4 women claim ex-contractor at Andy Stanley’s megachurch sexually abused them

Four women allege they were sexually abused about 20 years ago by Steve Thomason, a contract musician and videographer formerly associated with North Point Community Church in Georgia, which Pastor Andy Stanley founded.

Attorneys for the women, who are identified only as Jane Does, made the claims in a joint press statement released Oct. 30 by The Stier Group PLLC, a law practice and lobbying firm based in Fort Worth, Texas.

"We represent four women who have allegations of clergy sexual abuse and/or child sexual abuse against an individual, Steve Thomason, who was a North Point Ministries ('NPM') and/or North Point Community Church ('NPCC') representative," the statement said.

"Horrendous acts were perpetrated by Steve Thomason against our clients during time periods when he was a representative of NPM and/or NPCC. Thomason's bad acts include, but may not be limited to: grooming, coercive control, spiritual manipulation, kissing, fondling, groping, soliciting sexual acts, clergy sexual abuse, and child sexual abuse."

The women were about 14 to 22 years old at the time of the alleged abuse, the attorneys say. The allegations have been reported to law enforcement and the megachurch.

At least two of the Jane Does reported the alleged abuse to two church staff leaders 20 years ago, according to the attorneys, who say Stanley and registered agent Richard Holliday were informed of the allegations on or about July 26, 2025.

That notice came more than a year before Stanley announced last month that he will step down from his primary leadership of North Point Ministries on Jan. 1, 2027, and from the flagship North Point Community Church campus in Alpharetta on June 1, 2027. In his announcement, Stanley said a big reason for him stepping down is to spend more time with his family.

The church directed questions about the allegations on Monday to Diane Grant, Stanley's executive assistant. She did not immediately respond to The Christian Post.

In a message to staff on Nov. 5, Stanley called the allegations "devastating and heartbreaking." He clarified that Thomason was a contractor and was never an employee of North Point Ministries nor a volunteer with North Point Community Church. 

"The claims by the four women are devastating and heartbreaking. Claims of harm or abuse of anyone is something we have and will always take seriously," the pastor wrote.

Stanley further stated that only one of the women mentioned in The Stier Group release raised concern about Thomason in 2006, and her complaint did not "include or imply sexual misconduct."

"The information she reported did not include or imply sexual misconduct. The pastors responded immediately and acted appropriately based on the information she provided," Stanley noted.

When the law firm informed the church of the sexual abuse claims in 2025, Stanley said the church "took appropriate steps to cease contracting with this person."

Stanley further noted that none of the alleged incidents took place on church property or at ministry events. He defended the church's record of keeping women and children safe.

"The independent contractor they name has never been an employee of NPM nor has he served in any volunteer leadership role. Additionally, none of the allegations of sexual misconduct described by the four women took place on our property, at any of our events, or in any of our ministry environments," he said.

"The press release and subsequent commentary claim that we don't institute appropriate safeguards for the protection of women and children. As you know, that's simply not true," Stanley continued. 

"Anyone who works on our staff or serves as a volunteer in any of our environments knows the lengths we go to in order to ensure our environments are safe for everyone involved. We will continue to approach this with the seriousness it deserves and compassion for those affected."

The attorneys raised concern that Thomason worked on a North Point youth production as recently as around October 2025.

In comments to The Roys Report, Stanley stated that Thomason was an independent contractor and was not working for the church when it learned of the allegations. He said the church learned a few months later that Thomason was part of a crew hired for a church project under a business name, and it "ended the contract."

"When we became aware of this, we ended the contract," Stanley said. "This crew was on a video set, not at a youth event. Staff was present at all times, and all our normal safety protocols were in place."