For Immediate Release

From: The Leadership Team of Excelsior Springs Baptist Church

 

Excelsior Springs Baptist Church has been made aware of the arrest of and criminal charges filed against Donald Aaron Axtell, who served as a volunteer at Excelsior Springs Baptist Church.

According to public court documents, Mr. Axtell has been charged with 2nd degree statutory rape, possession of child pornography, and furnishing pornographic materials to minors. These are extremely serious allegations.

 

Our first concern is for the safety, well-being, and privacy of the victim in this case and for anyone else who may have been affected. We are heartbroken for her and her family.

 

Mr. Axtell has been removed from all duties, he has no church-approved access to minors or to our facilities, and is no longer serving in any ministry role at Excelsior Springs Baptist Church. 

 

We have been cooperating fully with law enforcement, including the Excelsior Springs Police Department, and we are committed to following all legal and reporting requirements. Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, we will not be commenting on specific details, and we ask everyone to respect the privacy of the victim and her family.

 

We unequivocally condemn abuse in any form. Any report of misconduct involving a minor is taken with the utmost seriousness. The Church is committed to safety and security and has rigorous polices in place to screen, train and supervise all staff and volunteers who work with children and students. To ensure our commitment to safety, the Church will be engaging outside experts to review these existing polices and strengthening them if necessary. 

 

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Excelsior Springs Police Department. You may also contact the Missouri child abuse, and neglect hotline at 1-800-392-3738 in regard to this or other matters of abuse or neglect. They are available to help 24 hours a day seven days a week.

 

If you need spiritual or emotional support, please contact Scott Davis at 630-6341 or office@excelsiorspringsbaptistchurch.com.

 

As a church, we believe that God calls us to protect the vulnerable, to tell the truth, and to pursue justice. In this difficult moment, we are praying for the victim and her family, for our students and their families, and for wisdom and courage for everyone involved in responding to this situation.

 

– The Leadership of Excelsior Springs Baptist Church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 Welcome to Excelsior Springs Baptist Church