. It only helps the offender and hurts the victims.

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.

                                               ~ Albert Einstein

 Prevent, recognize, report and respond to abuse.

You can never determine whether someone is a danger to your children simply by their appearance or the things that they do, the good deeds they do. In fact, oftentimes it is those appearances and good deeds that are the necessary deception techniques for these individuals to access our children.

                                                          ~ Basyle ’Boz’ Tchividjian, J.D

Offenders in the Church: Who are they and how do they operate? from GRACE on Vimeo.


Minimizing the Opportunities: Effective Child Protection Policies from GRACE on Vimeo.

When Faith Hurts: How the Christian Community Can Serve Survivors of Sexual Abuse from GRACE on Vimeo.

Worship: The act of loving and caring for children from GRACE on Vimeo.

Wall of Silence: Protecting the institution over the individual

Dr. Anna Salter, Ph.D. in clinical psychology on prevention of sexual abuse: Sandusky, Langworthy and predators like them

risk reporter talks with Dr. Anna Salter, Ph.D. in clinical psychology, about prevention of sexual abuse

What makes child molesters so successful in going undetected?

Dr. Salter: Deception. They are master deceivers, both in deceiving themselves and others. I have found that there are two characteristics of sex offenders:

• It is in their best interest to lie.

• It is something they can lie about and not get caught.

Sexual offenders look for opportunities in which they can minimize the risk of getting caught, and part of doing so is to create an environment in which they are liked, trusted and accepted without question. This is why religious institutions are particularly vulnerable.

 Why don't more victims come forward?

Dr. Salter: This is a very difficult question. In the case of child molestation, often the victim feels as if he/she has done something wrong or won't be believed when compared to a respected adult. In other situations there are direct threats that force silence, and often the child is just confused by conflicting emotions and chooses silence rather than confronting someone their parents trust.

Regarding Jerry Sandusky

Many evangelical organizations have also done so—ignoring the victimized, the oppressed and the silenced but making certain the institution lived on, though it be rotten at its core. In every case, the silence screamed for resolution and healing. In response to abuse, we need to stand with Elie Wiesel who said this: “I swore never to be silent wherever and whenever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

Keeping the Antennas Up: 5 basic characteristics of child sexual offenders within the faith community

Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, and Other Sex Offenders: book by Dr. Anna Salter, Ph.D.

Silent No More: Victim 1's Fight for Justice Against Jerry Sandusky

Anyone abused by John Langworthy in Texas or who has information about this case is asked to call the Dallas police child exploitation unit at 214-671-4211. 

A victim of Langworthy's child sex crimes at Prestonwood has come forward and made a report to the Dallas police. We hope others will also come forward, call the police, get help, begin to heal and protect other kids. It is critical that the whole truth is known.

Anyone abused by John Langworthy in Mississippi or who has information about this case is asked to call detective Josh Frazier in the Clinton police department at 601-925-6106.

The light of truth and knowledge is our greatest tool to protect kids.

I had to get someone to listen

Yesterday, the Clarion Ledger ran the first of 2 stories about my journey to justice for the child sexual abuse victims of John Langworthy, those who came forward there to the police in August 2011. We are grateful that these victims have had their chance at justice. We know there are many others that he has harmed but have not come forward yet. 

Langworthy is now a lifetime registered sex offender. That does not mean that anyone should get complacent. He is not in jail. He still poses a threat to kids. As of today, he still is working as a licensed pharmacy tech at Medicap Pharmacy in Clinton, Mississippi. Our Jackson SNAP leader addressed the Board with our concerns months ago at a board meeting. He was told then by a board member that if there was a conviction, the board would take action. I wrote to the Mississippi Pharmacy Board inquiring about the status of his license since his conviction of a felony. I received this reply.

Ms. Smith,

According to Section 73-21-97, paragraph (1), (c), (i), of the Mississippi Code of 1972, “the Board may refuse to issue or renew, or may suspend, reprimand, revoke or restrict the license, registration or permit of any person after being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony”.

Wyatt Smith

Acting Director of Compliance

Mississippi Board of Pharmacy

I replied asking if Langworthy's license would be revoked. He stated that decision would be made by the Board.

We urge anyone who may have seen, suspected, or suffered child sex crimes by Langworthy, whether in Texas or Mississippi, or in other states while on choir trips, to please come forward and contact the police and help protect kids today.

Part one: Amy Smith's persistence brings justice in John Langworthy abuse case

Part two: Justice quest begins with phone call, ends with conviction

The light of truth and knowledge is our greatest tool to protect kids.

Protect the vulnerable. Heal the wounded. Prevent the abuse.

Special thanks to Ruth Ingram at the Clarion Ledger who did just that.

I received an email from a lady from Mississippi in response to the Clarion Ledger coverage who is a survivor of child sexual abuse. She writes:

Reading Langworthy's story has brought back so many of the painful feelings and memories I've experienced related to my own abuse at the hands of my grandfather. For whatever reason, I just really wanted to write you and let you know a little about me.

Reading about your parents turning against you broke my heart for you. It's so hard to be brave. Please just know that you have probably prevented many others from being harmed, and your efforts have not been in vain. I pray that your parents will have their hearts softened, and their eyes opened to the truth.

Again, I want to say thank you for standing up for victims and for taking a hard, brave stand against evil. The pain never really completely goes away, and healing is a process. I'm always surprised when something triggers the sadness. Reading this story surely did, but that's okay. The cycle of abuse can only be broken when the truth is told.

Update: Langworthy loses pharmacy tech license