Pastor Steps Down After Underage Hooker Sting Bust

The Christian Post reports:

A Virginia megachurch pastor who is facing a felony charge of soliciting prostitution from a minor has agreed to step down from his leadership position at his congregation. John Blanchard, the lead pastor of the Rock Church of Virginia Beach, was one of 17 individuals arrested in an October sting operation aimed at capturing people seeking sexual relations with minors online.

In a statement posted to its website in response to the arrest, the Rock Church explained that Blanchard had “voluntarily stepped back as lead pastor and from all his ministerial duties until this present situation is totally resolved.” In December 2019, Blanchard was one of 200 evangelical leaders to sign a letter to Christianity Today denouncing an editorial calling for then-President Donald Trump to be removed from office.

Read the full article. Blanchard’s hooker sting arrest has resurfaced his 2019 charge for the alleged sexual assault of his church assistant, for which he was acquitted.

JUST IN: John Blanchard, the lead pastor at Rock Church in Virginia Beach, steps down after being charged with soliciting sex with a minor.https://t.co/sKNv3QL25z

— The Virginian-Pilot (@virginianpilot) November 3, 2021