Christian Author Arrested on Charges That Shocked His Community

Faith Facts

• Florida pastor and Christian counselor Leslie Williams, author of the 2017 marriage book “Love Her Like This,” was arrested on a bigamy warrant from Georgia
• The arrest came just months after Williams publicly announced a new marriage, raising questions about accountability in ministry leadership
• Williams is currently awaiting extradition to Georgia to face charges related to allegedly being married to multiple women simultaneously

A Christian pastor and author who wrote a book on loving wives biblically now faces serious criminal charges that have stunned believers who trusted his counsel. Leslie Williams, a Florida-based pastor and board-certified Christian counselor, was taken into custody on a warrant charging him with bigamy.

Williams authored the 2017 book “Love Her Like This: Loving Her Has Never Been Deeper,” which positioned him as an authority on Christian marriage. The irony of his arrest has not been lost on those familiar with his ministry work. He had built a reputation counseling couples and teaching biblical principles of marital fidelity.

The arrest warrant originated in Georgia, where authorities allege Williams violated laws against bigamy by being married to more than one woman at the same time. The timing is particularly troubling, as Williams had publicly announced a new marriage just months before his arrest.

This case highlights the critical importance of accountability structures within Christian ministry. When leaders fail to live according to the standards they preach, the damage extends far beyond their own families to everyone they have counseled and influenced.

The Bible is clear about the sanctity of marriage and the one-flesh union between one man and one woman. Church leaders are held to an even higher standard, as Scripture instructs that overseers must be “above reproach, faithful to his wife” (1 Timothy 3:2).

Williams currently remains in custody in Florida as he awaits the legal process of extradition to Georgia, where he will face the bigamy charges. The case serves as a sobering reminder that positions of spiritual authority carry great responsibility and that no one is above God’s moral law.

For the women allegedly affected by Williams’ actions, this represents a profound betrayal of trust. The Christian community must respond with both justice and compassion, ensuring accountability while ministering to those who have been hurt.

This situation underscores why thorough vetting, ongoing accountability, and transparent leadership structures are essential in churches and Christian organizations. Believers must be discerning, testing all teaching against Scripture rather than accepting claims of authority at face value.

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