LONG HOLLOW CHURCH STAFF MEMBER COMMITS FRAUD OF MORE THAN $100K

By Baptist Press

HENDERSONVILLE — An executive staff member at Long Hollow Baptist Church has been “systematically abusing his access to church resources,” the church said in a statement released June 23.

The statement is signed by senior pastor Robby Gallaty and executive pastor Collin Wood.

Through an audit, Daniel Meadows, a campus operations specialist and executive assistant, was discovered to have made fraudulent and personal purchases of more than $100,000.

“We passed our most recent external audit this spring, but no system or safeguard is 100 percent effective against a determined employee,” the church’s statement says. “Despite our rigorous safeguards, Daniel was in a unique position to exploit the system by spreading dozens of purchases across different budget lines and disguising his behavior behind events and other complex projects.”

The statement added that the staff is instituting new protocols recommended by the church’s auditing firm.

“As you can imagine, this news has been devastating to our staff,” the statement reads. “We find ourselves seeking justice for the financial abuse that’s taken place, but also seeking mercy and healing for a brother who has fallen prey to sin. Join us in praying for Daniel and his family in the days ahead.” B&R