ISP investigating allegations about Warsaw Pastor & Church

 

WARSAW, Ind.,  --- Indiana State Police is officially investigating allegations about the Warsaw Pastor at New Life Church who admitted to having a sexual relations with a female member decades ago, starting when she was just 16-years-old.

Pastor John Lowe II of New Life Christian Church & World Outreach has since stepped down from ministering, but some say that isn’t enough.

The announcement of the investigation came just days after the community and former congregation members protested outside the church on Sunday.

They told ABC57 they believe this move from ISP is the first step to getting justice for the victims.

“I was there to support the women who have come forward. Even though I didn’t experience any abuse myself, I had children. I had a daughter who was 16 years old at the time we went to church there and that really hit home for me,” said Melissa Holstein a former Members of New Life.

Holstein was one of many former new life members outraged by the allegations.

She joined others in the congregation at a protest outside the church, last Sunday, in hopes the victims voices are finally heard.

This all comes after an alleged victim confronted Pastor Lowe in front his congregation during a Sunday service two weeks ago when she claimed Lowe had sex with her starting when she was just a 16-year-old girl.

“It’s great that that’s being checked into to. It’s great that their voices are finally going to be heard because I feel like if it would have stayed In Warsaw I don’t think they would have,” said  Holstein.

“We as voices see this is as a good step forward to you know have the Indiana State Police do the investigation because it’s not so close to home for them,” added Nicholas Clark a member of the local organization of Voices Against Injustice who also joined Sunday's protest.

The decades old confession that came to light just two weeks ago, opened the door for more to come forward about abuse they said they experienced at New Life.

Some hope ISP's investigation is just the start, to getting justice for the victims that have stayed silent until now.

“How can that ever be a place of healing, which is what a church should be after people have experienced that stuff there. Like it just shouldn’t be there anymore,” Holstein.

The Indiana State Police Bremen Post Criminal Investigations Division is asking anyone who may have been a victim or a witness to reach out to them at 574-546-4900.

The Kosciusko County Prosecutor's also said at this time no charges have been filed.