Lambert, alleged victims speak to NPR Morning Edition

National Public Radio's Morning Edition landed the first interview with Rev. Raymond Lambert, who is accused of eight felony sex crimes in connection with his role as minister of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church.
While Lambert's attorneys did not allow him to talk about the specifics of the case, which is scheduled to come to trial early next year in McDonald County Circuit Court (unless the defense request for a change of venue is granted), he did talk about the effect the charges have had on him:

"It's been tough on everyone, but I believe we're going to make it," Lambert said. "My vision of what our farm would be -- a school, a farm -- in a moment of a few days, and seemingly a few hours, it all changed."

The interview offers more insight into the operation of the church, including allegations that women are not allowed to read the Bible:

One accuser, who fears reprisals for speaking out, tells NPR she left the community in April. Since then, she no longer attends church because she finds it hard to trust any religious figure. She doesn't want to be identified by name. She alleges her sexual relationship with pastor Raymond Lambert started when she was 15. Another woman who left is Charyn Epling. She says she wasn't encouraged to read the Bible in this community because it was preached to her that only men of God read it. Charyn Epling is now reading the Bible. The first thing she learned, she says, is that "nowhere in the Bible does it state that you can touch a child. Nowhere. You cannot sexually touch a child, and that's basically what this is all about."