Every week, the National Center for Life and Liberty (NCLL) receives hundreds of calls from churches and Christian ministries caught off guard by lawsuits, government overreach, or unexpected legal issues.
Our mission is simple: to stand in the legal gap, so pastors and ministry leaders can remain focused on sharing the Gospel without the crushing weight of legal battles.
This month, we’re sharing three real-life ministry challenges—each revealing how legal threats can emerge from within: a trusted staff member secretly undermining leadership, a school administrator attempting to seize control from the founding church, and a well-meaning counseling ministry that could’ve exposed the church to devastating liability.
This Month’s Featured Cases
Sabotage from Within Threatens a Thriving Ministry
At a well-established church in the Midwest, the leadership team began noticing troubling signs: staff division, miscommunications with donors, and rumors that undermined the pastor’s credibility.
What they didn’t expect was the source.
A longtime employee—once trusted as part of the inner circle—was secretly leaking sensitive information, spreading false narratives, and actively working to turn the congregation against its leadership.
The church was reeling. Every attempt to confront the situation risked deepening the internal fracture—and possibly sparking a wrongful termination lawsuit.
The leadership turned to the NCLL for help.
We responded immediately—reviewing internal policies, documenting the misconduct, and guiding the church through a careful and lawful separation process that honored biblical principles while protecting the ministry.
We also helped implement safeguards to prevent further sabotage and restore trust among staff and church members.
In the end, the church didn’t just survive the breach—it came through stronger, unified, and equipped to protect its mission against future internal threats.
An Attempted Coup at a Christian School
In a quiet Southern town, a Christian school affiliated with a local church had grown rapidly, gaining community respect for its strong academics and biblical foundation.
But behind the scenes, conflict was brewing.
The school’s lead administrator—once hired to serve the church’s vision—began laying the groundwork to sever ties with the church entirely. He quietly restructured operations, altered governing documents, and attempted to redirect funds and authority to himself.
Church leaders were blindsided. Their own ministry—years in the making—was being taken over from within.
Desperate to preserve their calling and protect the children in their care, the church contacted the NCLL.
We acted quickly—conducting a legal review, halting the attempted takeover, and reinstating the church’s rightful authority over the school.
We also worked with the church to strengthen governance structures and ensure future accountability.
Because of swift and decisive action, the school remains firmly rooted in its founding church—its biblical mission intact, and its leadership realigned with the truth.
When Counseling Turns Risky—One Church Takes the Right First Step
A growing church on the East Coast had a vision to care for its hurting community through a new biblical counseling ministry. Passionate volunteers were ready to serve, and members eagerly sought spiritual guidance.
But the church's leadership had heard the horror stories: lawsuits from individuals who misunderstood pastoral advice, counseling sessions blamed for marital breakdowns, and churches forced to close ministries after legal fallout.
So before launching, they turned to the NCLL.
We guided them from the ground up—clarifying roles, drafting legal disclaimers, and establishing firm boundaries between spiritual care and licensed counseling. We also trained ministry leaders on how to navigate sensitive topics while protecting the church from risk.
Thanks to that early investment, the church launched with confidence—able to provide meaningful biblical counsel without fear of legal exposure.
Today, that ministry is a vital lifeline to their community and a powerful example of wisdom paired with compassion.
Looking Ahead
These real-life cases remind us why we do what we do. When churches and ministries face lawsuits or legal threats, resources meant for outreach are diverted to legal defense.
By coming alongside them, we help ensure they can continue preaching the Gospel, serving their communities, and shaping lives for Christ.
