The following is the transcript of an RTV6 story on Judah First Christian Center, located near the intersection of 33rd Street and Post Road, Indianapolis.
A START-UP CHURCH ON THE EAST SIDE IS ALREADY DRAWING SOME CONTROVERSY... AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BASKETBALL HOOP IN THE SANCTUARY... OR THE PASTOR'S "GIFT OF PROPHECY."
THE PASTOR IS ACCUSED OF BREAKING UP FAMILIES, INSTEAD OF BRINGING THEM TOGETHER.
SY JENKINS JOINS US WITH AN RTV-6 SPECIAL REPORT.
OUR INVESTIGATION STARTED WITH AN EMAIL TO CALL 6 ACCUSING A LOCAL CHURCH OF BEING A CULT. WE DIDN'T FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT, BUT EVEN THE PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH ACKNOWLEDGES HE'S NOT A TYPICAL MINISTER.
((Pastor David Cosat -- If we were a cult, personally I don't feel that I would be willing to open my ministry up to everyone to see.))
There are several things different about Judah First Christian Center.
It has a small congregation, with only 2 dozen adults at this Sunday morning service the pastor invited us to attend.
It's a charismatic church, similar to a Pentecostal church, but independent, and it's so new it doesn't even have a sign or even a cross on the outside of the building.
((David Cosat, church pastor - This is our children's church facility.))
The pastor is 42-year-old David Cosat, who intentionally installed a pool table in one of the Sunday School rooms, a basketball goal in his sanctuary, and one of the best sound systems he says money can buy.
((Cosat -- You don't find anything in scripture about not having a basketball goal in the sanctuary. And where do you find in scripture that you're not supposed to have sound systems?))
Cosat moved his church here a few months ago from New Castle, which is where we found the roots of the accusations against him.
((Cosat -- They found out we were tongue talkers. They found out that we had radical worship and praise.))
((Cosat -- When they found out all of this, that's when it really began to unravel.))
((Tim Rigney, husband of church member - Yeah, I think he could be dangerous.))
Tim Rigney claims Cosat divides families and has driven a wedge between him and his wife, who attends Cosat's church.
((Tim Rigney --'Cause I don't know of any pastor who would do that. If there are problems, they're going to be trying to help, rather than putting more wedges.))
((Cosat -- He has accused me of several things which are abjectly not true, that is just crazy.))
But Cosat admits some things are true. We asked him if he has the gift of prophecy.
((Cosat -- Yes sir, I do operate in that gift.))
And Cosat admits he's used his gift of prophecy with a young woman by the name of Sarah Lee.
((Cosat - I believe the day will come that she will be with child, yes.))
Sarah Lee is a 20-year-old woman who now lives in the same house with Pastor Cosat and his wife, Deanna. Sarah's parents, Tricia and Gary Lee, don't like that. Tricia says she can't understand how Sarah's going to have a child, when she doesn't even have a man in her life. The mother complains that she originally took her daughter to the preacher for drug counseling, but lost her.
((Cosat -- I have not kept Sarah from her family. I have not kept Sarah from her home.))
Tricia also told us she couldn't understand why Cosat paid to put a butterfly tattoo on Sarah.
((Cosat -- We gave her money to cover up a tattoo of satan on her leg, yes.))
Speaking of money-- how does the pastor of such a small church have so much of it?
We found Cosat driving a Lincoln continental... and living in a nice home in Fishers.
Cosat first told us he got the money from traveling the country, and preaching in other churches.
((Cosat -- If I needed to go to the doctor, and I had a broken leg, it would cost me 15-hundred dollars to get my leg set.))
((Cosat -- But yet, on the inside, if something's wrong with an individual, and they go to a church, and something is adjusted inwardly to where their life is functional now, that is a priceless commodity))
((Cosat -- and that's where our finances come from.))
But Cosat later said most of the funds came from the sale of another East Side church, the property of a separate congregation which merged with his. Cosat's church now has even fewer members. Some of them told us they stopped attending because of the controversy.
((Tricia Lee, mother of church member - I was baptised in the spirit, and I have spoken in tongues, so you're not going to use that against me, I'm sorry.))
((Cosat -- Honey, I never said it was against you, but you just let the cat out of the bag!))
We witnessed Tricia and Gary Lee confront pastor Cosat about the church and their daughter Sarah. The confrontation ended with Sarah's mom leaving-- still angry -- but with her father evidently endorsing the preacher.
((Cosat - How do you feel about me, Gary?))
(Gary Lee - I don't think you're Jim Jones, David Koresh or anything like that. I don't have a problem with you, David.)
((Cosat -- According to them, if you was to ask their side of it, oh yeah, we blatantly plotted and planned this. I've got more important things to do than to break up a marriage, and break up a family.))
AFTER THAT CONFRONTATION, SARAH'S FATHER RECANTED HIS SUPPORT FOR COSAT. HE EXPLAINED THAT HE SAID THAT JUST TO PROTECT HIS DAUGHTER, WHO, BY THE WAY, IS STILL LIVING WITH THE PREACHER AND HIS WIFE AND NO LONGER EVEN TALKS TO HER FAMILY, ACCORDING TO HER PARENTS.