guess why im posting a picture of this christian Congregation Leader

This one doesn’t seem to involve a minor, the article does not mention that he went after a child. But this “Man of God’s” behavior is appalling and not Christ like at all. The article from Roy’s Report is a wild ride. Pastor Charlie Heffelfinger.

CINOs.

Christian in name only.

https://roysreport.com/il-calvary-chapel-pastor-confesses-to-sexual-misconduct-in-chaotic-church-service-resulting-in-arrests/

By Rebecca Hopkins
for The Roys Report

A Calvary Chapel pastor from northern Illinois confessed to kissing a congregant and sending her sexual texts during a recent Sunday service. This led to public confrontation, police intervention and the arrest of two congregants.

Pastor Charlie Heffelfinger had planned to come clean on April 12 at Calvary Chapel Rockford, about 90 miles northwest of Chicago, for sexual dalliances with a church member. When one of his ministry leaders interrupted the service, calling the confession a “lie” and a “sham,” police were called, and two congregants who intervened were arrested.

A leaked video captured the chaotic confrontation and arrest, and a leaked audio recording describes the aftermath, including Heffelfinger’s resignation from the church.

Heffelfinger, 42, spoke to The Roys Report (TRR) about his confession, calling it the “most humiliating” situation of his life.

“I’m glad I got busted,” he told TRR. “I needed this, so I learned my lesson.”

Heffelfinger also resigned as the principal of the church-run, K-12 Calvary Chapel Rockford School.

Heffelfinger drew media attention last summer for confessing in a July sermon that he’d wanted to use his truck to run over a couple “losers” who were walking in the middle of the road. Heffelfinger confessed the desire as sin and defended his preaching as “authentic.”
About the recent situation, Heffelfinger, married with four children, told TRR he had a 10-day long “affair” that was “mutual” with a family friend in her late 30s. He said she also attends the church he founded 12 years ago. While they kissed once in a park, “my pants didn’t come off,” he said.

He denied this was an abuse of his clergy role.

“Of course not,” he told TRR. “She knew me as a brother.”

Experts, however, say clergy who engage in sexual misconduct with a congregant commit adult clergy sexual abuse (ACSA). ACSA is against the law in 14 states plus the District of Columbia. It is not illegal in Illinois.

**Confrontation and arrests**
Heffelfinger told TRR he knew immediately what he’d done was wrong. He said he’d hoped the matter could be handled privately, but he tried to be “transparent.” He added he and the woman had exchanged texts of a sexual nature that soon spread to others in the church.

One who got wind of it was John Christensen, who leads a men’s Bible study called Men After God’s Attributes (MAGA) and sometimes preaches at the church.

“He blew it all up,” Heffelfinger told TRR.

Heffelfinger had planned to give a deliberately vague, child-appropriate confession to his congregation on April 12. In the days before, he said Christensen informed him he was going “to pay” for what he’d done.

Heffelfinger reported this to police. He said his elders also forbade Christensen from attending church.

Christensen showed up anyway. WIFR TV-23, a CBS station in Rockford, reported Wednesday that Heffelfinger called 911, saying a man who “threatened to shoot people of the church” was there.

Heffelfinger said Christensen managed to get in a word before the first service started. A one-minute video recording posted anonymously in a Rockford residents’ Facebook group captures Christensen talking, off camera, to the congregation.

“He has no repentance heart at all,” Christensen told the congregation. “Any word he will say today is nothing but a lie and a sham. He’s had all week to repent. He has not. Instead, he’s done evil. He’s provoked people. He’s fired people. Is that the heart of a repentant man?”

“Amen,” one congregant responded.
Another shouted, “Good for you, John,” as others clapped.

Apparently, police entered at this point, as Christensen then said, “Come on officers, really?”

Church members began shouting angrily at police as the video cut to officers escorting Christensen and another man out of the church.

Heffelfinger said when police detained Christensen, a married couple who are church members pushed officers, resulting in their arrest.

TRR obtained copies of arrest reports of Archie R. Linn, age 62, and Leila L. Linn, 67, both charged with aggravated battery of a police officer. The arrest record noted that no weapon was used and minor or no injuries resulted.
Heffelfinger said the Linns know the woman Heffelfinger kissed. TRR attempted to find and talk to her but didn’t succeed. TRR is not sharing any identifying information about the woman due to the possibility she is an ACSA victim.

TRR called Christensen but he didn’t respond. Heffelfinger said police released Christensen with no charges pressed.   

Heffelfinger said he proceeded with his age-appropriate confession in both services, neither of which were livestreamed. He said many people he didn’t recognize were in the service, and said he believes some started a “conspiracy” against him.

But the anonymous poster of the video called Christensen a “well-respected member of Calvary Chapel Rockford,” and accused Heffelfinger of exaggerating the threat.

“He and the elders just did not want the full truth being made known and called the police,” the poster said.

Others who appear to attend the church posted their support of Christensen and the Linns.

“Archie and John are both amazing men,” someone named Jacky Billon commented on the video. “It broke my heart to watch them walked out cuffed.”

A commenter named River Sonnet, wrote, “My heart broke watching John and Archie betrayed by Charlie like that.

What a coward Charlie is walking away to call the police because he is too weak of a man to stand there and listen to what they had to say.”

That day, police booked the Linns in the Winnebago County jail. The following day, the 17th Judicial Circuit Winnebago County Court released them pending their May 14 arraignment, court records show.

TRR called the Linns but they didn’t respond. TRR emailed their attorney Joshua Smith, but he didn’t immediately provide a statement.

TRR emailed Calvary Chapel Rockford’s elders but received no response.

**Heffelfinger’s resignation**
On April 15, the elders posted a Facebook message mentioning “recent developments,” the need for unity, but nothing about the sexual misconduct allegations.

The elders cancelled youth group, Awana club and the Wednesday service.

“Due to recent developments regarding Pastor Charlie, we believe it is wise to take additional time as elders to pray, seek counsel, and carefully consider next steps for our church,” they wrote.
Heffelfinger told TRR he could have stepped away for a time of counseling and returned to pastor at Calvary Chapel Rockford, as most elders wanted him to return.

“After seeing the hurt and pain, I stepped down,” he said.

Heffelfinger said he and his wife are now in Indiana, using his severance money for an intensive marriage counseling program.

On April 19, the church held one service, which elders asked people not to record. But TRR obtained a recording, which included Elder John Carmichael reading Heffelfinger’s resignation letter.

“I’m human just like every one of you and I never pretended to be anything other than that,” Heffelfinger’s letter stated. “I made some bad decisions that were led in my flesh and I sinned.”

The elders told church members they believed Heffelfinger had repented and had asked him to stay.

An elder who introduced himself as “Jeff,” condemned an unnamed person who got angry in the April 12 service, which resulted in two “good people” getting arrested. He called the person who got angry a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

“There was anger. There was just a ton of emotion and that person took advantage of that emotion of those people who tried to rip this church part,” Jeff said.

Calvary no longer lists its elders on its website, but a December 2025 archived page lists a “Jeff Gorham” among them.
Jeff added that God had worked in Heffelfinger’s heart, prompting him to resign.

Another elder, unnamed in the recording, said the church-affiliated school will finish the academic year. But he said the church’s future is dire with no leader and finances tight, since some members have left. He asked congregants not to take sides, but rather to sacrifice for the church, and to trust the elders.

“If you are standing in judgment over others then you are wrong,” the elder said. “If you have no intention to being willing to be reconciled to those who have hurt you, then get off the bus.”
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Rebecca Hopkins is a journalist based in Colorado.