Warning: This story contains disturbing details
Private Saskatoon Christian School and Church High officials said he was both a victim and a perpetrator, so the students now proceed with stories of violent discipline, solitary confinement, sexual abuse, and bizarre religious rituals.
"Everything is 100% true to him," Garrett Davis, who served as the youth pastor of Saskatoon Christian Center from 2002 to his 2013, said in an interview with CBC News.
"I feel it is important to show solidarity with everyone who is speaking out."
In his CBC News survey over the past few weeks, Davis himself More than 30 of his students, including his child Garrison, spoke out. Most have also filed criminal complaints with the Saskatoon Police Department, and a proposed class action lawsuit was filed in court this week.
About 20 officials, including Davis, have been accused of various abuses. All were volunteers, staff, teachers, leaders, or "elders" at the Saskatoon Christian Center Church or Christian Center Academy School. The name of the church and school has since changed to Mile Two Church and Legacy Christian Academy, but students say it continues to operate as one unified institution.
Davis admits that on numerous occasions students were hit hard on the buttocks with large wooden paddles, resulting in limping and bruising. Davis was also one of four adults who "spoken in tongues" and performed an exorcism on former student Koy Norin to cast out what they called his "gay demon."
Davis says he never reported anything to regulators or the police and will regret it for the rest of his life.
Davis not only remained silent, but said he and other staff actively criticized and dismissed critics of the institution, both inside and outside the company.
"I was guided, taught, and ordered to manipulate, intimidate, and gaslight people," said Davis, who now lives in Portland, Oregon.
Leaving the church "almost cost it all": Davis
Davis was born in Texas. When he was three years old, his mother married Keith , the Reverend Johnson, and moved to Saskatoon, where Johnson would take on top roles in church and school.
Davis and others said that Johnson's edicts and declarations should be followed without question. It also extends to his family home, where Davis said he was regularly paddled and "brainwashed" into believing the outside world was evil.
"I had no choice in my life," Davis said.
Johnson produced his 85-page manual called Child Training Seminars. Students said the manual was sold in gift shops along with Bibles and handmade wooden paddles.
Over 20 pages are devoted to the benefits and practical application of "Bible Discipline." "Ignorance" professors, researchers and psychologists who opposed corporal punishment say they are "influenced by the devil" and should be ignored.
"Sometimes spanking leaves marks on children. If liberals heard this, they would immediately accuse us of endorsing child-slapping," the handbook states. ing.
"Let him lean forward and hold the paddle firmly. Do not wiggle or jump. Do not howl or snort before training. The severity of the punishment, through weeping and begging.”
Davis noted that students were forced to campaign for certain politicians, and that they regularly practiced within the church, a registered charity. He said there were sign-up sheets for members and volunteers in the back of the church after services.
Davis said Mr Johnson He said he was particularly close to Don Acheson, Cartoon's longest-serving mayor. Students say officials forced them to knock on doors and stand on street corners for Atchison's campaign.
"Keith liked to be near Don. He would bend over for Don," Davis said.
Davis noted that while civil politicians did not control social policy, Atchison benefited from support, and Johnson enhanced his position within the congregation with the presence of the mayor.
Atchison did not respond to CBC News' request for an interview.
Randy Donauer, an incumbent city councilor and longtime church member, said the political activism was inappropriate, but ceased around 2013.
Davis said towards the end of his decade as a young man: As a pastor, he became increasingly confronted by violence and intimidation, possibly in Christian institutions.He said his disillusionment was noticed by Johnson. "He despised me, cursed me, and told me I needed to be spiritually circumcised," Davis said.
Davis said he and his wife had stopped rowing his three children on their own, but he said he would avoid Johnson's wrath on the matter. I lied to Johnson.
Anyone who did not follow the rules faced quick consequences, including expulsion from church and school, he said Davis Stated.
Davis said at dinner with Johnson that one of his Davis children did not eat green beans and that Johnson requested Davis to paddle the child. When Davis hesitated, Johnson told him, "You are unfit to be a father or to work at school," Davis said. His wife packed up and fled with her family to the United States, he said. All their friends, and financial assets, were tied to church and school, but he severed all ties. He grew up with the surname Johnson, but reverted to his mother's maiden name, Davis.
"I was finally able to get myself and my family out of it, and it cost me almost everything, but it's the best decision I ever made," Davis said. I was.
Keith Johnson left Saskatoon a few years ago. His other son, Brian Johnson, is now the senior pastor of Mile Two Church.
CBC News made repeated unsuccessful attempts to contact Keith Johnson, believed to be in the southern United States.
Brien Johnson said on Monday he emailed CBC News promising an interview on Tuesday, but then declined. rice field.
Legacy Christian Academy and Mile to Church officials told CBC News that he released two written statements. They said they would support former students asking questions.
"We are cooperating fully with officials and authorities investigating their actions," the statement read.
“We continue to encourage and support former students who believe they have been abused or assaulted to report them to the police so that these matters can be investigated and treated appropriately and appropriately.
They said the school had not used paddling or other corporal punishment in over 20 years, and more than a dozen students interviewed disputes this point.
Officials also say they attempted to apologize numerous times, both publicly and privately, but none of the students interviewed were aware of such gestures.
Saskatchewan The state's NDP has asked the state government to suspend more than $700,000 in public funding annually to schools until these serious allegations are investigated.
Education Minister Dustin Duncan declined multiple interview requests. His office said no action would be considered until the police investigation was completed.