Youth Pastor at Illinois Based Evangelical Church Charged With Sexual Exploitation of Teen Boy

Nearly all Evangelical Churches assert that homosexuality is a behavior and that marriage can only occur between a man and a woman. The Harvest Bible Chapel, based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois takes a similar stance on LGBTQ rights.

24 year old Paxton Singer formerly worked as the Youth Pastor at the church. He was fired by the church, with cause, in January of 2018. It has now been revealed that Singer was terminated for his interactions with a 16 year old boy who was a member of the Church.

Harvest Bible Chapel also notified the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services of their findings. Singer has now been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to prosecutors, Singer, “knowingly enticed a person under 17 years of age to remove their clothing for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification of the defendant or the child.” Authorities say the former pastor, “asked the unnamed 16-year-old for nude photos. He also purportedly inquired about the teen’s sexual habits and requested the two spend the weekend alone together.”

The Church was made aware of Singer’s inappropriate by other members of the Church. The Church’s senior executive pastor, Scott Mulvihill, said, “Three incidents related to the former employee in question were all reported to DCFS during the second and third week of January 2018.”

The website for Harvest Bible Chapel makes its position on homosexuality clear. The Church’s bylaws state that it, “is the sole authority in matters of marriage and sexuality for all people, and that marriage involves the sacred joining together of one man and one woman in faithful, permanent union.”