The rise of Mark Barclay’s televangelist empire—and the sex abuse scandal that followed
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Midland-area pastor and televangelist Dr. Mark T. “Preacher of Righteousness” Barclay blasts the Holy Spirit into her forehead with his fingertips. The woman, eyes closed, falls into ushers’ arms.
He moves on, occasionally speaking in tongues.
“We’re in a Holy Spirit conference. You’re in a Holy Spirit church,” Barclay tells the crowd, most with sky-stretched, upturned palms. “Let’s pray in the Holy Ghost. Come on. Do it, do it, do it. Stir up.”
In the wake of sex abuse convictions involving at least eight children and three leaders under Barclay at Living Word Church in Midland County’s Larkin Township, MLive investigated the rise of the church, its culture and leadership.
Living Word is helmed by a charismatic televangelist who flies around on private planes to preach – and sometimes shops on Rodeo Drive.
His message isn’t partisan, but he’s been courted by right-wing politicians and even gifted a commemorative gun with a picture of President Donald Trump emblazoned on it. But while the preacher was busy collecting donations and spreading his gospel across the nation, trouble brewed in his home church – abuse allegations that finally came to light in 2023.
Read more https://www.mlive.com/news/2026/04/the-rise-of-mark-barclays-televangelist-empireand-the-sex-abuse-scandal-that-followed.html
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