Wes Campbell, the owner and manager of the Christian band the Newsboys, continues to grapple with scandal. Newsboys is dealing with sexual assault allegations against former lead singer Michael Tait. That news, which The Roys Report broke on June 4, led to Newsboys being dropped by its label and to the band’s music being pulled from Christian radio stations.
Campbell’s brother Steve Campbell, the Newsboys’ tour manager, has denied accusations of covering up sexual abuse. The band’s management has distanced itself from Steve Campbell, according to correspondence sent to reporter Jessica Morris.
Now The Roys Report revealed that Tennessee Pastor Randall Schrum filed a $5.4 million civil lawsuit on June 3 against Wes Campbell, Campbell’s parents (Colin and Nancy Campbell), and two of Campbell’s siblings (Rocky Campbell and Evangeline Johnson).
Randall Schrum Sues Members of Campbell Family
In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Hickman County, Schrum accused the Campbells of defamation, conspiracy, infliction of emotional distress, and obstruction of justice. Schrum is a former elder at Hilltop Fellowship House of Prayer, a church founded in 2021 by Colin and Nancy Campbell in Primm Springs, Tennessee. Nancy Campbell, a pioneer of the Quiverfull movement, operates the ministry Above Rubies.
Schrum alleged that the Campbells and multiple other defendants falsely accused him of trying to steal Hilltop Fellowship and Above Rubies, defaming him in the process. Schrum is seeking nine jury trials (one per count), $1.8 million in compensatory damages, and $3.6 million in punitive damages.
Schrum, who now leads Refuge Ridge Fellowship in Primm Springs, claimed he made “substantial” contributions to Hilltop Fellowship, including donating as much as half of his income to aid the church and its members. These contributions reportedly included $35,000 toward Colin and Nancy Campbell’s property and $3,500 toward marital counseling for Evangeline Johnson, their daughter.
In the legal filing, Schrum claimed that in early 2024, Hilltop Fellowship leaders investigated “improper conduct” by Johnson. Because she had reportedly stopped attending worship, elders attempted a restoration process. According to Schrum, Colin Campbell refused to practice his usual church discipline against Johnson, his daughter.
The lawsuit states:
Colin opposed the actions and conclusions of the Hilltop Leadership, not because they were false or inconsistent with the beliefs and practices of Hilltop Fellowship—indeed Colin had agreed with similar responses to similarly errant behavior in the past—but because they involved his daughter, [Evangeline].
In response to Colin’s opposition—which was both hypocritical and constituted a dereliction of his duties as the pastor of Hilltop Fellowship—the Hilltop Leadership issued a confidential report that outlined (1) [Evangeline’s] conduct; (2) the efforts of Hilltop Leadership to address the same; and (3) the negative consequences, including under biblical scripture, that the Hilltop Leadership believed would befall Hilltop Fellowship if Colin refused to address his daughter’s conduct and continued to treat her differently than every other single member of Hilltop Fellowship.
Rather than spur Colin Campbell to action, Schrum stated, that confidential report resulted in the Campbells and their supporters allegedly conspiring “to harass, attack and defame” Schrum.
Schrum’s lawsuit states that on March 30, more than a dozen members of the Campbell family—including Evangeline’s brother Rocky—interrupted worship at Hilltop Fellowship, yelling threats such as “I will come after you” to Schrum. The next day, Schrum and Hilltop Fellowship’s other leaders resigned and launched Refuge Ridge.
Then on April 2, the lawsuit says that Schrum and his family were awakened at 3 a.m. by law enforcement authorities, after “an individual using an anonymous tip line” allegedly falsely accused Schrum of abusing one of his children. The lawsuit also mentions trespassing and vandalism, stating that Schrum’s tires have been slashed twice.
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“In addition to the intimidating tactics visited upon Schrum at his own home,” the plaintiff stated, “the Campbell Family and those acting in conspiracy with them have also targeted services and other gatherings of the newly formed independent religious organization, Refuge Ridge.” This involves active intimidation, according to Schrum.
The pastor alleged that his new congregation has had to meet in secrecy, for fear of retaliation. Schrum also said his family, including his pregnant wife, feared for their lives and went into hiding. They continue to experience “emotional distress and physical disturbances as a result of the traumatizing events set forth herein,” the filing stated.
Although Wes Campbell apparently wasn’t part of the March 30 “mob,” Schrum accused the Newsboys owner of seven of nine counts, saying he was key in “defaming or conspiring to defame” him. “Wes—in oral communications to current and former members of Hilltop Fellowship—also falsely accused Schrum of ‘stealing’ Hilltop Fellowship,” the lawsuit reads. Wes “falsely stated…that Schrum was ‘running things’ and had a ‘questionable history.’”
Schrum also alleged that Wes Campbell and his parents, Colin and Nancy, tried to exclude him from an Above Rubies retreat in April.
When reached for comment, Wes Campbell said in a statement to ChurchLeaders: “Mr. Schrum’s lawsuit is factually inaccurate, has no merit, and is disparaging to the defendants. The allegations in his Complaint are denied and will be vigorously defended.”
Randall Schrum told ChurchLeaders that he is directing all comments through his attorneys at this time.
This article has been updated to include replies from Wes Campbell and Randall Schrum.