The YouTube video below is an audio recording between convicted child molester, Tom Chantry and his wife Karen Chantry. The conversation took place on September 21, 2018. This was after the conclusion of Chantry’s first trial in which he was convicted of assaulting two children.
Dale Smith is the senior pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Rockford, IL. Al Huber, the father of Karen Chantry, is the assistant pastor at the church. Al Huber bankrolled the defense of his son-in-law, Tom Chantry at both the first and second trial. He also posted a $250,000 cash bond to spring Tom Chantry from jail for about one month prior to his second trial. (Chantry was convicted on four counts of sexual molestation of a child at his second trial and sentenced to 24 years in prison. He now awaits a third trial.)
Dale Smith attended the first trial of Tom Chantry. While at the trial he spoke with a friend of mine who is now a former member of John Giarrizzo’s ARBCA church – Grace Covenant Church in Gilbert, AZ. Smith promised my friend he was going to return to Rockford and tell his church members the truth. In an email Smith sent to members of his church while attending the trial, he told them when he returned he would openly, transparently and honestly answer any questions they had about the Chantry sexual abuse scandal. (The email can be seen in the video below.)
Apparently, Dale Smith followed through on his word to my friend. He must have told his church members of the horrific acts of abuse that Chantry committed against children while their pastor at Miller Valley Baptist Church in Prescott, AZ.
Smith’s report greatly angered Tom Chantry, and from the recorded conversation, Karen was not happy with his words either. But Karen had a conversation with Dale Smith and she said Smith “walked back” everything he said.
In this recording, Tom Chantry said Dale Smith is not qualified to be a pastor. On this I agree with the pedophile, but for different reasons. I think Dale Smith is a coward, a spineless wimp of a man who compromised the truth. When Karen confronted him, he folded like a cheap suit.
I have long been curious how Dale Smith and Al Huber could remain fellow pastors – one man defending Chantry, seemingly believing Chantry’s narrative, and flushing boatloads of money down the toilet for Chantry’s defense; the other man knowing the truth of the matter and honestly briefing his church members about the trial.
Well, now we know. When it came to standing for truth or alienating the wealthy Huber family, Dale Smith chose the cowards path. He “walked back” the truth and remains the senior pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church. He has partnered with the devil, selling out for a bowl of pottage. I hope he enjoys his comfortable life of ease. He lacks integrity and, in my opinion, should be disqualified from the ministry.
If Grace Reformed Baptist Church has any principled members they would terminate both Al Huber and Dale Smith from their jobs, resign from ARBCA, and find a new pastor worthy of the title.
The “John” mentioned by Karen Chantry in this recording is John Giarrizzo. He is another utterly contemptible ARBCA pastor whom I have written about here and here. His church did indeed “blow up.” While he somehow remains the pastor, two-thirds of the members had the integrity to resign.
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