HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — New court documents share startling details about the investigation of a pastor who prosecutors said called himself “Jesus’ best friend.”<\/p>\n
David Taylor was among the religious leaders who made headlines in 2025 when the FBI raided his property on the north side.<\/p>\n
The Campus for the Harvest in north Houston is one of several sites across the country part of Taylor’s Kingdom of God Global Church network spanning four states.<\/p>\n
Each site, according to court records, functioned as a call center to solicit millions of dollars in donations; but investigators say, at times, people working on the site were not allowed to leave.<\/p>\n
Documents describe the people working there as “laborers.” Investigators said much of the money laborers raised went to church leaders’ lavish lifestyles, including bulletproof luxury vehicles, and 125 pounds of king crab legs in 2021.<\/p>\n
Taylor is accused of threatening “God’s punishment” if a laborer disobeyed him.<\/p>\n
Now, 12 months later, documents expose sexually charged messages Taylor is accused of sending to women workers.<\/p>\n
According to documents, in one instance, Taylor and a top church leader demanded sexual acts from a 19-year-old woman and told her to send explicit pictures and videos. Taylor allegedly texted the young woman, “Satan… he’s going to destroy you if you don’t surrender, honey.”<\/p>\n
Records also note text messages between church leaders, including Kathleen Klein, who was charged in February.<\/p>\n
In a group chat named “Houston Managers,” Klein allegedly texted saying two laborers at Campus for the Harvest would be on “heavy labor outside” through the weekend of June 21, 2024, as punishment for hiding instead of working, adding “we need the people take to the street.”<\/p>\n
Records show that on that weekend, temperatures were in the low 90s, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n
The indictment lists Taylor and his co-defendants, including Klein, as well as Michelle Brannon, who both served as executives in the church, each charged with money laundering, forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor.<\/p>\n
If convicted, all three face a maximum of 20 years in prison, per count.<\/p>\n
Taylor did file a motion for bond, as his attorney argued that this is a voluntary religious community and no one was held against their will.<\/p>\n
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