A fifth person has been arrested in the ongoing investigation involving Pawleys Island Community Church (PICC), after church leaders allowed a convicted sex offender to be around children, in violation of his parole restrictions.
Last week, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Michael Anthony Fields, the church’s director of operations and missions. Fields faces a charge of unlawfully placing a child at risk or causing a child harm.
According to authorities, he was responsible for the security of the entire campus and the safety of students at the Pawleys Island Christian Academy (PICA). The announcement was posted on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
Earlier this month, former church pastor Don Williams, church administrator Ginny Williams, and former PICA director Jennifer “Niki” Howard were arrested. They were charged with obstruction, criminal conspiracy, and unlawfully placing a child at risk or causing a child harm.
The case began in early July when concerned parents contacted authorities after learning that 70-year-old Warren Perry below, had been volunteering at the church school several days a week. Perry, who was convicted in 2023 of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, was in close proximity to children in violation of his parole.
Authorities investigated and arrested Perry for the breach, but later charged the church leaders after discovering they chose to bring the offender on board while intentionally concealing his sex-offender status from parents and teachers.
The revelations sparked outrage among parents and congregants upon discovery. Williams, his wife, and Howard, along with several elders, resigned from the church.
The church is now the subject of at least five lawsuits.
One response to “Fifth Arrest Made in Pawleys Island Church Sex Offender Case”
Setting aside the law of Caesar, it seems to me this is ultimately a matter of bad theology among the church leadership. A truly penitent man, one who has truly been born again and indwelled by the Holy Spirit with the implanted Word, will accept the consequences of his sins, take responsibility, and honor the terms of his parole of his own accord. The fact that Perry was knowingly violating the terms of his parole was evidence enough, in and of itself, that he was not born again, and was therefore not rehabilitated.
We’re all about redemption, grace, second chances. The Lord has shown great mercy to us all. But we’ve got to get our theology right, understand what true repentance means, and frankly understand the Gospel how it works and what it means to be born again.
One who is truly born again and is no longer under the law will follow the law of his own accord, because of the work of the Holy Spirit and the implanted word. The difference is that he will do so of his own accord, because he is governed by the Holy Spirit. Whereas one who is under the law will not follow the law of his own accord (particularly when things get tough and it doesn’t work to his advantage, or when it is uncomfortable, and so on), and must be governed by other men in accordance with the law. This is the difference. And the church needs to do a better job of understanding and explaining the Gospel. 1 John 3, Jude, 2 Peter 2, and so on. These scriptures need to be better understood and explained. God’s word does not conflict with itself. And when we begin to consider how it doesn’t, that’s when we begin to truly understand the Gospel.