Faith Life Church senior pastors in pain after son found guilty

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Monday, November 09, 2026

Founders of the multi-campus Faith Life Church in Ohio, Gary and Drenda Keesee, told their congregation that they are in pain after their son, Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee Jr., was found guilty Friday of 27 sex crimes involving minors, but said they won’t stop leading the megachurch because God has not told them to do so.

“Yesterday the judge said Tom was guilty. Dendra and I are praying for healing and peace for every person involved. We, of course, deeply love all of our children, as you can imagine. There’s still a legal process ahead, so we really can’t discuss anything besides that. As you can imagine, it’s painful as a parent, but we are … leaving God good things,” Gary Keesee read from a statement delivered to the church on what appears to be Saturday night.

In his verdict delivered on Friday, Knox County Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel found Gary Keesee Jr. guilty of the 27 counts of sex crimes, WCMH reported. Keesee Jr., who had waived a jury trial, remains free on bond and is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2027. He could face life in prison.

Gary Keesee Jr., who served as chief media officer at Faith Life Church, according to LinkedIn, before resigning in August 2024, was indicted by a grand jury for the 27 counts of sex crimes in April 2025. The charges include 11 counts of first-degree rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition, and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. According to WBNS, the abuse spanned 11 years, beginning in 2001 when Keesee Jr. was 13. His first alleged victim was 5.

A second victim said she was 16 in 2011 when the now-38-year-old former church executive was 22. The report stated that three women testified during the trial and two of them recounted how Keesee Jr. repeatedly sexually abused them as minors.

Tim Keesee, Gary Keesee Jr.’s older brother, testified that he was aware of the abuse, and their younger sister, Polly Patten, testified that family members knew of it before the allegations surfaced in 2025.

“When I saw the victim post about the abuse in 2025, I was aware of the abuse that occurred,” Tim Keesee, who served as an executive pastor at Faith Life Church until he was placed on leave and later fired earlier this year.

Gary Keesee Sr. testified that he did not know of the abuse before 2025. But Tim Keesee testified that his younger brother had confessed the abuse of several victims to him, and that he had asked their parents to keep Tom away from children in the church.

“My mother asked if I was a part of it and if I knew what had been occurring,” he said.

While some former church members and survivor advocates have been calling for Gary Keesee Sr. and his wife, who is also a Knox County Commissioner, to step down from their roles at the church and in government, the couple insisted in their statement to the church on the weekend that they are remaining in leadership until God tells them otherwise.

“When God called us to launch this church 30 years ago, we didn’t have a list of options in case it didn’t work. God said to start a church and teach people about His Kingdom, and we did,” Gary Keesee Sr. said.

“That assignment has not changed. Once you hear direction from God, you stay there until God says move. God has not told us to move or do anything else, in fact, this is our passion.” He continued. “Our favorite time of the week is to be right here with you every week.”