Sammy Nuckolls is the Southern Baptist evangelist and former Lifeway youth camp pastor who last year was caught using a hidden camera to secretly videotape women in bathrooms. Friday Sammy received his 10-year sentence after being found guilty on 13 counts of video voyeurism - perpetrated against women as young as 17 years of age.
This is great news. It is not often that a perverted pastor gets justice for his deeds.
This, my friends, is why the father/son pastor duo at Berean Baptist Church here in Jacksonville fought so hard to keep the voyeur video that police said was created by Tom Neal secret and kicked a church member out who tried to tell the truth - until at least the statute of limitations had run out. Someone at Berean Baptist secretly videotaped women undressing - and police who conducted the investigation fingered Tom Neal but couldn't press charges because too much time had elapsed.
So Tom Neal, "man of God", is still preaching in his three-piece suit in Jacksonville, but Sammy Nuckolls will have to preach in his prison garb for the next ten years. No difference, just Sammy got caught and didn't have the laymen to help protect him from the cops.
Probably the most disgusting thing I've read today about Nuckolls' sentencing is a quote from the minister who is counseling Nuckolls and provided testimony in Sammy's defense. Says minister Eric Garner:
"It's proven to me how Satan can enter your life and bring you to your knees and get you do do things you otherwise wouldn't do."
Yep, Nuckolls is just a victim of Satan himself. Poor Sammy. The devil "entered his life", drove Sammy to his knees (which he had to do in order to hide the camera), and the devil got Sammy to do something he wouldn't otherwise have done. Complete rubbish. The devil didn't make Sammy do it. Sammy did it. He knew the risks. He knew the damage he was doing. Poor Eric Garner doesn't have a clue. In fact if this is how he is counseling Sammy, Sammy will probably be a repeat offender if he gets out of prison alive.
Instead, the judge has it right. He is sending Sammy for psychological analysis. The judge didn't blame the devil. He blamed Sammy. The judge believes Sammy suffers from psychosis.
Judge Gerald Chatham said it best when he told Nuckolls: "You violated the trust of these young women. You robbed them of dignity. First time I ever heard the expression video rape but I supposed that's what it is."
Lastly, kudos to Nuckolls' victims who bravely testified at the sentencing hearing - no doubt their testimony helped the judge decide on such a stiff penalty.
28 comments:
Wonderful news! Does my heart good.
Interesting the sexual sins that advances in technology has enabled in secrecy. Rape, fornication, adultery are committed without ever physically touching another individual but sins nonetheless. And the long-term emotional affect on others is not to be overlooked or minimized.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. Eph 5:11-12
Wow! Another proud moment in Southern Baptist history. You guys should all take a bow. Plagiarizing pastors, video rapists, spiritual abuse, extorting money and calling it "biblical tithing", and the list goes on and on...
The old "The Devil Made Me Do It" defense. "What you see is what you get"...What he saw is what got him 10 years.
Nice work, Tom. This disgusting nonsense needs to be exposed and exalted pastors need to be knocked off their self-imposed thrones.
He is a pervert and deserves to go to jail.
But my prayer is he will be restored and come back to the ministry God has gifted him to do.
My soul aches to see all the devil is doing in our generation.
I am praying Sammy Nuckolls will mend his ways in prison. But the society at large, there is a big problem of many, many people with sexual addictions that are hidden and this reflects in the Church too. The only way out is for this to be brought out in to the light. And this happens when one confesses their sins to one another. I am hoping one would be able to share their hidden secrets with their spouses and get help. If one is in a ministry and one has these addictions, they need to move out of ministry and take other jobs.
"My soul aches to see all the devil is doing in our generation."
Flip Wilson theology.
I am often amazed at how people seem to know so much about Satan, especially since the Bible says so little.
I worked a couple of years at a Fuge camp. One night, I made a mistake that nearly completely ruined a drama presentation from one of the youth groups. One of the members of the church came to me, not knowing that I made the mistake, and said that Satan tried to disrupt the service.
I often laugh that unknowingly I have been called Satan.
Don't coddle the guy. Satan didn't make him do it.
Anonymous - I like restoration, but a pastor with that kind of background is a complete distraction. Behavior like that is commonly repeated. A church should not have to concern themselves with wondering if/when their shepherd re-offends. For the sake of the church, he needs to stay out of leadership. There are plenty more well-qualified shepherds who have no baggage.
Aside from that, it sure looks like a convicted pervert would not meet biblical qualifications (1 Tim 3:1-7). Note especially verses 1 and 7
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer
1 must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,
2 sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity ekeeping his children submissive,
5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
To use the term "minister" to describe Eric Garner is incorrect. He is not an ordained minister nor is he on the pastoral staff at his church.
In Celebrate Recovery, the person leading a CR group is called a "ministry leader." That term was developed by the CR leadership at Saddleback Church (where the program originated in 1991).
I've been involved in several CRs, and very, very rarely do you see an actual ordained minister head up a Celebrate Recovery group.
The groups are led by everyday broken people who find healing and recovery from their "hurts, habits and hang-ups" through our Higher Power - Jesus Christ. CR leaders go through extensive training at regional seminars and at the annual CR Summit at Saddleback. Pastor John Baker, who founded CR, and other national directors lead the seminars.
Wow, are we stooping to new levels or what? Making light of someone going to prison? I'm not taking up for him, what he did was wrong but where do we get off being judge and jury? Where do we come off being smug as if we were all that and a bag of chips and never sin. Maybe we didn't commit these same crimes but who's to say we won't fall into one of Satan's traps in the future (maybe worse, who knows). Instead of making light of this situation we ought to be praying for all involved and remembering, there, but by the grace of God, go I. The Bible says, take heed, lest you fall. We might want to be careful here, I'm just saying.
Anonymous,
Your compassion is misplaced. It's justice for the victims that I applaud and hope for their healing. The perpetrator violated the civil law that is in place specifically for the protection citizens. Unfortunately, had he been remorseful of his sin, he would have turned himself over to the authorities himself. We should be happy that the sentence brings home to him the seriousness of his crime as it obviously escaped him during the commission of these acts. That's what the law does...not only the law of our land, but the OT law. It shows us how serious sin/crime against others is.
Our focus and concern should always be for the victim.
Are any of us above doing actions like what Sammy did?
We have all sinned, we all lust, we all lie, we all deceive.
Sammy just got caught.
Moses was a murderer, Paul was a murderer, Noah was a drunk.
Sammy will come back with an incredible testimony of God's grace just like the other heroes of the Faith.
Anonymous,
Moses killed in defense of those who were being abused and mistreated. His sin did cost him 40 yrs. in the desert if I'm not mistaken.
Paul killed in the service of his country to quell a rebellion against Rome. He specifically said after his conversion that he did so in ignorance.
Scripture doesn't say Noah was a drunk, although he did over indulge once that we know of. But we do know scripture says he walked with God and was righteous and obedient and believe by faith.
Sammy Nuckolls repeatedly, knowingly committed a sexual violation having full knowledge of the Word. He, unlike Moses, was acting against his sisters in the Lord. He, unlike Paul, did not act in ignorance. And to compare repeated, intentional crimes to a man who was righteous in a world of filth and idolatry, makes no sense.
His sin was intentional, planned, and implemented for the sole purpose of self-gratification of his carnal nature...and not just once or twice!
Mac Brunson's deposition in the case of Rich and Rich vs. Mac Brunson is now available for your perusal.
More to follow.
"Sammy just got caught."
And if he hadn't been, he would still be committing crimes.
"Moses was a murderer, Paul was a murderer, Noah was a drunk."
And YOU are a TROLL!
"Sammy will come back with an incredible testimony of God's grace just like the other heroes of the Faith."
If he is like the vast majority of his type of criminal, he will return to his crimes.
Is there no degree of perversion, that you will not defend?
Sick.
Anonymous: Did you read the biblical qualifications I posted above? The dude does not qualify, period.
Anyone who attempts to put him back in leadership is going against scripture.
So are you going to make up your own rules that supersede the Bible?
This topic was a segment of the Anderson Cooper Program today. Nuckoll's ex-wife was on the show as well as one of the victims.
All were shocked to learn of the deliberate implementation of this by someone they loved and trusted.
Once again we are asked to pray for the restoration of a pedophile creep to the pulpit and ministry to which he was “called”. You have got to be kidding me. What are the Biblical scriptures for that? Please someone help me here.
Would you allow a recovering alcoholic to be your bartender? Would you allow an embezzler to be your accountant or bookkeeper? Of course the answer is no, then why in the world would you allow this man to be in a position of power so that he might harm again. It reminds me of the sorrowful story of Bellevue’s past pedophile associate pastor, Paul Williams. He is now a TRUSTEE at a local former SBC church, yet at that very same church since I am divorced I cannot be a lowly deacon. Wow.
Where is talk about restoring the victims in this case? NONE! Shame on you. Do you have any idea what is like to walk in their shoes. What if it was your wife or daughter or yet, a son? How would you feel? As a survivor of clergy sexual abuse there is not a day that does not go by that I am not reminded of what my rapist did to me. But I turn what one man meant for evil to good so I can help others understand.
By all means pray for the offender but you better be about healing the wounded or you will destroy a church congregation, right Steve Gaines?
David Brown
http://www.fbi.gov/indianapolis/press-releases/2012/former-hammond-minister-charged-by-information
So, what was the "plea agreement?"
.
\\\"Anyone who attempts to put him back in leadership is going against scripture.\\\"
I\\\'m sorry but you are wrong, according to one of the Anointed Preachers, Steve Gaines, you are to .... Sshhh..... the sins of this man.
http://www.kewego.co.uk/video/dab6dc77af2s.html
\\\\\\\"Anyone who attempts to put him back in leadership is going against scripture.\\\\\\\"
I\\\\\\\'m sorry but you are wrong, according to one of the Anointed Preachers, Steve Gaines, you are to .... Sshhh..... the sins of this man.
http://www.kewego.co.uk/video/dab6dc77af2s.html
They always claim it was devil within them making them do it.
For someone that is 'called' to preach the word? If that was indeed true WHY wouldn't they ask for help prior, and not wait until they get caught?
Do they also claim they did not know it was sin, evil, damaging, etc?
No. They do this because they feel entitled too.
Why so many others get caught up in enabling these perverted mindsets is truly baffling.
They remind me of enabling parents that claim their child can do no wrong, and when they do? Its not their fault somehow.
They do the perp no benefit, harm the victims and families of all involved.
Instead of using the power of the Lord for good? They allow enabling of evil to run their lifes.
If they can't see straight as far as this type of circumstance? They will not be good for counseling on any level at all.
If they truly wish to help perps on some level? They need to use some common sense that God will give them if they will take it. Otherwise, they will be the black eye for their faith.
They look like con men, and they are on some level - these supporters of the perps.
Lets face facts - when it looks like duck, acts like duck, and sounds like duck? Its a duck!
Call out the con men of the faith, because it is NOT the faith in God they are supporting. Its a con men temple, that couldn't see evil if it bit them on the nose. They con others into thinking they are so faith filled, and yet they sound like a duck (con man) - act like a duck (con man) - when they enable evil? True definition of con men.
Ten years is not forever. Nuckolls will get out of prison eventually and murdering him would not be right. He must not be restored to ministry, but God does have the ability to completely forgive. If God has saved Sam, he isn't going to Hell. So if you don't want to be around Nuckolls, then don't get saved.
Dan White
i go to a christian school and unfortunately this man came to speak to my school at a retreat we go to every year. while we were there this man seemed like he had that right idea, but when our principle announced to us that our speaker had committed this awful act, we were all shocked. i post this first of all because i met this man, and he is not a terrible person, he just needs lots of re-evaluation and grace in order to turn from his ways, the second reason is to warn of the people who believe that they have the right to speak into the lives of others. "before you take the splinter out of their eye pull the beam out of yours."
I know Sammy and his family.....he is paying for his SIN......so much potential.....what a waste. Sammy was told how special he was so many times.......he started to believe it.
I was a roommate of Sam's in bible college and we preached revivals, camps, and youth meetings together. He was in my wedding. I was shocked and in disbelief. After hearing of his sin I traveled to confront him. I sat with him in his home and he refused to repent and denied everything. I pray he has repented now and it isn't just full of the worldly sorrow of "crap I got caught". What a waste - one of the most gifted people I've ever met. But your sins will find you out and sin will nullify your calling. Glad he was exposed and pray he repents and is healed. I pray the victims are healed and have recovered fully.
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