Highpoint Church at all of our locations, Everybody watching online, I want you to know that we love you in an incredible way. And we are sincerely sorry for any dishonor — As a kid growing up in the church, I really looked up to the church leaders. If you’re a guest, I’m very sorry that you’re having to hear about a difficult subject. But I do pray — These were the people to emulate. Only love covers a multitude of sins. Andy is going to come and share with us at this time. The only apology, if you can even call it that, was when he ran out of the truck screaming, oh my god. Oh my god. What have I done? You have to take this to the grave with you. Love you. I’m going to sit, if that’s all right. Forgive me that I’m going to read something to you. That is not my normal flow. I called my mom and asked her if it was OK if Andy gave me a ride home. And she said yes. I want to read this partly to make sure I say what I intended to say, and also to help me get through what I need to say. He passed the turn to go to my house. And I honestly thought we were going to TCBY to get frozen yogurt. I don’t want reading this to minimize anything. I’ve never wanted to minimize anything about what’s taken place. Then he turned down a dark dirt road off the main road. As a college student on staff at a church in Texas more than 20 years ago — I just remember him unzipping his pants and asking me if I would suck his dick. If I would give him a blow job. I regretfully had a sexual incident with a female high school senior in the church. I looked up to him. I trusted him. So when he asked me to do that, I thought, this must mean he loves me. This is a man of God I look up to. I apologized and sought forgiveness from her, her parents, her discipleship group, the church staff, and the church leadership. What happened was a crime. This is not something that the church should handle internally. I remember asking, well, what’s going to happen now? And they just said that the church would handle it. Andy Savage was still teaching. In agreement with wise counsel, I took every step to respond in a biblical way. And I’m just aching inside because nobody’s doing anything. Once I had told more people, then they had to act. I resigned from ministry and moved back home to Memphis. I accepted full responsibility for my actions. Andy was allowed to go before the church and basically say that he had made a mistake and that it was time for him to move on. I did not attend that service, nor did I attend the going-away party that they had for him afterwards. I was and remain very remorseful for the incident and deeply regret the pain I caused her and her family, as well as the pain I caused the church and God’s kingdom. People were celebrating him, and showering him with love, and telling him how much they’ll miss him. And here I am struggling. I further disclosed this incident to Chris Conlee before coming on staff at Highpoint and have shared with key leaders throughout my tenure here. This incident was dealt with in Texas 20 years ago. He calls it an incident. He brings up how it was 20 years ago so many times. When this happened 20-plus years ago, I did everything I knew to do under the counsel I was given to cooperate with those involved, to repent of my sins, take responsibility for my actions, and seek forgiveness. I never sought to cover this up. Because nobody was saying the severity of what had happened, I was being blamed. It was, in their eyes, a consensual sexual sin. In hindsight, I see that more could have been done for Jules. I am truly sorry more was not done. Until now, I did not know there was unfinished business with Jules. So today, I say, Jules, I am deeply sorry for my actions 20 years ago. We as a church of all places should be getting this right. It’s unfathomable to me that the secular world, Hollywood, are taking a stand. The church should have been the first group to stand up and say, we will not allow this. My repentance over this sin 20 years ago was done believing that God’s forgiveness is greater than any sin. And I still believe that. Amen. I want our churches to change how they handle sexual assault and sexual abuse in the church. It’s a crime, not just a sexual sin. For any painful memories or fresh wounds this has created for anyone, I am sorry. And I humbly ask for your forgiveness. I love you all very much. [applause]