Faith Life Church founders Gary and Drenda Keesee say they will continue leading their Ohio congregation after their son, Gary Thomas "Tom" Keesee Jr., was convicted of 27 sexual offences involving minors.
Addressing worshippers following the verdict, Gary Keesee described the family's pain and said the couple were praying for everyone involved. He also rejected calls to leave church leadership, saying their understanding of God's calling had not changed.
"God has not told us to move or do anything else," he said, according to The Christian Post.
Knox County Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel found Keesee Jr. guilty on November 6 of 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The verdict followed a bench trial in which three women testified about abuse they experienced as children.
Keesee Jr., 38, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2027, and could face life imprisonment. Wetzel rejected prosecutors' request to revoke his bond, allowing him to remain free pending sentencing. The judge said he found the victims' testimony truthful and credible, according to the Newark Advocate.
The case has also raised questions about what members of the Keesee family knew before the allegations became public. Gary Keesee Sr. testified that he did not learn of the abuse until 2025. His son Tim, however, testified that Tom had previously admitted abuse to him and that he had asked their parents to keep Tom away from children, The Christian Post reported. These accounts concern disputed prior knowledge and are separate from the convictions against Keesee Jr.
Keesee Jr. resigned from his church position in 2024. A separate civil lawsuit involving him, his parents and Faith Life Church remains ongoing, according to local broadcaster WSYX.
Pressure on the family extends beyond church leadership. The Knox County Republican Party has called for Drenda Keesee to resign from her position as county commissioner following her son's conviction.
