“THEY CHOSE TO LOOK AWAY”: SIX WOMEN SUE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD FOR DECADES OF ABUSE COVER-UP AS CHILDREN’S PASTOR PLEADS GUILTY

In a bombshell lawsuit that has sent shockwaves through one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world, six women have accused an Arkansas Assemblies of God church of systematically ignoring years of horrific abuse at the hands of a trusted children’s pastor. Filed May 20, 2026, in Craighead County Circuit Court, the suit names Refuge Church in Jonesboro—formerly Jonesboro First Assembly of God—and alleges that church leaders repeatedly buried warnings about Anthony “Tony” Waller, who later pleaded guilty to sexually abusing young girls and secretly recording them. According to court documents, reports of hidden cameras, inappropriate touching, and forced undressing during church activities date back to as early as 2000—yet Waller remained in his role for roughly 15 years, evading accountability while denomination leaders allegedly looked the other way.

The plaintiffs describe a chilling pattern of manipulation and institutional failure. One woman, Stephanie Davis, testified that in 2004, Waller forced her and other girls to strip naked and perform stretches while a hidden camera rolled in the bathroom. On another occasion, she claims Waller gave her a drink that left her “woozy” before she managed to contact her mother. Despite repeated pleas from victims and their families, church leadership failed to act, enabling Waller to continue exploiting children for over a decade. The lawsuit, which seeks undisclosed damages, argues that the Assemblies of God’s hierarchy knew or should have known of the danger but prioritized reputation over protection. Waller has since pleaded guilty to the abuse, but for the six women now stepping forward, the battle is just beginning—and they are demanding that the church, not just one predator, be held accountable.