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	Somerset Missionary Accused of Sexual Abuse in Belize By Tricia Neal Commonwealth Journal October 19, 2011 http://somerset-kentucky.com/local/x350489386/Somerset-missionary-accused-of-sexual-abuse-in-Belize A Pulaski County native is being accused of three counts of “unnatural crime” in the Central American country of Belize. He’s serving time in jail there, accused of having forcible sex with three teenage brothers. Bryan Sears, 35, formerly an active member of Victory Christian Fellowship in Somerset, is being held without bail until Monday, a report in the Amandala, a major newspaper in Belize, says. Leaders at Victory Christian Fellowship released a brief statement about Sears this week: “On Saturday, Oct. 8, local authorities in Sarteneja, Belize, brought charges against Bryan Sears, a Christian missionary in Belize. The allegations against Mr. Sears concern sexual improprieties with minors. Mr. Sears has been an independent missionary in partnership with Victory Christian Fellowship for seven years.” Mark Harrell, senior pastor of Victory Christian Fellowship also issued this statement: “The leadership and congregation are surprised at the allegations, and grieve for the children and families involved, and are eager for truth and justice.” Sears’ alleged victims are 13, 14 and 16 years old. The Amandala reports that the 14 year old victim told a family friend about the abuse after he couldn’t bear the mental and physical pain any longer. The boys and their mother filed a report on Oct. 8, and Sears was arrested the following day. A medical examination allegedly proved that all three boys had been sodomized. According to the Amandala, Sears was well respected in the small village where he has lived for three years. He was a volunteer worker, counselor, Bible teacher, and youth pastor. The boys’ mother told the Amandala Sears offered to help her with school expenses for one of her sons, and he offered the use of his home computer if they needed to do homework. She eventually took a job cooking and cleaning in Sears’ home, and the 14 year old was moved into the home and placed under Sears’ care — an act the mother originally thought was done out of kindness. On Oct. 5, the 14 year old allegedly got drunk and told a family friend that he was being abused. Later, the other two sons told police their account of what had been happening. Sears’ social profile online shows a much different personality than the one portrayed by the boys and their mother. A Pulaski County High School and Eastern Kentucky University graduate, and the son of local auto dealership owners Gary and Cheryl Sears, Bryan Sears’ Facebook profile tells how that, after he served as a “leader” at Victory Christian Fellowship, “the Lord called me to a full time ministry in missions...” By late 2002, he had moved to Belize and began working as a teacher. After a brief move to Guatemala to do more missionary work, he moved back to Belize in 2008. “I have voluntarily served up to the summer of 2011 as counselor and Bible teacher, and held various ever-changing positions during this year of transition, including Institute Financial Director, Vice Chairman of the School Board, Vice Principal/Counselor, and Bible Teacher,” he states. “I served in youth ministry, ministry of music, and as Sunday School teacher of youth for these three years...”
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