The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser

Welcome

  • Letter to the Editor: Why Do Local Evangelicals Attack My Children and Grandchildren?

    letter to the editor

    Submitted to the editor of the Defiance Crescent-News.

    Dear Editor:

    I am troubled by the increasing hostility of Evangelicals towards those who hold opinions and beliefs different from theirs. It seems that every issue, no matter how insignificant, is a hill to die on. Thus, my recent letter about Lifewise Academy was seen as a personal attack. This was not my intent. Unlike some folks, I understand the difference between critique and personal attack. When people don’t understand the difference, they attack the person, not the idea.

    Over the past twenty years, I’ve had countless Evangelicals personally attack me for something I’ve written or said. Most often, I am threatened with hellfire and brimstone, though I have received death threats too. Worse, I have had Evangelicals attack my partner, children, and grandchildren. One fine Christian even suggested that our daughter with Down syndrome deserved to be assaulted.

    I know more than a few local school administrators and teachers read my letters to the newspaper. I know this because my grandchildren tell me that administrators and teachers call on them, both privately and in class, to defend what I have written. My children have experienced similar behavior at Northwest State Community College and their places of employment. In what world is it proper to question and berate grandchildren over something their grandfather said or did? I stand on my own two feet. My words are my own. My family knows I don’t expect them to defend me. In fact, I have let them know it is okay for them to disown me if it makes life easier for them. So far, none of them has done so.

    I told my children and grandchildren to tell their interlocutors to contact me directly if they have questions or want to challenge something I have said. I am a public figure; well-known, and easy to find. If school administrators and teachers want to put me in my place, I suggest they not use children to passive-aggressively make a point. I am more than happy to respond to any questions people have. I told my one granddaughter to tell her high school teacher that I would be more than happy to speak to his class or engage him in a formal debate. He, of course, refused to engage. It’s easy to berate kids lacking theological, philosophical, and historical foundations. Not so with someone like me, and I suspect that’s why he ignored my challenge.

    Bruce Gerencser
    Ney, Ohio

    Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

    Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

    You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

  • Evidence That God Does NOT Answer Prayer

    god answering prayer

    Ask the average Evangelical “Does God answer prayer?” and he will emphatically say YES! However, in short order I can show that this claim isn’t true.

    I’ve been blogging for eighteen years. Millions of people have read my writing, including countless Evangelical Christians. Thousands of God’s chosen ones have let me know that they are praying for me; either for my destruction or my salvation.

    Yet, thousands and thousands of prayers later, these calls for judgment and salvation go unanswered. Either God is deaf to the prayers of Evangelicals or he doesn’t exist. I remain an unrepentant atheist, impervious to the prayers of righteous, holy people. This evidence suggests that, at the very least, God doesn’t answer prayer, and from my perspective, he doesn’t answer prayer because he can’t.

    Pray away, Christians, but your fervent petitions to the God of the Bible don’t affect me in a measurable way.

    Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

    Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

    You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

  • Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Pastor’s Wife Stacy Simmons Accused of Felony Financial Crimes

    stacy simmons

    The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

    Stacy Simmons, the wife of Pastor Mike Simmons of New Beginnings Crossroads Fellowship in West Salem, Ohio stands accused of:

    Count 1: Grand Theft (fourth-degree felony) — alleging that between Oct. 4, 2019, and Dec. 14, 2023, she knowingly obtained or exerted control over $20,893.77 without consent, with the alleged victim listed as (REDACTED). The indictment states the value falls between $7,500 and $150,000.

    Count 2: Telecommunications Fraud (third-degree felony) — alleging a scheme to defraud during the same 2019–2023 time frame, using telecommunications to further that scheme, with the value of the benefit/detriment also listed as between $7,500 and $150,000.

    Count 3: Forgery (fourth-degree felony) — alleging that on or about April 22, 2024, she forged a document described as a “Verification Of Receipt Of Fund By Minor” without authority, with the indictment again citing a value/loss between $7,500 and $150,000.

    ACP News reports:

    Stacy Lee Simmons, identified in court records as a resident of Ashland County and the wife of Pastor Mike Simmons of New Beginnings Crossroads Fellowship, has been indicted on three felony counts and entered not guilty pleas in Ashland County Common Pleas Court.

    ….

    The materials provided state Simmons was arrested Dec. 12, 2025, and booked into the Ashland County Jail. During a video hearing for arraignment and bond on the Common Pleas case, the court identified the case as State of Ohio v. Stacy Lee Simmons and noted the hearing was conducted by video with the state represented by Assistant Prosecutor James Reese and Simmons represented by defense attorney Norman Miller.

    During arraignment, defense counsel indicated Simmons had received a copy of the indictment, waived defects in time or manner of service, and waived a formal reading. Counsel then entered a not guilty plea to all charges, which the court accepted.

    ….

    On bond, the state asked for a $22,000 cash bond, citing the alleged theft amount and the desire to ensure appearance. Defense requested a recognizance bond, arguing Simmons has lived in Ashland County for more than 20 years, has no criminal history, is married, works locally, and was aware of the allegations without attempting to leave.

    The court imposed a two-part bond structure:

    Personal recognizance bond (promise to appear), and

    $10,000 posted bond with a 10% option (with posting options described on the record).

    No contact whatsoever with the alleged victim

    As with all criminal cases, an indictment is an allegation, and the charges must be proven in court.

    Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

    Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

    You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

  • Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Pastor Kenneth Edwards Jr. Accused of Sexually Assaulting Minor Girl

    pastor kenneth edwards jr

    The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

    Kenneth Edwards Jr., a minister at Church of Living God in Del Ray Beach, Florida, stands accused of multiple counts of lewd or lascivious behavior and obscene communication with a minor girl.

    Channel 12 reports:

    A Delray Beach minister is behind bars after he allegedly received nudes and performed oral sex on a teenage girl in exchange for vape pens. 

    According to an arrest affidavit from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), the investigation began on Friday, Dec. 12, after the Boynton Beach Police Department contacted the sheriff’s office about the crime. 

    At PBSO headquarters, detectives spoke with the victim’s mother, who explained that the previous day she had confiscated her daughter’s phone, and while searching the phone, she found a hidden Instagram account, the arrest affidavit says. The mother went through the Instagram account and discovered her daughter was having a conversation with a man, identified as Kenneth Edwards Jr., PBSO later confirmed he was a minister at the Church of Living God, the arrest report reads. 

    The arrest report says the messages included sending nude photographs of herself and allegedly allowing Edwards to perform oral sex on her in exchange for vape pens.

    Detectives made contact with the 15-year-old girl, who told law enforcement that she met Edwards Jr. while shopping at DD’s Discount store. The arrest report says Edwards Jr. allegedly approached the victim and asked if they could be friends, and obtained her Instagram.

    The two allegedly began messaging each other on the app, the arrest report says. The affidavit says, according to the messages, he asked whether she attended Boynton Beach High School, to which she responded that she was enrolled at another institution.

    Edwards Jr. allegedly expressed a desire to see her again, and she agreed to meet with him again, but requested he bring a vape pen to the meeting, the arrest report says. 

    The report says the two met on a Friday morning. She entered his vehicle and gave him the vape pen he had requested. In exchange, he attempted to perform oral sex on her, which she allowed. According to the criminal complaint, the encounter lasted only a few minutes before she exited the vehicle.

    The two continued to communicate through Instagram, where she allegedly sent him nudes, the arrest report says. The two met again a week later at Ninja Kids Trampoline Park, where he gave her a vape in exchange for oral sex, the arrest report continues. 

    On Saturday, December 13, the victim participated in a controlled video call where they discussed Edwards Jr. performing oral sex on her and discussed their age gap, the arrest report says. Edwards Jr. said if he had known the victim was 15, he would have never touched her, the affidavit says. 

    The arrest report alleges that Edwards Jr. later contradicted himself, stating that when he first met the victim, he was attracted to her and believed she was 18. 

    The criminal complaint says that after discovering her age, he said their relationship was going to have to end. The report continues that during the controlled video call, he admitted to meeting with her on two separate occasions, the first time being in the parking lot where she does volunteer work, and the second time at the Ninja Park. Both times he admitted to performing oral sex on her, the arrest report reads. 

    A criminal complaint says detectives met Edwards Jr. at his home, where he gave a full confession. 

    Edwards Jr. was booked on counts of lewd or lascivious behavior and obscene communication.

    Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

    Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

    You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

  • Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Youth Leader Andrew Apple Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault, Sentenced to Decades in Prison

    andrew apple

    The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

    Andrew Apple, an Evangelical youth leader in Bentonville, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting minor church girls and was sentenced to thirty-two years in prison.

    NWA reports;

    A former volunteer at a Bentonville church accused of multiple criminal charges has been sentenced to more than three decades in prison, according to court documents.

    Andrew Apple, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual assault on Monday as part of a plea agreement, Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Josh Robinson confirmed to KNWA/FOX24. He was sentenced to 32 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

    Court documents filed in February said Apple was a volunteer at a church where incidents of sexual assault took place on church grounds.

    The affidavits do not specify which church Apple volunteered at, but a pastor at Calvary Church in Bentonville previously confirmed to KNWA/FOX24 that Apple was a youth volunteer before his arrest.

    Calvary Church Lead Pastor Chantry Dean issued a statement on Feb. 26 about Apple’s arrest.

    “It is with deep sorrow that we address a situation affecting our church family,” Dean said. “We have been made aware of serious allegations against Andrew Apple, a former volunteer at our church.”

    Dean said Apple was serving as the church’s media coordinator “around three or four years ago” when the alleged incidents took place.

    In January 2024, Apple became a volunteer youth mentor and was in that role until Feb. 1, 2025, after the church was made aware of the allegations and removed him.

    Dean said the church was cooperating with law enforcement on the case.

    A probable cause affidavit said the investigation began when police received a child abuse hotline tip from Arkansas State Police on Feb. 4, 2025, alleging inappropriate behavior by Apple.

    As the investigation unfolded, two victims came forward with accounts of prolonged abuse.

    The first victim, whose identity was redacted, reported that the abuse started when they were around 13 years old while volunteering with Apple at the church.

    A second victim, also a minor at the time, disclosed an alleged pattern of abuse that escalated over time.

    When interviewed by police, Apple reportedly admitted to some of the accusations and having “a sexual relationship” with the second victim since they were 13 years old, according to a probable cause affidavit.

    ….

    Apple was previously facing rape, second-degree sexual assault and sexual indecency with a child charges. His trial was scheduled to begin on Dec. 16.

    Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

    Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

    You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

  • Black Collar Crime: Baptist Pastor Clarence Hungerford Solicits Photos from Minor Church Girl

    pastor clarence hungerford

    The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

    Clarence Hungerford, pastor of Aurora Baptist Church in Benton, Kentucky, stands accused of soliciting nude photos from an eleven year old church girl.

    The Roys Reports reported in June 2025:

    A Kentucky pastor remains jailed after confessing to soliciting photographs of a preteen and trying to destroy the evidence, according to the Marshall County, Kentucky, Sheriff’s office.

    Clarence Barry Hungerford, 58, of Mayfield is being held on $10,000 bail, the sheriff’s office said Friday.

    He was arrested Wednesday on charges of unlawful use of electronic means with the commonwealth to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities and with tampering with physical evidence.

    These came after telling authorities he destroyed his cellphone to try to prevent law enforcement from searching the contents of his phone, a press release stated.  

    ….

    The sheriff’s office said the allegations surfaced when the family of an 11-year-old girl contacted them after the child reported she had been solicited for photographs of her body by her pastor.

    WPSD reports:

    The case against Clarence “Barry” Hungerford was continued to January during a Tuesday, Dec. 9, court appearance.

    Hungerford was charged in the summer with tampering with physical evidence and unlawful use of electronic means within the commonwealth to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activity.

    During the Dec. 9 court appearance, no new information was made available, and the case was continued to Jan. 13, 2026.

    Charges were first brought against Hungerford in late June 2025. On June 25, a report was made by the family of an 11-year-old girl. The family reported to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office that she had been asked for pictures of her body by the pastor of her church. Following a brief investigation, it was determined that Hungerford was the one to send the messages.

    According to a news release, Hungerford was arrested the same day, and admitted both to contacting the girl and to destroying his cell phone in an attempt to prevent the contents from being accessed.

    Hungerford is a resident of Mayfield, Kentucky, but was a pastor of a church in the Aurora community of Marshall County, and kept a part-time residence in Marshall County. It is believed that he was at that residence when the messages were sent.

    Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

    Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

    You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

  • Black Collar Crime: Catholic Priest Charles Thessing Pleads Guilty to Drowning Kittens — No Jail Time

    charles thessing drowns cats

    The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

    Charles Thessing, a Roman Catholic priest in Little Rock, Arkansas, recently pleaded guilty to animal cruelty.

    Earlier this year, Fox 13 reported:

     A West Memphis priest is under fire after he was arrested and charged Tuesday morning with aggravated animal cruelty.

    This comes after police found the pastor was involved in improper care and treatment of an animal.

    FOX13 learned Father Charles Thessing is the lead priest at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. City officials said Thessing was allegedly involved with drowning cats.

    “The deliberate harming of an animal is 100% unacceptable,” said Kerry Facello, the director of West Memphis Animal Services. Cruel and inhumane were the words she used to describe the charges against Thessing.

    West Memphis Police said they arrested Father Thessing after he allegedly violated local and state animal welfare laws. FOX13 went digging into the Crittenden County jail log. FOX13 found the 63-year-old was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.

    “It is an ongoing investigation, as you know,” Facello said. “There were cats involved in this situation.”

    Thessing is the priest at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Crawfordsville, Ark., and St. Michael Catholic Church in West Memphis. St. Michael is also a school that is right next door to the church.

    Facello said her shelter takes animal cruelty cases seriously and this case will now be their top priority.

    “To see someone be actively cruel, to see neglect, to see harm come to them in any way, not only is it heartbreaking and illegal, it makes a statement for how that person lives their life,” said Facello.

    Facello said aggravated animal cruelty is a Class D felony in all 50 states.

    Earlier this week, Thessing pleaded guilty to animal cruelty. He, astoundingly, received NO jail time!

    Fox 13 reports:

     A West Memphis priest pleaded guilty to two counts of cruelty to animals after being arrested in February amid allegations of drowning cats.

    Father Charles Thessing entered his guilty plea on Tuesday and was ordered to pay $3,000 total, including a $530 fine and a $2,250 restitution payment to the West Memphis Animal Shelter.

    However, animal advocacy group In Defense of Animals called the sentence “a slap on the wrist,” saying Thessing would trap and drown cats.

    The Catholic Diocese of Little Rock removed Thessing from his church duties as the case played out.

    KTBS reports:

    At the time he was arrested, he was reportedly serving as the lead priest at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in West Memphis and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Crawfordsville, Ark. He was removed from his posts while the case was pending.

    According to a publication of the Catholic Church, Thessing has been appointed to begin a new assignment in the Diocese of Shreveport effective Jan. 1. There is no information on what his new assignment will be. He will remain incardinated in the Diocese of Little Rock.

    Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

    Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

    You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

  • Black Collar Crime: Southern Baptist Youth Pastor Jacob Barnett Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Crimes

    jacob barnett

    The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

    Jacob Barnett, a youth pastor at Catawba Valley Baptist Church in Troutville, Virginia, recently pleaded guilty to child sex crimes.

    In August 2025, Baptist Press reported:

    Authorities say Jacob Barnett used various social media accounts to solicit sexually explicit material from underage girls across state lines while serving as youth pastor at Catawba Valley Baptist Church, leading to his arrest on Aug. 7.

    Barnett, 34, was apprehended by FBI agents Aug. 6 in North Carolina and is being held at the Catawba County Detention Center in North Carolina without bond, according to media reports.

    A May 18 tip led the FBI to investigate a TikTok account appearing to beling to a teen boy named “Jodie Johnson.” That individual had contacted a 15-year-old girl in Michigan and, after leading her to exchange phone numbers and days of persistent messaging, convinced her to send a sexually explicit video of herself.

    The investigation revealed that the account belonged to Barnett, with phone records confirming he had sent the messages and routinely interacted with minors online. His TikTok account followed “thousands of young girls.” Barnett also used other social media accounts such as Snapchat and Discord to pose as a teenager and solicit sexually explicit videos from minors.

    Catawba Valley Baptist church released a statement on Aug. 8, stating the congregation was “devastated” over the news.

    “We are deeply grieved by these allegations. Our prayers are with anyone who may have been impacted, and we ask the Lord for comfort, healing, and justice,” it read.

    “As a church, we remain fully committed to the highest standards of protection, safety, and care for every child, student, and family who is part of our fellowship. We continue to take every measure possible to maintain a safe environment for all.

    “We are cooperating with the proper authorities and will refrain from additional public comment while the legal process continues. In this difficult moment, we are leaning on the grace of God and seeking His wisdom and peace.

    Last week, Barnett pleaded guilty to his crimes.

    WVVA reports:

     A youth pastor pleaded guilty Monday, December 9 in a case involving attempted child sex crimes, according to court records. 

    Jacob Ryan Barnett, 34, former youth pastor at Catawba Valley Baptist Church, was arrested by FBI agents in North CarolinaAugust 6, 2025 on charges of solicitation of sexual material from minors.

    The FBI received a tip that Barnett had attempted to groom a 15-year-old girl living in Michigan. Investigators discovered Sunday, May 18, 2025, the 15-year-old girl received a message that appeared to belong to a teen boy who called himself “Jodie Johnson”, according to court records.

    Barnett faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum punishment of life.

    Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

    Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

    You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

  • Important Blogs News

    atheist blogger

    I’ve had a rough couple of days. My OCPD is on overload. As you know, I moved this site to a new host. Everything was working as it should be until yesterday. In recent years, I have used Gmail addresses to administer this blog. Thanks to Google blocking these addresses, I had to set up a domain email address: bruce@brucegerencser.net. This forced me to change and add records to my DNS records, contact support twice, and add an SMTP plugin to handle sending email. As of now, everything “seems” to be working. I have successfully received test comment notifications and contact form emails. I still have a problem to fix with WordPress.com, but after waiting two hours on chat, I gave up. Maybe tomorrow.

    Please let me know if you see anything amiss. If you emailed me or commented before I fixed things, I may not have received it. If not, please send/post them again.

    Thank you for your understanding.

    signature

    Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

    Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

    You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.