RED OAK (TX)
Premier Christian News [Crowborough, England]
February 25, 2025
By Heather Preston
A youth pastor at Elevation Church in North Carolina has been fired following historic allegations of inappropriate conduct involving former students at Oaks Church in Texas.
Tim Somers has been dismissed from his role while an investigation is conducted into alleged misconduct dating back over a decade when he served at an Assemblies of God church in Texas.
To date, no charges have been filed against Somers.
“As soon as Elevation learned about these allegations, we reached out to local Texas authorities and immediately placed Tim on leave. No charges have been filed. But Tim understands how impactful these allegations are for his role in ministry and we have agreed he will no longer serve on staff,” Elevation Church said in a statement to The Christian Post.
The allegations against Somers have surfaced around the same time as those involving another former youth leader at Oaks Church, Jerry Nickerson.
Nickerson, an intern at Oaks Church from 2009 to 2011 before joining the staff from 2011 to 2013, was dismissed from his role as a student pastor at Hope Fellowship Church in Frisco, Texas, in January 2025.
His termination followed a voluntary confession that he had engaged in “inappropriate contact with a minor” at Oaks Church a decade earlier.
Oaks Church confirmed that Nickerson’s confession was linked to his time with their congregation and reported the allegation to local law enforcement.
Following his confession, additional former students have come forward with allegations of misconduct, including reports of inappropriate messages and contact between youth leaders and young people.
Elevation Church has stated its commitment to cooperating fully with authorities and prioritizing the well-being of its congregation.