Pastor Ryan Gilbert, lead pastor of First Baptist Church Universal City in Texas, urged his congregation to avoid sinful gossip as the church supports and prays for those affected by the recent arrest of First Baptist Academy’s band director, who has been charged with indecency with a student and grooming.
“I’m assuming all of you have seen in the news or have seen in our church communication this week, regarding a teacher at our academy. This is deeply troubling news. There’s no doubt about that. I know many of you were shocked to hear,” Gilbert said on Sunday.
“For us as a church family, first, I want to ask you to pray earnestly and continually for anyone who has been affected. For us, I know the culture thinks prayer for us is like a cop out or a crutch. We know it is the power of God. God hears us when we pray … please lift up, especially those who have been affected, especially students,” he explained.
An affidavit cited by local news outlet KSAT says Stephen Strawn, 50, who was arrested on March 26, pulled the student out of class multiple times last November for “private band lessons.” He allegedly told detectives that he had unauthorized private sessions with the student, which included uniform fittings and photographing.
Gilbert highlighted the “courage” it took for those who came forward to report the charges against Strawn and asked church members to be careful about engaging in sinful gossip.
“I think that’s a very important thing for you to hear from me as your lead pastor, speaking up is an essential part of protecting others, and I’m deeply grateful for that kind of bravery, whether student, parent, volunteer, whoever,” the Texas pastor said before sharing his thoughts on gossip.
“I just want to remind us [about] the seriousness of our words. And remind us that gossip is a sin. So let’s just be very careful not to spread speculation or to share things that are not ours to share, especially when it comes to those who may be victims or those who reported this,” he explained.
“I don’t know if you know this or not, but even true information can be harmful when not shared rightly. Gossip can include sharing true information that you have no business sharing. Does it make sense what I’m saying? So it’s very important to clarify that. So let’s commit to speaking with wisdom and restraint.”
Universal City Police Department Sgt. Christopher Rosales said during a press conference last Friday that one of Strawn’s private lessons was described as a “French horn lesson.” Rosales said Strawn made “sexual contact” with the victim while using a “measuring tape” during a uniform fitting. Strawn allegedly also bought “risqué” clothing for his teenage victim to wear during his unauthorized photography sessions, where he took inappropriate photos of her.
First Baptist Academy and First Baptist Church of Universal City previously released a joint statement to KSAT stating that Strawn’s March 26 arrest followed an investigation initiated by Child Protective Services in coordination with the Universal City Police Department.
“On Monday, March 16, 2026, Child Protective Services visited the First Baptist Academy campus in response to a report involving an alleged inappropriate interaction between a teacher and a student. Prior to this visit, church and school leadership had not been made aware of the report or the alleged incident,” the statement explains.
“Upon notification, the employee was immediately placed on administrative leave. The individual is no longer serving on campus. The church and academy are fully cooperating with law enforcement and Child Protective Services and are committed to supporting a thorough and transparent investigative process.”
Both the church and school officials also highlighted that they are working to support the students impacted by Strawn’s alleged crimes.
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. We take this matter with the utmost seriousness and are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and supportive environment for every child entrusted to our care. We are also working to provide appropriate care and support for students, families, and staff affected by this situation,” officials said.
“Out of respect for the privacy of those involved and the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we will not be providing additional details at this time. We ask for continued prayer for those directly impacted, especially the students and families affected, as well as for our school community.”
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