Pastor of a megachurch accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old

Zachary King, a pastor of a US megachurch who recently resigned, is facing several charges related to the sexual assault of a teenager.

Until three months ago, King was senior pastor of LexCity Church in Lexington, Kentucky. The 47-year-old was also involved in youth ministry at Craig Groeschel’s Life.Church and held a leadership position at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, for eight years. He has been married to his wife for 24 years.

According to the police report, King was booked into the Fayette County Detention Center and charged with first- and second-degree rape, first- and second-degree sodomy, and unauthorized use of electronic devices to engage in sexual activity with a minor.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman interviewed King, during which time the former pastor confessed that he “had a sexual relationship with a minor over the course of the last year and a half.” He shared that he “had sexual intercourse with the minor beginning at the age of 15 in January 2023 and continued to do so until April 2024.”

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He reportedly contacted the underage woman through Snapchat and WhatsApp, receiving explicit photos and sharing how to meet. He confessed that he “had sexual intercourse at the minor’s home, her apartment and the church where he used to pastor.”

It is said that the LexCity Church congregation confronted him about this several months ago, after which he resigned. The church released a public statement on July 3, 2024.

“Pain and hurt are never the desire of a church,” the statement said. “The leadership of LexCity Church is therefore deeply saddened by the pain and hurt caused by the alleged actions of a former employee, which have affected so many people in so many ways. Our hearts and prayers are with the victims, their families and those injured.”

LexCity Church had previously experienced a similar situation. Former pastor Peter Hise resigned from his ministry at the church, then called Quest Community Church, after admitting to an extramarital affair. In 2018, after Hise’s departure, the church was renamed LexCity.

King’s arraignment took place on Tuesday, July 2. During that time, his attorney asked Judge John Tackett to set his bail at $50,000, which would allow King to pay $5,000, or 10 percent of the bail, to be released. However, the judge set King’s bail at $250,000.