Pro-Life Speaker Jennifer Christie’s Career Unravels Over Unverified Sexual Assault Claim
Jennifer Christie. YouTube screenshot
2022 was supposed to be a big year for Jennifer Christie and her ministry Love Louder. Her story of giving birth to a child conceived through rape was set to be published in a book from Focus on the Family and Tyndale House, and she signed a contract with Ambassador Speakers Bureau.
Now, the book and speaking contract have been canceled, and Abby Johnson, the anti-abortion speaker and author whose story was told in the 2019 movie “Unplanned,” has switched from being one of Christie’s most visible supporters to publicly criticizing her and warning people away from supporting her financially.
“I don’t want anyone to think she is credible because I at one point in time affiliated with her and her organization,” wrote Johnson in a 2021 Facebook post, citing “serious concerns that have come up regarding Jennifer Christie’s story she has publicly shared.”
“Our concerns have been confirmed by irregular and potentially fraudulent financial activity committed inside the nonprofit by Jennifer,” said Johnson, who provided funding and services to help Christie get her ministry off the ground. “My deep concern at this point is that we don’t know the truth. What I do know is that I do not want anyone else in our movement to donate any money to her.”
Neither Johnson, Focus nor Ambassador would speak to MinistryWatch on the record, but people with knowledge of the situation say no one ever bothered to verify Christie’s claims, which went viral, were covered by Huffpost in 2017 and have since been featured in numerous Christian media outlets. A former board member spoke but requested anonymity over fears of further retribution.
When questions did finally arise about Christie’s story, Focus and Ambassador requested supporting evidence. Christie declined to provide a police report or other documents related to the alleged 2014 rape or medical documents about surgeries Christie said she needed to repair damage caused by the sexual attack.
Christie’s story was featured in an August 2020 Focus broadcast with CEO Jim Daly entitled “Choosing Life After Rape” and a Focus video called “Sometimes the Choice is Hard.” Focus has deleted these resources.
“I am a Christian who was betrayed by the mainstream Christian machine,” wrote Christie in an online post. “I am a pro lifer but was used, maligned, and ultimately crushed by the movement. … I sit in a pitiful pile of sackcloth and ashes, brooding about the cowardice of people I had admired and stewing over injustice.”
Reached by email, Christie would not agree to an interview and declined to provide any documentation, instead charging that this reporter was biased — “I see that you regard Focus very highly,” she said — “stirring the pot” and “working for Abby Johnson.” She said this article was based on “gossip and speculation.”
Christie said her story had been vetted by Live Action, an anti-abortion group that features her on its website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. She also provided links to Facebook posts that support her and criticize Johnson.
ProLove Ministries, Johnson’s organization, publicly endorsed Christie in 2020 but severed its ties with Love Louder in September 2021 over inconsistencies in Christie’s account of the rape and concerns over how Christie and her husband, Jeff Brierly, were using donated funds. Save the 1, one of the first ministries to support Christie, backed away in 2019.
Love Louder, Christie’s ministry, announced in September 2020 its “mission to offer help, hope, and support to women after sexual assault and women who conceive after sexual assault,” including a 24/7 hotline for victims to guide them through the process of reporting the crime, navigating the hospital exam, counseling and other needed support services. Jeff Brierly was to serve as a mentor to the men in rape victims’ lives.
A former Love Louder board member said a number of “red flags” caused her and other supporters to finally seek proof for Christie’s story and investigate her possible misuse of funds.
“If someone had vetted Jennifer sooner and exposed her lies, then perhaps others wouldn’t have been defrauded,” said the former board member. “But it seems most are afraid of questioning a ‘rape’ survivor, which Jennifer adeptly uses as both a shield and sword.”
This piece is republished with permission from MinistryWatch. Steve Rabey is a veteran author and journalist who has published more than 50 books and 2,000 articles about religion, spirituality, and culture. He was an instructor at Fuller and Denver seminaries and the U.S. Air Force Academy. He and his wife Lois live in Colorado.