Indiana State Police Investigate Allegations Against Warsaw Pastor

WARSAW, Ind. (WANE) — Indiana State Police have resumed the investigation into years-old sexual misconduct allegations made against a Warsaw pastor by a woman who said she was 16 at the time.

The allegations against Pastor John Lowe II of New Life Christian Church were first reported to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office following revelations made public at a May 22 service at the church. The claims of a woman from the congregation were streamed live on Facebook.

However, the sheriff’s office apparently had a conflict of interest in the case.

“Due to the past relationship between the church and the sheriff’s office, the decision was made to contact the Indiana State Police immediately,” the sergeant said. said Chris Francis.

In a two-sentence press release Wednesday, State Police spokesman Sgt. Ted Bohner of the Bremen Post said the agency “recently became aware of allegations regarding New Life Christian Church & World Outreach”.

Bohner asked anyone with “victim or witness” information to call the Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division in Bremen at (574) 546-4900.

Francis said sheriff’s office personnel are “actively assisting” state police detectives with the investigation.

WANE 15 contacted the Kosciusko County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday and received this email response:

After reviewing Indiana’s Rules of Professional Conduct, Kosciusko County Attorney Daniel Hampton is not authorized to release information regarding alleged misconduct. Thanks.

CONTEXT:

In the service video, Lowe confessed to the congregation, “I committed adultery” with “a person” nearly 20 years ago, and continued the relationship “far too long.”

“I have no defense,” he told the congregation. “I committed adultery. To put it plainly: I didn’t make a mistake, I didn’t have a problem, I didn’t have an affair, I didn’t make an error in judgment – ​​I Fishing. I need to say it, and you deserve to hear it.

Lowe asked the congregation to forgive him for the “deep hurt” he caused and apologized to those against whom he had sinned. He said there was “no right answer” to why it took so long to admit his wrongdoing, but said he had repented.

Lowe then announced he was leaving the ministry and said he would submit to the process and recommendation of the church board.

After Lowe finished speaking, a man and a woman approached the lectern. The woman told the congregation she was a victim of Lowe’s when she was 16 and said she had lived in “a prison” for 27 years – not 20.

“You did things to my teenage body that never had and never should have been done,” she said. “If you cannot admit the truth, you must answer for it before God. You are not the victim here.

She continued, “The church deserves to know the truth. This church was built on lies, but no more. The lies must stop.

The woman said she spent years feeling like a ‘horrible person’ with suicidal thoughts until two weeks ago when her brother approached her about a memory of seeing his younger sister in bed with her pastor.

“The lies and manipulation must stop,” she said.

After the woman left the stage, members of the congregation shouted at Lowe.

“If you did, you have to admit it,” one man shouted.

“We need to hear from our pastor,” said another.

Lowe replied, “I told you I had committed adultery and I told you it had gone on far too long.”

“I can’t do anything about it except tell you that if I could go back and do it all over again, I would. I can’t, and all I can do is ask you to forgive me.

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