The Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in southeastern Pennsylvania staged a mock kidnapping and interrogations for a youth group without telling the teens that the events were staged, MSNBC is reporting. One of the 14-year-old girls in attendance was so distraught that her mother has filed a complaint with police. The pastor of the church, which is in Middletown, said the church is saddened that the girl was traumatized from the event, which was held on March 21.
The pastor, John Lanza, said there have been emails of support from other students at the church. They felt the program helped prepare them for what they might encounter as missionaries, and the persecution the church faces in other countries. Lanza added that the mock kidnappers included an off-duty police officer and a retired Army Captain.
There were about 17 students at the meeting, during which the mock kidnappers covered the students’ heads, put them in a van and interrogated them. The students and their parents were told about the event beforehand.
The girl who filed the complaint said “they pulled my chair out from underneath me, and then they told me to get on the ground.” She added that they were then taken to the pastor’s house, where it appeared he was being assaulted. Eventually, the adults did tell them it was a staged event.
Lower Swatara Township police Chief Richard Wiley said he won’t publicly comment until an investigation is complete. Dauphin County First Deputy District Attorney Fran Chardo added that there could be consequences if the teens didn’t know what was going to happen, and didn’t’ agree to be part of the event.
Written by: Karen Benardello
