Kentucky Megachurch Pastor Arrested for Rape, Sexual Abuse of Child

The pastor of a Kentucky megachurch was arrested Monday on charges of rape and sexual abuse of a minor, according to a news release from the Kentucky Attorney General's Office.

Zachary King, 47, was executive pastor of LexCity Church in Lexington, Kentucky, the attorney general's office said. He resigned from the church after being confronted by church staff about allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor, according to an arrest citation obtained by Lex 18 News and other news sites.

The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to the King's Church for comment and additional information, but did not receive a response before publication.

King faces six charges, including first- and third-degree rape, first- and third-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse and unlawful use of electronic devices to engage in sexual acts with a minor, according to Lexington jail records.

According to information gathered by police, King allegedly said he had a sexual relationship with a minor within the past year and a half. He assaulted the then 15-year-old minor, starting in January 2023 and continuing through April 2024, according to the arrest citation. King said he assaulted the victim at the minor’s home, his residence and at the LexCity church, Lex 18 News reported.

Additionally, King allegedly used Snapchat and WhatsApp to arrange meetings with the minor and to send and receive sexually explicit images, according to the arrest citation. King was arraigned in Fayette County on Tuesday afternoon and will appear in court again for a preliminary hearing on Friday. His bail is set at $250,000.

The king preached at the LexCity church as recently as Palm Sunday, according to a video on the church's YouTube page.

This isn’t the first time LexCity Church has made headlines due to controversy. Previously known as Quest Community Church, the church was relaunched and rebranded to its current name in 2018, according to an Instagram post on its account.

In 2014, Quest's lead pastor and founder, Peter Hise, ended his public ministry after publicly admitting to an extramarital affair, according to ABC 36.

Hise reportedly said she had an affair with another pastor at the church. Their relationship crossed many boundaries but did not result in sexual intercourse.
ABC 36 reported.

Because Hise held a pastoral position of authority over the pastor, many survivor advocates would characterize this “affair” as clergy sexual abuse.

At the time, the church had about 5,000 members, ABC 36 adds. Today, the church has more than 4,000 followers on its Facebook page and 3,900 on its Instagram account. The church said it seeks to “actively manage our church culture in a way that attracts others to join us on a life-changing journey with Christ,” according to its website.

Freelance journalist Liz Lykins writes for WORLD Magazine, Christianity Today, Ministry Watch and other publications.