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Tag: Child Exploitation

Black Collar Crime: Southern Baptist Pastor Kyle Hilleary Charged with Exploitation of a Child

Bruce Gerencser 0 Comments
Kyle Hilleary

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.

Kyle Hilleary, a pastor at Cedar View Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi, has been charged with exploitation of a child by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department. Hilleary is also a teacher at Cross Creek Academy in Olive Branch. Cedar View is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

According to Yahoo News:

A 30-year-old Mississippi pastor and teacher has been charged with the exploitation of a child, according to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department.

Kyle Hilleary was arrested on November 7 by DCSD and his bond was set at $250,000. Reports state, he bonded out of jail on the same day.

Cedar View Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi released a statement on its website saying:

“We will comply with the authorities to the fullest extent, should they choose to question Cedar View Baptist Church. As of this writing, we have not been contacted by any governmental authorities, and we have had no direct contact with Kyle or members of his family. Kyle is suspended from his employment indefinitely until the church can together take further action in accordance with its bylaws.”

Joe Whitten has a unique connection to Cedar View Baptist Church. He says his father started the church in 1963.

Whitten says that he was shocked to learn that Hilleary had been arrested.

“Anything like this is just terrible, and it’s going to be devastating to a lot of people because they put their trust in him,” said Whitten.

Hilleary’s LinkedIn page lists him as a Pastor in Residence at the church.

Hilleary was also employed as a teacher at Cross Creek Christian School but has been terminated, according to a statement released by the school:

“As this matter involves the arrest of a staff member, the Administrator and School Board have decided to immediately terminate Mr. Hilleary and not allow him on the campus while the investigation and legal proceedings are pending against him. … At this time, we are not aware of any of the allegations involving any actions while on campus or as a teacher at the school.

“As a ministry, when an allegation is made against an employee, our organization immediately removes that individual from any contact with children pending the outcome of the criminal matter, and we fully cooperate with parents, state officials, and law enforcement. We believe that if children are safe anywhere, they should be safe at Cross Creek.”

Investigators reportedly searched Hilleary’s classroom at Cross Creek Christian Academy but no details were released.

It’s unknown where the alleged act Hilleary is charged with took place, but Joe Whitten believes that if Hilleary is guilty, it may be difficult for the congregation to forgive him.

“This church has been [here] a long time, and a lot of people, some of the older people that’s been around, they’re not going to take it well,” said Whitten.

This investigation is being handled by the state Attorney General’s Office with the assistance of the DCSD and the Olive Branch Police Department.

Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 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.

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Christians Say the Darnedest Things: Get Them While They Are Young, Pastor Dan Delzell Says

Bruce Gerencser 6 Comments
dan delzell

It is widely known that the first 5 years of a child’s life have enormous ramifications. A child’s brain develops the most during these early years, but even more importantly, young children are exceedingly open to embracing the Gospel.

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Multitudes of young children over the centuries have joyfully accepted God’s message of salvation, especially when presented tenderly and consistently by their parents. Often, my wife, Tammy, and I shared the simple Gospel message with our children. We witnessed this firsthand with our four children. We often asked them, “What did Jesus do for us?” By age 4, each one of them would confidently declare: “Jesus died on the cross for our sins so we can go to Heaven.” The assurance of salvation in their heart provided much comfort and power, even at such a young age.

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Don’t ever think a 3- or 4-year-old child is too young to receive Jesus as Savior. In fact, the two years between ages 3 and 5 are massively important to a child’s spiritual development. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). The Holy Spirit enables young children to trust Jesus and enjoy his constant companionship.

When parents immerse their children in the Gospel, young hearts and minds are shaped for a lifetime of Christian discipleship. Thankfully, young children are capable of understanding and believing the Gospel. Why else would the Lord place such an emphasis upon little children believing in him? 

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The Gospel is a trillion times more valuable than anything else you could give your children. After all, what will it profit your children in the long run if you give them everything except the Gospel?

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When all is said and done, our children are the only thing we can take with us to Heaven.

— Dan Delzell, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Papillion, Nebraska, The Christian Post, Parents: Immerse your young children in the Gospel, May 24, 2022

Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 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.

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Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Youth Pastor Tyler Swaggard Accused of Exploitation of a Child

Bruce Gerencser 2 Comments
tyler swaggard

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.

Tyler Swaggard, a youth pastor at Pinelake Church in Flowood, Mississippi, stands accused of exploitation of a child.

ABC-16 reports:

A Rankin County youth minister has been arrested for child exploitation.

Tyler Swaggard, 21, was arrested and charged with two counts of felony exploitation of a child. Flowood police said multiple complaints from youth members of the church, later determined to be Pinelake, prompted the investigation between the church and police.

Pinelake released the following statement:

We are aware of the recent arrest and charges involving a former Pinelake staff member. When the allegations were first brought to our attention, we quickly reported it and began working closely with authorities to assess the situation. These charges are very serious and deeply disturbing. It is a heartbreaking betrayal of our standards, especially from someone in a position of trust. Our priority is to shepherd and care for our church family, and we will continue to work diligently to provide care and support to all those affected by this situation.

Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 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.

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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.