One of Indiana’s most vocal moral leaders is now at the center of a firestorm - after his own son was charged with possessing some of the most disturbing child abuse material police say they’ve ever seen.
Pastor Nathan Peternel, who made his name preaching sexual purity and battling temptation, has stepped down from his leadership role at Life Church following the arrest of his 24-year-old son, Jonathan Wesley Peternel, per the Daily Mail.
The arrest has thrown the church into chaos, left members reeling, and sparked intense scrutiny of a man who has long positioned himself as a beacon of righteousness.
Pastor steps back as police uncover horrifying content
Jonathan Peternel, a National Guard member and Black Hawk helicopter mechanic, was arrested after a sweeping investigation led authorities to a shocking cache of child sexual abuse files, per the Indiana Citizen.
Police reportedly found hundreds of illegal images and videos on his electronic devices - many described as among the worst investigators had ever encountered.
The files allegedly included violent molestation, sadomasochistic scenes, intoxicated minors, and disturbingly, AI-generated nude images of pregnant toddlers.
In a twist that left even seasoned officers stunned, investigators also claimed they found homemade sex tapes of Jonathan’s own parents.
Pastor Peternel later told his congregation that while he and his wife had been “unwise but not sinful” in making the recordings, they never imagined their private moments would end up in their son’s secret files.
Jonathan is now facing seven felony charges, including child exploitation and multiple counts of possessing child sex abuse material. He’s pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. His attorney has not made any public statements.
The case began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip alert connected to a Snapchat account believed to be Jonathan’s.
From there, a search warrant uncovered even more material and messages tying him to a group called “Diddy Disciples” - a reference investigators believe may point to Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is currently imprisoned on prostitution-related charges.
'A wicked sin': Pastor's emotional address shakes congregation
Life Church, an Assemblies of God affiliate led by Peternel until recently, has been scrambling to maintain stability.
Behind closed doors, emergency meetings were reportedly held to contain fallout as leadership attempted to calm a stunned and increasingly divided congregation.
In his first public appearance after the arrest, Pastor Peternel addressed the congregation with visible emotion. Fighting back tears, he did not shy away from the gravity of his son’s alleged crimes.
He called Jonathan’s actions a "wicked sin” and announced he would be stepping aside temporarily to focus on his family and faith.
The church also issued a statement pledging full cooperation with law enforcement and offering prayers for the victims.
While officials publicly insist the church remains united, insiders say tensions are high, with staff encouraged to field questions but instructed not to take a stance on whether Peternel should return to the pulpit.
“There has been transparency,” one longtime attendee told the Daily Mail, “but we're not voting on whether to keep the pastor. That's not how this church works.
"They're telling us to trust the process, trust the leaders and not get distracted from God.”
Fallout spreads to Indiana’s political power circles
The scandal doesn’t stop at the church doors. Peternel has deep ties to Indiana politics, particularly with Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith.
The two co-host a podcast titled Jesus, Sex & Politics, where they promote abstinence, criticize pornography, and speak out against adultery and homosexuality.
Peternel has also donated to Beckwith’s campaigns and was a delegate at Republican conventions.
Beckwith himself pastors a branch of Life Church and confirmed he learned about the allegations on October 23. Beyond that, he’s declined to comment.
But behind the scenes, sources say the situation sparked a frantic effort to manage damage and protect reputations, especially among political allies with ties to the church.