Blake Keller
March 19, 2024
MIDLAND, Mich. (WNEM) - A Midland church pastor is headed to trial after he was arrested and charged with child sex crimes in November 2023.
James Randolph is a minister with Mark Barclay Ministries and works at Living Word Church.
A longtime church member, who left the church and religion, spoke to WNEM-TV5 under the condition of anonymity. They said they have a fear of retaliation by the ministry.
“He was my youth pastor for times that I was there, so, yes there were interactions,” the person said.
The former church member said they would like to forget the interactions with Mark Barclay Ministries they had seen and heard.
“The leaving point, I’ve just seen the things that weren’t adding up,” they said. “They would use their pulpit as a platform to silence people and intimidate them. They’d use scripture like Psalms 105:15: ‘Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.’”
On Nov. 28, 2023, 57-year-old Rev. James Randolph was arrested and charged with several felonies. TV5 learned from their interview with the former church member, that Randolph is the son-in-law of the ministry’s head, Mark Barclay.
The former church member said the ministry has been talking about the allegations in their weekly sermons. They provided WNEM-TV5 video of one sermon from 2023 that they believe is directed at alleged victims.
“I was reading a verse this morning,” Rev. Mark Barclay said in the video. “I prayed for the people who are attacking our family with so many weird, wild, false, down and dirty accusations and I prayed for them. I woke up and the Lord said they have cursed themselves. Some will probably die, I don’t know, I hope not, that’s why I pray.”
“My biggest concern is just for the victims and the fear that they’re probably going through again,” the former church member said.
In the 75th District Court in Midland County, during a preliminary examination hearing, WNEM-TV5 learned the alleged victim, who was in sixth grade at the time, was often at Randolph’s home so much so that she started living with them in 2012.
That’s when the alleged victim said the incidents with Randolph would start. In most cases, she said she would wake up to him touching her.
“I just remember he would just be in there touching me,” the alleged victim said in court. “He would just be touching my arms, touching my breast. There was another time I’d woken up and his hands, they were touching my thighs and moved up to touch my private area,” the alleged victim added. “When I would wake up, he would say he’s in there just checking on me or he heard a noise.”
According to the examination, the alleged victim said she moved with Randolph to another Midland County home when she was 15-years-old. She said incidents continued until 2018 when she moved out.
The alleged victim said in court she didn’t tell anyone because she didn’t think anyone would believe her.
“[For] a lot of different reasons. James was a minister. He was my youth pastor. I grew up with him in a children’s church and my parents, you know, they trusted them,” the alleged victim said.
Randolph’s case was sent to the 42nd Circuit Court in Midland County on Feb. 5, 2024, where he was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
TV5 reached out to Mark Barclay, but got his son Josh Barclay, who sent a statement to TV5 on behalf of his dad and Mark Barclay Ministries. He said the church hasn’t received any complaints about Randolph.
“We are aware of the arrest of James Randolph, one of our ministers on staff, and the allegations against him. Importlantly, the allegations do not involve the church, and the alleged acts did not take place in the church. James has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the criminal justice process. Living Word International Church takes seriously our responsibility to ensure the safety of our congregation, and we are committed to taking any necessary steps to protect the congregation and the church. We are praying for everyone affected.”
“I don’t know if anything really would’ve taken place there, but I can’t deny anything and I can’t confirm anything,” the former church member said.
Randolph is being represented by attorney Nicole Blank Becker. Becker declined an on-camera interview but sent WNEM-TV5 this statement:
“As the attorney representing Mr. Randolph, who is facing charges of criminal sexual conduct, I must emphasize that he maintains his innocence. These allegations are deeply troubling and have caused significant distress for both my client and his family.
It is important to remember that in our legal system, individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. My client vehemently denies the accusations made against him and looks forward to presenting a robust defense to prove his innocence.
We ask for respect for the legal process and urge everyone to refrain from making premature judgments or assumptions. It is crucial that we allow the facts to be thoroughly examined and evaluated in a fair and impartial manner.
My client has dedicated his life to serving as a minister, providing guidance, support, and care within our community. We believe in his integrity and trust that justice will prevail as we navigate through this challenging situation.
We are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities throughout this process while working diligently to protect my client’s rights. As the case progresses, we remain committed to ensuring a just outcome based on truth and evidence.
At this time, out of respect for all parties involved, I kindly request privacy for my client and his family as they navigate through these difficult circumstances.”
Attorney Nicole Blank Becker
However, TV5 learned Randolph has prior convictions from Jackson County. A criminal record history search through Michigan State Police revealed Randolph spent about 10 years total in prison.
Michigan State Police documents, with confirmation from the Michigan Department of Corrections, showed Randolph went to prison from December 1983 until August 1984 after he was convicted of assault less than murder.
Through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from Jackson County, a general incident report from Jackson City Police revealed more about the assault.
The incident report stated officers were dispatched to a “fight involving chains and clubs” on July 26, 1983.
The report said, “officers arrived on the scene and found a white male laying on the sidewalk… appeared to be in great pain. There was also blood around his face and arms.”
Officers found a second white male lying on the floor inside another house with a gash in the back of his head and blood all over his shoulders and arms, according to the report.
A supplementary report from the Jackson Police Department revealed a party was taking place at a home when one of the white males entered, complained about the noise and threatened to beat Randolph up, who was at the party with others.
Witness interviews claim several white males from the party forced their way into Richard Ives home, pulled him outside, and beat him. The witness interview added that Ives’ uncle, Roy Mannon, came out to defend his nephew. Mannon would be struck with several objects by the group of men, according to the police report.
An interview with Mannon revealed the group of men had shovels, chains, and what turned out to be a three-foot by one-and-a-quarter-inch pipe. Witnesses in police interviews then pointed to Randolph as the one who hit the uncle and nephew duo with the pipe.
A doctor’s report at the hospital showed Ives had a four-inch abrasion in the back of his head with other bodily injuries. Mannon reported eye swelling, a broken left hand, and a fractured left knee.
In another witness interview, James O’Neill told police a person came to the party to complain about the noise, then left. Several moments later, they heard what they thought was a gunshot. That’s when the witness said Randolph left the house and went across the street and saw Randolph get hit in the head with nunchucks. The subject told police Randolph then grabbed the pipe and started hitting people from the other house in “an attempt to get the subject that had hit him first.”
Randolph agreed to be interviewed by police and was then booked and lodged for assault with intent to do great bodily harm. He was convicted and sentenced on the charge.
He was paroled until he went back to prison in December 1984 until June 1993 after being convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. A FOIA request for more information from Jackson’s City Attorney Matthew H. Hagerty was denied because the “victim in that case was a minor at the time of the assault… any information that would identify a juvenile victim of CSC is exempt from disclosure to protect his or her identity.”
MDOC said Randolph was discharged from parole from that case in 1995. TV5 reached out to Becker about these convictions but she didn’t reply.
Randolph isn’t the first person associated with the ministry to be arrested and charged with criminal sex crimes.
On July 13, 2023, church elder and volunteer, 44-year-old Brandon Saylor, was charged with nine felony sex crimes:
four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13
two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child known by blood or same household
three counts of accosting a child for immoral purposes
“He worked in the nursery. At one point, him and his wife were head of the nursery wing,” the longtime church member said about Saylor.
On Jan. 4, 2024, in a plea agreement, Saylor pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child under 13. Six other charges were dropped. Midland County Sheriff Myron Greene confirmed to TV5 that Saylor knew his victims.
Josh Barclay told TV5 Saylor initially passed a background check. Saylor was removed from all church positions. Barclay said Saylor last worked with kids at the church, seldomly, in 2016.
James is an employee of Mark Barclay Ministries and is the director of preacher and partner relations, he also is also a minister at Living Word Church and his primary position was working with adults not working with kids. James has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the criminal justice process. James allegations do not involve the church, and the alleged acts did not take place in the church.
Brandon Saylor was not, nor ever an employee or an ordained minister of Mark Barclay Ministries or Living Word Church, He was however an elder for many years at the church, he worked with adults and has passed state background checks when he did work with kids. He has not been working in the area of kids/youth for more than a decade. After his allegations he was instantly removed from all positions and we followed every protocol and request from the judicial system. Brandon’s allegations do not involve the church, and the alleged acts did not take place in the church.
The Church, the leaders and department heads up until these recent allegations have not received any tips, complaints or had any conversations related to any staff, leader or volunteers at Living Word Church.
Josh Barclay, Mark Barclay Ministries
“Yes, they both, though, were in a position of leadership involving children,” the former church member said, adding they hope the kids are protected. “Any kids that haven’t come forward about being a victim come forward and that it just stops. Just all the pedophilia stops there.”
Saylor will be sentenced April 4. Each felony count is punishable by up to 15 years. He will have to register as a sex offender with lifetime electronic monitoring.
If Randolph is convicted on current charges, each first-degree count can be punishable to 25 years to life while the second-degree charges carry a punishment of up to 15 years. He will also have to register as a sex offender along with lifetime electronic monitoring.
Randolph is back in court for a pre-trial conference on March 26 in Midland County Circuit Court.
https://www.wnem.com/2024/03/19/two-midland-church-leaders-arrested-charged-with-child-sex-crimes/
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