LOS ANGELES (AP) — The star of Sean Feucht — once a little-known conservative Christian worship leader and musician — began to climb in 2020 as he challenged government restrictions brought on by the coronavirus’ tightening grip on the world. At well-attended protest concerts that brazenly flouted social distancing rules, he became a poster child against public health regulations curtailing in-person religious practice. It put Feucht in league with high-profile conservative pundits and elected officials from President Donald Trump to conservative influencer Charlie Kirk and Pete Hegseth, now the secretary of defense. Alongside his Christian rockstar status, revenue to Feucht’s ministry also skyrocketed, jumping from $243,000 in 2019 to $5 million in 2020 — the last year his ministry filed a Form 990 with the IRS. It’s that deluge of money, Feucht’s and his ministry’s amassing of expensive real estate in its wake and their lack of financial transparency, which has former ministry staff and volunteers now accusing the worship leader of mismanaging ministry funds. Three former associates with Feucht’s worship organizations, such as Burn 24-7, Let Us Worship, and Light a Candle, shared details with The Associated Press about Feucht’s alleged financial mismanagement, verbal abuse, and overworking volunteers and staff without fair wages. Christy Gafford, the former national director and communications lead for Sean Feucht Ministries, said she was fired in May 2024 after demanding accountability and questioning why volunteers had to pay for Feucht to come to their communities.

Gafford expressed her discontent with vague reassurances from Feucht regarding finances, citing the pressure of faith that discourages questioning leaders. After her dismissal, she felt compelled to understand why ministry funding seemed disproportionate compared to the organizational expenses. Feucht has rejected the accusatory claims, countering in a social media post that former volunteers lacked knowledge of the ministry's financial state and had to be let go due to 'moral issues.' He defended his ministry’s integrity, maintaining that every penny goes towards carrying out a divinely ordained mission. Feucht mentioned that funds were allocated towards nationwide events, a tour bus, and acquiring real estate necessary for the ministry’s operations.

However, on the flip side, concerned former associates revealed that since 2020, Sean Feucht Ministries had splurged nearly $7 million on various properties, spurring inquiries about the intended use of such assets. They questioned the efficacy of owning multiple enhancements when local ministry efforts potentially suffered due to a lack of budget allocation. Organizations like MinistryWatch have criticized Feucht’s ministry for not filing mandatory financial disclosures, raising red flags on accountability practices. These allegations reiterate broader concerns about financial propriety within religious organizations where donations rely heavily on trust and transparency. Among individuals who once revered Feucht, sentiments have shifted as they point to the detrimental consequences of allowing ambitions to overshadow integrity in ministry leadership. As the debate rages on, Feucht continues to perform nationally, fostering a unique blend of worship and political engagement that resonates with his supporters.