Teresa Dover Lentz

"As I read this I am highly disappointed in the misconception this law firm has reported and added and wrote what they wanted and not actually what a witness stated. How many other witness statements were done this way? After reading this report, I would say the majority of them.

First of all, he never reported this had to be in by noon. When his secretary left a message for an appointment for us to speak the next day, she stated between 1 and 2pm. If it had to be in by noon, why would you try to make an appointment after a deadline! Hmmm.

The next false statement from them, was I said 1978 as the year we started school. That was not what I said .That is when I first started the church. The school started in 1979. That is the year I started school at CCS.

The 2nd false statement is about living at the Gardners house. I never told them that it was chaotic at my house. I stated to them that I was seeking to learn more of the Bible and other things. After a couple of weeks Austin told me that my parents wanted me home. I said ok. I went home as he suggested. During this time, I did witness him going downstairs frequently,( where Becky's room was and I was not allowed), we did, Becky, myself, and Austin in the middle of us watch some TV in the bed with him while Betty was in Texas, which was very uncomfortable and I was told to go to the couch after making it known.

3rd I told them about some of us teenagers that worked our way through school. How Austin and the associate pastor would hit the guys, made some cry. When I received lashes it was in school. I can't recall disrespecting Austin. It was for some stupid reasons. I took them and went on. He also beat Becky's brother in the basement and another teenager who is now a missionary. The firm stated they had talked to her brother but not the other gentleman and called his name.

4th was about he knew the song leader had done the sexual abuse to Becky after she reported it. Austin questioned me about him. (Had he done that to me). I told the law firm also about the youth pastor getting sent to Gainesville after it was brought to his attention from the victim and Austin's parents. I told about when myself and a few other teens told about Austin's sister having an affair with a man in the church. We were made to be liars, had to apologize, write verses concerning lying cause he didn't want it to be made known. Later it was found to be true and that family left the church and pulled their 2 boys from the school. Several other teenage girls left because Austin would mark their legs with a ink pen when they wore a shorter dress or skirt with a slit because it was too short or did not cover enough if their leg in his opinion.

5th thing was the report of Austin and Becky sharing ice cream cones and sitting close together. I reported to the firm that this occurred at Sword of the Lord's conferences in Atlanta, Pastors School, and any where we were riding in a car.

6th thing was, he couldn't understand why I continued to attend the church 3 years after some of this took place. He was told a lot of things didn't happen all of a sudden. The beatings with Becky got worse after a period of time, Austin would would dismiss the fact of her being out of school or church was due sickness or running errands, we was no dummy. You did not question what Austin did, why he did something or anything. I first started going to the school because I wanted to be different. I wanted away from the lifestyle that I seen my closest friends at that particular time live. I had a chance to work and pay my way through the Christian School, and I wanted to be a teacher. I told them this!!! After I graduated, Becky was still in school and I became the Kindergarten teacher for the 4-5 year olds, and played on the school basketball team. I was Kindergarten teacher and taught Daycare after school and in the summer. God was working in my life and I wasn't leaving His will. That was my purpose of staying because God opened a door. As things got worse over the years, I had to get out. I was asked to go to Gainesville and work with the youth pastor who Austin had to leave the church, and help them. In my heart, I knew I couldn't be there. What if he was doing the same thing he did here. His own daughter reported abuse in him. So the guy I was dating, who is now my husband, I left went and went to Dalton, Ga. This was told to the firm. That's why I stayed then left.

The bruises on Becky was after I lived with the Gardner's. I'm sure there were some before also.

The attorney also asked why these allegations were not told to authority or other adults in the church. Not everything happened at church and not everything happened at school. When at school the only adults there were Becky's dad, the youth pastor, and Austin and his wife who was the kindergarten teacher. How was you gonna tell one of them when they were part of it. They would make it look like nothing happened.

These happenings of abuse, overlooking molestation, adulterous affairs, misuse of finances are not false accusations. These are honest allegations. No I did not see him actually molest Becky. Do I believe he did? Yes without a doubt. There are too many circumstances that I witnessed to make me believe this between Austin and Becky. I have seen many, many, other things that could be said. His wife knew everything. The associate pastors wife knew a lot of this. Us teenagers knew slot also and we're silenced. NO MORE SILENCE. The sad fact is this continues today with his family to others and is accepted as a way of their life.

The firm says, oh Austin was young and has learned. We were younger than him and you can't believe we were silenced??? Seriously. What he has learned is how to cover it up better, how to make people believe the way he wants you to too.

Someone else needs to take this over who is not affiliated with either party. VBM you have failed your people by accepting and believing lies. Search your hearts. Listen to what's being said and look at what has been done through the Gardner family.

This is so very wrong and God will give justice whether we see it or not. God will not fail the many victims."