A Georgia pastor who pleaded guilty to first-degree cruelty to children has returned to preaching-and his choice of subject has drawn sharp criticism. Nine months after receiving a probation sentence, Russell Tusing delivered a sermon about childlike faith and knowing God as Father, bringing renewed attention to a case in which his own family described fear and abuse.
According to ChurchLeaders, Tusing preached at Grace Covenant Worship Center in Hogansville, Georgia, on September 23. During the approximately hour-long message, he referred to his time in jail and shared stories about his four children. He also told the congregation he had attended the church since January.
The appearance followed a December 2025 guilty plea to first-degree cruelty to children. Tusing received 10 years of probation under Georgia's first-offender provisions, according to The Roys Report. The outlet reported that the judge explained the felony would not remain on his record if he successfully completed the requirements.
Tusing had initially been arrested in March 2024 on child molestation and sexual battery charges involving a 13-year-old girl. Two charges were subsequently dropped; his guilty plea was to child cruelty. ChurchLeaders reported that his probation conditions prohibited contact with his family, alcohol consumption, and gun ownership.
His sermon's emphasis on fatherhood stands against the accounts his family gave in court. ChurchLeaders reported that one of his children called him a "monster," while another described destructive outbursts and violence toward their mother. Those statements were family testimony, distinct from the offense to which he pleaded guilty.
The Roys Report also described testimony from Tusing's former wife, Sarah, alleging a troubling difference between his public pastoral persona and his behavior at home. The outlet reported that their divorce became final in February 2025 and that his probation required him to remain 200 yards from his family.
For critics, the issue is whether a church should give someone with this history renewed access to a position of spiritual influence. Investigative reporter Julie Roys challenged the decision publicly, writing: "This isn't grace. It's disregard for the people a pastor is supposed to protect."
Questions about the church's decision remain unanswered in the reporting. The Roys Report said neither Tusing nor Grace Covenant Worship Center's pastor responded to its requests for comment before publication. His appearance therefore leaves a pressing question for church leaders: what accountability should precede a return to the pulpit after a guilty plea involving harm to a child?
