Nationwide — David A Ritchie, a 42-year-old pastor from Texas, was arrested during an undercover prostitution sting and later charged with solicitation. He served as lead pastor of Redeemer Christian Church, a congregation of about 1,500 members in the city of Amarillo, but was fired after the arrest. He was widely known in the local religious community and held additional academic roles in Texas.
Ritchie had been married for nearly 18 years, having met his wife, Kate, through eHarmony in 2009, and they married a year later. Family posts on social media showed the couple with their three sons over the years.
According to the Daily Mail, authorities said the arrest happened on Sunday during a Texas Department of Public Safety undercover prostitution sting. Ritchie was among several men charged with solicitation as part of the operation.
Officials said seven other men were also arrested in the same sting. The group included individuals from Texas and other states, including Florida, Mississippi, and New Mexico, all facing similar charges.
Redeemer Christian Church later confirmed that Ritchie was removed from his position following the arrest. A spokesperson said he was placed on leave first, then the elders voted to terminate his employment after an emergency meeting.
The church also removed his profile from its official website. Archived records show Ritchie held degrees from Amarillo College, West Texas A&M University, and Reformed Theological Seminary, and worked as a part-time instructor at West Texas A&M University.
In 2021, Ritchie published a book titled “Why Do the Nations Rage? The Demonic Origin of Nationalism,” where he criticized Christian nationalism and described it as a distorted expression of faith. He also previously wrote that he occasionally stepped away from preaching to avoid burnout and maintain balance.