Adelaide Futures church youth pastor Daniel Menelaou arrested, charged in the US over child abuse material

A youth pastor at one of Adelaide’s biggest churches is facing charges in the US after allegedly sharing sexually explicit videos featuring children.

A married Adelaide youth pastor from one of the city’s biggest churches has been arrested in the US over videos allegedly depicting child abuse.

Daniel Menelaou, 28, was arrested in the US state of Georgia following a tip-off that alleged he had been sharing sexually explicit videos featuring children.

Mr Menelaou was charged last Wednesday with possession or control of any material depicting a minor in sexually explicit conduct.

The messages were allegedly shared through a messaging app, with authorities seizing a number of electronic devices from the South Australian man after they started investigating a cyber tip-off.

Mr Menelaou’s Instagram and Facebook accounts have been disabled.

According to his LinkedIn, he served as a youth pastor at the Paradise-based Futures Church – formerly Influencers Church.

He relocated to Georgia, where he was working in a similar role at Futures’ megachurch campus at Alpharetta.

Daniel Menelaou was a youth pastor at Paradise’s Futures church before he moved to the church’s Georgia campus in the US, where he was arrested. Picture: Linkedin

He was involved with Young Adults Alpharetta and less than a month before his arrest was featured on its Instagram account promoting a young adult service.

A spokesman for Futures Church said they were “horrified” by the charges and “categorically condemn these (alleged) actions in the strongest possible terms”.

“The charges against Daniel Menelaou are abhorrent, appalling, and completely contrary to everything we stand for,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said Mr Menelaou was initially put on administrative leave after his arrest but his position was terminated once the church became aware of the full extent of the charges.

Daniel Menelaou, a former international megachurch youth pastor has been arrested in the US for child abuse images. Picture: Fulton County Sheriff’s Office

“Futures Church has a zero-tolerance policy regarding any form of abuse,” the spokesman said.

“We regularly review our policies and safeguards to ensure we continue upholding the highest standards of child protection”.

Mr Menelaou’s father John had been serving on the church board but has taken “indefinite” leave, the spokesman said.

“John has been an exemplary board member, and as the situation was discovered, he offered his resignation,” he said.

“While his resignation was not accepted, in recognition of the crisis his family is facing, a leave of absence was provided. This is indefinite.”

The spokesperson said Daniel Menelaou’s wife was “one of the victims in this crisis” and “out of respect for her dignity and privacy, we will not be making any further comment”.

“The church remains committed to supporting those affected.”

The church distanced itself from Mr Menelaou, saying it “is in no way responsible or affiliated with these (alleged) actions of Daniel Menelaou” and had no prior knowledge of any allegations or indication of wrongdoing until his arrest.

Daniel Menelaou, a former international megachurch youth pastor has been arrested in the US for child abuse images. Picture: Linkedin

The church emailed its members on Monday morning about the charges, saying it was deeply “shocked, grieved and blindsided by the news”.

Known as Influencers until 2022, Futures is the state’s largest megachurch, with seven campuses across South Australia as well as five locations in the US, including Alpharetta.