Wake Up Call: Youth Minister Charged with Sexual Abuse
If children are not safe in the church, where are they safe? That is the question that I asked myself after reading that Jeremy Fulton, a youth minister at Mariner’s Temple Baptist Church in Lower East Manhattan had been arrested on yesterday December 4, 2009. It is alleged that he had sex with a 12 year old girl multiple times over a two year period. According to NY1.com, he recently plead not guilty to raping a girl under his supervision.
When I see articles like this, it is a reminder for all of us to be mindful of who we have interacting with young people. Who do you have supervising the young person that you know. Has an adult given you reason to suspect their behavior? Every time, I see a story like this, I closely examine if I have received any warnings signs and what I should do as it relates to the young people that I know.
Allow this post to be a wake up call and a reminder. Is the young person you know safe where they are? Do you need to make a phone call? There’s no time like the present.
**As a side note, I’d like to say that Mr. Fulton is being charged at this time and has not been tried and found guilty of sexual abuse. And though I believe everyone deserves their day in court, I still believe that when stories such as these rise to the surface, we should all be mindful of the nature of the story and the potential danger that can come to young people if we don’t act accordingly.**
About the Author
Yasmin Shiraz is the President of Still Eye Rise Films, an independent production company which films educational and thought provoking documentaries that chronicle the lives, traumas and experiences of youth. Her first production, Can She Be Saved?, a documentary that examines violence among middle school girls, was an official selection of the 2009 Roxbury Film Festival and recently won a 2009 Indie Award of Merit from IndieFest.
Yasmin Shiraz is the Award winning Author of Retaliation a novel about a community’s response to youth violence. In 2009, it was selected as one of the top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers by the American Library Association. She is the author of The Blueprint for My Girls: How To Build A Life Full of Courage, Determination & Self Love (Simon and Schuster) and five other books. Her best selling “Blueprint” empowerment series is utilized as a self esteem, motivational, and educational tool at middle and high schools, after school programs, non-profit youth centers, as well as Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the country. 
2 Comments for Wake Up Call: Youth Minister Charged with Sexual Abuse
December 20, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I thank you very much for knowledging this unfortunate situation. I do agree that us parents have to be mindful of who and what we allow our children around. Just because the have the name Pastor or Minister in front of their names does not mean that they are carrying out gods will and his way. I personally have learned to not trut anyone anymore but God, some may see that as wrong but for now that is how I feel.. Be bleses.
February 27, 2011 at 11:45 am
Sister Shiraz
I am responding to the article on the Wake Up Call Youth Minister being charge for sexual abuse.
Yes as parents we have to be careful who we leave our children with and if the church is running such a program. Every after school program should have all staff register through the NY State guidelines and finger printed. The Minister does deserve a court date to say his story but the parent should be also responsible in the case if she allow the boundaries to change between the gilr and the Minister. Yes a Minister should be acting a certain way and handle themselves as Jesus live his life. Now if boundaries were change by both adults and the child is suffering then justice will be serve. Both adults should be punish for that mistake to happen and God will be the judge. We should not throw no stones on oneside when the adults were selfish to let things happen to far. My experience with child molestation I take it personal because it was done to me by my step father. Both adults that were involve had to find forgiveness through Jesus and answered to him. I pray that the young lady speaks out through Jesus about her case and reveal the true soon. I see alot of jealously, envy, betrayal, greed, self esteem issues, adults using the church to find love but it came out to be demonic acts.