Controversial pastor Steven Anderson has ignited fresh backlash after delivering an emotional sermon in which he labeled his four eldest adult children "evil," declared he never wants to see them again, and said that if they refuse to repent, "they need to be destroyed by God."
The remarks came during a Sunday evening message titled "Why I Do Not Want To Continue Pastoring," where the longtime leader of Faithful Word Baptist Church suggested he may eventually step down if God does not intervene in what he described as the greatest crisis of his ministry.
The sermon follows years of public controversy surrounding Anderson. Over the past two years, four of his adult children have publicly accused him of physically abusing them during their childhood and of physically abusing their mother. Anderson has denied the allegations.
One of those children, John Anderson, previously alleged that his father used an electrical cord to discipline both the children and their mother, claiming he witnessed injuries that left visible marks.
Speaking candidly to his congregation, Anderson admitted the family conflict has profoundly affected him emotionally.
"I've become extremely angry because of what my four evil eldest children have done to me," he said. "What they did is so sick and so evil and so wicked."
The pastor said the accusations dominate his thoughts every day, explaining that he wakes up thinking about the controversy and struggles to move past what he believes has been relentless public slander.
Although Anderson acknowledged that his ministry has weathered decades of criticism-including death threats, swatting incidents, canceled bank accounts, social media bans, and being labeled a hate preacher-he argued that betrayal by family members has been far more painful than attacks from outsiders.
"It's been a lot easier to handle persecution when it comes from enemies," he said. "But I have been betrayed in the worst way."
Anderson also directed harsh criticism toward his brother, using vulgar language to describe him before accusing him of betraying him alongside his adult children.
The most controversial portion of the sermon came when Anderson addressed forgiveness. While insisting he would forgive anyone who genuinely repents, he argued that those who refuse should face divine judgment.
"I will forgive from the heart anyone who truly repents," he said. "However, if they don't repent, they need to be destroyed by God."
He later expanded that prayer to include anyone he believes encouraged his children to speak publicly against him.
"They're wicked and they need to repent immediately," Anderson said. "Or they need to be punished by God."
The pastor also rejected calls for reconciliation with his children, saying he has no desire to restore the relationship.
"Absolutely not. I never want to see them again," he told the congregation. "Life is too short to have those kind of toxic, wicked, evil people in your life."
He further described his adult children as "sniveling brats" who had attempted to destroy his ministry, marriage, and reputation by publicly accusing him of abuse and encouraging child protective authorities to investigate the family.
Anderson maintained throughout the sermon that he had been "a great parent," while acknowledging he was not perfect.
"I never said I was a perfect parent," he said. "Yes, I made mistakes, but I wasn't even just a good parent-I was a great parent."
The pastor concluded by saying he may ultimately retire from ministry if God does not either publicly vindicate him or dramatically intervene in his situation.
"I need a sign from God," Anderson said. "I want to see God do something."
The sermon is the latest chapter in an ongoing public dispute that has drawn significant attention to Anderson's ministry, which has long been controversial for its hardline fundamentalist theology and repeated public controversies.
