May 22, 2026, 12:32 PM EDT This article belongs to the series “Pastors and Prey,” investigating sex abuse allegations within the Assemblies of God. A new lawsuit has reignited a long-standing issue within the church, focusing on Tony Waller, a former children’s pastor in Arkansas. The lawsuit, submitted by six women in Craighead County Circuit Court, asserts that the leaders at Refuge Church in Jonesboro, alongside regional and national Assemblies of God authorities, failed to address allegations against Waller, allowing him to continue abusing and exploiting young girls unnoticed for 15 years.
The women involved say that as children, they repeatedly informed church leaders about unusual activities, such as hidden cameras in bathrooms and uncomfortable interactions with Waller. According to the lawsuit, reports emerged as early as 2000, but leaders largely ignored these warnings. In 2004, Waller faced a brief suspension after a hidden camera was discovered in a church bathroom. However, he returned to his position and continued his misconduct until 2015 when his wife discovered incriminating images on his computer. In 2016, Waller was sentenced to life in prison for raping two girls.
Stephanie Davis, whose family reported Waller after he drugged and secretly filmed her at age 12, initiated the lawsuit. Her goal is to hold church leaders accountable and prompt the Assemblies of God to implement stringent child protection measures. Davis stated, “Tony’s in prison for life, and that’s good, but he’s not the only one responsible.”
NBC News had earlier uncovered these and other allegations during a yearlong investigation. This investigation identified a pattern spanning decades: churches reinstating accused ministers, failing to alert authorities, and allowing abusers back into positions of authority. NBC News discovered roughly 200 Assemblies of God leaders accused of sexual abuse over 50 years.
Despite guidance on child safety, the Assemblies of God has often resisted making these measures mandatory. They state, however, that they have encouraged their member churches to adopt prevention practices. After Waller’s arrest, Refuge Church, previously known as Jonesboro First Assembly of God, implemented enhanced safety policies, though they didn’t respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
Pastor Mike Glover, who hired Waller in 1999 and is named in the lawsuit, denies negligence and fault. He maintains that complaints about Waller did not include allegations of inappropriate behavior toward children.
The lawsuit details multiple occasions where church officials received reports about Waller’s behavior, including instances from Davis and her classmate, Elizabeth Dryer. Despite these warnings, the church took minimal action. In 2015, investigators uncovered hidden camera footage at the church, ending Waller’s abuse.
Davis has now taken her story forward with this lawsuit, aiming to ensure systemic changes within the Assemblies of God denomination to prevent similar abuses in the future. She hopes this case will lead to mandatory reporting policies and stricter safety standards, emphasizing, “These things could have been prevented if somebody had listened.”