It's in all churches, but at least one religious body is keeping up with the numbers. According to a study conducted by the Southern Baptist Church, between 1998 and 2019, approximately 380 ministers committed the crime/sin of sexually abusing a child or underage member of their congregations. That figure reflects known abuse; unreported crimes usually never come to light.
What about here in the Shoals? Looking at only Lauderdale and Colbert Counties, you'll find some high profile crimes against local youth. Here are five that garnered national attention:
Charles Kyle Adcock was a youth minister at Woodward Avenue Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals when he repeatedly raped a 14 year old girl. The now 38 year-old Adcock accepted a plea bargain and served 15 months. He is currently a registered sex offender residing in Conway, Arkansas.
Oliver Brazelle was a music minister at the First Methodist Church of Sheffield for many years. In 2015, Brazelle accepted a plea bargain in connection with the rape of a young teen boy at the minister's Lauderdale lake home. After serving only a matter of months, the disgraced minister was given compassionate leave and died at his home in 2016 at the age of 83.
Jeffrey Dale Eddie was a youth minister at Highland Park Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals. In 2014, "Brother Jeff" was charged with raping and sodomizing several young boys, as well as possession of child pornography. He accepted a plea agreement in which he was sentenced to 30 years. The now 49 year-old Eddie will not leave prison until February 2044.
Jeffery Dale Hunt is a former Florence minister arrested for producing child pornography in his North Florence home. His victims were the young daughters of women who had attended his church years before. The now 53 year-old Hunt accepted a plea deal and will not leave the Alabama prison system until May 2040.
John Thomas Martin was the pulpit minister at Lighthouse Baptist Church in 2019 when he suddenly confessed to his East Florence flock that he had been having sexual relations with a young boy in the congregation. At least three other youths then came forward to accuse the now 43 year-old Martin of sexually abusing them. As of publication, the outspoken anti-gay crusader is living in Elkmont, Alabama, awaiting trial in Lauderdale County.
Are there more? Almost certainly. While some may never be brought to justice, you can be certain that God knows.
