Mexican megachurch chief convicted of kid intercourse abuse addresses fiercely loyal congregation from jail

Brady Knox

September 19, 06:17 PM September 19, 06:17 PM

The leader of a Mexican megachurch convicted of sexual abuse and kid molestation addressed his fiercely loyal congregation from jail by mobile phone.

Naason Joaquin Garcia, 53, chief of the La Luz del Mundo megachurch, is regarded by his 5 million followers to be an "apostle" to Jesus Christ even with the accusations versus him, according to the . He was arrested in California in 2019 underneath suspicion of in excess of 20 counts of little one sexual abuse, human trafficking, and youngster pornography, even though most costs ended up dropped when Garcia acknowledged a plea deal for decreased time. Struggling with 16 several years in a U.S. prison for the admitted sexual abuse of minors, the spiritual chief continues to be the head of his large congregation, not long ago addressing them by jail telephone driving bars.

MEXICAN MEGACHURCH Chief SENTENCED TO Around 16 Yrs FOR Youngster Sexual intercourse ABUSE

“I do not see the bars that different me from you,” he instructed his followers, the report explained. “I see your attractive faces ... mainly because you are the little ones of God.”

He later on questioned his followers to increase their hands and chant, "I guarantee you, Lord, that what ever the struggling, I will never abandon you."

Hundreds of his followers gathered in the key temple in Guadalajara to hear his newest address, with throngs of worshipers extending out to the avenue to listen to him. Many have been described to have broken into tears upon listening to his voice. The church users sustain his innocence.

“I assume it transformed for the improved in the feeling that now we feel a lot more united, and we really feel much more empowered,” a person church member told the outlet, talking of his conviction. “It has been a extremely hard difficulty, of class, for him and for us. We all go through a little something in everyday living, but a single learns to know these moments wherever you see that God is performing some thing to enable you, to get forward, not to enable you tumble.”

The church maintains that Garcia is innocent and only had to get a plea deal for a lesser sentence for the reason that evidence in opposition to him was doctored by the corrupt legal technique.

“The Apostle of Jesus Christ has experienced no decision but to accept with substantially agony that the settlement presented is the most effective way forward to secure the church and his relatives,” the church reported, according to the outlet.

Five of Garcia's victims testified in courtroom, working with anonymity to protect by themselves from backlash, and referred to as him “evil,” a “monster,” “disgusting human squander,” and the “antichrist” in their testimony.

He is claimed to have made use of faith to justify his abuse, telling the women they confronted everlasting damnation if they resisted.

“I worshiped my abuser,” his niece informed the court docket. “He applied me in excess of and over all over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter.”

The victims ended up outraged to hear of the plea offer, believing it was much also lenient.