A former youth pastor from Texas has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing children.

Luke Cunningham, 43, served as student pastor at Turning Point Community Church from 2016 to 2020. He later took a youth ministry role at Lakeside Baptist Church, where his employment was terminated in early June 2024.

Cunningham pleaded guilty to two assaults that took place in September and October 2018.

Court testimony described Cunningham as a violent abuser and rapist who manipulated multiple young girls, often attempting to convince them he would leave his wife for them when they turned 18.

He was arrested in June 2024 by U.S. Marshals.

In addition to the prison sentence, District Judge Douglas Freitage ordered that Cunningham receive 650 days of jail credit and imposed a lifetime protective order for the victims.

Judge Freitage also dismissed 14 additional charges against Cunningham related to child sexual abuse.

“The levels that this predator went to, to keep his abuse secret and to dangle the salvation of the victims and family members above them, to gain their compliance and silence, is what makes this case particularly heinous,” said Assistant District Attorney Cassie Graham.

Speaking of the victims, Graham said the impact of Cunningham’s actions will “follow them for the rest of their lives".

“They are the strongest and most courageous women who came forward to put a stop to years of abuse, perpetrated by someone who was supposed to be leading them to Christ," she added.

Graham described the case as the “most manipulative and horrific spiritual abuse” she had ever seen.