When I accepted a position at Gaylord Evangelical Free Church, I came with the intention of serving, building systems, and supporting a community I believed in. What I didn’t expect was that reporting sexual harassment would lead to my suspension, banishment, and ultimately, my termination.
But that’s exactly what happened.
The Harassment
I was sexually harassed by Brian Switalski, the Church Director. I won't go into all the details in this post—but I will in time. What matters now is this: I came forward, believing that a church claiming to follow Christ would take immediate steps to protect those who speak out.
I was wrong.
The Retaliation Was Immediate
Instead of removing Brian during the investigation, they removed me.
Pastor Scott Distler informed me that Brian would remain “100% active in his role.” Meanwhile, I was told that I couldn’t be in the same building as him unless there were large numbers of people around.
Let me repeat that: I was the one moved out of the building. I was told to avoid the person I reported. I lost my autonomy, my decision-making power, and had to report to others in positions beneath mine. All of this happened while Brian maintained full authority to plan events and move freely about the campus.
They said it wasn’t retaliation.
It was.
They Silenced Me Further
When I brought my concerns to the Elder Board, they didn’t investigate. They delayed. Then, weeks later, I was called into a meeting where I was officially fired.
They offered me a severance, but only if I signed a settlement agreement in front of two witnesses and a notary—a legal muzzle, plain and simple.
And then they banned me.
“You are not permitted to be on the grounds of any E-Free Church Campus for any reason in the future without written permission…” — Termination Letter, March 5, 2025
The message was clear: If you speak up, you’ll be punished. If you don’t stay quiet, you’ll be erased.
Why I’m Speaking Out
I’m not telling this story for sympathy. I’m telling it because churches—especially churches—should be held accountable when they protect abusers and retaliate against victims.
If it happened to me, it could happen to others. And if you’ve experienced something like this, I want you to know: you are not alone.
More to Come
This blog will be where I share:
Documentation of what happened
The full timeline and communications
Resources for others facing church-based retaliation
A roadmap for accountability
If you’ve ever been silenced for doing the right thing, I invite you to stand with me.
Because truth doesn’t need permission.
—
Jonathan David Deak
Founder of miefree.net
Whistleblower. Advocate. Not backing down.
