Former Riverside Megachurch Pastor Accused of Child Sexual Abuse and Trafficking in Romania

An exterior of Harvest Christian Fellowship church is seen on April, 5, 2020, in Riverside, Calif

A former pastor of a prominent Riverside megachurch has been accused of sexually abusing and trafficking children for years at a shelter he operated in Bucharest, according to lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court in California.

The complaints, filed by 33-year-old Marian Barbu and 40-year-old Mihai-Constantin Petcu, allege that former Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor and missionary Paul Havsgaard abused them and dozens of other children over an eight-year period. The lawsuits also name the church’s founder and senior pastor, Greg Laurie, along with other senior leaders, accusing them of failing to prevent the abuse despite repeated warnings.

According to the filings, Havsgaard lured vulnerable street children with fast food, promises of shelter, and education, only to subject them to severe sexual and physical abuse. The men say they continue to suffer from PTSD, trust issues, and long-term social difficulties as a result.

The complaints accuse Havsgaard of sexual assault, molestation, and exploiting older boys for sex work, both online and in bathhouses, while taking a share of their earnings. Plaintiffs described the shelter as “a torture chamber inside a prison,” alleging that Havsgaard routinely appeared in bathrooms where boys were showering, stared at them, or masturbated in their presence. Other reported abuses included children being forced to kneel on walnut shells, tied to beds or radiators, and subjected to degrading punishment while Havsgaard invoked God to justify his actions.

The lawsuits further allege negligence by Harvest Christian Fellowship, stating that Laurie and church leaders ignored donor complaints and disturbing reports from visitors. They accuse the church of funding Havsgaard with monthly deposits of $17,000 into his personal bank account and allowing him to return to California with some of the children to raise more money under the pretense of rescuing street kids.

In response, the church issued a statement describing the allegations as “shocking” but argued that Havsgaard should be solely responsible, not the church or Laurie. It called the lawsuits “misplaced” and “a form of financial extortion,” rejecting the majority of the claims as false and slanderous. The church also said it had referred the allegations to law enforcement but that the plaintiffs and their attorney have not cooperated with U.S. authorities.

Attorney Jef McAllister, representing the plaintiffs, said at least 20 more lawsuits are expected in the coming weeks from additional alleged victims. Many of them reportedly remain impoverished, uneducated, and deeply traumatized.

“These survivors want to be heard and have the injustices they suffered recognized,” McAllister said. “They’ve had a hard slog and are still living with the scars of what happened.”