The Roys Report

Guest Bios Show Transcript Three years ago, the 24/7 prayer movement was rocked by credible allegations that International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC) founder Mike Bickle had a pattern of sexually abusing women and underage girls.  Now, Bickle is back!  And his supporters are accusing those who exposed him of “weaponizing long past sin […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Who leads the church? Not Jesus, according to discredited founding global pastor of Hillsong Church, Brian Houston. In his new YouTube series, “Who’s in charge of the church?” Houston warns pastors about giving the church board too much control. Despite the fact he has failed spectacularly and lost his global dynasty, […]

Should senior pastors expect unquestioned loyalty? A resurfaced 2015 clip shows megashurch pastors Ed Young and At Boshoff calling it non-negotiable—and receiving applause. In this episode, Julie Roys and Lance Ford expose the theology behind those claims, replaying the exchange in full to show it’s not taken out of context. They argue it reflects a broader system—one that manipulates Scripture, elevates “the MAN,” and grooms evangelicals toward silence.

Should apostles and prophets lead the church today—and what happens when they abuse power? Guest podcast host Daniel Silliman speaks with author Matthew D. Taylor to unpack the rise of these charismatic leaders and the troubling scandals surrounding them. Drawing on years of research, Taylor explains why the New Apostolic Reformation is uniquely dangerous—and why reforming it may not be possible.

Why did Pastor Greg Locke publicly label a former friend and longtime church staff member a “witch” just days after celebrating her? Gina and Brian Warren share their account as whistleblowers at Locke's Global Vision Bible Church in middle Tennessee. The Warrens allege misconduct, manipulation, spiritual abuse and extreme efforts to silence them after leaving the megachurch. Tune in to hear their shocking story that raises urgent questions about power, accountability and discernment in today’s church.

A California businessman who donated $250,000 to Sean Feucht says the worship leader used it to buy properties rather than fund ministry. Now philanthropist Steve Bray, who's suing Feucht to return the donation, speaks out on why he’s fighting for transparency and accountability.

CCM star Crystal Lewis says “Even If,” a hit song that she originated, was recorded without her consent and her ownership cut to 10%. In an exclusive interview, The Roys Report journalist Jessica Morris speaks with Lewis about the story around "Even If," which has recently been used as the basis of Mercy Me's feature film 'I Can Only Imagine 2.' What does Lewis’ story reveal about credit, power, and the voices of women in contemporary Christian music? Jessica and host Julie Roys discuss following her eye-opening interview.

Guest Bios Show Transcript In the wake of current exposés of supposed “prophets” — Shawn Bolz, Chris Reed, Todd White and others — many are rethinking the movement they come from. And they’re questioning the teaching of churches, like Bethel, which platformed and covered for these “prophets,” rather than exposing them as frauds. Known as […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript The charismatic Christian world has been rocked by revelations that alleged prophet Shawn Bolz faked prophecies and sexually harassed staff—while leaders at Bethel Church knew for years and failed to warn the public. The public reckoning began with Bible teacher Mike Winger’s bombshell exposé with overwhelming evidence that Bethel leaders continued […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript The Bible is meant to provide truth, refuge, and hope. But what happens when the Word becomes a sword of fear, confusion, or shame for those already wounded by abuse? In this podcast, guest host Lance Ford speaks with theologian and longtime advocate Steve Tracy about how Scripture has often been […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript From a bombshell exposé about Michael Tait and the Newsboys—to a look inside the excessive lifestyle of Daystar TV’s Joni Lamb, our 2025 podcasts covered it all. We also platformed brave victims of America’s most popular megachurches and movements (such as IHOP-KC), who publicly told their stories for the very first […]

Whistleblower Rachel Beck breaks her silence to expose sexual harassment, grooming, and systemic cover-up by top leaders at Liberty University.

Guest Bios Show Transcript Daystar TV President Joni Lamb is once again framing serious allegations as “cancel culture” and “gossip”—while making it sound deeply spiritual. On a recent Table Talk episode, Lamb and her panel repeated familiar churchy lines like, “When we point a finger, we have all the others pointing back,” and “The same […]

Leadership guru John Maxwell shocked many by publicly honoring disgraced pastor Bill Hybels at the Global Leadership Summit at Willow Creek.

In a Q&A podcast, recorded live, attorney Christine Jones joins host Julie Roys to empower survivors to resist silence, NDAs, and institutional intimidation.

Allegations that superstar Michael Tait sexually assaulted multiple young men and boys have rocked the CCM industry. But how culpable are the Newsboys? Host Julie Roys and reporter Jessica Morris discuss.

Relationship coach and counselor Leslie Vernick explains how to identify emotionally destructive churches and how to escape them.

Attorney Melissa Hogan shares her journey of being betrayed by her husband, seeking a place of safety and finding it in abuse survivor community.

In a “fauxpology,” Pastor Jimmy Evans doubled down on his past errant sermon saying Jesus lacked understanding and needed to submit to authority figures

Guest Bios Show Transcript https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJiG8jhXOHA In a sermon last Sunday, popular Bible teacher Jimmy Evans claimed Jesus, the Son of God, was “wrong.” The outlandish claim was part of a larger argument Evans was making that those in authority know best, so we should submit to them. Evans, who infamously told former Daystar TV executive […]

Rob Wegner shares his journey of spiritual renewal, which took him from megachurch leader to microchurch pioneer.

Baylor professor and researcher Dr. David Pooler dismantles the myth that adult clergy sexual abuse (ACSA) is an “affair.”

Mary DeMuth shares her journey of experiencing harm in a Dallas megachurch, but finding Jesus and healing in the wreckage.

Speaking from decades of experience counseling trauma survivors, Dr. Diane Langberg challenges the church to confront hidden abuses within its own walls.

Mike Bickle’s grooming defined the culture of IHOPKC and resulted in widespread abuse, says longtime IHOPKC staff leader Shelley Hundley in this podcast.

Daystar TV insider Melanie Contreras tells of nightmare “counseling” from Fred and Anna Kendall and their collusion with Daystar President Joni Lamb.

Longtime Daystar insider Melanie Contreras uncovered details of Marcus Lamb’s affair, shedding light on the culture and practices at Daystar TV.

Fueled by the “leadership movement,” domineering pastors have left a trail of victims—but JR Woodward says there’s a better way.

The woman who exposed Marcus Lamb’s extramarital affair breaks her silence, with new insights into Daystar TV’s culture of control and cover-up.

Author Lance Ford exposes how churches use faulty teachings to bind and silence Jesus followers, and envisions how truth and reforms can bring freedom.

Daystar TV President Joni Lamb recently prayed curses on-air—is that normal for Christians? Bible teacher Lance Ford parses what the Bible says on this practice.

After being kicked out of the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, two podcasters who’ve reported on the Daystar TV scandal speak out.

Investigative journalist Julie Roys unpacks why her work exposes evil deeds of church leaders—and why truth matters in an era of compromise.

Two survivors of IHOPKC founder Mike Bickle’s abuse share how he groomed and betrayed them, and a survivor advocate shares how they exposed the wolf.

Deborah Perkins, the first victim of Mike Bickle’s who went public, shares of how friends “went to war” with her, to expose an evil system of abuse.

Her story of alleged sexual abuse by Mike Bickle caused the prayer ministry he founded to separate from him. Now she reveals her identity for the first time.

Image repair analyst, Dr. Julia Dahl, says a 10-minute video posted by Mercy Culture Pastor Landon Schott in response to an article is rife with image repair tactics.

Former assistant to Daystar TV founders Marcus and Joni Lamb gives a revealing account of the prominent Christian network.

Jamin Coller, author of Dear Evangelicals, says people are exiting the church because they have questions no one in church wants to hear, let alone answer.

Bible teacher Lance Ford shares that what’s advocated as spiritual leadership and submission in evangelical circles is often really spiritual abuse. 

Are allegations by Jonathan and Suzy Lamb about Joni Lamb’s alleged cover-up of sex abuse and “unbiblical” marriage to Doug Weiss part of a “power grab.” The couple respond.

Daystar TV President Joni Lamb claims the allegations against her are lies. On this podcast, Jonathan and Suzy Lamb aim to set the record straight.

Sign an NDA or you’re fired. That's the message the board of Daystar TV and its lawyer sent Jonathan Lamb in a board meeting last November.

Show Transcript https://youtu.be/XDRvtigmhcI Why was Jonathan Lamb fired from Daystar? According to Daystar, it was due to performance issues and refusing to participate in third-party mediation to resolve grievances in a biblical manner. But according to Jonathan, it’s because he refused to sign an NDA. Now, The Roys Report is releasing full audio of a […]

After Joni Lamb demanded her son, a former Daystar executive, submit to her authority, a veteran church planter considers if that’s biblical.

NT scholar Scot McKnight contends the deconstruction movement isn’t a problem; it’s a prophetic voice resisting a distorted gospel.

Does Joni Lamb have a pattern of spiritual abuse? Listen to a meeting between her, Jimmy Evans, and her son and his wife, Jonathan and Suzy Lamb.

Julie Roys talks with Nathan Apffel of The Religion Business about his exploits exposing the lack of financial accountability in the church.

Psychologist Diane Langberg unveils what she’s learned about how churches cause harm and how Christian communities can address the abuse crisis.

Minister and doctoral student Kayleigh Clark says reforming toxic church cultures must include a focus on trauma healing.

With the heart of a pastor and a therapist’s expertise, Chuck DeGroat shares how to find healing for the deep wounds within your soul.

Guest Bios Show Transcript https://youtu.be/5I3m2AAHjAY Christian nationalism has taken over large swaths of the United States. But is this movement really Christian? And is it possible to engage with a Christian nationalist in a disarming way that doesn’t end up in a fight? On this edition of The Roys Report, host Julie Roys engages in […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Ten years ago, Sharon Clements’ world turned upside down. The pastor she trusted abused that trust and lured her into a sexual relationship. But when everything became public, her abuse was labeled an affair. And instead of receiving help, she received shame and rejection. In this edition of The Roys Report, […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript The American church is in crisis. After numerous scandals, distrust of the church is at an all-time high. Young people raised in the church are leaving at an alarming rate. And, in a society where loneliness and spiritual hunger are rampant, people are turning elsewhere for help. In this edition of […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript https://youtu.be/XKwF1N–a00 For more than two decades, Patrick and Mary DeMuth faithfully served as lay leaders at Lakepointe Church, a megachurch in the Dallas/Fort Worth area pastored by Josh Howerton. But as concerns about Howerton grew, Patrick and Mary found they could no longer stay in good conscience. And now, they’re dealing […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript https://youtu.be/ZOOhWWj5AqI According to the Houston Chronicle, hundreds have recently left Lakepointe Church—Josh Howerton’s prominent megachurch in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Now a longtime volunteer leader at Lakepointe, who recently left the church with her family, is speaking out. Joining host Julie Roys on this edition of The Roys Report is Amanda […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Nancy French was once a darling of the GOP—and ghostwrote books, speeches, and articles for some of the leading conservative politicians. But then came Donald Trump’s candidacy for president—something as both a Christian and a sex abuse survivor, Nancy says she could not support. Then, she was ghosted. In this edition […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Research shows more than 95% of women who report being raped are telling the truth. But in some churches, these women are not believed and shamed. According to author Ryan George, it’s all part of a propaganda machine meant to consolidate and maintain power. On this edition of The Roys Report, host […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript The church should be a place of healing and comfort. But for far too many, it’s a place of abuse and harm. As a child, Ryan George was profoundly hurt in a fundamentalist church, pastored by his abusive father. But years later, Ryan found a loving and gracious church. And through […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Can a church that’s had a history of being toxic transform its culture and become truly healthy? Or, are churches like this doomed to repeat their history, despite efforts to change? This edition of The Roys Report features a talk from our recent Restore Conference by Laura Barringer. Laura and her […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript https://youtu.be/uaYHJrgdwhA What does it take to disqualify someone from ministry? An affair? Spiritual abuse? Sexual abuse? Abuse of power? Or, as some have claimed, can just about anyone be restored to ministry because “God is gracious” and “His call is irrevocable”? This edition of The Roys Report takes a deep dive […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript A bombshell report on the alleged “affair” between popular worship leaders Kevin Prosch and Misty Edwards published by The Roys Report sent shock waves through the charismatic Christian community. How could two people, who ushered so many into the presence of God, sin in such an egregious way? But were they […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Once you’ve experienced trauma, how do you heal? What should you look for in a counselor? What kind of therapy is right for you? And how do you take care of yourself as you begin your healing journey? In this edition of The Roys Report, discover answers to these questions and […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Everything rises or falls on leadership. Ever heard that line? Think about what it means when applied to a pastor’s role in a church. What about the priesthood of all believers? And where is Jesus in that equation? In this edition of The Roys Report, veteran church planter and pastor, Lance […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript https://youtu.be/RF-3TbX8fXA As a Christian in Iran, Naghmeh Panahi was arrested numerous times—and once even had a gun pointed at her head. But as awful as that was, Naghmeh says she endured something far worse when she began speaking out about abuse from her husband. It was then that she faced persecution—not […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Why can’t people get over talking about race? Ever heard that line? Or, how about: We live in a post-racial world. We’ve even had a black president! If racism doesn’t exist, then we don’t have to deal with it. Yet racism, sadly, is alive and well—not just in our culture, but […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Men need sex. And it’s their wives’ job to give it to them—unconditionally, whenever they want it, or these husbands will come under Satanic attack. Stunningly, that’s the message contained in many Christian marriage books. Yet, research shows that instead of increasing intimacy in marriages, messages like these are promoting abuse. […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript America is experiencing the largest and fastest religious shift in its history—greater than the First and the Second Great Awakening and every revival in the U.S. combined. But instead of a massive shift into the church, what we’re seeing is a mass exodus. In this edition of The Roys Report, you’ll […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Why is church after church succumbing to corruption and false doctrine? Yes, it’s the result of greed, immorality, and a lust for power. But we’ve had those vices forever. So, why is there an epidemic of corruption in the church now? Author, pastor, and church planter, Lance Ford, who’s worked inside […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript When faced with a scandal, organizations have a choice. They can engage in impression management strategies, designed to obscure the truth, and save their image. Or, they can take the road less traveled. They can humble themselves. They can listen. And they can admit the truth—to themselves and to others. In […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript How did loving your enemies—a command of Jesus—suddenly become a sign that you’re “woke”? And why is “owning the libs” now the answer to “What would Jesus do?”  On this edition of The Roys Report, bestselling author and journalist Tim Alberta joins host Julie Roys to explore a disturbing phenomenon in […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Exposing abuse and corruption can be a thankless job. Powerful figures doing wrong often deny and attack those exposing them. And their supporters often join suit—attacking the messenger, rather than holding their leader accountable. This edition of The Roys Report features a very personal talk from Restore Conference founder and journalist, […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Clergy sexual abuse is one of the most devastating forms of abuse, impacting almost every area of life. After surviving abuse like that, how do you recover? And after being preyed upon by a powerful church figure, how do you recover your agency, your voice, your life? This edition of The […]

When a church is rocked by scandal, how can you tell if an investigation is truly independent—or another attempt to cover up? Experts discuss.

Carson Weitnauer shares his journey from disillusionment to hope, after discovering his hero, Ravi Zacharias, was a fraud.

The authors of ‘A Church Called Tov’ go deeper in ‘Pivot,’ explaining how to transform toxic church cultures into tov ones.

Guest Bios Show Transcript What are the telltale signs of spiritual abuse? And once you’ve been subjected to it, how do you heal? On this edition of The Roys Report, we’re rolling out the first of 11 talks from this year’s Restore Conference. This was an amazing gathering of survivors of church hurt and abuse—as […]

A woman who blew the whistle on her popular pastor and an anti-bullying author share how to stand up to bullies in the workplace.

What do you do when you’re being bullied by your Christian employer? The whistleblower who exposed author Dane Ortlund speaks out.

Evangelicalism suffers from a crisis of imagination. Author Karen Swallow Prior exposes how we got here and the way forward.

A victim of adult clergy sexual abuse says her first wound—the abuse—was awful. But the second wound—how her church responded—was even worse.

Moriah Smothers says she was a victim of adult clergy sexual abuse. But her former pastor is calling it an “affair” & returning to ministry.

After Christy Boulware found freedom from fear and anxiety, she faced another battle with her pastor and spiritual abuse.

Christy Boulware tells her story of overcoming anxiety and a severe panic disorder, and how her breakdown became a breakthrough.

Guest Bios Show Transcript Hillsong Church has been embroiled in a steady stream of scandals, exposing sexual and financial misconduct—and a toxic and exploitative leadership culture. So, should we still be singing their worship songs? Or should we re-think our song selection and worship sets? In this podcast, Julie continues her dialogue with two collaborators […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript What comes to mind when you hear Hillsong? Elevation? Passion? Bethel? You may think megachurch. You may think controversy or scandal. But you also may think of music. And chances are, if you were in church last Sunday, you sang a song produced by, or associated in some way with, one […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Is it true that men are visual in a way that women will never understand? Or that boys can’t help but lust if a girl is dressed like she’s inciting it? In this edition of The Roys Report, we continue a two-part discussion with Sheila Wray Gregoire on toxic teachings on […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Is the church conditioning women to think less of themselves? And do the most common teachings girls hear in youth group make them more likely to marry an abuser? Less likely to understand consent? And more likely to blame themselves if they’re assaulted? In this edition of The Roys Report, we’ll […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript American evangelicals love megachurches. Today, there are about 1,750 megachurches in the U.S. and 65% of them are evangelical in their theology. But are these megachurches truly helping the evangelical movement—or are they destroying it? In this edition of The Roys Report, Julies continues a discussion of Jesus vs. Evangelicals with […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Evangelicalism was once known for its theological convictions, like the centrality of Scripture and the need for personal conversion. Now, it’s known for Trumpian politics, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, megachurch scandals, and grift.  Clearly, it’s a movement in crisis. And according to New Testament scholar Constantine Campbell, if the movement doesn’t correct course, […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Why are Christians drawn to abusive celebrity pastors? And why do appeals to love and serve often gain less traction than condemnation and harshness? In this edition of The Roys Report, Julie explores explore these questions with Dr. Raymond Chiu, a business professor at Redeemer University in Ontario, Canada. Along with […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Jesus Revolution—a new film recounting the Jesus Movement of the 1970s—has become a box office sensation with Christian moviegoers. But is the movie accurate? And does its focus on megachurch pastor Greg Laurie do justice to this 1970s movement that changed the world? On this edition of The Roys Report, Christian […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Many times, those who have experienced spiritual abuse are retraumatized when they try to speak about what’s happened. They’re often labeled bitter, disgruntled, and gossips—and once again, wounded by Christians and the church. In part two of Julie’s podcast with Justin Humphreys, they discuss how to help survivors of church hurt. […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Spiritual abuse has become an increasingly hot topic, as more and more stories of bully pastors and hyper-controlling churches have grabbed headlines. But how does spiritual abuse differ from mere emotional and psychological abuse? And what are its key features and stages? In this podcast, Justin Humphreys, CEO of Thirtyone:Eight and […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript After years spent in an abusive church, how do you heal? How do spot a safe pastor—and can you avoid repeating the same mistake?  In this edition of The Roys Report, Pastor Ken Garrett, author of In the House of Friends, returns to describe the process of healing after escaping from […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript How do people get sucked into abusive churches? What are the tell-tale signs of an abusive church? And, after leaving one, how can you heal? In this edition of The Roys Report, Pastor Ken Garrett, author of In the House of Friends, shares key insights on understanding and healing from spiritual abuse […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Celebrity culture has invaded the church. Pastors, who should be shepherds serving the flock, have become idols attracting adoring fans and commanding six- and even seven-figure salaries. What has happened to the church? How did we get here? And what can be done to counter this truly anti-gospel culture? In this podcast, I […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript How do you hold on to your faith after experiencing abuse in a church? And how can you find Christian community when so many aspects of church trigger painful memories? In this week’s podcast, Doug and Wendy Duncan join me to discuss their journey into—out of—what they say was an abusive […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Is Mark Driscoll a victim of vindictive leaders? Or is he an unrepentant narcissist and liar, who refuses to take responsibility? In part two of this podcast with former Mars Hill Executive Elder Sutton Turner, we discuss the narrative Mark Driscoll has been crafting for eight years. This is one in […]

Guest Bios Show Transcript Since his abrupt resignation from Mars Hill Church in 2014, Mark Driscoll has claimed he was the victim of a vindictive plot. But last week, Driscoll dropped a bombshell. He claimed that Mars Hill leaders were planning to accuse him of adultery if he didn’t resign. In this week’s podcast, Sutton […]