In a breaking report from Cayo District, a coordinated sexual assault allegation has emerged against the founder of local religious organization Dunamis Ministries, with four men stepping forward to file formal statements with law enforcement over alleged pattern of abuse.
The anonymous complainant, a man in his 20s, shared his account with local outlet News 5 on condition of privacy. He told reporters that the repeated unwanted sexual advances date back to late 2022, when he was an active young congregant who viewed the senior pastor as a trusted mentor and role model.
“I looked up to this man like an example,” he recalled. He explained that he rejected each inappropriate advance, but chose to stay silent in the immediate aftermath, convincing himself the behavior might have been accidental. Stigma around male survivors of sexual violence kept him from speaking out sooner, he added: “As a male, that’s not easy to talk about.” Feeling isolated, he said, “I felt like I was the only one, that’s why I never made a big deal about it.”
Shortly after the last reported incident, the complainant stopped attending Dunamis Ministries. He claims the pastor spread false information about his departure to the rest of the congregation – a detail News 5 has not been able to independently verify.
Four years after the first alleged incident, the silence broke. Between four and five months ago, the complainant was contacted by another former young member of the church who shared a nearly identical experience. Further discussions among the group uncovered more survivors, with all reporting similar patterns: young men joining the church, being targeted by the pastor, then abruptly leaving the congregation. The group decided to pursue a private resolution first, meeting with the pastor roughly three months ago to demand accountability. According to the complainant, the pastor denied all allegations outright, and was backed by church leadership and his own family, who accused the men of fabricating stories to justify leaving the ministry.
Weeks later, when the complainant returned to a church service, he said he was shocked to see the pastor leading worship as if no allegations had been raised. That sight pushed the group to take their claims to law enforcement. The complainant gave his formal statement to police approximately three weeks ago – he delayed submitting his statement due to work commitments – bringing the total number of accusers to four, he said. News 5 has not confirmed the exact number of complainants, and as of the publication date of this report, no criminal charges have been filed.
The complainant explained he chose to speak publicly to prevent additional harm. “I just want it to stop,” he said, noting he fears other young congregants could face the same abuse if the behavior is not addressed. He also called on any other survivors of similar abuse at the hands of the pastor to come forward and join the formal complaint.
Dunamis Ministries leadership has released an official public statement acknowledging the ongoing criminal proceedings and the widespread public and congregant concern. “The leadership of Dunamis Ministries is aware of the criminal proceedings involving the founder of our church and acknowledges the concerns expressed by members and the public,” the statement read. “We wish to make it clear that the Church does not intend to prejudge the matter or express any opinion concerning the guilt or innocence of the individual charged. These are questions to be determined exclusively by the Court upon consideration of the evidence presented.”
The church added that it recognizes the severity of the claims, and remains committed to upholding institutional values of accountability, fairness, integrity, and respect for due process. “While these proceedings continue, the Church will take such appropriate administrative measures as may be necessary to ensure the uninterrupted operation of its services, the spiritual welfare of its congregation, and the protection of all persons within its ministry,” the statement concluded.