Former Living Word Church youth pastor James Paul Randolph (60) is currently serving 25 to 40 years in prison following his March 19, 2026 sentencing. A Midland County jury convicted him in August 2025 on six counts of criminal sexual conduct, including first-degree CSC involving a victim under the age of 13. Randolph is the son-in-law to televangelist Mark Barclay (@MarkTBarclay). The allegations date back to when the victim, Mikayla D. Williams, was just 12 years old in the sixth grade. Living in Randolph’s home, she trusted him as a father figure. Williams testified that Randolph routinely snuck into her room at night, escalating the abuse throughout her teenage years while leveraging his authority. Despite a prior 1985 conviction for the brutal sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl in Jackson County, church leadership elevated Randolph. He served as the youth minister overseeing children's programs at Living Word Church in Midland, Michigan. Rather than protecting the vulnerable, Randolph used his pulpit to preach to the congregation while actively grooming and abusing a child behind closed doors. From the pulpit, Randolph weaponized his spiritual authority. The victim testified that Randolph openly used his sermons to address her behavior and character in front of the entire congregation. He used his platform as a tool of intimidation and public shaming, forcing her into silence and compliance by weaponizing the church community against her. Randolph is one of three Living Word Church leaders convicted of child sexual abuse within a two-year window, alongside Randy and Brandon Saylor. He is currently seeking a new trial, with a motion hearing scheduled in the Midland County Circuit Court for October 9, 2026.