SOUTHLAKE (TX)
Dallas Morning News [Dallas TX]
March 15, 2025
By Adrian Ashford
The church’s former senior pastor Robert Morris faces up to 100 years in prison if convicted on all five counts of lewd or indecent acts.
“You’re still the great ‘I Am.’ I’m still within your hands,” worship leader Austin Benjamin sang at the beginning of Gateway Church’s Saturday service.
Much of the worship center’s upper level was empty, but on the first floor, seating was almost full. A row of people young and old stood in front of the stage, lifting their hands and swaying.
The Southlake megachurch held its first weekend service on March 15 since its founder and former senior pastor Robert Morris was indicted Wednesday on charges of sexual abuse of a child.
Morris, a celebrity televangelist who founded Gateway in 2000, was charged in an indictment with five counts of indecent or lewd acts involving a child and faces up to 100 years in prison if convicted, according to the Oklahoma attorney general’s office.
Cindy Clemishire publicly accused Morris in June 2024 of sexually abusing her beginning when she was 12 and continuing to age 17.
Morris has not responded to letters and at least five phone calls from The Dallas Morning News seeking comment since June. The News called three phone numbers listed in public records for Morris on Wednesday and left voicemails at two of them but did not receive a response.
At Gateway, turquoise light bathed the room Saturday as the congregation was urged to focus on God.
Related:Gateway founder Robert Morris could turn himself in soon, Oklahoma Attorney General says
Near the end of the service, Anna Byrd, kneeling onstage, sang, “Just to feel you here is everything.” filling the words with emotion.
“It’s all about you, all about you,” she continued, her voice joined by a driving drumbeat as she stood again.
Worship was followed by a ritual that’s become unusually common at Gateway — a leader, during announcements, addressed a new development in the scandal surrounding the church and its past.
Nic Lesmeister, executive pastor of global outreach at Gateway, acknowledged that congregants may have seen news media coverage about Morris.
“I’m sure that stirred up a lot of emotion for you. It stirred up a lot of emotion for us,” he said. “Reliving our challenging history can be, at times, odd. We don’t know what to do with our emotions.”
Lesmeister highlighted that Gateway is not involved in the investigation that led to Morris’ indictment and said the church doesn’t plan to “continually update” congregants on the court proceedings going forward.
Related:Ex-Gateway employees say the church had a culture of silence and trauma. Is that changing?
Saturday’s sermon, delivered by Virginia pastor Daniel Floyd, was titled, “When the church prays: how to handle pressure.”
After service, congregants told The News they were praying for Robert Morris.
Victor Esparza said he started attending the church after watching services online during the COVID-19 pandemic. He loves Gateway for its worship and said he senses the Holy Spirit at the church.
“You can tell by the praise and worship … there’s something here,” he said.
“I’m just still praying for him, [that] it goes well for him,” Esparza said of his reaction to Morris’ indictment. “For me, he’s still a man like anybody else. I mean, stuff happens. I just pray the best for him.”
Ricky Carazo and Marta Muniz told The News that they’ve been attending Gateway for about 19 years.
“It’s not the pastor that was here preaching; it’s our belief in God’s miracles,” Muniz said of what has kept the family at Gateway.
“It’s our home,” Carazo said. He also said he’s praying for Morris, and that people are innocent until proven guilty.
“We’re gonna pray for all,” Muniz said. “We’re gonna be here no matter what.”
Carazo added: “As long as we can.”
Some former Gateway staffers told The News they were surprised to hear Morris had been charged with a crime. “I am so shocked I can’t close my jaw,” said Alli Cooper, a former volunteer and member for 10 years.
“The indictment of Robert Morris is a massive victory not just for Cindy and her family but for the thousands of victims of child sexual abuse. (Most of whom sadly will never see their abusers charged),” Deborah Mash, a former executive director of media at the church, said in a statement.
Derek Dunn, who has founded a new church since leaving Gateway, said accountability matters and that there is no place for abuse in the church.
“Victims of all forms of abuse must be shown the utmost care by the church and its leaders, and the church has a responsibility to be a completely safe place for people to worship,” he said. “However, there is much work that must be done in order to make that happen.”
Adrian Ashford covers faith and religion in North Texas for The Dallas Morning News through a partnership with Report for America.