Darrell Gilyard was a successful mega-church preacher. So famed was he, there was a film about him “The Darrell Gilyard” story that had Jerry Falwell. one of his mentors, give a testimonial saying he was one of “most brilliant men in the pulpit.”
This is all in spite of him being fired in 1991 for child molestation. His main mentor, the former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, knew but since he forgave him, he promoted his career. At least the first time.
That all ended when he was convicted of sexually molesting a 15-year-old girl. He served three years and has been released but has been barred from being in the presence of minors.
So a church hired him anyway and barred children from the church. That’s right. The convicted sex offender was chosen over the children. He is welcome, they are not.
In 2022, the report released by the Southern Baptist Convention revealed that he had been accused by 44 women over the years, including accusations of attempted rape.