(MI)
Michigan Live [Flint, MI]
October 10, 2025
By Cole Waterman
Painting himself as “rejected and persecuted,” the Rev. Mark T. Barclay is praying for financial help from his parishioners to keep his ministry afloat and thriving. Meanwhile, son-in-law James P. Randolph is awaiting his return to prison for once again preying on a minor.
Barclay, 73, is the televangelist founder of Mark Barclay Ministries and Living Word Church, 2010 N. Stark Road in Midland County’s Lincoln Township. The organization describes itself as “a worldwide gospel ministry with a prophetic voice in end times alerting God’s people with God’s Word of righteousness through every available means in every available place.”
The church has been mired in controversy since July 2023, when the first of three men associated with it — elder Brandon S. Saylor — was charged with sexually abusing children. That November, self-professed youth minister Randolph faced similar charges.
A jury on Aug. 29, 2025, convicted Randolph on two counts of first- and four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. Randolph remains jailed without bond pending sentencing on Nov. 13.
In the trial’s aftermath, Barclay sent letters to congregants explaining his recent actions and asking for continued support. He denied knowing Randolph — his daughter’s husband — had been previously imprisoned for the gang-rape of a minor in the 1980s, claimed Randolph was never a “youth pastor,” and expressed regret over not having supported Saylor’s and Randolph’s victims.
Barclay has also canceled or postponed numerous appearances and conferences throughout the country. MLive has reached out to his son and spokesman, Josh M. Barclay, but has not heard back.
The day of Randolph’s conviction, Mark Barclay Ministries posted the following statement on its Facebook page:
“This is a heartbreaking situation that has profoundly affected our church community and beyond. We respect the legal process and the verdict returned by the jury. At the same time, we reiterate that the criminal conduct did not occur on church grounds or during a church function. Rumors that the defendant was a ‘pastor’ or ‘in charge of’ our youth ministry, children’s ministry, or nursery are simply not true. As a church community, our hearts are with all victims of abuse. We are committed to truth, accountability, and safety in our ministries. We continue to ask for the community to join us in prayer for all who have been affected by this case.”
In September, Barclay sent a letter to members of his church’s Partners Plus Program, in which contributors donate at least $50 per month.
“I must humbly admit that I am in one of the greatest battles of my life and ministry,” Barclay wrote. “I want you to be confident that every penny of your money is appreciated and properly applied where you designate. I know better than to make any bad confession, but I admit that we could use every dollar possible to keep our ministry strong and going forward.”
Click here to read the entirety of Barclay’s letter.
Barclay also sent a separate letter to church members, which was then circulated on several social media platforms. He began the missive by thanking congregants for their support before apologizing to them for not having communicated with them sooner.
“My life has been consumed with all that is happening here, as well as the constant assault and attacks against our church,” Barclay wrote.
He went on to list several questions he’s recently faced: Why didn’t he stand with the abuse victims? How could he have been ignorant of Randolph’s criminal past? Why did he appear with and stand by Randolph throughout his trial? Was Randolph a youth minister or not?
The church’s initial public response did not bring healing for the victims, Barclay wrote.
“Their courage should have been met with greater love and care,” he wrote. “Instead, in our efforts to process a very difficult situation, our actions probably left them feeling unheard, and they deserved better.”
Barclay previously gave sermons in which he criticized the sexual abuse victims and church members for discussing legal issues with non-members.
“I prayed for the people who are attacking our family with so many weird and wild, false, down and dirty, you know, accusations, and I prayed for them,” Barclay told his followers in an October 2023 service. “I woke up and the Lord said, ‘They have cursed themselves.’ Some will probably die. I don’t know, I hope not, that’s why I pray. They crossed a line.”
Police arrested Randolph the next month.
Barclay went on to write he knew Randolph had a criminal record but wasn’t privy to the specifics until reading news reports in October 2024.
“Had we known the truth earlier, James … would never have been permitted to participate in youth ministry in any capacity,” Barclay wrote. Randolph was never officially the head of the church’s youth ministries, though he often overstated his role and publicly portrayed himself as a youth pastor, Barclay wrote.
Barclay wrote he stood by Randolph during his trial because he believed he was innocent and to support his daughter and grandchildren. Barclay has since removed Randolph from all ministry duties. He denied the church financially supported Randolph’s legal defense or paid the $5 million bond he was free on pending trial.
Barclay concluded by stating Living Word Church is strengthening its policies, procedures and leadership accountability processes to protect children going forward.
“Most importantly, we are committed to walking in humility, repentance, and truth as we move forward,” Barclay wrote. “We cannot change what has already happened, and we know this cannot erase the past or remove any pain, but we pray it serves as a step toward healing — for the victims, our church family, our partners, and all who have been hurt or confused.”
Click here to read the entirety of Barclay’s letter to his network.
The church had announced Barclay was to speak at numerous events in Michigan, Ohio, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas in September and October. None of those events occurred. Barclay wrote to organizers on Sept. 17 that he decided to cancel October’s Amarillo Holy Spirit Conference in Texas to “focus all efforts and energy on the health of our local church here in Midland during a season that requires deep attention and care.”
Former members have alleged the church has not held a live service for several weeks, though MLive wasn’t able to confirm this with spokesman Josh Barclay. The organization’s website and Facebook page feature no upcoming events.
The issue of Randolph’s status as youth ministry leader has been a contested one.
Randolph’s now-adult victim testified she knew him as her youth pastor and that he and his wife were regarded as the church’s “first family.” The woman contacted police after news broke of Brandon Saylor’scharges.
Randolph in a 2023 interview with Michigan State Police investigators asserted he had been involved with youth ministry for 30 years. A 2021 podcast featuring Randolph described him as “second-in-command for Mark Barclay Ministries” and overseer of Children’s Ministries. At separate appearances in November 2022 and June 2023, Randolph presented himself as “reverend.”
The church also labeled Randolph as a reverend in a 2012 Facebook post.
Randolph’s victim testified her parents were friendly with the Randolphs and she would often have sleepovers at their house, as they had several children of their own. She moved into the Randolphs’ home when she was 9 or 10 years old, she said.
Starting in her preteens, she would awaken to Randolph touching her in her sleep, she testified. These incidents grew more frequent and advanced in severity, the woman testified.
The misconduct continued into the girl’s teen years, she alleged. Randolph also asked the girl if she was a virgin and urged her to confide in him about any sexual experiences she had, she testified.
The woman moved out of the Randolph house in 2018. Randolph continued to abuse her until she moved out, though she never told anyone about it for several reasons.
“James was a minister,” she said. “He was my youth pastor. I grew up with him in children’s church. And my parents, you know, they trusted him. My entire community of people was within the church. And I felt like nobody was going to believe me if I told anyone.”
Criminal records show a then-17-year-old Randolph in December 1983 was sentenced to two to 10 years in a Michigan reformatory on a conviction of assault with intent to do great bodily harm out, stemming from a brawl in Jackson County. While on parole in October 1984, he had illicit sexual contact with a minor, resulting in him being convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Church elder Brandon Saylor in April 2024 was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. His 73-year-old father, associate pastor Randy L. Saylor, is awaiting trial on six counts of first- and nine counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
An August 2024 preliminary examination saw two sisters, ages 15 and 20, testify Randy Saylor repeatedly gave them massages at his Sanford-area home, only for the contact to grow into sexual assaults. The sisters did not tell anyone of the alleged assaults for years and came forward after they heard of Brandon Saylor being charged.