MorningStar Ministries Faces Sex Abuse Lawsuits Following Shocking Allegations

A South Carolina-based church is now facing lawsuits over allegations of sexual abuse and grooming at the hands of a youth group leader. According to reports, the church’s leaders failed to act to protect young members despite clear warning signs.

Randall Hood is now representing victims as they pursue justice and seek accountability from their abusers.

The MorningStar scandal and allegations

MorningStar Ministries is a South Carolina church. The church’s youth group, Young Special Forces, was run by a former Marine and police officer, Erickson Lee. According to allegations from the young teens who were a part of the group, Lee groomed, abused and assaulted minors. The conduct reportedly began in 2018 and continued into 2023.

Accusers say that Lee provided boys as young as 13 with vapes, alcohol, and pornography. Other allegations include:

• Forcing the victims to sleep naked in the same bed as him
• Intimidating, handcuffing and tasing victims
• Providing alcohol to minors during a trip to Camp Lejeune and then coercing them to shower together while Lee watched

Reports also indicate that once word began to come out about the abuse, Lee and Chase Portello, a volunteer at the church, proceeded to intimidate and threaten the victims.

In September of 2024, Lee pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the abuse. He was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Unsettling additional allegations have continued to come out against MorningStar’s leadership. Around 30 women now claim that church leaders abused them, indicating that the abuse and cover up might not be limited to one or two bad actors.

Church leadership and the abuse allegations

The reports of severe abuse at MorningStar have impacted the leadership of the ministry. Rick Joyner, the founder, is facing accusations that he ignored the abuse even after he learned of the misconduct. Joyner denied the allegations, referring to them as “wildly untrue.” Some victims and others condemned Joyner’s denials as being insensitive.

MorningStar’s president, Chris Reed, resigned in August 2024 and started a separate ministry, which caused conflict among church leaders.

Civil lawsuits against MorningStar

Three lawsuits have been filed against MorningStar’s leaders, Lee, Portello, and some unnamed defendants who allegedly enabled or ignored abuse. All of the cases suggest widespread, systemic failures at the ministry.

The church defended the charges by arguing that the matter should be handled internally, citing “ecclesiastical privilege.” MorningStar filed motions to dismiss based on this theory. Ecclesiastical privilege stems from the separation of church and state, and in some circumstances, served to protect religious leaders who did not report cases of abuse. The policy has faced criticism, especially in relation to the widespread Catholic church abuse scandal.

“This situation is endemic in many situations in churches in the United States – allowing unfettered power to go unchecked,” said attorney S. Randall Hood, “It’s a tragedy.” Hood is representing victims of the abuse and their parents.

Oddly enough, the MorningStar ministry even took over the campus formerly known as Heritage USA – which was the home of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s ministry, which ended decades ago because of a highly publicized scandal.

Identifying grooming behaviors

This case offers a clear example of grooming behaviors that an abuser used to gain trust of victims and their families. Actions like giving underage teens liquor and pornography are just a few of the behaviors that should have sparked concern from any witnesses. Anyone in a position of authority at a religious institution, school, and all parents should know some of the signs to look out for, which include:

• Giving a child or minor gifts, money, toys
• Taking the target child or children on trips or isolating them
• Complimenting the child
• Listening to the target child’s feelings and validating them
• Expressing interest in the child’s hobbies
• Providing alcohol, drugs, or pornography to the target child
• Sharing secrets with the child, and making them feel important
• Demonstrating favoritism toward the child

Serving in the community in a trusted role is also a tactic an abuser may take to try to endear themselves not only to the target of the abuse, but their family.

How the law allows victims to find justice and hold abusers accountable

Taking legal action in a sexual abuse case allows victims to expose their abusers and hold them accountable for their actions. Institutions, like the MorningStar ministry, can also be forced into enacting policies that will prevent future abuse from occurring or persisting. While criminal charges, like those filed against Lee, penalize abusers, civil lawsuits can offer other forms of restitution.

For instance, a sexual abuse case may result in damages for:

• Lost income: Sexual abuse may cause a survivor to miss work. In cases involving minors, parents might need to miss time at work to take care of their child.
• Medical care: If the victim seeks medical attention following the abuse, they may be able to recover damages for their expenses.
• Pain and suffering: Victims in sexual abuse cases can recover for their mental and emotional pain and suffering.
• Therapy and mental health care: Sexual abuse can take an enormous toll on a person’s mental health and emotional well-being. Victims can recover for their therapy and other related costs.

If you or a loved one suffered from sexual abuse, a South Carolina sexual abuse lawyer can help you understand your rights and legal options.

Contact McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC to speak to one of our attorneys. We offer free, confidential consultations.