The kids in the church youth group loved Randal, the youth minister. He got them to sing Christmas carols in nursing homes, deliver hot meals to homebound adults, do their homework, hold bible study, and stay away from premarital sex, drugs, and alcohol. The parents loved him too. He was such a positive influence on their kids. Mitchell's Mom was especially appreciative of the special attention Randal gave him because she was a single parent holding down a full time job. Every once in a while a parent would comment that Randal seemed a bit too involved with the kids-he had them over to his house all the time, he'd have activities planned every day and on the weekends, and it seemed like he was spending his entire pay check on stuff for the kids. One parent took her child out of the program when she overheard heard him telling his friends that he saw dirty magazines in Randal's car. But overall complaints were few, and if the worst thing he ever heard was that Randal was too involved with the kids, the pastor could look the other way.

About a year after Mitch joined the youth group, Randal asked Mitch's Mom if he could take Mitch on a weeklong mission trip to Mexico. Both Mitch and his Mom were delighted. But their delight turned into a nightmare.

What does this case teach us?

• The youth minister singled out a vulnerable youth-one who needed extra attention-and manipulated him and his mother for a year until he struck. Child molesters can be incredibly patient and manipulative to gain access to their victims.
• The youth minister was over-involved with the kids-he had them to his house and he bought them stuff. Child molesters often maintain few relationships with adults, preferring instead to spend their time with children.
• He exposed one child to pornography, a common method child molesters use to test the reaction of a potential victim.
• The pastor looked the other way. He didn't have "proof" that anything bad was happening. And, especially in religious organizations, members want to believe the good about one another.

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