Screenshot of former Life Church pastor Nathan Peternel speaking during a service at the Life Church Eagle Creek Campus in Indianapolis on Feb. 28, 2026 (Screenshot via Life Church on YouTube)

Nathan Peternel, the lead pastor for a Protestant organization called Life Church that’s connected to Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith (R), announced he is stepping down after a series of sexual-related scandals.

Last October, Peternel’s son Jonathon was arrested on seven felony counts related to child sex crimes. Jonathon Peternel pleaded guilty to one count of child exploitation and three counts of possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). He was sentenced to four years in prison on Feb. 13.

After the arrest, authorities found over 50 explicit videos and images of Nathan and his wife on their sons’ devices. Life Church in Indianapolis is affiliated with the Protestant fellowship Assemblies of God, which condemns pornography. Nathan Peternel addressed the Church in a meeting, saying his son hacked his files.

“Within the covenant of our marriage, my wife and I created private, intimate photos and videos. Although those files were password-protected, they were hacked,” Peternel said. “And they were hacked from a device without our consent, without our knowledge, and that was done by our son, who was high at the time.”

After an investigation conducted by Assemblies of God, 24SightNews’ Tom LoBianco reported he obtained an email Peternel sent to members of the church announcing his decision to step down. 

“After a careful and thorough review, the District Executive Presbytery concluded that certain personal behaviors related to my use and retention of private digital content involving my spouse fell short of the standards expected of a credentialed minister and were determined to be unbecoming of ministerial leadership,” the email says. “When the restorative process is complete, I look forward to returning with renewed vision and a refreshed heart to continue leading Life Church forward as we pursue our mission and the vision of reaching beyond what we currently see.”

After Jonathon’s arrest, a woman accused Peternel of asking her and her fiancé inappropriate questions about sex during a counseling session 10 years ago, when the woman was allegedly 17.

Last year, NBC News published an investigation that uncovered a decades-long pattern of sexual abuse conducted by Assemblies of God pastors, which was covered up by the organization.

Peternel did not respond to a Heartland Signal media inquiry asking how long his “restorative process” would last or the allegations made against him.

After Peternel’s announcement, conservative talk show host Rob Kendall questioned Assemblies of God’s leadership and transparency.

Assemblies of God did not respond to a request to answer a series of questions related to Peternel and his son.

Peternel’s ties to Indiana government

Peternel also has a close relationship with Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who is also the pastor for Life Church’s Noblesville Campus. In an Instagram post from last August, Beckwith wished Peternel a happy birthday, referring to him as his “spiritual brother in arms.” The pair also host a podcast called, “Jesus, Sex and Politics,” the last episode of which was published on Sep. 12, 2025.

Beckwith also did not respond to a request to comment for this story.