After 18 months, an investigation into alleged sex abuse by the Christian musician Chris Rice has found that the accusations against him are “credible.” It’s a remarkable fall for the singer, songwriter, and youth pastor.

Rice’s history in the world of contemporary Christian music (CCM) is a fairly successful one. In 1998, he was nominated for six Dove Awards (i.e. the Christian Grammys); in 1999, he won that award for Male Vocalist of the Year. He received even more nominations in 2000 and 2002. During this period, several of his songs were recorded by more popular Christian artists and his songs were widely played on Christian radio stations.

As it turned out, Rice was good friends with a youth pastor named Brad Waller, and Waller used that connection to bring Rice to his events at Tates Creek Presbyterian Church (TCPC) in Kentucky. Rice, as a popular Christian singer, was the draw, and the events also gave both men access to young people. Rice ended up working with the church between 1995 and 2003.

Report: Sex abuse allegations against Christian singer Chris Rice "credible" | Chris Rice (screenshot via YouTube)
Chris Rice (screenshot via YouTube)
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After 18 months, an investigation into alleged sex abuse by the Christian musician Chris Rice has found that the accusations against him are “credible.” It’s a remarkable fall for the singer, songwriter, and youth pastor.

Rice’s history in the world of contemporary Christian music (CCM) is a fairly successful one. In 1998, he was nominated for six Dove Awards (i.e. the Christian Grammys); in 1999, he won that award for Male Vocalist of the Year. He received even more nominations in 2000 and 2002. During this period, several of his songs were recorded by more popular Christian artists and his songs were widely played on Christian radio stations.

As it turned out, Rice was good friends with a youth pastor named Brad Waller, and Waller used that connection to bring Rice to his events at Tates Creek Presbyterian Church (TCPC) in Kentucky. Rice, as a popular Christian singer, was the draw, and the events also gave both men access to young people. Rice ended up working with the church between 1995 and 2003.

A couple of years ago, sex abuse allegations surfaced against Waller. He was eventually found to have “engaged in multiple [acts of] sexual misconduct with young men.” During the course of that investigation, conducted by the group Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE), victims also brought up Rice’s name… and the church eventually asked GRACE to investigate him as well.