jesus, sex and politics

Peternel returns to Life Church ‘broken’ after rehab for sex videos, conduct

Lead pastor of powerful Indiana church has lost pastors, families since son’s child sex abuse conviction, lieutenant governor still preaching there

3 hrs ago • Tom LoBianco

Peternel returning to Life Church, brother-in-law and sister resign as pastors

Powerful church of Indiana's Christian nationalist lieutenant governor has seen wave of departures amid scandal

Jun 8 • Tom LoBianco

Christian nationalist lieutenant gov’s embattled church key polling location in Indiana primary

Life Church’s lawyer co-chair’s elections board, lead pastor in rehab and pastor’s son in jail

May 5 • Tom LoBianco

Ind. pastor suspension could stretch to six months, Lt. Gov. Beckwith attacks Assemblies of God leaders

Closed-door meeting at scandal-racked Life Church provides first details of Nathan Peternel suspension, reveals confusion, concerns after son ruled sex…

Apr 23 • Tom LoBianco

Nathan Peternel stepping aside after investigation deems sex videos wrong

Head of powerful Life Church announces brother-in-law taking over while he enters “restorative process”, one week after son sentenced in child porn case

Feb 21 • Tom LoBianco

Peternel gets 6 years in child sex abuse case

Jonathan Peternel apologizes to father and mother in case which has wracked politically plugged in church

Feb 13 • Tom LoBianco

Pastors resign from Life Church

Head of youth ministry, Pendleton church campus leaving as Nathan Peternel, Ind. Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith try to stem departures

Jan 7 • Tom LoBianco

Families flee embattled Life Church amid abuse reports, child porn arrest

Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith said he’s sticking by lead pastor Nathan Peternel and Life Church, which is deeply intertwined with Beckwith's state…

Dec 17, 2025 • Tom LoBianco

Peternel says son hacked sex videos of him and wife while high

Head of Indiana lieutenant governor’s church does not address abuse reports, says he will continue leading church

Dec 7, 2025 • Tom LoBianco

Indiana Lt. Gov. Beckwith, state director of Assemblies of God McAtee tell congregation to ignore Peternel sex abuse reports

Head of powerful Life Church pried teens about sex in graphic detail, Peternel son facing four felony counts of child pornography

Nov 17, 2025 • Tom LoBianco

The Survivors of Stormfront

Nathan Peternel’s discussions with teens about sex, youth group hazing culture, scarred a generation who left Indiana church decades ago

Nov 13, 2025 • Tom LoBianco

Beckwith adviser's son gets public defender as church scandal grows

A dispatch from the courtroom where the son of a politically powerful preacher is facing four felony charges of child sex abuse and exploitation

Nov 10, 2025 • Tom LoBianco

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