OHIO/PHILIPPINES
Beacon Journal
By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal religion writer
HUDSON: Concern for the Rev. Tom Randall, a Christ Community Chapel pastor who is jailed in the Philippines on charges of child abuse and human trafficking, has shifted from his safety to his health.
“Prison anywhere can be a hostile environment, but the conditions are extremely difficult. He’s locked in a cell with 48 inmates. There’s one toilet and one water spigot. Anything he needs, including food, has to be brought in from the outside,” said the Rev. Joe Coffey, lead pastor at the Hudson-based megachurch. “I found some relief when he texted that God has given him favor with the guards and inmates. Our worry right now is his health. He has some health issues that are being exacerbated in prison and could become life-threatening.”
Coffey said he has spoken to several U.S. government officials and diplomats to petition for Randall’s transfer from jail to a hospital. Randall and Filipino nationals were arrested Jan. 12 in Manila while doing typhoon relief work and missionary work at an orphanage established by World Harvest Ministries. The mission ministry, which was founded in 1990 by Randall and his wife, Karen, is responsible for planting churches and providing a million meals as emergency relief after the typhoon.
A hearing scheduled Friday to determine whether charges would be dropped against Randall was postponed.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.