Geelong Revival Centre sued in Supreme Court over allegations of child sex abuse by church elders

A Geelong church that has made headlines for the wrong reasons is being sued by a former member who alleges he was sexually abused as a child by two elders.

Geelong Revival Centre’s headquarters on Thompson Rd in Norlane. Picture: Alison Wynd.

A controversial Geelong-based Pentecostal church is being sued in the Supreme Court by a former member who claims he was sexually abused as a child by two of the organisation’s most senior figures.

The plaintiff, who asked to remain anonymous, alleges in his statement of claim that Geelong Revival Centre elders Hank De Vries and John Strumpel abused him on multiple occasions in the late 1980s.

The abuse is alleged to have occurred over the course of four years, starting when the victim was just eight years old.

Mr De Vries passed away a decade ago at the age of 89, while Mr Strumpel is still alive.

The GRC, which has been described by former members as “cult-like”, has not admitted the abuse and maintains there is no legal basis for establishing liability, even if it occurred.

Geelong Revival Centre founder Noel Hollins. Picture: Supplied.

The abuse is alleged to have occurred at the victim’s family home and Mr De Vries’ house.

It is alleged Mr Strumpel took the victim to his own bedroom on approximately six occasions, where he would instruct the boy to strip naked before fondling his genitals for up to 15 minutes.

“The sexual assaults were usually followed by a beating,” the claim alleges.

Mr De Vries allegedly instructed the victim “to fondle his genitals and would fondle the plaintiff’s genitals” on approximately 12 occasions.

Mr De Vries is alleged to have anally penetrated the victim on two of those occasions.

“De Vries and Strumpel were highly respected leaders at the Centre to which the plaintiff and his family attended religiously,” the claim states.

“The plaintiff respected them and trusted them by reason of their stature within the Centre.”

The man is being represented by legal firm Arnold Thomas & Becker.

“The alleged perpetrators were volunteers at the time, with no known prior complaints made against them,” lawyer Madison Duffy said.

“Meanwhile, our client continues to live with the long-lasting trauma of the abuse he suffered as a child, with no one taking accountability.”

The Geelong Revival Centre in Norlane.

Ms Duffy urged anyone who witnessed or experienced abuse connected to the GRC, or who has relevant information, to come forward.

“Your information could make a meaningful difference and help our client seek closure and justice,” she said.

The plaintiff, who continues to experience nightmares and flashbacks of the alleged abuse, as well as “periods of dysphoria with suicidal ideation”, is seeking unspecified damages.

The matter is listed for trial in Geelong in September.

In January, former GRC member Todd Hubers was sentenced to almost 23 years jail after pleading guilty to 16 child sex offences.

Hubers, 38, sexually abused nine young boys from the Geelong region between 2016 and 2023.

The memorial service for Geelong Revival Centre leader Noel Hollins.

GRC founder and long-time leader Noel Hollins died in April last year, aged 93.

He was replaced by Brian Griggs, who was previously pastor at the GRC-affiliated Bible Truth Fellowship church in Toowoomba.

Mr Griggs is listed as GRC’s sole director and secretary on Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents.

He is also a trustee of the church’s charitable arm, which summarises its activities as: “Training of young people to be law-abiding citizens, free of drugs and riotous behaviour.”

GRC was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Geelong Revival Centre sued in Supreme Court over allegations of child sex abuse by church elders