Romanian Survivors File Lawsuits Against Harvest Christian Fellowship and Pastor Greg Laurie

Romanian Survivors File Lawsuits Against Harvest Christian Fellowship and Pastor Greg Laurie

In September 2025, multiple Romanian men filed federal civil lawsuits in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Harvest Christian Fellowship and its senior pastor, Greg Laurie, alleging negligence related to sexual abuse and trafficking that occurred at church-linked children’s homes in Bucharest, Romania.

The complaints were filed by survivors including Marian Barbu, Mihai-Constantin Petcu, and Cristian Aeroaiei, who allege that a former Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor and missionary, Paul Havsgaard, repeatedly sexually abused and trafficked children while operating a network of children’s homes in Romania from the late 1990s into the early 2000s. The lawsuits also name other church leaders and allege that senior leaders did not adequately supervise Havsgaard or prevent the abuse.

The plaintiffs said Havsgaard recruited vulnerable street children in Bucharest with promises of food, shelter, and education, and that the children were subjected to prolonged abuse. The lawsuits say the abuse continued for years and that church leaders, including Greg Laurie, had supervisory responsibility for the mission and failed to intervene despite reports and red flags.

The filings further allege that Harvest Christian Fellowship provided financial support for the Romanian children’s homes and that senior pastors were responsible for oversight but did not implement adequate safeguards to protect the children. Attorneys representing the survivors, including the law firm McAllister Olivarius, said more plaintiffs are expected to file similar complaints.

Harvest Christian Fellowship issued statements calling the lawsuits “serious and disturbing” but denying that it knowingly covered up abuse. The church described some claims as attempts at financial extortion and stated it is cooperating with law enforcement regarding the allegations involving the former pastor.