North Texas church worker charged with sexually abusing children while serving as youth pastor in Lubbock

A former youth pastor at a Lubbock church who later worked in churches in North Texas has been charged with sexually abusing at least one child.

Luke Cunningham, 41, was arrested Wednesday by the U.S. Marshals Service in Shallowater and booked into the Lubbock County Jail, jail records show.

Cunningham, who most recently worked at Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury for more than two years, is accused of three counts of sexual abuse. After learning of the allegations against Cunningham, Lakeside Baptist Church notified law enforcement in Lubbock and Granbury, church officials said.

In light of Cunningham’s arrest, the Granbury church sent an email to its congregation announcing that its human resources committee had terminated his employment. The church also said, “Lakeside Baptist Church stands firmly against clergy sexual abuse.”

Lakeside Baptist Church officials said they have spoken with other church leaders and instructed all staff to come forward and cooperate fully with police.

According to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV, Turning Point Community Church in Lubbock said it was contacted by Lakeside Baptist about the allegations against Cunningham on June 3. Lakeside officials told Turning Point that the allegations included potential victims between 2016 and 2020, when Cunningham served as a student minister at the Lubbock church.

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Cunningham has also worked in Fort Worth at North Fort Worth Baptist Church and the former Agape Baptist Church, Baptist News Global reported.

Church officials in Lubbock told WFAA that they never received any complaints or allegations during the time Cunningham worked there.

“We are shocked by these allegations and feel tremendous sadness for all potential victims,” Turning Point said in a statement.