This article courtesy of the The Citizens Voice. Originally I had posted a different news story, but this one has additional information so I am replacing it for the original post.
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By Bob Kalinowski
Pastor Brian A. Neiswender repeatedly fondled the girls while playing hide and seek in the dark and teaching one-on-one music lessons, according to arrest papers.
The 26-year-old Baptist minister surrendered to authorities Wednesday to face charges of indecent assault and corruption of minors in connection with the alleged sex crimes at Christ Community Church, 100 W. Dorrance St.
The two girls, now 17 and 18 years old, came forward in February. They said the abuse dates back to August 2003 and lasted for years.
Church leaders were advised of Neiswender’s alleged improper conduct at least two times, according to arrest papers filed with Magisterial District Judge Paul Roberts in Kingston.
The first time, a rule was briefly implemented that his lessons would no longer be one-on-one, the girls said. The second time, Neiswender apologized and “church members said they would take care of the situation,” but it’s unclear if any action was taken. A phone call placed to the church was not returned Wednesday.
Kingston police Capt. John Jorda said there is another local victim whom police are trying to locate and there might be one more.
Neiswender currently is the pastor of student ministries at Heritage Baptist Church in Lakeland, Fla. Local authorities have advised Florida investigators about Neiswender’s arrest and they are “looking into matters” there, Jorda said.
Neiswender’s profile on the Web site for his Florida church portrays a loving husband and father dedicated to helping young people connect with God.
His profile says he is a graduate of Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit and mentions he served at the church in Kingston. Four pictures on the site are of him with his wife and young daughter.
One of the alleged victims said she didn’t want to come forward at the time because she didn’t want to get Neiswender in trouble. The most recent contact documented in arrest papers is when Neiswender sent two “unusual” picture messages to one of the girls in June 2007, police said.
Just days after the victims came forward, police say they wiretapped a phone call between Neiswender and one of the girls. He “apologized several times for what (he) had done” to her, according to arrest papers.
Neiswender has been cooperating since contacted by police, Jorda said.
His attorney, Jair Novajosky, noted Wednesday his client came to Luzerne County to answer to the charges within 48 hours of being notified about them. He assured his client would show up for future court dates.
Neiswender was released on $50,000 unsecured bail, meaning he didn’t have to post any money but would be responsible for that amount if he failed to show up for court.
Representatives from his Florida church did not return phone calls or e-mails Wednesday.
Filed under: In the News - Abuse & the Church | Tagged: abuse in the church, abuse of power, child abuse, child molestation, child sex abuse, church abuse, Clergy Abuse, clergy sex abuse, sexual abuse, spiritual abuse
I think the current board members of CCC would be happy to meet with John, Sandi, Clare and anyone else so that this mess could be stopped already! Believe me I can talk to some of them and see what their thoughts are. But really, I read through what raymond said are the lies John told. NONE of that is new news to anyone here. We all know that he was trying not to point fingers at people, he was unsure as to just what was happening and didn’t have all the facts at that time. raymond points to all of those statements ( if in fact they were stated that way) as if they are egregious and even case changing issues. They aren’t. What John said to Clare really, in the end doesn’t change the case one way or the other. However, raymond has repeatedly insinuated and even out right stated that John’s lies impact the case. They really DON’T! Yes, HE LIED — HE ADMITTED THIS HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT? Maybe he didn’t admit to all of us about you but really, that was supposedly a private conversation, had he known he was being questioned for documentation that you might want to present to some official, I’m sure he would have been more prepared. The accusations made by raymond really carry no weight in the long run and in the big picture. You are making mountains out of mole hills here. Yes, I KNOW to you it does not seem like that to you but in the context of the case they really do not matter. Do they go to John’s character? Yes! Has he asked for forgiveness from you? NO and THAT is between you an him. WHY are you on here? Why do you wish to besmirch him over and over? Actually that is character assassination from my pint of view! The only reason I can see is that you do, indeed, wish to take the heat off of Brian and on to John. But when you stack up the issues, the fact that Brian is accused of a crime and will be sentenced, in the end THAT is the bigger and MOST important of the two. Brian will still be sentenced, the world will see him as guilty!
John Butch WILL go on with his life and so will Sandi and all of us. Clare, it IS YOUR life that will need and does need care and attention.
Alvin:
Spare me the lecture. First, I never said his lies impacted the case directly. That’s a lie on your part. Second, a pastor lying to another pastor about a serious issue 6 times in not making a mountain out of a mole hole — it is a mountain. The only lie John confessed to was not calling the church in Florida. The others he has not confessed to too my knowledge. The fact that you make excuses for him just proves what a lost cause this is. Don’t worry — I will say no more about the John issue again. There is no point. I’m just glad I’m not a part of such a dysfunctional situation.
John Butch and Sandi might go on with their lives, but, again, until they make this right, they will have something from their past tugging at their hearts.
Like Peter when he denied Jesus, he needed to admit that he did it before their was reunification. John and Sandi might salvage some sort of presentation to others, but remember man looks at outward appearances, but God looks at our hearts.
Oh Clare your motives for all of this have now been seen by all.
Your meeting with John was a way for you to gather evidence? I’m sure half way through that meeting poor John was like “what is going on here?” is this guy coming to me a friend or as a part of the defense team? WHAT right did you have to question him anyway? From one friend to another yes–maybe, a grilling for evidence no! That is what this is really all about. You were friends, you all had been to each others churches and homes, this thing tore you all apart. That is what happens in these situations that is nothing new. So now you sling accusations at one another and blame when the real blame belongs on Brian and Brian alone. I see WHY you have been on here saying and doing what you have.
You have presented John’s “lies” all along as some great big issue directly related to the case. When you FINALLY gave them up to Sandi we can all see that it was NO NEW revelation it was what we all knew anyway!
You are angry with John because you feel as a Pastor and former friend he should have handled by contacting you first. I’d like to see ANY situation where in the place of employment, the colleague calls the relatives and lets them know their relative is possibly sexually molesting some under age girls. That doesn’t happen either. At that point it belongs, legally ( wish Saga would post to confirm this) in the hands of the police and DA. At that point the friendships are dissolved whether anyone wants them to be or not.
John did what was legally the protocol for him to do. It was turned over to the police. The law does not require any internal investigation within the church first. When the accusations is made the police get involved it is how it MUST be done. There was no time for John to conference with you and Brian’s father and whomever else you wanted to help get to the bottom of it. It HAD to legally go to the police and it did.
You, as the father in law, really had no place trying to investigate this at all. You were too close and YOUR BIAS has shown across the board. You can not act like the all knowing, all seeing Senior Pastor in this case, and that really made you angry. You have NO authority here. You were relegated to a family bystander and HAD NO CONTROL and therefore tried to exert some control by being on here and stating everything with extreme authority. Give it up now. I really wonder if your other Pastors know how much time you spend on here and the things you have said. I’d like you to show this to the Pastor on your team who does counseling and see what he has to say about it all. This has been your guilty secret and pleasure for a year, As I said, YOUR release!
Alvin:
You are a spiritually sick individual. Almost everything you stated above is completely false. You have continually assaulted my motives with what I suspect would be your own if you were in my shoes. You don’t know or understand me at all.
As far as revealing this to pastors at my church, they have been reading all along and are aware of most everything on this site. You see you just don’t get it. There are actually churches where the leadership is open and honest with each other and where they don’t keep secrets are lie to each other. Sadly, you wouldn’t know.
lannetts:
…”Like Peter when he denied Jesus, he needed to admit that he did it before their was reunification.. ..”
John didn’t deny anyone! That quote is really inappropriate in this situation. John fully admitted knowing all parties involved. We ALL knew them! That is not what is at issue here. No one denied anything…except Brian! John didn’t even deny knowledge of something not right happening. He just didn’t know all that it involved. HE wasn’t sure of the extent of the accusations at the time he may have had the conversation with Clare. NO ONE denied anything! This is ridiculous!
I’d like to know if ANY of you in here have ever dealt with anything like this before ( danni is excluded as it is obvious she has) in your lives ( INCLUDING CLARE…did this ever happen in any church you were the Pastor of????) I HAVE and believe me it is NOT an easy thing to muddle through! Everyone seems to think the whole thing is so black and white and all evidence on either side should be very plain to see. IT IS NOT LIKE THAT! It IS a very hard thing to decipher it DOES cause great anger and animosity all around. It is the most horrific accusation that can thrown on a person. Sexual molestation of underage children is probably the WORST crime in our society. It brings out the worst in ALL of us, it is vile to our psyches and angers us all on a very primitive level!
Alvin:
You are very good at excusing John’s behavior. Very harsh with everyone else — but a great excuser for John. That’s why he continues to get w=away with his lack of integrity and leadership. People like you facilitate his weaknesses. Very sad. Why don’t you help the man grow? And stop excusing his behavior. There’s no excuse for how he handled this. All leaders have to handle tough situations and how we do reveals a lot about us — as this revealed a lot about John.
Clare-
What I am about to say I mean with all sincerity and honest concern. If I should sarcastic or insincere at any point know I do NOT mean to:
Buddy, you are about to hit the wall, crash and burn. The last thing your family needs now is YOU sick or having some kind of a mental breakdown! You are headed for a heart attack or stroke or some kind of a mental snap. They will need you to be strong. Imagine poor Natalie seeing Brian in prison or whatever and then her father is sick or worse! Can she really deal with that? Should she have to?
I DO NOT want to hear through the grapevine that shortly down the road you were hospitalized or worse! I do not want to read in the local papers or see on the local news you being taken from the courtroom in an ambulance on Monday! And please believe me when I say, GOD FORBID, that should happen DON’T let them take you to Wilkes-Barre General…it IS the closest to the Courthouse but really MAKE them take you to Geisinger…they have better care! That is IF it is medical– for a mental or psychological issue then I’d say Wilkes-Barre General because they can get you immediately into the stand alone mental health facility called Nesbitt which is the best in the area and that isn’t saying much! REALLY I mean all of this!
Clare you have no control over this situation and I DO think being on here and blogging about John and CCC has been your means of some kind of control. But come Monday you have NONE and I am not SO sure how you will handle that! Buddy, I’ve been there really I have. NOT the same situation but a series of situations NOT of my own doing that completely turned my world upside down! I tried in vein for years to control and blame and try and handle it all. That is when I realized I HAD NO CONTROL and could not change it or fix it it HAD to happen and God had the control and didn’t HE let it all happen in THE worst way possible…YEP HE DIDI! I was angry at HIM! I DID deny HIM briefly ( something I doubt you’d do and I am not implying you would ,I’m saying I DID), but of course that didn’t last and HE and I made our peace and HE is in control now, as it should be. BTW; I did seek Pastoral and secular Counseling therapy once I realized I COULD NOT change a darn thing and had to learn to adjust!
Pride goeth before the fall, vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord, all things in HIS time not ours…
There is a reason for this in your life…there is a reason for this in Brian’s life…there is NOTHING you can do to change it, you HAVE no choice but to accept it. Now go take care of yourself and your family and PLEASE realize I mean this in ALL sincerity and concern over where I fear you might be headed!
Alvin,
You are an idiot. If YOU represent the Butch’s, you are their worst enemy. If this is the quality of Christianity that is left at CCC, close the place up for good.
The joy that you and dwayne have expressed at the thought of “raymond” or anyone else being upset, getting ill, or anything else negative, during the sentencing is disgusting. No decent, God fearing Christian would ever take joy or comfort in seeing anyone else, Christan or not, in pain or discomfort.
I knew something was wrong at CCC when I read that half the board quit in protest of John remaining. Why John wasn’t fired for lying to the Board and the congregation was surprising by itself, but that half the Board quit? That was astonishing.
The Board hires the Pastor ….seems like at CCC it’s ran by John and Sandi and a few idiots, like you.
I’m beginning to wonder about the Church’s finances and procedures. If there is lying to the Board, who’s to say there isn’t malfeasance in it’s finances and other areas. I’m feeling strong conviction that the IRS needs called in to review what’s going on there, and a full non-profit status review needs completed.
Again, if even 1/4 of the congregation is as venomous, unfocused, and un-Christian like as you, dwayne, John, Sandi ….there needs to be a complete review of the Church’s records and accounting.
I’m also sending my prayers for the Judge that he’ll make the decision and sentence that he feels is best for all involved.
Alvin:
I do not receive this as sincere in the least. In fact it is uncalled for and out of line. I am not your buddy and I am not even close to the kind of physical situation you describe. Once again you just don’t understand how healthy people walk through these kinds oif situations. That’s not a pride statement — it’s just the reality of hgaving a healthy family and church to support you. Yes, sure, I’ve had to wrestle through some things, but nothing close to what you describe. So I’m asking you to please stop with your psycho analysis, your false accusations about my motives and your certainty that you know who I am, how I think or what I feel. You aren’t even close. Give it a rest — I don’t want or appreciate your thoughts about me or my family.
A believer in Chris are YOU insane?
I meant NOTHING bad– I really am concerned for him! I am taking no joy in this– where in my post did I say that? I WAS serious and real! You have to be absolutely crazy to even for a second infer that I mean anyone harm! I don’t agree with what dwayne said and I believe I even stated that! I do not agree with raymond but I wish him no harm Do you think I’d suggest the better hospital ( in my opinion and I have worked on the medical field before so I SHOULD know) in the area if I did!
You ALL have a way of reading into these post the MOST negative and conspiratorial things! I am sure there is no one (other than you and maybe a few crazier people in here) that would read what I said as some kind of negative thing. I think even Clare himself would NOT read it as negative–but I could be wrong.
An internal Revenue investigation? WHAT?? Actually… go AHEAD call them if you want– the books are audited yearly and things are quite on the up and up there! WHO are you insinuating is mismanaging funds????? Holy COW!! THIS is how this blog gets WAY out of hand. People making accusations that have NO merit!
Alvin,
Again, you post idiotic comments. The IRS does not annually audit CCC, or anyone else for that matter. I doubt you have any inkling what an audit really is or how much it cost. If so, you would know that the Church is not “audited” each year. At best, the Church will give an accounting to their tax person so that their return is filed, but that is far from an audit.
The tax person would count on honest disclosure that the expenses are accurately classified and 1099’s issued to anyone for all personal expenditures paid for by the Church. That, in and of itself, is an expensive process. A true “audit” would cost considerably more.
It sounds to me as if the Church has several “loose cannons” and that an indepth look at what is truly going on there would be in order.
Again, if YOU represent the best of what CCC has in their congregation today, then there is a need for inquiry. That you have not been chastised at all, or asked to tone down your rhetoric and personal attacks, by Sandi or John Butch speaks volumes.
Alvin:
Yes — just asyou have made all kinds of accusations with no merit about me. That’s been your MO from the beginning and it’s not appreciated.
This site is so out of control I can’t take it anymore. I have been reading it and I think that both sides have gotten so off track it isn’t even funny anymore!
These new posts that are saying that Alvin is trying to mean harm to raymond and that the chruch should be loked at by the IRS is so way off base! the real problem was brian. He did do somehting wrong! That raymond guy keeps saying it was Pastor John and the chruch, other people say brian didn’t do anyting wrong. BUT he did! No one cares about the girls in this they just want to argue about Pastor John and the church. the girls will be there Monday to see brian sentenced and hopefully the Judge will do the right thing. I’d hate to see him get JUSt probabtion.
I have never in my life come across people like “A Believer in Christ ” and Clare and God is in Control and Lannetts.
Of course I know what an audit is! Sorry if I miss spoke but the books are gone over every year ( by an accountant! and I know what 1099 is) and all is in good order. I can say that without a doubt!
WHY would Sandi Butch or John Butch tell me to do or not to do anything? This is a free speech Blog I have the right to be here as much as anyone else and I have the right to state my mind as others have. I have been pretty tame compared to some other ones!
Who said I represented the best of anything? Not me! I am FAR from it. And I do not represent the Butch’s…WHY do you even make that statement? And I don’t run anything at CCC so another statement that is WAY off base!
I really do NOT know how you are so illogical in the things you say. Just because you don’t agree with me or others makes us “loose cannons” and somehow you make the jump from being a “loose cannon” to the opinion that the funds for a church may be miss managed? Oh I am sure Sandi and John would love to read that comment from you and I am sure they would tell me to shut up for defending the fact that the books are completely clean!
Rhetoric? Have you re read the things you have said about Sandi and others?
WHO are you? One of the FORMER members who defected? If so then I can truly understand YOUR rhetoric and your own acidic, and vicious remarks!
To Another Godgirl– I know we are off track but you see THAT is exactly what Raymond and the Brian supporters wanted. To get us OFF of discussing Brian and have us defending Pastor John and CCC. And sadly, it has worked. I think you are right Godgirl, I will not argue nor defend any longer. The facts of this case are ALL now out there and people can make up their own minds.
To All:
This will be my last post before the sentencing hearing so I wanted to summarize and clarify some things before the sentence is given so anything I say is not conditioned by whatever is decided.
1. First, I want to apologize to those who know me if my tone has been too harsh in recent days. To be honest, at this point it’s difficult for me to discern with clarity how I’m expressing myself. I know that I have been frustrated by the continual attacks on my motives for doing things, but that is no excuse for using words in an inappropriate way. You are valued by me and I am sorry if I have disappointed you.
2. I can honestly say at this point that I have never been angry at any of the girls throghout this whole deal. I have expressed my doubts about credibility, but I really do want God’s best for their lives. However this goes on Monday, I hope it can be the beginning of a new era in their lives.
3. I know the whole John Butch thing has been focused on too much. I did intend to bring the issue to light in hopes that John and other leaders would realize the need to do things in a different way. I have oibviously failed in that regard. Maybe if I had been less persistent my sincerity would have been more obvious. I am saddened by the lack of understanding at how critical this was to really understanding what happened in this case. I know it has nothing to do with Brian’s guilt or innocence — that was never the point. It had to do with my hope that we could all have greater certainty about that guilt or innocence. Instead, a real disservice was done to the girls and to Brian and to our families and to both churches — PA and FL. That’s what I hope other church leaders will take away from this part of the discussion – even if it was brutal at times.
4. For the record, I never tried to use John or any other issue to get the focus off Brian. I was as interested as anyone in knowing what actually happened. In fact, whenever Brian was attacked I looked with interest to see if there was any information that would help my understanding. Sadly, that was seldom if ever the case.
5. I don’t believe I ever told anyone they shouldn’t post on this site. I can’t remember for sure, but I have always been in favor of an open discussion. My responses were never intended to shut people down, but to clarify and debate points so greater critical thinking would occur. To those who thought I didn’t belong on this site — I graciously disagree. I was not a material witness and I certainly had a vested interest in interacting about this case. I want to thank all of you who interacted with me with sincerity and thoughtfulness. I am only frustrated with those who continually assumed and posted motives. I still don’t get that. No one knows another person’s heart. That’s why I never insinuated WHY John or anyone else did anything. I only discussed what they actually did. Truth is, in most case we don’t even know our own hearts.
6. Regardless of what the judge rules on Monday, I will have no animosity toward him. I am praying for him as are a lot of people on both sides of this case. He could give a tough sentence to an innocent man or an easy sentence to a guilty man and we may never know which is the case or why. God could choose to work in all of our lives through either decision. Because of the story of Joseph I have never assumed Brian would come out fine if he was innocent. And we are all well aware of guilty people who are found not guilty. All that to say that I believe our family has prepared the best we can for either outcome and our goal will be to move forward and grow regardless. I have no doubt that God would want that. And I honestly hope the same is true for everyone else. For that reason I will not debate the sentence afterward. It won’t prove anything either way and it should not determine our futures — regardless of how difficult those futures might be.
7. I want to personally thank the people in the church in Florida for your unbelievable support of my daughter and Brian. You have been amazing — a true example of how awesome the church of Jesus Christ can be. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
8. I also want to thank my own church and friends for all your prayers and words of encouragement. Every one was needed and significant to us.
9. And believe it or not, I do pray for CCC — not in a self-righteous way — but sincerely hoping they can clear out the clutter from this event and move forward in a spirit of true community and truth.
10. As odd as it may sound to many of you, I still don’t have 100% certainty about what did or didn’t happen. That;s not because I haven’t asked the tough questions or because I don’t trust Brian. It’s because I would never assume anyone is innocent of anything. I understand the sin nature and I know that people on both sides of this could be lying, deceiving, misleading, etc. We could all be fooled on either side. The people involved could even be fooling themselves. I can’t speak for any of you, but I have decided to move forward and trust the people that I am in a relationship with because that’s what relationships are based on. I love Brian and he knows I will stand with him and be there for him regardless of how this all goes. That includes challenging him in whatever ways God so leads. So again, I don’t know for sure what happened, but I do know this — Brian has been a wonderful son-in-law, a great husband and a very devoted father. I think that gives us a very solid foundation for moving forward. And I hope the girls have a similar foundation as they move forward too. Our lives are too valuable and short to have this go any other way.
Finally, I want to express my confidence in the goodness and grace and justice and sovereignty pf God — regardless of what happens on Monday. I know He is more concerned with who we are and who we become than he is with our circumstances, our reputations or our careers, etc. That gives me the confidence to know that we can all move forward and gain from this experience if we have the humility to learn and grow – and yes that especially includes me.