In brief
Marian Barbu and Mihai-Constantin Petcu, former residents of a Romanian shelter run by ex-megachurch pastor Paul Havsgaard, allege severe abuse and trafficking of children over eight years. The lawsuits accuse the Harvest Christian Fellowship and its leader Greg Laurie of negligence in preventing the misconduct. Allegations include physical and sexual abuse, and an investigation is underway as more survivors may come forward.
LOS ANGELES — A former Riverside megachurch pastor, Paul Havsgaard, faces serious accusations of sexually abusing and trafficking children in Bucharest, Romania. Two Romanian men, Marian Barbu and Mihai-Constantin Petcu, have filed lawsuits in U.S. District Court, claiming that their time in a shelter run by Havsgaard was marked by years of severe abuse. The complaints highlight that Havsgaard offered food and shelter as a lure for struggling street children before subjecting them to harsh treatment and exploitation.The allegations extend to the Harvest Christian Fellowship, whose founder Greg Laurie is named in the lawsuits for his failure to prevent the abuse despite known red flags. The plaintiffs, now 33 and 40 years old, allege that the church was complicit by ignoring numerous reports and warnings regarding the conditions of the shelter and the behavior of Havsgaard. They claim to suffer from PTSD and social difficulties as a result of their experiences.In a statement, Harvest Christian Fellowship expressed shock at the allegations but defended Havsgaard, labeling the lawsuits as a targeted attack on the church rather than a quest for justice. The church claims that they reported the allegations to authorities and have attempted to engage with the plaintiffs, but the plaintiffs have refused to cooperate.Both plaintiffs recount traumatic experiences in the shelter, describing it as akin to 'a torture chamber inside a prison' where Havsgaard regularly subjected them to voyeuristic abuse. Reports also include accusations of using older boys for sex work and leveraging their earnings. The legal team representing Barbu and Petcu anticipates filing additional lawsuits from at least 20 others who reportedly suffered similar abuses while at the shelter, emphasizing a strong call for justice and financial support for the victims.
