MOUNT VERNON — Gary Thomas Keesee, an Ohioan with a shy disposition, and Drenda Shelaine Hocott, a blonde southern belle from Georgia, met in college.
They both attended Oral Roberts University, situated on a 385-acre campus just 20 minutes south of downtown Tulsa, Okla. Both shared a burning desire to serve God — whom they separately found prior to their courtship.
He earned a degree in the Old Testament. She never graduated. As many stories go, the couple fell blissfully in love and married.
That was in 1982.
Today, the New Albany church that the husband-and-wife team co-pastor is under investigation for alleged sexual abuse. Files obtained by Source Media Properties through a public records request confirm multiple victims allege abuse stretching back potentially 22 years.
The case remains under investigation. No one has been charged.
The Keesees have declined to comment, referring questions to the church’s Florida-based attorney.
How did we get here? A timeline
Before Gary Keesee and religion entered the picture, Drenda Keesee had plans to be a U.S. President.
“(Drenda Keesee) was determined never to be married or have children, as they would probably get in the way of her career,” reads Gary Keesee’s bio page on his website.
Though she never graduated from ORU, she earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical ministries from Logos University in May 2011, according to the school’s registrar. She said she earned a master’s degree in Christian counseling from the school. The school has no record of that.
She received an honorary doctorate of divinity from the Florida-based CICA International University and Seminary. Sharon Baquedo-Phinn, the university’s president and CEO, said Keesee received the award in April 2016.
Despite her hesitation to marry and have kids, she did. The couple married in August 1982, and between 1983 and 1996, she gave birth to five children.
Drenda Keesee is now a sitting Knox County commissioner. She ran unopposed in the general election, earning 23,077 votes.
The Keesees welcomed their first child, Amy Shelaine, in 1983 in Tulsa. Their second child, Timothy David, came a few years later.
The family of four welcomed another child, Gary Thomas Keesee, Jr. (Tom), in 1988. By then, the Keesees had moved from the Sooner State to the Buckeye State. (Gary Thomas Keesee, Jr. was born in Columbus, according to Knox County probate court records.)
In 1992, the Keesee family grew again. Pollyanne Chloe was born in New Albany.
Gary Keesee founded Faith-Full Family Finances in 1993, later operating the “financial services” business under the trade name Forward Financial Group.
In February 1996 — just a few months before the birth of the couple’s fifth and final child, Kirstin Joy, Keesee expanded his reach. He founded a church and named it Faith-Full Family Fellowship. The listed address, according to state filings, was along Eastwind Drive in Westerville.
Keesee became a licensed minister a month later in Ohio. His wife does not have a minister’s license in Ohio.
The purpose of the church, according to its current website, was “teaching people about faith, family and financial restoration.”
In Pastor Gary Keesee’s words: “Our goal is to help you win in life.” At a recent sermon, the pastor said he’s been accused of idolizing money. He denied the accusation.
“We don’t idolize money. Money is a tool,” he said. “It’s a tool that we can use to be generous in a world that is seeking answers.”
It didn’t take long to put that money to work.
Faith-Full Family Fellowship bought 22 acres at 2407 Beech Road in January 1997 for $125,000, Licking County real estate records show. The property is nestled within New Albany’s so-called International Business Park, colloquially known as the city’s Innovation Campus.
It wasn’t until later, however, that the church built its permanent home of 44,000 square feet on the property.
A few months later, in May 1997, the Keesees — now a family of seven — bought 55 acres for $88,000 in Knox County along Sharp Road, just 12 minutes south of downtown Mount Vernon. They built a 5,300 square-foot home with five bedrooms and four bathrooms a year later. (The 800-square-foot in-ground pool was constructed in 2000.)
By February 2001, state filings show the church failed to file a statement of continued existence. The state requires nonprofits to file this form every five years.
When Faith-Full Family Fellowship failed to file this form, it essentially meant it lost the ability to function as a registered church in Ohio. The loss affects its ability to hold property, receive donations, and conduct other activities related to religious operations.
But in September 2002, the church was back, and in November 2002 the church changed its address to one along Sharp Road, Mount Vernon.
In July 2003, Gary Keesee’s first book — Faith Hunt — was published. The nearly 300-page book is about spiritual lessons the author learned through hunting deer.
“For many years Gary’s love for hunting led him from disappointment to disappointment, until he discovered the principle of faith,” reads the book’s description. “It was then that his life changed forever … God’s Word and its principles hold the keys that have given Gary 100% success in the hunt for 16 years.
“God cares about everything that concerns your lives, and His principle of faith will work for you.”
In August 2006, the church changed its name from Faith-Full Family Fellowship to “Faith Life Now,” which is the name of the organization’s weekly TV and digital media production.
In November 2006, Faith Life Church was born, Ohio business filings show. It’s around this time the church and its ministries achieved significant success.
Between 2006-2017, the Keesees founded seven registered trade names, launched a non-profit and an LLC, published seven books, purchased a home in Venice, Fla. and built a 44,000 square-foot church on the Beech Road property.
They also purchased a five-seat private plane, FAA records show. The plane has been registered to Faith-Full Family Finances Inc. since April 2016.
In July 2009, the Keessee’s third child — Tom — became their first child to get married. He was 20 at the time, according to Knox County probate records. She was 21 and a hair stylist from Columbus.
The couple dissolved their marriage in July 2016.
A month later, Drenda Keesee founded T&M Toys LLC, Ohio business filings show. Tom Keesee later applied jointly with Michael J. MacLean for a patent on a magnetic toy, according to a U.S. patent application. The patent application, however, was eventually abandoned.
Tom Keesee married again, this time to Alexis Victoria Healy, in November 2019. She took his last name and is now listed as a contact for the church’s Young Society Band, the church’s youth group praise and worship band. The group, according to the website, is for youngsters age 11 to 18.
Tom Keesee resigned from his position as chief media officer of the church in August 2024.
At a sermon shortly following accusations of sexual abuse, Gary Keesee said he’s not aware of “currently anyone on this staff” that face accusations of “harassment” or “abuse.”
In September of 2009, the Keesee’s first born — Amy — married Jason Freudiger. She was 26 and he was 29, court records show.
Amy Keesee Freudiger is listed as the Faith Life’s worship pastor and described as “an author, speaker, worship leader and singer/songwriter” on the church’s website. She has also authored a couple of books and co-authored another one with her mother in 2014.
In 2011, Gary Keesee published a book entitled Fixing the Money Thing, the first of nearly a dozen titles related to gaining financial freedom through faith in God. The title of the book later became the name of one of the church’s TV series.
The Keesees have published an average of four books every year since 2021.
In December 2019, the church grew again — this time acquiring a former school at 284 S. Liberty St. in Powell. The church bought the property for $3.5 million, Delaware County auditor records show.
This building doubles as a school, known as Faith Life Academy. The website says the school serves Pre-K through 12th grade students and employs 16 teachers and administrators.
The academy’s website also states it is an EdChoice Scholarship Provider. The Ohio Department of Education does not list the school as an EdChoice partner in its interactive directory.
In August 2023, Faith Life Church grew again, this time by acquiring two adjacent properties totaling 100 acres in Danville. The church bought the property formerly known as Camp McPherson along Shadley Valley Road for $1.7 million, Knox County auditor records show.
The site in Knox County is a “remote” campus, meaning churchgoers meet there to watch the main campus’ 10:30 a.m. service, which is livestreamed to YouTube.
The investigation
The Keesees have worked the better part of two decades to build a brand rooted in faith.
Now, every one of those brands, along with their founders, find themselves embroiled in a sexual abuse investigation involving multiple alleged victims and spanning up to 22 years.
Drenda Keesee, a Knox County commissioner, faces calls for her resignation. She has not addressed demands to step down.
When asked, Gary Keesee declined an interview, deferring all questions to the church’s attorney. That lawyer, Katie Taber, has issued one statement since Feb. 10, despite reporters’ several follow-up questions.
Taber has said the church is aware of the “serious allegations concerning past conduct involving a member of our church leaders’ family,” but that none of the allegations are against Gary and Drenda Keesee or any other pastors of the church.
Taber also said the church’s “leadership and pastors are fully committed to truth and transparency and are prepared to cooperate fully with law enforcement in any way necessary.”
Records obtained through a public records request from the Ohio Attorney General’s office show law enforcement’s involvement dating to Dec. 17, 2024.
Between then and Jan. 9, investigators gathered information about potential victims and listed five witnesses. (A number of other victims have also come forward on social media.) The alleged sexual abuse dates back potentially 22 years, records show.
Among the witnesses detectives spoke to include Connie McVay, a former member of Faith Life Church who said she had “first-hand knowledge” of an inappropriate relationship.
McVay is married to Adam McVay, who for a time worked as the church’s controller.
She said he had noticed several “red flags” when it came to Faith Life’s finances. The McVays told investigators Adam was fired “and forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement.”
Adam McVay declined to comment.
Who investigates?
Between Jan. 9 and Feb. 10, investigative work stopped as three law enforcement agencies — Knox and Licking County sheriffs and the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) — tried to determine who should lead the investigation.
Ohio Attorney General Office records show the Knox County Sheriff’s Office forwarded the case to BCI on Jan. 28. The KCSO cited a conflict of interest as the Knox County Commissioners have input into the sheriff’s budget.
But the state’s top investigative agency didn’t make a formal decision until Feb. 1. Attorney General Dave Yost recused himself and BCI from investigating because he is “personal friends” with Gary and Drenda Keesee, who had been guests at his home.
His decision spurred Kate Frantz to create a petition on Change.org. It demanded Yost to investigate. Before closing at a purported 2,562 supporters, a commenter identifying himself as Dave Yost posted a comment.
In the comment, Yost cited his relationship with the Keesees as a reason his office would not investigate, seemingly confirming abuse allegations involve the family in his statement.
“The suspect’s parents are friends and have been to my home for dinner,” he wrote.
Campaign finance reports do not immediately appear to connect Yost to the Keesees. But Source Media Properties has made a public records request with the secretary of state’s office for a complete record of documents dating back to 2010.
Yost’s office declined to comment further on his relationship with the Keesees. His press secretary, Steve Irwin, did not address a question asking for confirmation Yost wrote the comment under the Change.org petition.
“It would be improper to comment further, given the ongoing criminal investigation,” wrote Irwin, in an emailed statement. He deferred further questions to the Licking County Sheriff’s Office, who agreed to take the case on Feb. 7.
Before they did, however, Knox County Sheriff Daniel Weckesser said that in his 21 years in law enforcement, he had never heard of the AG’s BCI denying a request for assistance in a case.
“So this is new for us, but we will work through the problem and find a solution,” he said in an emailed statement to Knox Pages on Feb. 7.
When asked to produce a list of all the additional times Yost has recused himself and the BCI from investigating possible criminal investigations, Irwin said the office has no record of any such recusals.
Yost has been the state attorney general since 2019. Before that, he was the auditor for Delaware County from 1999 to 2003 and then the county’s prosecutor until being elected as Ohio’s 32nd state auditor in 2011.
Yost announced on Jan. 23 he is a candidate to be Ohio’s next governor in 2026.
Social media posts
On Feb. 1, one of the Keesee’s three daughters took to Facebook. In her post, she stated she is the victim of sexual abuse involving a family member and called for the AG’s office to investigate.
The author of the post declined to comment.
On Feb. 3, Timothy D. Keesee — a pastor at Faith Life Church and the eldest son of Gary and Drenda Keesee — went to Facebook. He condemned abuse of any kind and asked victims to share their stories.
“Know sharing your story is not a betrayal,” he wrote. “You are loved and valued.”
Gary Keesee also went to social media in early February, posting a video that has since been removed. In it, he apologized to specific members of his family and to the church’s staff.
“My intent was never, or it is not, to ever cover up anything, anytime. But at the same time, not to betray the trust of one child over another. And I think you can understand that if you’re a parent …” he said.
By Feb. 7, the Licking County Sheriff’s Office had determined it would lead the investigation, and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office would devote one detective to assist in the case.
Less than a week later, that changed.
“When our detectives went down to speak to detectives at Licking County, they pretty much said they would take it and go with it,” Weckesser said on Feb. 13.
“We said we’ll do anything we can to help, but pretty much they are going to run with it,” the sheriff said.
Knox Pages Lead Reporter Cheryl Splain contributed to this story.
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