Kenneth McFarland, a 42-year-old associate pastor from Atlanta’s 2819 Church, has been arrested and charged with cruelty to children after allegedly beating his stepson with a power cord. The incident came to light on November 10 when an assistant principal at Creekside Christian Academy in Hampton, Georgia, noticed dried blood on the back of the child’s pants and contacted police.
Official Statement | Part 1#OfficialStatement#2819Church pic.twitter.com/2HMTIiA5lu
— 2819 Church (@2819Church) November 20, 2025
Child Reportedly Told Staff: “My dad called himself disciplining me”
According to the police report, the child—who had received an in-school suspension—asked the assistant principal if there was blood on his clothes. When questioned about the injury, the student reportedly said, “my dad called himself disciplining me,” claiming that Kenneth McFarland struck him earlier that morning with an extension cord from his gaming system as punishment for the suspension.
Officers documented visible bruising on the child’s upper right thigh and lower buttocks, consistent with the child’s account.
McFarland Taken Into Custody and Booked Into Henry County Jail
McFarland was arrested and booked into Henry County Jail. Although his name does not appear on the church’s current official website, his Facebook profile lists his role at 2819 Church. In 2023, lead pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell referenced McFarland preaching at the church, calling him an example of “grace.”
Following the arrest, McFarland’s sermons appear to have been removed from the church’s social pages, though recordings remain on Subsplash, where he is still identified as an associate pastor.
Pastor’s Background Includes Multiple Ministry Roles
McFarland’s LinkedIn profile shows previous service as an associate pastor at Victory Church, another Atlanta-area congregation. His involvement in ministry spans several years, with preaching clips and sermon archives still accessible online despite recent removals.
