MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Solid Rock Ministries’ founder and senior pastor John-Paul Miller tightly controlled his Market Common church for years, purging its membership rolls and eventually giving himself total control of day-to-day operations, newly filed court documents by his ex-wife allege.
Alison Williams recently asked a judge to temporarily grant her sole custody of their two youngest children, with all contact suspended until John-Paul completes a psychological and parental fitness exam.
“Initially, I was okay with phone calls and text messages however, when recently texting with them J.P. has inappropriately discussed the current state of events with them … sharing his plans of ‘suing everyone, and being a millionaire,'” Williams wrote in a May 28 custody filing in the 15th Circuit Family Court, based in Horry County.
NewsNation affiliate WBTW obtained the records Monday, which also depict John-Paul’s infidelities, including an affair with Mica that began while she worked as a nanny for John-Paul and Alison’s children. The filing also alleges that John-Paul hired prostitutes and was “sexually inappropriate with several underage female members” of Solid Rock.
John-Paul’s behavior has been under scrutiny since authorities said Mica shot and killed herself on April 27 at Lumber River State Park near Lumberton. She had served him divorce papers two days earlier.
Shortly after her death, former Solid Rock elder Bernard Kenerson told WBTW he left the church amid concerns over John-Paul’s behavior and an apparent lack of financial transparency. He also said that attendance had dwindled.
Williams corroborated Kenerson’s comments in her court filing. She said at some point, John-Paul rewrote the church’s bylaws to give himself “100% decision-making authority.”
“As a result, almost our entire congregation left the church, and J.P. began his quest to recruit new members, and operate Solid Rock Ministries solely at his discretion,” Williams said.
Williams said in her court filings that the underage girls who John-Paul allegedly contacted all gave her detailed accounts of his actions, but none was willing to come forward because they feared him.
“I went to the police department for the purpose of making a report and requesting an investigation,” she wrote.” However, I was in essence told by police officials that nobody would believe me because J.P. was a well-known pastor and we’re in the middle of a divorce.”
Cpl. Christopher Starling, a Myrtle Beach police spokesman, said Monday there’s no “probable cause” to pursue charges against John-Paul Miller.
He said anyone with information regarding criminal activity inside city limits should call (843) 918-1382.
Solid Rock Ministries has plans to expand its Faith First Academy school for first through ninth grades on property along Highway 17 Bypass.
Mica and John-Paul were married in 2017, and Mica remained on friendly terms with Alison and her stepchildren, according to court documents. Things began to change in 2021, when arguments between John-Paul and Mica would occur in front of the children.
“J.P. would preach sermons on Sundays our children were with him and present in the congregation, disparaging Mica and indicating she had mental health issues, and eventually putting her in a mental hospital,” Williams wrote in her affidavit.
During his marriage to Mica, Williams’ filings allege that John-Paul began a sexual relationship with another woman, whose husband later drowned.
“Just two weeks prior to this incident, (the woman’s) husband had confronted J.P. and asked him to leave his wife and children alone,” Williams said in the filing. “It is chilling to know that the spouses of both … are now dead, from tragic events.”
John-Paul’s own mental health began to deteriorate while he was still married to Mica and having an affair with another woman, and he started buying guns, according to Williams.
Williams and Mica spoke as she sought guidance and counseling while navigating the eventual dissolution of her marriage to John-Paul, according to the court documents, which also contained an undated voicemail that Mica left with Williams.
“Hey Ali, it’s Mica. This is a my new number … please don’t give it to anybody, but I just wanted to see who your counselor was to help you walk through for forgiveness and stuff and keep your heart right through all the mess,” she said through tears in the 47-second message.
“I don’t want to lose myself in this and I don’t want to pursue anything out of anger or vengeance, I just want to be free and have peace and keep my soul right,” Mica said.” So if you just text me the name of a good counselor, you know I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks, bye.”
A hearing is slated for June 6 on Williams’ custody filing.
WBTW has reached out to John-Paul Miller’s attorneys multiple times and has yet to hear from them since the day Mica’s death her death was ruled a suicide.