The Oklahoma district of the Pentecostal Church of God has moved to push out a district bishop after a small-town church in Meeker became the center of an embezzlement firestorm. Michael Hall and his wife, Vickie, are accused of steering donations away from Living Waters Tabernacle, and the fallout has left the congregation and the wider denomination deeply split. The couple now faces embezzlement charges, with their next preliminary hearing scheduled for June 25, 2026.
Denominational leaders say Hall was replaced or suspended in an effort to protect church assets, according to KFOR. That move followed the Halls' arrests last year and months of intense internal wrangling over who controlled Living Waters' bank accounts and who actually ran the church.
Court filings reviewed by Religion News Service say prosecutors allege the Halls siphoned more than $170,000 from the Meeker congregation. The documents describe church funds allegedly being used for personal purchases, home upgrades and vehicle buys, and note that the pastor who first sounded the alarm was later removed by district officials.
Denominational listings and oversight
Public records from the Pentecostal Church of God still list Michael Hall as a district official and show a district office in Oklahoma City, a detail that highlights confusion over which positions he held and for how long while the allegations were emerging. The denomination's bylaws and directory, which include the Oklahoma district listing, are available in its official directory document.
That directory is published by the denomination; see the Pentecostal Church of God directory (PDF) for the district listing.
Affidavit details and court timing
According to court records cited in coverage of the case, the affidavit claims the couple diverted chunks of several large donations, including half of a $47,000 gift meant for a parking lot and half of a $23,000 donation earmarked for a women's bathroom upgrade. Investigators say multiple checks were written to a contractor, including a $50,000 check dated Sept. 26, 2024, a $19,811 check to Brad Perry Construction dated June 11, 2024, and two additional payments to that same contractor that together totaled nearly $60,000. The affidavit also alleges that a metal building was put up on property connected to the Halls. Prosecutors have suggested that the total loss may be even larger, and the preliminary hearing, which has already been pushed back several times, is now set for June 25, 2026, according to KFOR.
Whistleblower and congregational reaction
The Rev. Jerry Beeson, the pastor who flagged the missing money, has said the arrests are devastating and that the case "does not represent Christianity or the entire Pentecostal Church of God," according to Religion News Service. Neighbors and congregants told reporters they had noticed fresh construction and new purchases at a property tied to the Halls, and local records show the couple were booked into Lincoln County Jail, then released after posting bond, according to MinistryWatch.
Legal implications
Prosecutors have charged the Halls with embezzlement, and if they are convicted, the felony counts could bring prison time and court-ordered restitution, according to local reporting that reviewed the case filings. Denominational statements and local coverage say church and district officials are working together to shield remaining assets while the courts sort through the allegations of financial misconduct, per ChurchLeaders.
With the preliminary hearing set for June 25, congregants across Oklahoma's Pentecostal Church of God network are looking for answers, not only on where the money went but on who will ultimately steer the district. Barring another delay, that hearing is expected to become a key benchmark for both the legal case and the denomination's next steps on leadership and accountability.
