Popular worship leader Sean Feucht, who made his fame five years ago by staging impromptu worship concerts in protest of Covid shutdowns, has been accused of spiritual abuse and financial mismanagement at his various ministries.
On Sunday, five former employees released a whistleblower report and website opposing Feucht, calling for him to be “removed from positions of leadership and financial stewardship.”
“Having witnessed firsthand what we have witnessed about Sean, we can no longer encourage any financial contributions to him and his endeavors,” the whistleblowers wrote. “We can no longer encourage anyone to work for him, paid or unpaid; and we can no longer encourage anyone to partner with him in any ministry capacity.”
Feucht, 41, a former worship leader at Bethel Church in Redding, California, parlayed his #LetUsWorship movement during the second half of 2020 into a batch of outreaches. These included Sean Feucht Ministries, Burn 24-7, Let Us Worship, and Light a Candle. Despite his unsuccessful run for Congress in California in March 2020, he has gained access to the White House under President Donald Trump, leading worship sessions there.
In the report, Feucht’s former employees allege that he has committed “serious moral, ethical, financial, organizational, and governance failures” at each of his ministries.
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The report is signed by Christy Gafford, Peter and Amanda Hartzell, Liam Bernard, and Richie Booth, who all previously worked at the prayer-centered nonprofit Burn 24-7. They are calling for an independent investigation into their boss’s financial transactions and governance practices.
They allege that Feucht has continually underpaid staff, exaggerated attendance numbers at his ministries’ events, and diverted donations to his own properties. They also claim Feucht has longstanding patterns of manipulation, exaggeration, control, lying, gaslighting, and spiritual and emotional abuse.
While they say the long-haired worship leader has been confronted about these issues multiple times over the years, he has refused to make any concrete changes and instead has threatened his accusers.
“Individuals who have attempted to raise concerns or confront misconduct have been met with retaliation, public defamation, exclusion from ministry involvement, and threats of litigation,” the report stated. “This includes statements made by Feucht suggesting that those who raised objections were no longer Christians or were politically motivated—accusations that are both defamatory and unsupported.”
Additionally, the report alleged that the boards of Feucht’s various ministries have failed to exercise proper oversight and accountability over his activities.
The former employees back up their claims through several witness testimonies, detailed tax records, real estate records, and years of first-hand experience.
They also said that their report corroborates a recent finding from MinistryWatch’s database that found Feucht Ministries had an “F” transparency grade. MinistryWatch urged donors to withhold giving to the nonprofit.
The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to Feucht for comment but did not hear back prior to publication. TRR previously reported on the worship leader’s history of minor criminal offenses.
Employees claim they were underpaid or not paid
The whistleblowers allege that Feucht is guilty of yearslong financial mismanagement.
They said Feucht regularly used business credit cards for personal expenses, diverted donations to his accounts, and even used ministry funds to rent his own cabin in Montana for a ministry board meeting.
Liam Bernard, who was a leader with Burn 24/7 from 2013-2020, said he had to cover the cost of attending ministry events out of his pocket. Bernard volunteered 40-50 hours a week for the ministry while working a full-time job to support his family.
When Bernard questioned the financial transparency of the nonprofit, Feucht reportedly responded with aggression. Bernard said that after he left the ministry, Feucht called him derogatory labels such as “communist,” “fascist,” and “woke.”
Feucht also started rumors that Bernard had “deconstructed” and was no longer a Christian, which Bernard denies.
“I felt like a shiny new toy for Sean to play with,” Bernard said in the report. “He often uses people as opportunities to get to the ‘next level,’ and when people are no longer useful, he discards them.”
Another employee, Richie Booth, who worked as a volunteer providing administrative support for Burn 24-7, Light a Candle, and Let Us Worship, said Feucht underpaid or failed to pay many workers.
He alleged that Feucht never reported these “workers” in tax filings.
A Form 990 filed in 2020 for Sean Feucht Ministries lists Feucht as the only paid employee, alongside 36 independent contractors. But the whistleblowers contest that multiple of these contractors worked more than 40 hours a week and should have been classified as employees.
Additionally, Feucht lacks some financial reporting accountability. In 2022, the worship leader petitioned the IRS to reclassify Sean Feucht Ministries and Let Us Worship as churches. Because of the reclassification, the two nonprofits no longer have to release income and expense reports.
Prior to this, Sean Feucht Ministries’ revenue jumped from $283,526 to $5.3 million between 2019 and 2020. Warren Smith, MinistryWatch president, previously told TRR that Feucht’s nonprofit only spent around $1.1 million of the $5.3 million on ministry expenses. (Feucht’s 2020 tax filing is here).
“That means the ministry’s assets ballooned to more than $4.5 million,” Smith said. “There is nothing wrong with growth, but it seems reasonable to expect that a ministry with more than $4 million in cash should be spending more money on the ministry it has promised to do.”
An extensive 2022 report on Feucht in Rolling Stone also noted Feucht’s more than $4 million increase in 2020, adding, “The accounting for this surge is curious: The ministry claims to have received zero dollars in contributions, despite Feucht avidly soliciting such gifts.”
Feucht owns millions in real estate
The former employees also noted that Feucht owns 10 homes across California, Montana and Pennsylvania. Three are collectively worth more than $2.5 million. The other seven, all located in Pennsylvania, operate as rental properties and are estimated at $1.8 million in value.
His ministries also maintain a “considerable portfolio of real estate assets spanning multiple states,” the report said.
For instance, Sean Feucht Ministries Inc. owns properties in expensive neighborhoods in California and Washington, DC. that are classified as tax-exempt parsonages, the report stated.
One “parsonage” on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., known as “Camp Elah,” was purchased for $967,000 in 2022. Another “parsonage” in San Juan Capistrano, California was purchased for $3.45 million in 2024.
“The ministry’s ownership of multiple high-value ‘parsonages’ alongside Feucht’s personal ownership of numerous rental properties raises questions about appropriate use of non-profit funds and potential private inurement,” the whistleblowers write.
Feucht posts about a “spirit of offense”
While Feucht has not publicly commented on the allegations, he posted on Instagram yesterday about the “spirit of offense.”
“The spirit of offense is entangling an entire generation in a perpetual cycle where victimhood becomes the highest virtue,” Feucht wrote. “But who was more ‘victimized’ than the Son of God? Yet He used His very last breath to forgive all of His offenders of their offenses.”
He continued, “Life is too short to live in constant offense. It makes you barren, mean, and grumpy. God is too good and too forgiving to us all. We should be as well to others.”
Feucht is married and has four kids, according to his website. The website adds that his “heart is to bring integrity, hope, and inspiration to every sphere of society.”
Feucht’s next Let Us Worship events will take place in Los Angeles and Colorado this weekend.
Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for The Roys Report, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.
19 Responses
So, Mr COVID is in hot water? Christianity has no place for a pompous, overbearing, self absorbed, dishonest, abuser. Like so many others, giving the world a reason not to follow Jesus. Sheesh!
Funny how it’s only the leaders of the MAGA church who are experiencing a wealth transfer.
They are all raking it in right now. MAGA will go down on history as the biggest grift of all time.
MAGA pastor Kelvin Cobaris brags about all the money he’s raking in because of his support for Trump: “Hallelujah, I should have went this way a long time ago.”
https://x.com/RightWingWatch/status/1930648829260431697?t=ZZ0W9abxeeZcVtaYM-v7Dw&s=19
This has nothing to do with politics. I voted for Donald Trump too & I’m sure a lot Julie Roys’ subscribers have. This is about accountability.
It is amazing how many well known and lesser known ministries are run like this. I have run into this kind of thing quite a few times even in smaller churches- especially as they get larger.
We have to remember to pray for the people in error (as well as the victims) that they would turn to Jesus truly and away from fleshly living and abuse. Then leave them in Gods hands. He is WAY better at dealing with this than we are. He sees it ALL. Simply finger pointing isn’t Biblical.
I say he should be prosecuted if he has broken the Law(s).
We need to use wisdom. There needs to be more accountability in the church. If they can’t be humble there is a problem. Charismatic personalities left without boundaries can be a false prophet/teacher behind a mask. We just need to be aware. He did not feel authenic to me when I would see his persona on television. We like the “fun appearance” too much but it will end up causing so much harm.
“But who was more ‘victimized’ than the Son of God? Yet He used His very last breath to forgive all of His offenders of their offenses.”
Jesus was not “victimized.” He came for the express purpose of dying on the cross, knowing full well what was coming. “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”
True, we should forgive those who abuse us. But that cannot be twisted and used by an abuser to escape accountability.
Anytime these people reach into their rhetorical toolbox to call credible accusations “woke” it’s the surest sign that they are guilty as sin. Unable to defend their covetousness, avarice, bigotry, mean spiritedness, and pride, they often resort (not to repentance or humility) but GOP talking points.
This is getting real old.
I imagine that when Jesus overturned tables in the temple, some of today’s preachers would claim he had a “spirit of offense.” If Amos, Obadiah, and the prophets who cried out for justice for orphans, widows, the hired worker, and the immigrant, had been in religious conservative circles today, they would be called “woke.”
I’m beginning to think that being called “woke” by some might be a badge of honor.
Looks like Mr. Feucht is taking some timely advice from Donald Trump. Regardless of whether you agree with this or not it stands to reason that Frucht should be investigated that legal action should be taken by the victims.
From above: “While they say the long-haired worship leader has been confronted about these issues multiple times over the years, he has refused to make any concrete changes and instead has threatened his accusers.” …… “Individuals who have attempted to raise concerns or confront misconduct have been met with retaliation, public defamation, exclusion from ministry involvement, and threats of litigation,” the report stated. “This includes statements made by Feucht suggesting that those who raised objections were no longer Christians or were politically motivated—accusations that are both defamatory and unsupported.”
Red flags apparently popped up long ago. And the whistleblowers are only now coming forward?
Dear whistleblowers: Who do you serve?
Wow. So, they should have simply NOT gone public with their confidential confrontations that resulted in private threats?
What do you mean, “who do you serve?” Sounds like you’re of a similar mindset that immediately questions what the victim was wearing during an assault allegation.
None of this is surprising anymore. I met him and his family in 2019 at a church in VA during the more humbler years, according to the article when they still only garnered ~$250k a year. What transpired the years afterwards grew more and more disturbing in terms of the hubris and grandiosity of the way Sean presented himself and his message. Thankful for Julie Roy’s and the JRR team for clearing the fog of confusion for those who want to see clearly with accounting that comes with actual line items, dollar amounts, and the body count of those the ministry bus ran over.
If the photo of him and Driscoll isn’t a “canary in the coal mine” for folks, then they deserve the grift that’s coming.
“Sean Feucht, who made his fame five years ago by staging impromptu worship concerts in protest of Covid shutdowns”
And when his road show came to my town, morning drive time radio referred to him as “Jesus Christ Super-Spreader”.
I still remember when Sean Feucht taped video at the George Floyd Memorial Site in 2020 during what was called the “Hope Rally”. I still can’t help but feel the video appeared to be more focused on highlighting the people who were privately praying and worshiping God, rather than be focused on the tragedy of George Floyd’s death. Oh, and also showing some people smiling and waving at the camera during the taping. And then, to post the video on YouTube?!? It felt like Marketing 101.
Rest in peace, George Floyd.
See video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96Ohr_tp2SM
“Another “parsonage” in San Juan Capistrano, California was purchased for $3.45 million in 2024.”
Even in that pricy part of SoCal, 3.5 Meg$ is bigger than the usual McMansion, not a Furtick Mansion but probably a BIG custom home of I’d guess around 3000 sq ft or a historical on a large lot. Though a few years ago I heard he had a BIG home (including a hunting trophy room/man cave worthy of SBTS’s “Bungalow Bill” Patterson) in Dana Point, an even pricier beach city 4-5 miles south of Capistrano where I-5 turns at the Pacific Ocean. Since the Capistrano Parsonage(TM) was purchased in 2024, it’s probably not the same place; is this in addition to the Dana Point place or did he trade in Dana Point for SJC?
Rule of thumb for SoCal residential real estate: The closer you get to either the mountains or the ocean, the higher the price. (And SoCal already has the third highest prices in the country after Manhattan and San Francisco.)
These characters are simply doing what they do best, ‘being in character’ and being so in relation to a financial market that not only pays their rent but also gives them a degree of status & stardom. Which of course often becomes notoriety.
And despite these ‘ characters’ giving the impression that they aren’t preoccupied with money and vain things like their personal appearance, these are constantly on their mind.
Think critically if you can’t think spiritually 🤔
Isn’t this guy maga? Typically for the bunch. Grift grift grift.
I’m offended by your hatred.
You don’t know me.