Religion · Amarillo, TX Metro · August 15, 2026
Former Amarillo Pastor Indicted After Prostitution Sting Arrest
A Randall County grand jury has indicted David Austin Ritchie, 42, on a charge of solicitation of prostitution, according to KVII in Amarillo, Texas. Ritchie was the former senior pastor of Redeemer Christian Church, having served in that role since 2011. He was among eight men arrested in June during an undercover operation conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Redeemer Christian Church terminated Ritchie after learning of his arrest. Jorge Luis Lopez-Najera, 24, of Amarillo, arrested in the same sting, was also indicted on the same charge. Cases against the six remaining men arrested in the operation are still pending. KVII's report does not indicate whether Ritchie has entered a plea or whether the church has issued a public statement beyond the termination. This is a developing criminal case; no conviction has occurred at this stage.
Source: KVII
Why Bible-Believing Christians Should Care
Scripture sets a high bar for those who lead the church: an elder or pastor must be 'blameless' and 'of good behaviour,' above reproach not only in doctrine but in personal conduct. When a man entrusted with pulpit authority for fifteen years is indicted for solicitation, it is a sober reminder that no title or tenure exempts leaders from accountability, and that churches must have functioning processes to remove disqualified leaders quickly, as Redeemer apparently did. Congregations should not treat such cases as isolated scandal but as an occasion to examine whether their own eldership structures, vetting, and accountability actually protect the flock — before, not after, a failure becomes public.
A bishop then must be blameless... Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. — 1 Timothy 3:2,7
Share this alert
From the book
Churches have to reclaim the training function using the generational transfer model of Chapter 11, prioritizing reliable men over merely credentialed men. A pastor who knows the Scriptures and has been tested in his character is more qualified than one holding a degree from a captured institution who lacks the spine to defend the flock.
— Chapter 17, “Defensive Strategy”
Get the BookKnow where you stand
The free 4-minute assessment identifies your mountain and your institution’s capture phase — so alerts like this one arrive matched to where you actually stand.
Facing this yourself? Ask. Describe what is happening and get what the book, Scripture, and the law of your state say, with the exact words to use. Your first one is free.