Over the course of 20 years of a nationwide campus ministry, my family and I encountered thousands of students. Rusty Yates was one of many young men I met decades ago while speaking on Auburn University campus.  My connection to Rusty Yates was by sporadic letters. He contacted me after his marriage and I recall a pass-by visit three times over the next ten years of preaching on a campus circuit, including Auburn. I met Andrea twice and spoke to her only in the company of Rusty. There was no ongoing relationship with them whatsoever, no group, no discipleship structure, and no control or influence over their family life. I was never their pastor or counselor. We were working in Mexico City when we saw a report of the crime on TV. We were shocked and devastated to the point of feeling sick, like I had to throw up. Rachel, my wife, started to weep. We could not believe it.

Andrea Yates was tried in a Texas court and found guilty for the tragic deaths of her children. After an extensive trial, it was determined, under oath and in official court records, that her actions were the result of severe mental illness compounded by psychiatric drug issues. I was never called to testify, questioned, or implicated in any way. I had nothing whatsoever to do with anything concerning Andrea Yates whom I only met briefly three times. Authorities concluded I had no involvement whatsoever in her actions. This should have ended any further speculation. Medical professionals repeatedly warned the Yates family, years before the tragedy, not to have additional children due to Andrea’s fragile mental health. These warnings were tragically disregarded. These facts are documented in court proceedings and publicly acknowledged by Rusty Yates himself, who stated under oath that I had no influence on what occurred. “Rusty said that his family’s relationship with Woroniecki was not that close and that Woroniecki did not cause her delusions.”

Despite this, a single obsessed individual, whom I addressed for fifteen minutes, amidst a crowd of several hundred other Texas A&M students, instigated a personal vendetta and launched a long-term online cyberbullying hatred campaign falsely linking me to the crime and other absurd accusations. Though he never had any contact with Andrea, or had any further contact with me, media outlets made him an authority. This person contacted media outlets across North America, fabricated stories, and falsely claimed I led cult groups or had sustained involvement with the Yates family. None of this was true, and no evidence has ever existed to support these claims. No: pictures, recordings, pamphlets stating cult doctrines,  any proof of a location or meetings. Yet he continued.

Tabloid media and eventually even mainstream outlets repeated these falsehoods without ever contacting or interviewing me. Interviews I did give were selectively edited to fit predetermined narratives.  Online platforms later confirmed the abuse: Wikipedia, Google, YouTube, AOL, Yahoo, and others removed defamatory material once investigated. Wikipedia’s founder personally acknowledged the cyberbullying and corrected the record. Unfortunately, false material continues to circulate due to the nature of the internet. Some take 30-year-old tapes and cut out the parts where I share about love, forgiveness, grace, hope, and the beautiful life in Jesus, and just piece together the few parts they want to paint me in a way that is entirely inaccurate. I have never shared about God without primarily talking about His love and mercy and the beautiful life I have found in Jesus of forgiveness, redemption, and hope.

For clarity: I have never led a cult, never had followers, never led any group in a location or group setting, and never sought personal recognition. I have had countless speaking engagements, written many journals, and travelled extensively to proclaim Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Anyone who knows me, knows this.  I direct people to follow Jesus, not me. My message has consistently been the simple Christian gospel centered on Christ’s mercy, forgiveness, and transformation through the Holy Spirit. I am not a “fire-and-brimstone” preacher, nor do I ever solicit money.  I have attended three separate seminaries and hold a Master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Worked as President of Fellowship of Christian Athletes while on a football scholarship at Central Mich. University. I’ve received numerous awards and recognition for my work. My life is beyond reproach. I have been counseled by lawyers to pursue legitimate legal action of obvious slander and defamation, but at this time choose not to do so.

Over more than 50 years of ministry and encounters with hundreds of thousands of people, many have written to attest that our work has helped heal marriages, restore families, save individuals, and stop suicides. I keep extensive records documenting these testimonies and Christian focus of our work. While I cannot stop people from lying, I can state the truth plainly.  Any attempt to associate me with any criminal aspect is nonsense, slander, defamation, and is rooted in deception. I counseled Rusty Yates, as I do everyone, to care for and protect his wife and family through wisdom and faith in Jesus Christ. The rest is fabrication.

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