AUSTIN (TX)
The Roys Report [Chicago IL]
May 22, 2024
By Josh Shepard
An alleged victim of recently ousted worship pastor Aaron Ivey is speaking out, alleging Ivey groomed, manipulated, and sexually molested him for years when the man was a minor.
Musician Logan Garza posted on Instagram last week that he was “one of the victims of sexual abuse” of worship pastor Aaron Ivey, who was fired in February by The Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas.
Ivey is married to popular podcaster and author Jamie Ivey. And in 2021, the Iveys co-authored Complement, a book and Bible study about marriage.
“I was groomed from the age of 15, when (Aaron Ivey) would have been twice my age, and sexually abused by Aaron from the ages of 16-20,” said Garza. “The grooming was textbook—making me feel special, hanging out privately exposing me to new and mature things like cigarettes, alcohol, and sexually explicit conversations. Eventually, he exposed himself, and coerced me to do the same.”
Garza added that this “pattern of sexual manipulation, under the guise of spiritual leadership, occurred nearly weekly for several years. . . . Then he began to molest me.”
Garza confirmed the veracity of his statement in an email to The Roys Report (TRR). But he declined to answer any questions, stating, “At this point, I’ve said everything I need to in my statement on Instagram.”
TRR reached out to Aaron Ivey for comment but did not receive a response.
Garza’s recent statement differs substantially from the statement made by Austin Stone when it fired Ivey three months ago.
According to the church’s statement, Ivey engaged in “predatory manipulation, sexual exploitation, and abuse of influence” with adult males and a minor male. The statement did not say the minor was molested, but that the abuse “involved inappropriate and explicit communications, indecent exposure, and the use of alcohol and illegal substances.”
The church’s statement also specified that the minor involved was “outside our formal programming.”
However, Garza said in his 1,200-word Instagram post that Austin Stone is where he “grew up, served, and worked,” noting Ivey was his mentor from 2010-2014. TRR has also learned that Garza is the son of Devin Garza, a longtime elder at Austin Stone.
Plus, a dormant LinkedIn profile lists Logan Garza as a past “resident” at the church.
TRR asked Austin Stone leaders about this seeming discrepancy between the church’s statement and Garza’s account.
Donovan Golden, Executive Pastor of Creative Ministries at The Austin Stone Community Church, replied, “We were conveying that none of the known instances of abuse happened within the context of our formal programming (such as student camps, student groups, or classes) or on or around any of our campuses.”
Golden added that he and church leaders are “devastated by the abuse Logan has suffered and want nothing more than his continued healing.”
However, Johnna Harris, co-host of the podcast “The Bodies Behind the Bus,” which spotlights firsthand accounts of abuse in evangelical churches and ministries, disputed the church’s statement. Harris told TRR she has spoken to at least 10 former staff and members of Austin Stone in recent months.
“(Logan) was very much known in that community, his father was an elder, he was not ‘outside of regular programming,’” said Harris. Harris also noted that Austin Stone “used sin language in place of naming the behavior as criminal. What Logan is describing is child sexual abuse, and we must rightly, and boldly, name that.”
‘Complexity’ of abuse
In his post online, Garza detailed the anguish and pain he has dealt with for years following Ivey’s abuse.
“Once (Ivey) broke that physical boundary my reality shattered, and I entered a very confusing, and skeptical time, which began in 2014,” stated Garza. “It took me a couple years to realize what had happened. My body knew something was wrong before my mind could understand it. I was skeptical that something wasn’t right, but didn’t want to believe it.”
Garza stated that Ministry Safe, a group hired by Austin Stone to help it navigate its crisis, helped him realize what had happened to him.
“It wasn’t until I was in a training by Ministry Safe, who educates and warns churches about this exact type of situation, that I finally understood the sexual abuse I had endured,” said Garza.
However, Garza said the “manipulation ran so deep I still felt forced . . . to protect Aaron, and more so his family.” Ivey and his wife are parents of four children, including three adopted children.
“For those 10 confusing and painful years I kept quiet without telling a soul,” said Garza. “If it wasn’t for the courage of two other victims coming forward about their stories of abuse with Aaron, I would still be quietly suffering.”
The other victims’ accounts have not been made public.
While Garza referred to Ivey’s “manipulation,” he also said there were “cherished times” with his former mentor. “If you can believe it, I *still* consider those early days to be some of the most amazing moments of friendship I’ve ever experienced,” stated Garza. “I know he would say the same. There weren’t only bad parts. I don’t expect everyone to understand that complexity . . .”
However, Garza also noted “the gravity and severity of (Ivey’s) betrayal,” saying: “He defiled something pure. He preyed on my innocence, my safety, my loyalty as a fierce friend, and my good nature. He deceived us all. Mostly me, the other victims, and his family. And he needs to be held accountable.”
No word on independent investigation
Harris, whose podcast has featured analysis of the recent Austin Stone scandal and church response, said Garza’s post reflects allegations that are “credible, serious, and criminal” in nature and should be investigated by police.
Additionally, Harris called on Austin Stone to conduct a third-party investigation by “an organization like GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Church Environment), which has professionals that are trained and credentialed to investigate churches and systemic issues.”
The church’s statement vaguely referred to fact-finding that was ongoing, stating, “We will not be surprised if more is uncovered.”
TRR repeatedly asked leaders of The Austin Stone Community Church whether the church had undertaken a third-party investigation or if church safety policies had changed following Ivey’s firing but did not receive a response to those questions.
However, in an email to TRR, Pastor Donovan Golden praised Garza for his public post, noting “it took an immense amount of courage for Logan Garza to share his story. Not only do we commend him for it, but we support him and any other victims who choose to share theirs.”
Despite what’s happened to him, Garza said he only wants “the best for Aaron . . . I hope he can heal from the things that plague him.” Garza added, “I also hope the truth being out there prevents him from ever committing any of these atrocities again.”