High-Profile Witnesses Named in Ignite Life Center Lawsuit
Several high-profile witnesses have been named in the pending sexual battery lawsuit against Christian Vargas.
Gainesville church Ignite Life Center (ILC) and Orlando-based Florida Multicultural District (FMD) of the Assemblies of God are named as co-defendants in the lawsuit, each facing one count of negligence and vicarious liability.
Vargas is currently facing two criminal charges for sexually abusing minors at ILC. He’s been on pretrial release since July 2023 after spending one day in jail.
The lawsuit alleges that Vargas committed sexual abuse while working for ILC and FMD. The complaint is confidential so there isn't much publicly available information on the allegations, however, the Plaintiff's legal counsel submitted an evidence disclosure form to the court that has been publicized.
From Assemblies of God leaders to local pastors and police, the evidence form names several witnesses in high positions of authority.
Assemblies of God Superintendent Doug Clay:
Assemblies of God Superintendent Doug Clay may have to talk about controversial issues on the witness stand, with the evidence form stating he “has knowledge of these issues as a leader with the Assemblies of God.”
Last year, two anonymous whistleblowers from ILC called out Clay for his silence about the sexual abuses in the church, one submitting a statement to GnvInfo and the other doing an in-depth interview. Following the publication of their statements, GnvInfo reached out to Clay multiple times but received no response.
FMD Superintendent Abner Adorno:
According to the evidence form, FMD Superintendent Abner Adorno has “knowledge of the Multicultural District’s policies and procedures as well as the response to allegations of sexual abuse.”
Former Yankees Pitcher Mariano Rivera:
The evidence form states former Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera has “knowledge of policies [and] procedures at Ignite Life Center church.”
Rivera has a long-standing relationship with ILC head pastor Mark Vega. Vega previously served as the Yankees chaplain and social media posts show he's been friends with Rivera since 1992.
In 2021, Rivera started a youth mentorship program at ILC with the Mariano Rivera Foundation (MRF). ILC pastor Esther Omeben served as coordinator for the program, according to a Main Street Daily News article. Mark Vega’s wife, Lisa Vega, worked as the MRF executive director from March 2020 to August 2023, according to her LinkedIn.
The MRF website shows Rivera standing alongside Lisa Vega, Vargas, Omeben, ILC pastor Nicole Gomez and other associates of the foundation.
In January, Mariano Rivera and his wife were sued for covering up multiple sexual abuse incidents against a minor victim. According to the lawsuit, in one of the incidents Rivera and his wife traveled to ILC to intimidate the victim to not report sexual abuse she endured at the church.
GPD Detectives John Pandak, Ranisha Johnson and Pablo Figeuroa:
The evidence form states GPD Detectives John Pandak, Ranisha Johnson and Pablo Figeuroa have information on Vargas’ criminal case.
Johnson is the officer who charged Vargas. She was previously set to give a deposition with Pandak in Vargas’ criminal cases before it was canceled.
It's currently unclear how Figeuroa is involved in the case.
In an interview with with GnvInfo last year, Pandack was asked why Mark Vega hadn’t been arrested for concealing child sexual abuse. Pandak stated, “We have no probable cause to charge Mark Vega with anything,” despite previously supervising a report that states Mark Vega formed a private meeting with ILC pastors to conceal child sexual abuse from the police.
Ignite Life Center Senior Pastors Mark and Lisa Vega:
The evidence form states, “Mark and Lisa Vega have information about the reporting of abuse and other wrongdoing to the church, and information on the church and their leaderships response and alleged negligence of the church. [Christian Vargas] is also their son, and so they may have specific information about statements he has made regarding the alleged acts.”
Ignite Life Center Associate Pastor Esther Omeben:
The evidence form states ILC associate pastor Esther Omeben “has direct knowledge of the abuse that was reported to Ignite Life Center.”
The evidence form states Omeben formerly served as co-director of Ignite Refugio, the program Urban Strategies held at ILC to house unaccompanied immigrant minors. The program ended last summer.
Ignite Life Center Associate Pastor Nicole Gomez:
The evidence form states ILC public relations manager/associate pastor Nicole Gomez “has direct knowledge of the abuse that was reported to Ignite Life Center.”
Gomez graduated from the Ignite School of Ministry (ISM) and formerly co-directed Refugio, according to the evidence form.
Ignite Life Center Associate Pastor Nick Bruce:
ILC associate pastor and nephew of Mark Vega, Nick Bruce, “has direct knowledge of the abuse that was reported to Ignite Life Center,” according to the evidence form.
The evidence form states Nick Bruce lives with Mark Vega and graduated from ISM.
Ignite Life Center Associate Pastor Agustin Boissen and Former Ignite Life Center Associate Pastor Erick Godinez:
The evidence form states ILC associate pastor Agustin Boissen and former associate pastor Erick Godinez, along with Omeben and Gomez, sent a letter to the Plaintiff's mother "detailing prior incidents they were made aware of while serving as associate pastors at Ignite Life Center."
Redactions have been made to the court documents to protect the confidentiality of victims and innocent witnesses.
