Ex-Futures Church pastor granted bail after child porn charges, but loses work license

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Friday, March 21, 2025

Daniel Menelaou, the previous youth pastor for the Alpharetta, Georgia, campus of the worldwide Futures Church headquartered in Australia, has been launched on a $120,000 bond after he was arrested and charged with possession of kid pornography per week in the past.

Courtroom paperwork from the Fulton County Superior Courtroom reviewed by The Christian Submit present that the 28-year-old pastor, who beforehand labored for the worldwide megachurch in Australia earlier than shifting to the U.S., was assessed a $20,000 bond for every of the six counts of possession “or management any materials depicting minor in sexually specific conduct,” he was charged with in change for his launch. He’s additionally required to put on an ankle monitor.

“You might be to haven’t any contact immediately or not directly with the sufferer, sufferer’s household, skilled, private, or shut associates, by cellphone, mail, e-mail, or by way of third get together, together with at sufferer’s office, church, residence, and daycare,” Menelaou’s bond settlement states. “In the event you encounter the sufferer, you should go away instantly and should not come inside 200 yards of sufferer.”

An official with Australia’s Division for Human Companies additionally advised ABC Information in Australia that his authorization to work with youngsters in that nation was revoked following information of the fees.

“DHS can verify that Mr. Menelaou’s Working With Youngsters Verify has been reassessed and he has now been decided not cleared (prohibited) from working with youngsters,” the official advised the information outlet.

A church spokesperson for Futures Church Alpharetta, advised The Advertiser that they didn’t pay for his bail however they’ve been supporting his spouse who’s in an “extremely painful place.” His subsequent courtroom date is to be determined.

A report from Fox Atlanta mentioned Roswell Police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation raided Menelaou’s residence after receiving a cybertip from the Nationwide Middle for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters.

“Throughout the course of that search warrant, we seized a number of digital gadgets that shall be analyzed for added proof,” Roswell Police Officer Tim Lupo advised the information outlet.

Investigators mentioned the youth pastor, who additionally labored as a pupil mentor at Temple Christian Faculty in Australia previous to his work in Georgia, uploaded a number of movies that “depict a minor engaged in sexually specific conduct” and shared the photographs utilizing the messenger app Kik. 

“Our hearts are heavy as we share heartbreaking information with you. In latest days, certainly one of our youth [pastors] working abroad, Daniel Menelaou, was arrested and charged with possession of supplies depicting minors in sexually specific content material,” wrote Pastor Tony Cornbridge of Futures Church in Australia. “Such as you, we’re deeply shocked, grieved, and blindsided by this information. We additionally wish to be completely clear that these expenses haven’t any connection to anybody in our church group.”