SPRINGFIELD — More than 20 lawsuits have been filed against Agape Baptist Church over alleged abuse of children in its care.
The plaintiffs in the case allege that during their time at Agape's boarding school, they were subjected to physical and emotional abuse, according to complaints filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
One plaintiff alleges that he was at the boarding school in 2017 and 2018 and during his time Agape and Bryan Clemensen were responsible for providing care, custody, supervision and safety to him while he was at the school.
However, during this time, the plaintiff experienced physical and emotional abuse from multiple agents, servants and employees of Agape and Clemensen, according to the suit.
Prior to the plaintiff's arrival, there were already reports and incidents of abuse at the school, indicating that the defendants were aware of the dangers but failed to implement safety measures, the complaints state.
The plaintiffs all allege that there was a culture of pervasive abuse at the boarding school, which was not disclosed to parents.
Other residents had also reported incidents of abuse before the plaintiffs' experiences, according to the suits.
The plaintiffs claim despite knowing about these abuses, the defendants allegedly did not adequately investigate or report the incidents, nor did they take steps to protect the plaintiffs from further harm.
Instead, the defendants allegedly practiced a pattern of punishment to prevent reporting of abuse to authorities or the public, according to the suit.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for personal injuries, including past and future pain and suffering, and other general and special damages. They are represented by Ryan D. Frazier, Phillip R. Martens, David M. Mayer and Charles T. Lee of Monsees & Mayer in Springfield.
Frazier said their firm currently has about 21 cases on file in federal court and has previously litigated more than 20 against Agape, most of which have been resolved.
"Agape was a boarding school that misled parents to believe that it was a place that can get rebellious boys back on track with love and care," Frazier said in an interview with The St. Louis Record. "Many former students, however, tell a different story."
Frazier said these individuals were mentally and physically abused under the disguise of discipline, some reporting sexual abuse as well.
"Monsees and Mayer is representing former students to pursue justice for the trauma they endured and to give them an opportunity to have their voices heard," Frazier said.
Last fall, a mother filed a wrongful death suit against the boarding school, alleging her sun suffered abuse while there.
Kathleen Britt sued the now-closed boarding school, claiming her son Jason's death was caused by abuse, including a gang rape.
Britt's lawsuit highlighted the tragic story of Jason, who struggled with mental health issues after leaving the school and he eventually died in February 2022 from heart and kidney failure.
The suit also implicates Cedar County Sheriff James McCrary, alleging that despite knowing about abuse reports, the sheriff's department did not effectively investigate or report concerns to welfare workers. Some sheriff's department staff were said to have also worked at the school.
Former students alleged various forms of abuse, including rape and forced labor. In 2021, Agape's doctor was charged with child sex crimes, and five employees faced low-level abuse charges, though the attorney general's office believed more should have been charged with more serious crimes. However, the local prosecutor stated no additional charges would be filed.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri case numbers: 6:24-cv-03025, 6:24-cv-03026, 6:24-cv-03027, 6:24-cv-03028, 6:24-cv-03029, 6:24-cv-03030, 6:24-cv-03031, 6:24-cv-03033, 6:24-cv-03034, 6:24-cv-03037