This is the video from CBS47 News of Don Simpkins from Texas. People are beginning to talk. People from his past are stepping up to the plate to help us and I am so thankful for their bravery. Mr. Simpkins paid a high price for alerting people back in the 90's, and he is more than willing to do it again for the purpose of protecting women and girls in Gilyards future. He knows the depths of this man's corruption, he heard every nasty detail. He knows he is not going to stop. He knows this is what God would have him do and God will protect him!!
Thank you Mr. Simpkins and all of those standing behind you! Thank you for all of your help!
Click on the link below, the video will self load.
Gilyard's former Counselor Don Simkins of Texas breaks the silence
24 comments:
I think that this man is powerful, he has knowledge of Mr. Gilyard from the begining which shows a pattern. If your state attorney can't figure out that this should be a slam dunk than maybe we should get together for a name dropping session and include some federal prosecuters that would love a piece of this one. I have also heard that this has benn covered by TV, Newspapers, Radio and Internet. I just wonder what it takes before the NATIONAL Media gets wind of it??
I love what you people have done to expose this man and keep his mug in the spotlight.
You are correct, Mr. Simpkins does know a lot about Gilyard and his past. he personally met with his past victims. He also knows of all that Gilyard disclosed in counsel. Imagine having to carry that filth for all of these years, knowing you did all that you could to expose him and attempt to stop him. no one really wanted to hear the truth - in some ways that is still happening now.
I know that SNAP sent out a press release about this interview in Dallas today. And people are talking. The word will spread.
You never know, this could be what it takes to stop him finally.
Mrs. Croft, I too feel that it will take some effort to bring down Mr. Gilyard. See, as I have seen and heard he has several deacons that protected him and helped to cover things up. He has also bribed and paid people off along the way. Those that he couldn't sway were physically threatened. I do believe that there are people within his most recent church that could really help but only they can say why they are not doing so.
It has been a long time coming but just wait a bit more, the national media is here and they are watching. Closely..
You would not believe the number of stories of pay off's and intimidation and cover up that I have been told about. Many are still out there, I have heard stories about specific named people who have not yet stepped up.
I feel that Gilyard and those who have helped him, are counting on these not coming forward because they know that they have gotten to them. Please prove them wrong! They are counting on your silence because they know your stories are very damaging.
I can't believe the arrogance of this man gilyard who thinks he can squeak through anything. The apparent truth is he has for so long. I can't help but wonder that his wife from shiloh must have seen these two sides of him. So at least in this respect she must have got caught up in the game, the "celebrity game" that it was big them and little you people in the church. Not saying she knew about the extent of his infidelity but most women usually have an inkling or suspicion when their husbands are being unfaithful. Maybe he was just that good at hiding it but it sounds like he likes joggling a lot of infidelities at a time. Hard to believe she couldn't have known something was up and if she did know about some of it it's hard to believe she would continue to stay with him seeing him in the pulpit like that. I guess he must have convinced her it all wasn't true. I wonder what she thinks now. Through news articles I saw how his first wife wasn't having it anymore, once she saw for herself how he really was she got rid of him. Tenise I hope you get tested. Truly, you're one of his victims too. Big head is a disease that I suppose anybody can fall into and gilyard has had the big head for a long time probably from the time he first saw the power he gained from preaching. He must not have had interest for the part that says those in this position will have a greater accountability than the rest, also a haughty spirit goeth before a fall. His arrogance/sickness has caused him to believe he will escape punishment. When he solicits, seduces, sexually assaults, or rapes a child, married woman, unmarried woman he does it believing he will not pay the consequences (they however will). Please SAO let him know he is wrong and he must pay a felony charge. Can anybody stop what this man is doing, clearly he can't stop himself. It was stunning and scary to hear the man from texas.
Has he approached any men or little boys out there?? If not maybe that's next. Wouldn't be surprised if this guy hasn't gone full circle.
Amen Anon 9:55 pm
People are beginning to wake up. If no one speaks he keep doing it over and over. I have prayed daily that God cause him to repent , however I know God will not go against our will. Being a woman, I'd have an idea if my husband is having relations outside of our marriage, however if he's been the bread winner for 10 yrs and I know nothing but fine clothes, nice home, parents well-treated and "celebrity" status, I may look the other way as well. She surely knows of his infidelity but not to the full extent. Gilyard told everyone that all of it was a lie and most of his family, in-laws and friends believed him, even me. But at some point I was convicted and opened my eyes.
Tiffany, I've posted a link back to this blog entry. Also posted a ref on the Fighting Fundamentalist Forum, but it is dismaying to see people's responses. The only remedy to deal with these perversions in high places is repentance and a return to God, shucking off the glitter of modern American Evangelical religion and clinging to Christ our Righteousness.
It is sad that importance and affluence have so neatly led so many astray and made them willing to bargain away the souls of the innocent.
Its not over yet, so if I were him, I'd be making arrangements for my wife to have whatever she wants while I'm away in prison.
He hides behinde his expensive lawyer and the blind women and their husbands who knows of his problem, however they are only thinking of themselves by not coming forward. I did and I'm glad about it. I have not had one phone call or threat, no one knows who I am. So step up and hold him accountable those who in some sick way are protecting him like he's a god.
anonymous: With all my heart, I applaud you for speaking up, but I also beg you to consider a less critical view toward those who do not speak up. I talk daily with clergy abuse survivors, and I see the long painful process that many go through from the time when they first begin to turn over in their heads the bare thought of speaking about it to the time when they begin to speak about it with one or two others in their lives to the time when they speak to the police, to an attorney, or to the public. I encourage and support survivors as best I can on that journey because I too know that the silence must be broken if others are to be protected. I also believe that, for many, speaking out can be an important component of healing.
However, I also know that those who are not yet able to speak up are not necessarily people who are "only thinking of themselves by not coming forward." They may instead be people who are simply trying to survive, who are struggling greatly, and who are doing the very best they can. They may be people who remain profoundly traumatized - and essentially immobilized - by the rape and violence of a trusted minister, and possibly also by the hatefulness that may have been inflicted on them during some prior attempt to report it.
When the news said they went to Gilyards house and they showed the front, I thought it was an office building.
I see why he wants to continue to "MINISTER". An overly sized house, all the women he wants to abuse. He's going to hang on for dear life to his riches.
Christa, I do agree that it can be a very difficult process. I also know that some of the women have come forward before and have been intimidated and feel no one else would believe them. That is certainly one of his recurring tactics.
I have a wonderful friend who is just beginning the process of dealing with her abuse from a Pastor in her past, she has kept it locked up for years in survival mode. It takes much courage to face it and acknowledge it. She is beginning to realize all of the ways it has affected her life now. She is bravely choosing to face it, deal with it and heal from it. But, it is certainly not easy to relive the pain.
I applaud anyone who can find the strength to do this.
I also hope and pray for victims to come forward. I'm not a victim of church abuse, but once i started documenting church, I did get threats and harassment. Definitely, a person has to stop and think before going public. I wish that more people would confront wicked clergymen, but once you go public about being harassed/molested/raped by a member of the clergy, you can never go back to not having said it.
And yes, coming forward is part of the healing process and a means to get on with your life. In the end, I think a victim/survivor has to be truly anchored in faith and ready to take this step. It is a vital step. Ultimately it can be a beneficial step. But it is not a step to be taken lightly.
You're right Ms Brown,
I apologize if I offended anyone, however I didn't mean it to sound that way. Its sos sad and frustrating to see so many women like myself sexually verbally or physically trapped by Gilyard and now teens. So to anyone who was offended, please forgive me.
Anon February 29, 2008 9:51 AM
Its hard for everyone at this juncture. So much to absorb and understand. God is not sleep and justice will be served. Prayers for all involved is so needed. DG's day is coming. He may think he's getting off because he has a high price lawyer, but God is the main Judge and he wins all His cases. There are a lot of victims in this case. God help!
I spoke to a parent of a victim and he said he would not come forward because he did not want to lose his house. So I guess he falls into one of the categories Christa mentions. So sad.
Anon, you have been brave by telling your story. I applaud you.
I am sorry that you have been victimized by this man and pray that you are able to seek help in being able to find healing. If you ever need help in that area, (anonymously)I can help direct you to someone that can help. You can email me at
thefamilycircus5@comcast.net
To Lady T: You are correct that their are so many victims. I know there are atleast 75 (counting Dallas victims also) that is not even counting the ones who haven't come forward. I don't know if he even realizes how many, he moves so quickly and leaves them behind to grieve.
To those of you he promised to marry or pledged his love to you, there are many others and it is part of his trap to convince you to remain quiet and to make believe you are the only one. Please realize he is a predator, he is incapable of real emotion, atleast not normal emotion.
I do not enjoy telling you this because I am sure it is painful, but I have heard it before and once you are able to see it, he loses his power over you.
anonymous: The first sentence of my prior comment was perhaps the most important one: "I applaud you." Shine on!
Tiffany - are there any local Jacksonville pastors who have had the backbone to publicly speak up against Gilyard, and encourage victims to come forth? Has Mac Brunson at First Jax said anything? Vines maybe? Anyone in our city in one of the mega churches - are they willing to speak up?
One brave Pastor spoke out, his name is George Harvey Jr. He also confronted the Deacons who hired Darrell and also Darrell himself years ago when he first came to Jax. and Shiloh. To no avail, they didn't listen.
Another local Pastor confronted Gilyard and the Deacons with a book of evidence of his sexual misdeeds, he was chased away from the curch and also to no avail, nothing changed. His name is Pastor Hendricks.
They are the ones that have been brave and done the right thing by not only confronting him about the sin, but then the leaders, then finally whatever it took to get the warning out.
First Baptist of Jacksonville is sheltering a former pastor among the unwitting congregation who is the prime suspect in the death of Brent Stevens and was dismissed from Miller Road Baptist Church in Garland TX for committing adultery with 14 married women there: Dave Hyles. His picture was also found in porn magazines in ads soliciting group sex.
I doubt Brunson or Vines will take one step to do the right thing regarding Gilyard. As far as I can see, they are part of the same "blue serge wall of silence" that protects such men.
For documentation of my assertions, listen to the news documentary, PREYING FROM THE PULPIT, produced in by WJBK of Detroit, Michigan, on my site.:
http://www.jeriwho.net/audio/preying1.mp3
http://www.jeriwho.net/audio/preying2.mp3
http://www.jeriwho.net/audio/preying3.mp3
http://www.jeriwho.net/audio/preying4.mp3
http://www.jeriwho.net/audio/preying5.mp3
Jeri - I don't think Hyles is still in Jacksonville. Do you know this to be true?
Tiffany and others - if you want to hear Brunson's take on Gilyard, listen to his recent interview at www.sbctoday.com. In that interview he refers to Gilyard as "a pastor down the street who is being arraigned.."...but what is sick about his comment is the context in which its given. He is asked what he believes the biggest problem facing the new SBC president will be the next two years. After answering "saving his own hide" and saying "they'll draw and quarter him" (he doesn't say who "they" is - probably referring to SNAP and the evil bloggers) he goes on to say he believes that the biggest problem in the SBC is how pastors treat each other, and how there are so many hurting pastors....then unprovoked he mentions Gilyard in the context of how PASTORS ARE TREATED!!! "I see men like that with their own spiritual struggles and things like that..." So Gilyard is just a pastor down the street with "some spiritual struggles". He also defends Vines and Patterson because "they didn't make that man do that" and then says a bizarre statement: "Dr. Patterson and Dr. Vines didn't cover up anything, they'd enjoy exposing it too much." Strange indeed.
Anon, no the last I knew was that he was still at FBC in Jacksonville. And I was updated in June 2007. But not since then.
But I did everything I could to let Jerry Vines know that he had a predator entering his church: letters, certified letters, phone calls; and Vines never alerted the congregation or acted on behalf of Dave's previous victims.
I need to correct the spelling of the Pastors name I mentioned earlier. His name is Pastor Rod Hendrix and his church is Word of Life Community Church, listed in the phone book.
I mentioned that he stood up to the leaders and Darrell at Shiloh 7years ago after many reports came to him of Darrell's sexual misconduct with members of the church. No one would listen or do anything about it.
He was the second Pastor to stand up against this sin. The first was Pastor George Harvey Jr.
Thank God for both of them. Such men are few and far between in church leadership today.
Come to think of it I've not seen DH in a while at FBC-although I've not looked for him either. He quit coming on Wed. nights a long time ago. I'll make a point of noticing Sun. His daughters and wife sing in the choir so surely he's still there.
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