Survivors described the same devastating cycle: children who tried to warn adults, pastors who minimized or ignored allegations, and church leaders who extended grace and protection to abusers, clearing the way for more children to be harmed. Davis’ account was one of the starkest examples. After NBC News’ investigation was published, more women came forward with stories of abuse by Waller and cover-ups by church officials, joining Davis’ legal effort to hold them accountable. “The Assemblies of God caught this predator red-handed in 2004, holding his camera and his list of nude exercises in their hands,” the women’s lawyer, Joshua D. Gillispie, said in a statement. “Instead of calling the police or protecting vulnerable children, they actively chose to shield the denomination’s reputation and treat a child molester with tenderness and forgiveness at the expense of children’s innocence.” In a statement, the General Council of the Assemblies of God, the denomination’s U.S. governing body, said it didn’t learn of allegations against Waller until 2015. “Mr. Waller was promptly reported to the appropriate legal authorities, investigated, …