Whenever her ex-husband would mistreat or betray her, Abbey Plummer said her parents would always end up contacting him.
“He was cruel,” she stated about her former partner. “He was physically cruel. And psychologically cruel.”
“Nothing was ever accomplished,” but they consistently claimed they would address (her spouse’s behaviors) ‘internally.’ Fellow members of their congregation would arrive. He was never held responsible. While they were not aware of every individual occurrence, they were aware of the majority. “His parents would conceal it,” Abbey Plummer added.
Plummer continued, “Complete manipulation, complete gaslighting.” “Am I the one going insane?’ You ponder, ‘Are you all pretending that what you’re putting me through is nothing?”. “It was complete gaslighting, complete manipulation.”
Last month, Pastor John Lowe of the Warsaw Church made national headlines when he confessed on video to “adultery” in front of his congregation, describing how that impacted his life.
The buzz quickly spread on social media and it went viral when a woman named Lowe confessed to having a “years-long” affair during her time at the Outreach World congregation and New Life Church, starting when she was 16. The confession was included in a video.
Many, including a member of the congregation who wished to remain anonymous, wondered how this secret relationship could have been hidden for so long – as commented by others on social media.
For four ex-church members who spoke to WANE TV, it was not unexpected.
The church’s mission would never be publicly talked about or downplayed by leaders if one were to talk about the abuse or sins within the church, where it is believed that the suppression of information is for the greater good – they discussed each other regarding a culture of information suppression.
Former members of the church told us that they felt a burden or guilt to speak out about wanting to be standing in the way of pastors John and Lowe’s attempts to save souls and keep people from eternal damnation.
Plummer, who was wedded to their son between 2002 and 2007, expressed, “Individuals who have not experienced the guidance or mistreatment of the Lowe family, they fail to comprehend the occurrence of such circumstances.” “They possess this authority over individuals.”
“If you have not experienced abuse, it is difficult to comprehend,” she included. “It is akin to Stockholm Syndrome.”
WANE TV contacted New Life and the Lowes through phone and email for this story.
There were no messages received.
A crew from WANE TV visited the residence of the Lowes in Warsaw recently.
Currently delivering sermons at New Life Christian Church & World Outreach, John Bryan Lowe, who was not in a marital union with Abbey Plummer, confronted the team at that location, specifically targeting one of the sons of the Lowes’, John Bryan Lowe III.
He refused to answer any questions from WANE TV or provide any comments on any story.
“I have no words of solace to offer,” expressed John Bryan Lowe.
In the event that they alter their opinions, the WANE TV team inquired if he would be willing to convey a letter containing contact details to John and Debra Lowe. Furthermore, he informed WANE TV that his parents would decline to answer any inquiries or respond to any communications pertaining to the story.
John Bryan Lowe stated that he would make an effort.
The Lowes have not contacted WANE TV yet.
Warsaw Calling.
Not much is definitively known about John and Debra Lowe prior to their arrival in Warsaw.
John Lowe, Debra’s brother, worked as a money collector for a drug dealer during his teenage years, and eventually resorted to stripping. When she was 16, Debra ran away from home. According to the story titled “Love Out and In: The Lowes” and the video profile hosted on the Club 700 website, Debra was previously abused as a child.
The profile part written on the CBN website is no longer available. However, a cached version of the profile remains here, which includes on-camera appearances from John Lowe and Debra Lowe.
Debra Lowe confided in a friend at a bar one night after a unsuccessful relationship, expressing her desire to make him her own and find another man who walked into the establishment. As she recounted the story of how she met John Lowe, she mentioned that the profile featured a video showcasing a “younger” version of herself.
According to the profile, that turned out to be John Lowe.
After five weeks of marriage, their relationship was characterized by turmoil. According to John Lowe’s written profile, he states, “Whom did she wed? A lunatic. A man with a volatile temperament; a man lacking in tenderness or gentleness; a man who struggles with communication; a self-centered individual who entered into marriage driven by desire.”
In the presence of his wife, John Lowe made a commitment to God during an Easter ceremony – somewhere. According to the profile, John Lowe shifted his focus away from football and other women after a miscarriage. The prospect of divorce became imminent.
The two stayed together.
According to Plummer Abbey, the video profile story of Lowe may contain some embellishments, but the gist of it remained largely the same. John Lowe grew up in West Virginia, while Debra Lowe hailed from New York.
Plummer indicated that there were multiple ex-members of the congregation who had not been witnessed previously. He clarified that the church served as a launching pad for them, where they exchanged their encounters with the Divine and spread the word to others.
In the eastern part of Warsaw, they ultimately relocated to a school and later to the present New Life Church building near U.S. 30, following their initial move from the basement.
According to ex-members, there were so many others who were drawn to go there – perhaps more in the spirit of sinners turning into saints – one of their stories was almost like going from rags to riches.
At that time, Kelly Thompson’s father was searching for a new place of worship.
At the age of 17, she mentioned that he introduced Kelly Thompson to these religious gatherings upon discovering John Lowe delivering a sermon from a residence’s basement on Washington Street in Warsaw at some point.
Kelly Thompson stated, “I participated in the inaugural religious gathering held in John Lowe’s basement.” She tied the knot with her spouse, Michael, after a span of two years. She further mentioned, “Debbie performed a song during my wedding ceremony. We were the initial couple to have John Lowe conduct our wedding.”
Throughout a full day, their daughter Sarah Thompson recalls eloping with her sister Laura. Afterwards, they relocated to Minnesota. They were given recordings of ceremonies and sent funds back to the religious institution. However, their affiliation with the church did not cease. Kelly and Michael relocated to Florida four months subsequently.
Upon returning, the family relocated to Warsaw, the place they had previously lived. Sarah Thompson mentioned that her parents requested prayers from the church.
Sarah Thompson, who is currently 34 years old, expressed, “We should revisit that church,” as they communicated with God in their thoughts. “We are relocating,” similar to my parents, but we were shattered. The reason we moved to Indiana is because of the church.
With multiple children in tow, the family relocated to Warsaw in 1995, and Kelly Thompson mentioned that they promptly found themselves at the church. They received a warm and gracious reception.
“Expressed Kelly Thompson, ‘We fully committed ourselves.’ Similar to the Lowes, we were already a part of their close-knit group. We were deeply involved and trusted members.”
Being a member of New Life Church.
The Thompsons started to gain prominence in the view of church authorities.
During services, Michael Thompson became a pulpit usher – which was almost like a security guard. Women’s ministry leader Kelly Thompson became.
Kelly Thompson said, “While in worship, all individuals are directed towards the stage. In order to ensure the safety of the congregation, Michael had the responsibility to be vigilant for any potential intruders or outsiders. If someone were to enter with a gun, he would be ready to jump in front of the bullet.”
Although she and her husband were being asked to take a logical step forward in the church’s leadership, they became entrenched in the church. Kelly Thompson, who was raised in an educated family and studied business in college, said she got sucked into Church Life New and today she feels embarrassed.
She expressed that one rapidly acquires the ability to deactivate analytical reasoning. The primary objective then becomes obtaining a leadership position and gaining acknowledgement and rewards from the pastor and his wife, given that the church encompasses one’s entire life.
According to Kelly Thompson, it was believed that John Lowe had been selected by a divine being to guide the community, and his decisions were always ultimate and unquestionable.
Kelly Thompson stated, “Chaos originates from the Greek word ‘why’, which was once taught by either Pastor Lowe John or visiting it.” “You were only taught to follow, never taught to ask ‘why’.”
According to Thompson, the Lowes observed the extent to which individuals would go to uplift others in the church, as if they gradually gained backing from individuals.
Kelly Thompson expressed, “they experiment with it, to determine its nature.” “If you are willing to surpass the usual expectations and actually do it, they grant you additional duties.” “Gradually, they involve you more and more if you willingly fulfill the requirements, and they demand a greater sacrifice.”
Thompson stated, “It’s more frightening to defy or doubt when you’re leading a life of belief in God, that we acquired.” “To be required to intervene to shield oneself from harm, nobody desired Michael, but if he did, you’re simply demonstrating the extent of your belief. As this widow who made the highest sacrifice, if my spouse was slain safeguarding the clergyman, he’s just turned into a martyr. I would become stronger.”
Later, Kelly Thompson would begin to see the other side of Lowes and question her devotion within the church, based on the teachings in the Bible.
She started attending New Church Life at Plummer Abbey when she was 14 because she liked the teachings and atmosphere there.
Teammates she and her, it was recommended that they attended church at the time the cheerleading coach. They went to a dramatic production called “Fire in Glory” where they witnessed a demonstration – the first time they went, showing whether people go to hell or heaven upon their death.
Plummer stated that Debra Lowe exhibited a significantly warmer and more friendly demeanor. He characterized John Lowe as being sufficiently pleasant, perhaps leaning towards arrogance and presenting a tougher outward demeanor.
When I first started going to church at 14, I heard allegations against someone at the church, which made half of the people think. Every couple of years, there would be new allegations coming out, splitting the church into two. As time went on, more and more allegations would surface.
Plummer recalls that no criminal charges were ever brought in relation to these accusations.
It was not uncommon for women unmarried to go before the congregation and confess their sins. What Lowe did in the viral video was such an uncommon act – he confessed before the congregation.
Plummer stated that she and her companions, similar to numerous adolescent females before and after them, also engaged in a “chastity” ceremony.
It was called a “purity agreement.”
The purity agreement is actually a series of courses leading up to the major occasion, both Plummer and Kelly Thompson mentioned.
Thompson Kelly repeatedly spoke the names of male and female genitalia to each other, bringing together a mix of teenage girls and boys in one of the first classes.
She stated, “As a result, Kelly Thompson immediately withdrew her children from the agreement.” Throughout her commitment, Abbey Plummer mentioned that she did not encounter that specific course.
They were given a “purity” ring to wear until their wedding day. They walked down the aisle together, surrounded by members of the church, family, and friends. Even before their wedding day, they made a covenant of purity at Plummer Abbey. She bought all her prom dresses and made a commitment to purity.
Essentially, they were vowing to refrain from sexual activity until that time.
Lowe experienced intimacy and she adorned it during the moments she and Lowe engaged in physical intimacy. She bestowed it upon her and Lowe made reference to the purity ring she received at the church, which is now being returned – in a state of repulsion – by the spouse of the woman Lowe admitted to having a romantic involvement with, as depicted in John B. Lowe’s widely circulated video.
Playful. Charming. Sociable. Sociable. She mentioned that he was a teenage son of the Lowes who approached Plummer and her friends while she was engaged in the church.
Plummer violated her “virginity” commitment.
Plummer said, “I experienced a sense of guilt about it, I’m uncertain whether he did.” “I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt,” said Plummer, “because we eloped for the reason that I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt.”
They were 19 when they got married.
According to those we spoke with, former members were made to feel a sense of guilt, which became a recurring motif.
There is a lot of discussion about sexuality, finances, and condemnation.
WANE TV informed the women who were interviewed in this article that the sermons at New Life Church were focused on sex. Every woman informed WANE TV that it was a dominant subject at the church, one that was discussed during Sunday services as well as in meetings of the youth ministry.
Sarah Thompson expressed, “They preached a lot about sex, always focusing on purity and sexual matters.” “I remember thinking they talked a lot about sex, as if I were a child.”
Kelly Thompson also mentioned that sermons frequently centered around sexuality.
She stated, “There was consistently a focus on sexuality.” “You all become upset with me for discussing sexuality constantly, but if you witnessed the number of individuals getting divorced as I do, it would be hard to believe,” John Lowe would even claim.
Now she wonders about the inappropriate moment, but maybe she didn’t think of it as such at the time. There were some moments in her circle where she would try to give her tickles, backrubs, or massages. She remembers there being a lot of physical contact at church, but Sarah Thompson said she was not physically abused there – she was just more outgoing and louder.
“I was not equipped with the skills to go into intimate relationships and adulthood,” Sarah Thompson said. “Partially, it was due to being sexualized like young girls, and partially, it was due to the people around me. Since then, I have suffered from sexual abuse.”
She mentioned that sexual chastity was significant.
So was providing.
“The donations were as lengthy as the preachings,” Sarah Thompson mentioned. “It was constantly providing, providing, providing.”
According to her, Kelly Thompson and her spouse regularly provided funds, funds that the family lacked, and now she perceives the church’s perspective on giving as a strategy to boost finances.
Kelly Thompson expressed, “Tithing holds immense significance.” “If you contributed, God would bestow blessings upon you, and if you abstained from giving, it would be detrimental to the community. We even observed 90 percent Sundays, where the expectation was not solely to give the traditional 10 percent tithe mentioned in the Bible, but rather, individuals were urged by God or the pastor to contribute 90 percent.”
Seeing it from a fresh perspective, Kelly Thompson referred to it as a “scam.”
“She stated that if you provide us with additional funds, God will bless you with increased monetary resources. Furthermore, by contributing to our cause, you will help us attract a larger audience, enabling us to have a global impact. We kindly request your financial support. However, she also acknowledged the resemblance of this system to a pyramid scheme, describing it as a perpetual loop.”
Sarah Thompson stated that questioning their methods impeded the act of rescuing spirits, and the Lowes were present to rescue souls.
Any doubts that something may be amiss in the events taking place within the church arose from something distinct, something unrelated to religious matters.
“If (troublesome emotions) arose, you were expected to say, ‘That’s the devil. Send him back down!'” Sarah Thompson stated.
Sarah Thompson stated that individuals were informed that if they came forward with allegations, the church would cease its operations.
“When you link someone’s perpetual deliverance or punishment to it, you’re merely confined in that circumstance,” Thompson stated.
Sarah Thompson desired to be a part of the church’s worship and praise group. She longed to vocalize and recollects spending almost every day at the church during her childhood.
Upon the request of one of the Lowes’ children, the church declined her request as they were holding a place for her sister.
Descending into mistreatment.
Plummer Abbey said that she came home from college one day and stayed in Warsaw with a friend whom the Lowes’ son got married to.
They later went to the church to inform John and Debra Lowe.
She believed that she made the correct decision, she stated. They were engaged in sexual intercourse. They needed to tie the knot.
Plummer mentioned that the mistreatment began shortly thereafter.
Plummer stated, “He strangled me on multiple occasions.” “On the rug, he would press my face into dog urine whenever our dogs had accidents.” “He hurled objects once and caused a candle warmer to fall, and then pressed my face down to remove the wax from the floor.” “He pulled me by my hair.”
She continued, “Throughout my entire college experience, I had written a paper and saved various things on these disks.” “He became angry and threw both the laptop and the disk, and it accidentally sliced my nose.” When a school staff member asked, “What happened to your face?” I simply replied, “I accidentally scraped it while bending down on my way up.”
Plummer expressed, “The unfavorable incident occurred with my canine companion. We had her for a few years. Furthermore, we were only permitted to possess one, however, he was aware of my desire to keep my dog. Subsequently, we acquired another one, and the property owners discovered.”
According to his admission, Plummer stated:
While I was at work, she had an accident with her car on the road. She got out of the car, dumped it, and left it on the road. Then, he put it in his truck and placed her bag in a Walmart bag. He did it again, as she was still moving. She rolled down the hill, and her head smashed into a tree with a dog leash. He took both dogs to a field.
That was an allegation that did not astonish Sarah Thompson when she learned about it.
“I witnessed (him) physically harm a few canines in my presence in the past,” she recounted.
Plummer stated that their attempts were consistently directed towards mitigating the magnitude of the incident. She mentioned that they possessed sufficient knowledge, although they might not have been aware of every individual occurrence. Plummer informed John and Debra Lowe about the mistreatment.
“Regarding the matters, it reached a stage of, ‘Oh, it occurred once more?'” Plummer stated while describing the Lowes’ casual responses.
Other people in the Lowes’ inner circle, other church members, would come and tell her that it was okay, according to Plummer.
Plummer asked, “Am I exaggerating too much?” They thought, ‘Where did you get it from, or should they not say it,” we need to keep the house, but we need to deal with something. This sounds like they would just make it initially.
Plummer explained how individuals within the church would respond without any feeling or gravity when informed about the mistreatment.
Once again, he cheated on her, saying, ‘Oh, did he kill her dog?’ Once again, he cheated on her, saying, ‘Oh, there must be something wrong with me, like dealing with something wrong’ Because it is a big deal, it feels like I am acting alone in my circle, because there must be something wrong with me, like dealing with something wrong.
Plummer stated, “It was not until I eventually began confiding in individuals outside of that Lowe group, and these individuals were saying, ‘You must leave that place immediately. Your safety is at risk.'” (The Lowes) expressed, “Our concern was never about you getting divorced, but rather about your safety.”
Plummer continued, “Due to the actions he subjected me to, I was naturally discouraged from contacting the authorities.” “Because of that, you wouldn’t want it to become public knowledge,” he remarked.
In order to have clear thoughts or extricate herself from the situation, she claims it required a significant amount of time. Plummer believes this is one of the reasons why it took the woman such a long time to come forward with allegations against John Lowe.
She expressed her remorse for not approaching the authorities. Concern for the safety of her mother and friends always plagued her, fearing that he might harm them. His intimidating demeanor made her apprehensive about facing any consequences.
When she first separated from her ex-husband, Debra Lowe begged Plummer not to leave her son and she wrote him a letter asking him to stay.
“I know that my son has hurt you, but please let me help. Both your dad and I are here for you. Debra Lowe, who came from TV WANE, said that she received a handwritten letter from Plummer, which reads, ‘I really must know that you are hurting right now.'”
Plummer warns that marriage is a decision regarding life and death, and the letter goes on to say that Satan comes to steal what has value, which is your marriage. Plummer advises against leaving the door open to emotions and flesh, as it could lead you astray.
“You will feel remorse for any choice you make out of pain,” the letter states.
However, Plummer’s plan led her to a new position in South Bend.
Coming forward.
After the video of John Lowe became popular, individuals started stepping forward.
The church shut down its social media presence, and protests began to happen. Initially, these protests occurred on traditional media platforms, but then they spread mainly on social media. Leaders of Church Life New came under scrutiny and faced accusations of control or abuse, which were shared more on social media than on traditional media outlets.
Sarah Thompson’s sister and Laura Bohnke, who is Kelly Thompson’s daughter, are the ones who came forward with allegations of abuse.
She stated that a man started grooming her when she was eleven years old.
She mentioned that the person responsible for it was Abbey Plummer’s prospective spouse, who is 18 years old.
He noticed that your breasts are bigger than your sister’s and would say things like, “Wow, you’ve already noticed!” He would pull me aside and prey on me when I was already going through puberty. That’s quite lovely.
Bohnke shared her narrative on Facebook following the widespread video.
She posted on Facebook and reached out to WANE TV, stating, “He exhibited courage and fearlessly showed his abusive behavior.” “Right before he left,” he confided in me, saying, “‘You should consider shaving your legs,’ while everybody was present, as he placed his hand on my leg and moved it up my Monarch (the school operated by the church) uniform skirt. He stood on the opposite side, while my mom was securing my younger siblings in the car. I still recall that moment.”
“Bohnke expressed,” He was aware of my discomfort and desired him to cease. “Due to this,” he would inform me that God was aware of our future marriage, justifying his actions.
She included, “Moreover, he informed his parents that he held this conviction as well.” “As a notably reserved youngster, I recall being obligated to perform on stage alongside his mother due to his deception of expressing my desire for greater proximity to her and engaging in a unique activity, all on the pretense that she would become my future mother-in-law.”
In his statement, Bohnke stated that the particular son of “Lowes” molested me at his home, church, and school. He knew that he had a problem with controlling himself sexually and allowing children to be abused, but he did nothing about it.
Bohnke mentioned, “that prevented her from speaking up,” caused a combination of “overwhelming embarrassment” and “paralyzing remorse” for her, regarding the actions of the man. She consistently desired to act morally. She remained silent for an extended period of time.
She wrote, “This cult’s power is to make you feel guilty for each of their wrongdoings, keeping us silent for so long, the victims.”
She mentioned her former partner, mentioning that she was 16 at the time. The incident she felt comfortable discussing took place in 2005, but it wasn’t until 2002 that her family departed from the religious institution.
Eventually, she and her family went to the authorities.
Kelly Thompson said that it was challenging to come forward for anything at the church, even before approaching the police.
Kelly Thompson expressed, “By refraining from challenging authority, you ensure that you remain within the protective embrace of God. Demonstrating unwavering trust in God is closely tied to following imperfect leadership. These individuals have been appointed by God’s own choice to govern over you; thus, criticizing them is essentially criticizing God or opposing His will.”
Kelly Thompson stated, “It is both flattering and ego-boosting, as well.” “It is also acceptable, but he tends to display excessive confidence and engage in inappropriate, unlawful, or unethical behavior. Additionally, if someone is a pastor, people often assume that everything they do is morally correct, even if they don’t read the Bible themselves.”
Bohnke, together with a family case manager, furnished WANE-TV with a duplicate of a report from the Indiana Department of Child Services, which contains information regarding an interview conducted with Bohnke and her mother, Kelly Thompson.
According to the report, Det. Todd Sautter and Investigator Charlene Johnson from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department were both present at the interview, which occurred at the sheriff’s department.
The man identified in the report is one of the sons of Lowes’ Plummer Abbey, who is married to the same woman but has not been convicted of a sex crime, as TV WANE does not name him.
The report states:
Laura reported that she no longer has contact with the man from the Thompson family who used to go to church with her. She mentioned that he frequently made inappropriate sexual comments and touched her without informing anyone. The man would also hug her from the side and behind, often fondling her breasts.
The lie detector test declined to administer to the gentleman. There was no physical contact and they had a romantic relationship, Laura and the gentleman informed Sautter. Laura was touched in an inappropriate manner, and the gentleman denied it. Laura was advised to seek counseling at Bowen Center by FCM. The findings of the interview were communicated to Kelly by FCM and discussed with her.
Some portions will be censored, despite the fact that the report will be presented to the prosecutor, as mentioned by Detective Sautter in the document.
The case is closed. The report is substantiated based on Laura’s statement. It was confirmed by all FCM and Johnson, Sautter that Laura had been sexually abused and her testimony was truthful.
Officials from the Department of Child Services in Indiana were unable to provide a comment regarding this particular report.
Since the request was officially rejected, WANE TV submitted an official records inquiry to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, inquiring about any police reports or call logs related to Laura Bohnke (then Thompson) during the years 2005 or 2006.
“There is no documentation of a law enforcement report by this organization,” a sheriff’s representative wrote to WANE TV.
An email was sent to Dan Hampton, the Prosecutor of Kosciusko County, asking for records detailing whether officials ever spoke or received a report from Laura Bohnke regarding the claims against the identified man in the DCS report.
I cannot disclose any information during an ongoing investigation that you may know about regarding the subject of your request. Thank you for your inquiry.
Kelly Thompson said the man in the report was heavily involved in children’s church worship during her time at New Life Church.
Kelly Thompson expressed, “It appears incredibly exploitative at present.” The church had segregated the children into different rooms based on their ages, and he would transition from one room to another, guiding worship in each.
Kelly Thompson said that she had wished for more aggressive action to be pursued, but it is not clear what parts of the report have been redacted.
“I believe both of us would accomplish more at present,” she expressed.
Rallying around.
John B. Lowe confesses to adultery in the livestream video, as some church members surround him and applaud while standing in the video. However, it happened 20 years ago, he said.
Based on the public remarks included on that live broadcast footage, the response to the admission caught certain individuals by surprise.
Church congregants would consistently come together to support fellow members in an endeavor to safeguard the reputation of the church, sharing their anecdotes with WANE TV or through various social media platforms, recounting instances that left others less astonished.
One remarkable instance of this coming together around a church member can be observed in the situation of Dylan Houser.
Houser is presently serving a prison sentence after being found guilty of serious charges of sexual misconduct with a minor.
The woman’s family and church trusted him well, as he was the leader of the church’s security team. He started sexually abusing her at the age of 14 and had groomed her since she was 13. After the aftermath of Lowe’s confession, a woman posted her story on Facebook, discussing how Houser had manipulated her.
The woman stated in her post that Houser was highly skilled at maneuvering situations in order to have private encounters with her. According to court records from Kosciusko and Wabash counties, Houser initiated a sexual relationship with the young girl when he was 21 years old.
“He implanted such a great amount of terror to maintain the confidentiality,” the woman penned.
As per court records, eventually her father discovered and law enforcement did become involved.
According to records from the Indiana Department of Corrections, his earliest potential release is in 2024. Court records indicate that Houser pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual misconduct with a minor in Wabash County and two charges of sexual misconduct with a minor in Kosciusko County.
Even though the age of consent in Indiana is 16, the judge asked for leniency in sentencing for the consensual relationship and the defendant’s support letters. Additionally, members of his church came to court to show their support in 2019 during his sentencing in Wabash County.
One of the registered nurses wrote in a letter that the girl would frequently be in the hallway with Dylan. Dylan, who would be part of the security team, would be stationed in the hall outside the sanctuary during church services.
“She would laugh but not go back to work. They would be in the corridor laughing and joking,” the letter continued.
The letter partially blames the parents for allowing the girl to hang around Houser. But, there are many people who have responsibility in this. Yes! Did Dylan do something wrong?
Another letter comes from the mentors at New Life Church, who met with Houser and his wife for eight weeks after charges were levied against him. They wrote about how precious it is to judge the love of another couple and what it means to lay down one’s life for another, rather than giving oneself for the sake of another person. They are learning more and more about what it means to take care of themselves, rather than relying on someone else.
According to court records, Houser acknowledges his actions and assumes accountability in a written communication to the court. Despite his unsuccessful attempts to have his sentence altered, he has recently petitioned to complete the remaining duration of his term through participation in a probationary initiative.
His victim expressed in her Facebook post that no one extended assistance or offered prayers to her or her family. However, during the court proceedings, 17 families from the church wrote to the judge, maligning her and her parents by attributing blame to her and portraying the situation as a consensual relationship. They also emphasized the man’s transformation and claimed that he is now a virtuous individual.
Moving on.
Kelly Thompson started observing occurrences that were not aligned with her interpretation of the Bible.
Kelly Thompson stated, “Although it may appear insignificant, I was an individual who placed great importance on adhering to the teachings of the Bible.” She further mentioned, “On a particular occasion, we accompanied children and various individuals from (New Life Church) on a shopping trip to assist in providing meals for Thanksgiving. We visited Aldi and maneuvered carts and baskets while purchasing groceries.”
“You are not supposed to give to be known. Let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. When you know, do not give. I knew all about it. That’s not biblical, and John Lowe wanted to take a photo for the newspaper. We got together well after having this food.”
Her response to the circumstance was:
Before God, I desired my children to witness me assert myself, but I recall feeling scared at that instant, uncertain of how this situation would unfold before my children. She mentioned that he was extremely angry that I would not participate in the picture. Soon after, (John Lowe’s daughter) approached me and revealed that he genuinely desired my presence in the photograph. Consequently, I retreated to another room and excluded my children from that picture.
Kelly Thompson expressed that she had the sensation of having to select either Pastor Lowe’s path or God’s path.
Kelly Thompson stated that she removed her children from the school affiliated with the church after withdrawing them from the commitment to purity. Consequently, they ceased occupying their regular seats during the church service, and subsequently, the Thompsons withdrew their entire family from other involvement in ministry activities.
Shortly after, her family ceased to attend every service, according to Kelly Thompson.
She remarked, “You must depart gradually, in a religious sect-like establishment such as this.” “We departed discreetly upon our departure. We didn’t desire to disseminate any rumors.”
Accusations emerged from her sister. Then, the issues were noticed by the parents before they left, thinking about the children. Sarah Thompson says that the parents thought the children were not in tune with what was happening within the church.
Sarah Thompson remarked, “They are feeling remorseful.” Lately, I didn’t realize how much the church was impacted by us, and I am not aware of their thoughts. We weren’t aware of the things they were saying or the fact that they were feeling that way. There have been numerous instances of such occurrences.
Reflecting on the past, Sarah Thompson expresses that “the emotion experienced is that of relief.”
If I saw one of them crying and sitting there, I would hide from them either at Lowes or at Glenbrook Mall, where I used to work and where I would often see them.
Sarah Thompson continued, “I had recurring dreams where I felt a heavy weight on my shoulders, like I was heaving as Atlas does in the world.” “I think my subconscious was under a lot of stress there, while I went to church.”
“After you depart, you’re simply pleased you successfully made it out,” she expressed. “You acknowledge your fortunate circumstances.”
Abbey Plummer is no longer residing in the region and has remarried, having children.
Debra Lowe, who hadn’t heard from Plummer in years, prompted WANE TV to screenshot a text message provided by Plummer. Later, she commented on a Facebook post about her time at New Life Church.
“I’m really saddened to see what you said, especially since there have been so many hurtful and foolish things on social media in the past. I wonder if it would help anyone to take a break from Facebook and not think about the things that hurt and annoy us.
The message continued, “I pray that God would heal the hurts that my son caused you during those years, knowing that time can also heal.”
Plummer is not astonished by anything she has heard but is taken aback that something significant actually occurred.
According to a press release, the investigation was initiated by The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, but later transferred to the Indiana State Police due to a “conflict of interest.” The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office commenced an inquiry into the possible occurrence of a crime following John Lowe’s resignation as a pastor.
According to the laws of Indiana, the age of consent is 16, unless it pertains to a unique connection.
Child seduction occurs when an individual (1) maintains or previously had a professional connection with a child under the age of eighteen (18) and is aware of their age being less than eighteen (18); (2) may exert an undue influence on the child due to their current or past professional association with the child; and (3) utilizes their professional relationship to partake in sexual intercourse, other forms of sexual behavior (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5), or any acts of fondling or physical contact with the child, with the intention of arousing or satisfying either the child’s or the individual’s own sexual desires. According to the Indiana code, this is considered as “an individual who commits child seduction.”
At issue is whether the statute of limitations has run out, or is now extended due to John B. Lowe’s video confession.
“Usually, they’d cover everything up,” Plummer said of the church. “All you’d ever hear is what (the Lowes) wanted you to hear.”.
“Why?” She inquires, as these allegations surfaced, enveloping and shielding him who made an attempt, for those who empathize with John Lowe, or for those present or past members of the church, the intentions of the woman who stepped forward, who might doubt those who might doubt the intentions of the woman who stepped forward. And to those.
Plummer expressed, “He has had 27 years to admit it.” “Furthermore, you are unaware of the information conveyed to (the woman) previously, or the false beliefs they may have instilled in her,” he added.