In a shocking turn of events, Futures Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, is grappling with the arrest of one of its youth pastors, Daniel Menelaou, who has been charged with multiple counts of possession of child pornography. The 28-year-old pastor, who joined the church in August 2023, was taken into custody following a police raid at his residence, initiated by a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
According to the arrest records from the Roswell Police Department, Menelaou faces six counts related to possessing materials depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct. Authorities seized several electronic devices during the search, which are currently undergoing analysis for further evidence. Roswell Police Officer Tim Lupo confirmed the seriousness of the situation, stating, "We seized several electronic devices that will be analyzed for additional evidence."
Prior to his role in Georgia, Menelaou worked as a student mentor at Temple Christian College in Australia. Reports indicate that he allegedly shared disturbing content via the messaging app Kik, raising serious concerns within the church community and beyond.
In response to this distressing news, Pastor Tony Cornbridge of Futures Church expressed deep sorrow and shock, emphasizing that the charges against Menelaou are completely disconnected from the church community. "Our hearts are heavy as we share heartbreaking news with you," Cornbridge wrote. "We are deeply shocked, grieved, and blindsided by this news. We also want to be absolutely clear that these charges have no connection to anyone in our church community."
Futures Church, formerly known as Influencers Church, is affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination and operates 16 campuses across Australia, the United States, and Indonesia. The church leadership has condemned Menelaou’s actions in the strongest possible terms, reiterating their commitment to protecting children and supporting survivors of abuse.
A spokesperson for the church stated, "Until his arrest, we had no prior knowledge of any allegations or indication of wrongdoing. The details outlined in the arrest warrant are deeply disturbing and stand in total opposition to our unwavering commitment to protecting children." They further emphasized that Futures Church has a zero-tolerance policy regarding any form of abuse, and upon learning of Menelaou’s arrest, he was placed on immediate administrative leave, which has since been escalated to termination.
The church community is now left to process this shocking revelation, and leaders are calling for prayers for all those affected. "Our hearts go out first and foremost to any victims who have been harmed," the spokesperson added. "We remain committed to standing with all survivors of abuse, particularly children, whose suffering should never be ignored or minimized."
As this story unfolds, it serves as a somber reminder of the importance of vigilance within faith communities. Churches must prioritize safeguarding their congregations and ensuring that all members uphold the highest standards of conduct. The leadership at Futures Church is taking the necessary steps to address this incident and restore faith within their community.
For more information on child protection and resources for survivors of abuse, visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or the Child Welfare Information Gateway.