Former CEO of MorningStar Ministries, Chris Reed, founded a new congregation called Jesus Revolution Church in South Carolina. The move follows his resignation from the embattled MorningStar roughly a month ago following accusations of sexual abuse in the ministry along with a confession from Reed of an inappropriate relationship with a young woman.
Podcaster Andrew Bullard recently voiced his disappointment in Reed after the former MorningStar CEO announced the new ministry. “1 Timothy 3 is not being followed. Where is the accountability? I’m heartbroken for Chris’ victim at this moment. I’m heartbroken for how low of a standard we have in the charismatic church for leaders. Power and fame are valued over the faithful care of the sheep,” Bullard shared on social media.
Reed reportedly wrote on Facebook, “Coming soon! Very soon. How this came together was/is a miracle. ‘Do not despise the day of small beginnings …,’” while sharing a photo of a small church building he would base the ministry out of in South Carolina.
“It’s been said ‘every move of God starts in a manger and dies in a cathedral.’ And the vision for this church/movement is the most special part. God is looking for those most serious in this hour! More to come soon! There’s always a couple haters but so many have been so kind. Your contributions are most appreciated! ChrisReedMinistries.Net,” he added.
The Christian Tribune previously reported on the MorningStar controversy where Reed resigned for his leadership at the ministry. According to Reed, he didn’t want to lead a ministry that was embattled with such controversy.
“I did not want to be leading the ministry that would be in a case against four victims who were abused as children by a former volunteer of the ministry who is a policeman as well. This happened before I came to MorningStar, and I could not [defend the lawsuit] because I know the families,” Reed said in a video. “I know the victims. Many of them we’ve got to know them. I made a tough, painful, painful choice, and I just didn’t care.”
However, Morning Star founder Rick Joyner blasted the resignation from Reed. “What alarmed me even more was that in this [resignation] letter, there was almost no regard for the church, no regard for the ministry, no regard for a lot of people. It was all about him and his future and what he needed to do,” he said.
“I want him to have the brightest future he could have, but I did not feel that that there was a shepherd’s heart revealed. A shepherd lays down their life for the sheep and certainly has regard for them. I didn’t feel like there was regard for me, for our board, any of this stuff. We had entrusted a lot to him. I don’t think to just quit like that is what we ever need to do with anyone with no notice,” he added.
Joyner also noted that there were signs that drew Reed’s leadership into question. “I don’t believe in getting into the details; you get what I’m saying? I’m not going to go there. I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to slime people, but …I feel like things were done that should have disqualified Chris from being made the leader of this ministry,” Joyner said. “We were fooled.”