Phoenix members of La Luz Del Mundo defend leader facing child sex charges

BrieAnna J. Frank
The Republic | azcentral.com

More than a week after church leader Naasón Joaquín García was charged with numerous counts of child sex crimes in Los Angeles, members of the La Luz Del Mundo church in Phoenix defended their leader and stressed their belief that he would be exonerated.

A steady stream of worshippers made their way into the church near 16th and Grand avenues for a 6 p.m. service Thursday, and women wore lace veils over their hair with modest dresses and skirts that skimmed their ankles.

One of those women was 26-year-old church volunteer Abdi Lopez. 

Lopez has been a La Luz Del Mundo member since birth. She immigrated to the United States when she was 5 years old and has been attending services at the central Phoenix location ever since.

The Phoenix location is just off the Interstate 10 and has a recognizable dome-shaped structure that has been under construction for several years. The church has another Phoenix location near 12th Street and Cave Creek Road.

La Luz Del Mundo was established by Garcia's grandfather, Eusebio Joaquín González, in Mexico in 1926 and now has more than 15,000 temples across 58 countries, according to the church's official website.

And while the church presents itself as Christian in beliefs, Virginia Commonwealth University religious studies professor Andrew Chesnut, who is familiar with the church, said its tenets are not in line with other mainstream Christian churches, claiming its leader, or apostle — Garcia — is seen as above reproach.

Lopez said the church's values have shaped her into the woman she is today and that it has been a refuge for her through the years.

"Being a first-generation immigrant to the United States — it's hard in the United States," she said. "I feel like the church really has inspired and brought that out of me that there are no barriers that I cannot overcome with God's help and with trust in the Lord."

Lopez said the charges shocked her, but added that she knows Garcia personally and believes he is a "righteous man" who would never commit such crimes.

"I'm not concerned, we're not overwhelmed or anything — absolutely not," she said. "I believe these are false accusations, and I'm willing to respect that we're all innocent until proven guilty."

Garcia and co-defendants Alondra Ocampo, Azalea Rangel Melendez and Susana Medina Oaxaca are suspected of committing 26 felonies in Southern California from 2015 to 2018 while leading the church, according to the Office of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

The group coerced victims into performing sexual acts by telling them they were going against God if they refused to fulfill any of Garcia's desires as "the Apostle," Becerra's office said.

García was being held on  $50 million bond, believed to be the highest ever set in Los Angeles County, according to the Associated Press.

Prosecutors in the case said they have “significant concerns” the church’s followers could harass or intimidate victims and potential witnesses, the (Palm Springs) Desert Sun reported.

California Deputy Attorney General Amanda Plisner asked Judge Francis Bennett Monday to bar defense attorneys from working closely and sharing information with members of the church. She said the Attorney General’s Office is also worried the church may try to identify the victims.

A sign with Naasón Joaquín García's name and image adorns the front of La Luz del Mundo church in Nyeland Acres. Garcia, who leads the Mexico-based church, was arrested in Los Angeles June 3 and has been charged with child sex crimes.

Allen Sawyer, who represents García, called the request “inappropriate” and overly broad, noting that some members of the church who are lawyers have been helping him understand its complexities.

Church members: We're 'more united'

Despite the controversy the church now faces, Lopez said she's observed more people showing up for services at the Phoenix church to support  the church and its members as Garcia faces what they believe are baseless allegations.

"I see a lot of new faces and I feel like we're more united — if anything it's like we know whom we've believed in and we know all of the teachings we've received," she said, adding that she believes church members are even more devoted to prayer because of the charges.

When asked what she would do or what she thinks would happen to the church if Garcia were convicted, Lopez said members of the church "don't talk in what-ifs" in part because they believe Garcia.

MORE:Arizona La Luz Del Mundo spokesman maintains leader's innocence

Mark Reyes, a 29-year-old member of the Phoenix church, said its teachings have helped him become a better husband and father.

"(The church) taught me how to raise my kids, how to respect my wife as a woman because they're (women) very valued in the church," he said.

Reyes echoed the sentiment that the charges have been a unifying force for the church, but he said it has still been difficult to hear accusations against Garcia, whom he believes is a "righteous man."

"For somebody to tell us otherwise, it's a shock to us because we have seen his work," he said. "There's a Bible passage that says through the fruits of the tree you will know what it is. We see his work and that's why many people will express they're surprised because we've seen his work and his work is very righteous."

Church choir member Dana Antonio also adamantly maintained Garcia's innocence.

"Apostle Naasón Joaquín García, he's a poet that rhymes his word with his actions," she said, borrowing what she said is a line by someone in the church. "Everything that he says is what he does. I can tell you he's an honorable man, a man of word, a man of truth."

She said she hopes members of the public will be "open-minded" about Garcia and consider him innocent until proven otherwise.

"It's really easy to hear from people who don't know about the church or people who have never met the apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ but there's over five million people who do know him and stand by him," she said.

'We are taught to question everything'

Chesnut said La Luz Del Mundo is "firmly built around a cult of personality" that encourages church members to follow Garcia because of his status as 'the Apostle.'

"Nobody there has the right to question his actions, no matter how insidious or heinous they might seem," he said.

Chesnut said the church has a fundamentalist ideology and does not partake in several traditional Christian practices. Its members do not celebrate holidays such as Christmas and Easter and do not use crucifixes or believe in the Holy Trinity, he said.

The church has, throughout the years, honored the birthdays of La Luz Del Mundo founder Eusebio Joaquín González and the current apostle, Garcia,  Chesnut said.

If Garcia is convicted, Chesnut said, he thinks there will be a schism in the church.

However, Lopez and other members maintained their belief that all charges against Garcia will be dropped.

Lopez also disputed Chesnut's other claims, stating that the church teaches members to use critical thinking and logic in order to cultivate a more mature relationship with God.

"If anything we are taught to question everything and if I ever had a question or concern there are direct ways for me to get my question asked," she said, adding that church members are "very open and very, very free" in expressing their feedback to church leaders.

Lopez confirmed that the trinity has never been preached to her, but said the church does recognize events such as Jesus' birth and resurrection, but in a nontraditional way.

Although members don't refer to them as "Christmas" or "Easter" celebrations or hold them on the same days as most other Christians, Lopez said, the church occasionally holds gatherings in commemoration of the events those holidays celebrate.

The church does occasionally have services to honor church leaders but has also honored local politicians and others who make a difference in the community, even if their actions aren't specific to the church, Lopez said.

Iglesia La Luz del Mundo is pictured on Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Phoenix.

She added that the public is welcome to join church members for any of La Luz Del Mundo's nightly services to learn more about the church and its beliefs.

Representatives for the California and Arizona attorneys general said they could not confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation into La Luz Del Mundo's Arizona locations.

Phoenix police spokesman Det. Luis Samudio said the department has not been notified of any active local investigation into Garcia, who served as a minister with the church in Phoenix more than two decades ago.

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse or neglect, contact the Childhelp National Abuse Hotline by calling or texting 1-800-422-4453 or using Childhelp's online chat at www.childhelphotline.org. You can also call our local police department.

Desert Sun reporter Corinne S. Kennedy contributed to this report.

Reach the reporter at bfrank@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @brieannafrank

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