Abuse allegations from students at private Sask. Christian school are '100% true,' says former top official

WARNING: This story contains disturbing details.

A former top official with a private Saskatoon Christian school and church says he believes the students now coming forward with stories of violent discipline, solitary confinement, sexual abuse and bizarre religious rituals — because he was both a victim and a perpetrator.

"All of it is 100 per cent true," Garrett Davis, who was the youth pastor at Saskatoon Christian Centre from about 2002 to 2013, said in an interview with CBC News.

"I feel that it's important that I lend my solidarity to every individual who's speaking out."

More than 30 students have spoken out, including Davis's own child Garrison, during a CBC News investigation in the past few weeks. Most have also filed criminal complaints with Saskatoon police, and a proposed class action lawsuit was filed in court this week.

Nearly two dozen officials, including Davis, have been accused of various abuses. All were volunteers, staff, teachers, leaders or "elders" with Saskatoon Christian Centre church or Christian Centre Academy school. The names of the church and school have since been changed to Mile Two Church and Legacy Christian Academy, but students say they continue to operate as one integrated institution.

Davis admits he was present multiple times when students were hit on their buttocks with large wooden paddles hard enough to leave them limping and bruised. Davis also admits he was one of four adults who "spoke in tongues" and conducted an exorcism on former student Coy Nolin to chase out what they called his "gay demons."

Davis never reported any of it to regulators or police, and says he'll regret that for the rest of his life.

Not only did Davis remain silent — he said he and other staff aggressively criticized and ostracized any critics of the institution, both internal and external.

"I was led, taught and told to manipulate, intimidate and gaslight people," said Davis, who now lives in Portland, Oregon.

Davis was born in Texas. When he was three years old, his mother married Pastor Keith Johnson and they moved up to Saskatoon, where Johnson would assume the top role at the church and school.

Davis and others said Johnson's edicts and declarations were to be followed without question. That extended to the family home, where Davis said he was paddled regularly and "brainwashed" into believing the outside world was evil.

"I did not see my life with any choices," Davis said.

Johnson authored the 85-page manual called The Child Training Seminar, which students say was sold in the gift shop along with bibles and a selection of hand-made wooden paddles.