MEGACHURCH SEX ABUSE SCANDAL: 12 Men Accuse Former Harvest Pastor of Child Trafficking in Romanian "Orphanages"
Twelve men have now filed federal lawsuits claiming they were sexually abused and trafficked by Paul Havsgaard, a former Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor, while living in now-defunct church-run children's homes in Romania.
The lawsuits also accuse the California megachurch's founder, Greg Laurie, and missions pastor Richard Schutte of negligence in failing to prevent the abuse and covering it up for 20 years.
Havsgaard, who worked at the Riverside, California, church for about 20 years, went on to start ten orphanages in Romania in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He allegedly used them to sexually abuse scores of children.
The abuse was "savage" and "prolific," according to the lawsuits, terrorizing the boys and girls who came to Harvest Homes because they were desperate and the ministry promised them hamburgers and a safe place to sleep.
"I know what God wants; what I want, God wants," Havsgaard allegedly told the children while abusing them.
The complaints detail sexual assault, inappropriate touching and abuse in which children were made to kneel on walnut shells or were tied to their beds.
Life at the shelter was like "a torture chamber inside a prison," with Havsgaard showing up regularly in the bathroom while boys were showering or undressed, staring at them or masturbating in their presence.
Harvest Christian Fellowship supported the orphanages financially but did not provide any oversight.
The lawsuits argue the church and its pastors knew of allegations against Havsgaard before he went to Romania in 1998 and were told in 2004 of "awful accusations" at the orphanages but chose to ignore them.
Pastor Steve Quarles told Schutte in 2002 "He doesn't need to be another day in Romania. He needs to be gone. He is an embarrassment to every single missionary and Christian worker".
Quarles and two other pastors did an audit of Havsgaard's ministry in 2004 and found extensive evidence of abuse. Schutte, the missions pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship, reportedly received the results in November 2004. He allegedly didn't do anything and continued to direct funds to the ministry for four years.
TAKE ACTION
Demand Justice for Romanian Abuse Survivors
- Contact Harvest Christian Fellowship – Demand full accountability and transparent cooperation
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
Twelve boys. Romanian street kids. Lured with McDonald's. Delivered into twenty years of rape.
Paul Havsgaard ran ten "orphanages." Harvest Christian Fellowship sent him $17,000 monthly. Greg Laurie praised him publicly.
"I know what God wants; what I want, God wants." That's what Havsgaard told children while raping them.
The church knew in 2002. They did an audit in 2004 proving the abuse. They kept sending money for four more years.
Havsgaard left in 2008. Harvest gave him $200,000 severance. Children were thrown back on the streets.
In 2009, Laurie praised Havsgaard as a faithful servant. Compared his work to Moses. While knowing what he'd done.
Now Harvest calls the lawsuits "financial extortion."
Twelve men came forward. Twenty more filing soon. Most still illiterate. All traumatized.
And Harvest protects its reputation.
This is institutional evil.
