An itinerant minister based in Middle Tennessee, Benjamin Garlick, and his wife, Shaantal Garlick, have been charged with multiple counts of child rape, sexual battery, and related offenses. Benjamin faces five counts of aggravated rape of a child, five counts of aggravated sexual battery, and other charges, while Shaantal faces charges related to facilitating child rape and child abuse/neglect. The couple, who have six children, has been involved in Christian evangelism, ministering in various states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. They were arrested in September, and a plea hearing in their case is scheduled for November 27.

Benjamin Garlick, who comes from a family of evangelists, has been associated with Spanish-speaking congregations and received support from First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana. A month prior to their arrest, Shaantal had filed for an order of protection against Benjamin. The Murfreesboro Police Department investigation is ongoing.

According to the Roys Report:

An itinerant minister based in Middle Tennessee has been charged with multiple counts of child rape and sexual battery. His wife has been charged with facilitation of the alleged crimes and related abuse and neglect.

…

According to a report from WGNS Radio, Benjamin Garlick spoke fluent Spanish and often ministered in Spanish-speaking congregations, which recent YouTube videos confirm. He is the son of late evangelist Daniel Garlick, known for his ministry to Spanish-speaking audiences, who died in May 2020.

The Garlicks have been supported in their itinerant ministry by First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, a flagship church of the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement. As of publication time, the couple was still listed on the church’s website as church-supported missionaries.

Photo by Drew Murphy on Unsplash

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