![]() ![]() "I can't forget how he took away my confidence. Ultimately, Kimes said she was fired from her nanny role in the summer of 2017 after telling Lentz she was going to find another job. The founders said they are "committed to learning more about how to identify such trauma and bring meaningful support to anyone who has experienced it." She has now decided to share her experience so that she and her husband can continue moving forward as a family." "We have respected Leona's privacy and her deeply personal story. "In the process of seeking clarity, hearing Leona Kimes' experience was very disturbing," the statement continued. Kimes said Lentz's "inappropriate touching and suggestive text messages were addressed by both lead pastors on two occasions during my time serving in their home." But despite coming forward, Kimes alleged that she was "blamed and silenced" in both instances.įollowing Kimes' claims, Hillsong Church founders Brian and Bobbie Houston issued a statement, which read in part, "After the termination of the former Lead Pastor of Hillsong East Coast, it was clear the issues were significant and because of our concerns, we initiated an independent and lengthy investigation into the culture of all four Hillsong East Coast locations." "While he never had intercourse with me and never kissed me, I was physically violated by his unwanted and repeated sexual touching of my intimate areas. "Then the physical encounters escalated," she said. "When I was sitting in the hot tub with the kids, he would get in, positioning himself close to me so his hands could graze my legs," she recalled of one incident. "There was a lot of flirty teasing like this."Īdditionally, Kimes accused the former pastor of "crossing more boundaries." "My pastor would look at me and say, 'Gurl, you're looking good. Kimes alleged the "sexual abuse started small," noting that Lentz would make comments about her appearance. "The boundaries between personal and professional blurred early on, and an unhealthy bond and attachment was formed," she said. While Kimes explained "there were joyful moments," she also claimed that she "experienced a great deal of pain." While working as a nanny for the family for seven years, Kimes explained that she not only took care of Lentz's kids but she also cleaned their house and ran errands for them. In her essay, Kimes described her work environment with Lentz and his family before she moved to Boston, where she now serves as a pastor alongside her husband. Adam Sandler to Receive Mark Twain Prize for Lifetime in Comedy ![]()
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