Atlanta's Pastor Arthur Allen and House of Prayer Church is Under Investigation, Again
It was in March 2001, when dozens of children were rescued after allegations of abuse at the House of Prayer led by Pastor Arthur Allen. Some of those children are now adults and they're speaking out about their experience for the very first time.
Now, news reports have learned the Atlanta Police Department has a launched a new investigation into the church.
Here's what many of the members of abuse had to say:
"Imagine for years being tortured by snakes," said Naomi Smith-Howard.Once members of the infamous 'House of Prayer,' these siblings, Tenishia, Naomi and James Jr., said they are still feeling the effects, more than a decade later, of what they call "years of abuse."
"I wanted to commit suicide," said Tenishia Smith.
"They hiss at you and then pick at you."
"A church is a place where you go to worship God," said James Smith, Jr. "It is not a place where you are demeaned and degraded."
The House of Prayer church made national headlines back in 2001 when its Pastor Arthur Allen and four other members were arrested and charged with cruelty to children for the beating of two young boys.
Pastor Allen and one of the church members were convicted. Pastor Allen even served two years in prison.
There were 41 children removed by the State of Georgia, including Teniesha and James. The brother and sisters attended the church under the orders of their parents.
"At the time when we were taken away, we were too scared to say anything," said James Jr.Learn more on video below:
According to his sister Teniesha, "We was children when it happened and being children, we were taught that if we say anything, we go against them, we go to hell."
"They hold you up in the air. It's two men on the arm, two on the leg and someone is just standing over you beating you with a belt and if that belt broke, it was another belt," said Tenishia.
