By Howard Campbell
Associated Press
and Ryan Thompson
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — A Brooklyn-based Pentecostal faith healer who has led crusades around the world was charged last week with sexually abusing a teenage girl in his native Jamaica.

Paul Lewis, of the The Messengers for Christ World Healing Center in Bedford-Stuyvesant, was charged with carnal abuse and indecent assault in an incident involving a 15-year-old girl in the western Jamaican city of Negril, police said.

Lewis, 45, made an initial court appearance on the charges but did not enter a plea. A judge ordered him held without bail.

His church did not respond to requests for comment. The Messengers for Christ World Healing Center is located at 1215 Fulton St., near Bedford Avenue.

Defense lawyer Michael Erskine confirmed the charges but declined further comment. He later told CVM Television that his client denies the allegations and that he would ask a higher court to release him on bail.

“Reverend Lewis insists he is innocent of these charges and everything will be done to clear him,� the lawyer said.

Lewis was arrested on a Sunday, just as he was about to start preaching in the west coast town of Savanna-La-Mar, for allegedly having sex with the teen at a hotel in Negril, said Westmoreland parish police Sgt. Ethon Miller.

People who allegedly saw the minister with the 15-year-old and another 14-year-old became suspicious and called police, Miller said.

Lewis was born in Jamaica but moved to the United States as a child.

“Since an early age in the island of Jamaica, God has called [Lewis] and anointed him to preach, deliver and minister through the power of the spirit. Blind eyes have been opened, deaf ears unstopped, tumors dissolved, and more, the all salvation has come to many,� his web site says.

Lewis has been going on evangelical crusades throughout the world for the last decade.

“He operates under a very strong anointing of the Holy Spirit. Many miracles are wrought by him through the Holy Spirit. The deaf hear, the cripple walk, blind eyes open and thousands come to know the Lord as their Savior. He proclaims good sound doctrine, which is spiritual and educational,� his web site continues.

Also on his web site, Lewis sells “Anointed Prosperity Kits.� They include books, audio CDs, a Bible, a “divine prosperity cross necklace� and special “miracle olive oil soap.�

In infomercials and on his web site, Lewis says the “miracle olive oil soap� can cure diseases including AIDS and cancer, and bring prosperity.

Lewis has other offices in Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, Trinidad, the U.K. and Germany.

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Caption: Rev. Paul Lewis of the The Messengers for Christ World Healing Center in Bedford-Stuyvesant Photo courtesy of paullewisministries.com

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