On March 8 we shared a post from United Pentecostal Church pastor Austin Hopper, of Downtown Church in Battle Creek, Michigan. It pertained in part to the recent conviction of former UPCI minister Kelsey Cook.
In that post, Austin took a firm stand against abuse and promised to protect people and not reputations. We applauded what he wrote in that post. Though we expose various kinds of abuses and have a secondary focus on the UPCI, we also want to bring attention to when their ministers and churches get something right and do what they should when it comes to abuse. Sometimes we receive pushback when we do this. In this case, it was refreshing to see a number of people comment positively about the Hoppers.
Attached is Austin’s March 10 follow-up post. He shares in part that, “Silence has never healed wounds. Ignoring painful realities has never protected anyone. Truth, accountability, and light are what lead to healing and restoration.”
For many, the Cook case came as a complete surprise and shock. Our post on her conviction was seen by over 52,000 people. While some were aware, most appear to have been kept in the dark. As the case had not received any news media coverage, at least not to my knowledge, it was easy to keep people there.
Before her conviction, apparently some were misleading others. Many people were not informed. We heard reports that Kelsey continued to attend services and other events with no word of warning to people. As the allegation involved a female minor under 13 years of age, at the very least parents should have been made aware. This is NOT how one handles allegations of CSA- not even when one might believe that a person is innocent. Since 2023, when the criminal complaint and arraignment occurred, until March 6, 2026 when she was found guilty by a jury, people’s children were potentially placed at risk.
Instead, it should have been openly announced to all in her home church and she should have been removed from all responsibilities and kept away from minors. She shouldn’t have spoken at any church service or event. It should never have been insinuated that charges were dropped. And no one should be contemplating to do so, or telling, lies about her absence.
Not properly handling abuse cases brings darkness. It harms and does not protect. It screams loudly that you and your church are unsafe. Wrong actions cause people to rightly wonder what else may have been hidden over the years.
Any minister who covers up, hides, or lies about abuses, works in darkness. “But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!” (Matthew 6:23 NLT)
Austin went on to speak to his fellow ministers and leaders. “When abuse happens and leaders say nothing, victims hear that their pain is inconvenient. When pastors stay quiet because they are afraid of controversy, reputation, or backlash, predators learn that the church is a safe place to hide.
“Protecting the name of the church while ignoring the protection of people is not righteousness. It is cowardice.
“Shepherds are not called to protect wolves. They are called to protect the flock.”
The Kelsey Cook case is the fourth case so far in 2026 where former UPCI ministers were convicted of sexual charges. (Others: Dominic Foor, James Lawson, Scott Huse) Our hearts go out to all survivors and their families and may all who have been harmed find some justice in our legal system.
I originally posted about this on March 13, 2026 on our Facebook Page.
You will find a complete list of articles in this series by clicking here.
********
Shop at our Amazon store! As an Amazon Influencer, this website earns from qualifying purchases.
While no name was mentioned of the one who was convicted, it is former UPCI minister Kelsey Cook, who is also in Michigan. She is now in jail awaiting sentencing and is facing a minimum of 25 years behind bars. On Friday we made 
Kelsey first appeared in the 2021 UPCI Directory with a local license, which is indicative of being licensed in 2020. It then showed her holding general license in the 2022 edition and is last seen in the 2023 UPCI Directory, still with a general license.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 27, 2026, where she should at least receive the mandatory sentence of 25 years, with lifetime monitoring and a tier III sex offender registration requirement.
I have attached a screenshot from 
