A growing controversy at the Central Indiana church where Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith still serves as a campus pastor is starting to reverberate more widely in the Indiana political world, with the potential to ensnare a rising GOP political star.
It all started in late October when the adult son of Life Church’s lead pastor was arrested on seven felony counts related to child sex crimes. Beckwith has described the lead pastor, Nathan Peternel, as his “spiritual brother in arms” and the two work together and have their own podcast called “Jesus, Sex and Politics.”
The arrest of his son Jonathan Peternel, 24, quickly led to other former church members speaking about their own experiences with Nathan Peternel, as detailed by national news site 24Sight News, run by veteran Indiana political reporter Tom LoBianco, potentially setting off a more widespread issue for the church.
24Sight News reported, for example, that one woman alleged Nathan Peternel pressured her with invasive questions to describe her sex life when she was 17.
This past Sunday, Beckwith introduced Pastor Chad McAtee, superintendent of the Assemblies of God, to address the church attendees about the ongoing scandal.
He said the news about the church has been “very disappointing” and “very upsetting.”
“Some of it even seemed unbelievable,” McAtee said. “I understand that this storm will pass for most of us in the room…. but your pastor’s heart and your pastor’s family will never be the same.”
McAtee also encouraged churchgoers not to be “gossiping, crying and complaining” and to remain faithful.
“If somebody is leading but everybody’s gossiping, we’ve got a problem,” McAtee said. “Let your leaders lead you whether it’s at the church house or your house.”
Life Church, which has four locations, has become increasingly enmeshed within state government since Beckwith, who frequently intermixes his faith and politics, became lieutenant governor. Several church members have been hired to work in his state government office, and earlier this year Beckwith’s office inked a no-bid contract with a law firm closely associated with the church.
Beyond that, Life Church served as a polling location in the 2024 election while Beckwith himself was on the ballot as lieutenant governor, and it’s served as the host of political events featuring other Republican state officeholders including Attorney General Todd Rokita.
While most elected Republicans have remained mum about the situation, some Indiana Democrats and even conservative Statehouse observers have seized on the controversy, pointing out the ties between Beckwith and the Peternel family. Beckwith has not been accused of wrongdoing.
The controversy comes as Beckwith’s lieutenant governor’s office is being investigated by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office over allegations that a state lawmaker’s wife was the target of an AI deepfake porn video viewed in his office.
“All while the investigation into Beckwith’s office showing a deepfake porn video of a colleague’s wife continues,” the Indiana Democratic Party posted recently on social media, sharing a link to a news article about Jonathan Peternel’s arrest.
Rob Kendall, a conservative radio host on WIBC-FM and previous supporter of Beckwith, recently interviewed LoBianco on his show about both the Peternel case and grand jury investigation.
“It is newsworthy because Nathan is a prominent person, Life Church is a prominent, very popular church, and Nathan’s relationship with Micah Beckwith,” Kendall said.
Beckwith didn’t respond to several questions sent by IndyStar about the situation. The lieutenant governor’s office referred questions to Life Church. The church did not respond.
Here’s what to know about the situation.
Son of Beckwith’s boss at Life Church arrested
Jonathan Peternel’s arrest on Oct. 23 on seven felony counts included child exploitation, a level four felony, after an investigation by the Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force. It found he was disseminating child sex abuse material to other users on Snapchat and that he possessed more than 200 files of child sex abuse material, including violent depictions of child molestation, according to a press release from the task force.
Jonathan Peternel allegedly also possessed more than 50 intimate photos or videos of his parents, according to authorities, which his father Nathan Peternel referenced in a recent tearful address to the church following the arrest. It’s unclear how those came into their son’s possession.
Upon his arrest, Jonathan Peternel initially indicated to the court that he intended to hire attorney Devin Norrick, who provides legal services to Beckwith’s lieutenant governor’s office to represent him, according to his public case file.
However, that didn’t come to pass and Jonathan Peternel is now being represented by a public defender.
According to authorities, Nathan Peternel was with his son when police served a search warrant at their home in September, more than a month before the arrest.
Life Church released a statement on its website that it was “deeply saddened by the recent allegations” and called the situation a “crisis.”
“Our prayers are with Pastor Nathan and his family during this incredibly difficult time, as well as with the families and individuals impacted by these events,” according to the unsigned statement. “Our hearts remain heavy for all who are suffering. As we walk through this challenging moment, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and transparency.”
Nathan Peternel accused of inappropriate conversations with young people
However, the news involving the Peternels didn’t stop there.
After Jonathan Peternel’s arrest, 24Sight News started publishing allegations about his father’s past conduct toward young people.Former members of the pastor’s youth group described to 24Sight News a pattern of Nathan Peternel asking them about sex and talking to them about his own sex life.
24Sight News also reported that a woman, who the outlet identified only by her first name, Paige, received marriage counseling from Nathan Peternel when she was 17 that contained “sexually explicit” and graphic questions. The woman did not immediately respond to IndyStar’s request for comment.
The woman also said in a YouTube video that she tried to report the situation to church leaders back in 2017 but that nothing was done about it.
Life Church leaders did not immediately respond to questions sent by IndyStar about those allegations.
However, following the reports, McAtee, the Assemblies of God superintendent, addressed Life Church on Nov. 16 and praised Nathan Peternel’s leadership of the church.
“I’ve known Pastor Nathan for more than two decades,” McAtee said. “This is what I know about your pastor. He’s a man of character and integrity. He’s a man that loves his family. He’s a man that loves God.”
Beckwith not accused of wrongdoing
Beckwith himself has not been accused of wrongdoing in the matter.
He’s also been reticent to talk about the situation involving his boss and one of his closest allies. Beckwith a few months ago described Nathan Peternel as “one of my best friends and a spiritual brother in arms” in a social media post.
New episodes of Beckwith and Nathan Peternel’s “Jesus, Sex and Politics” podcast haven’t been posted since mid-September.
Beckwith, in his Nov. 2 sermon to Life Church attendees, said looking at the recent news would show “the devil has a target on our backs.”
“The testimony is powerful when the people praise God through the storm,” Beckwith said. “There will be heartache. There will be times when it hurts. This is not to trivialize what we’re going through. But to say, that’s the war, that’s the battle.”
Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com or follow her on X @hayleighcolombo.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What to know about the ongoing ‘crisis’ embroiling Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s church
Reporting by Hayleigh Colombo, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
