Press Release: Ignite Life Center and Assemblies of God District Office Hit With Fifth Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed by Horowitz Law
Press Release by Horowitz Law:
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Horowitz Law attorneys Adam Horowitz and Jessica Arbour filed a fifth sexual abuse and coverup lawsuit against Ignite Life Center and the Florida Multicultural District of the Assemblies of God. The lawsuit, filed in Orange County Circuit Court, alleges that a 10-year-old girl was sexually abused at the July 2018 Ignite Summer Internship, a summer camp program operated by the two defendants.
This is believed to be the fifth lawsuit filed against these same defendants for sexual abuse in the Ignite Summer Internship summer camp program. Horowitz and Arbour previously filed four separate lawsuits relating to allegations that former church leader Gabriel Hemenez sexually abused multiple boys during the 2021 Ignite Summer Internship. Hemenez was previously charged with sexually abusing multiple boys at the summer camp and pleaded guilty in 2024. He is serving time at Lancaster Correctional Facility in Trenton. Hemenez is currently facing additional charges of abuse.
Today’s lawsuit alleges that a 10-year-old girl from New York was repeatedly sexually abused by an older female camper who shared the same dormitory, despite assurances by the church and District that children were supervised by well-trained adults at all times.
The lawsuit also says that the abuse happened mere months after the Defendants knew the dormitories were not safe for children because another minor girl had been arrested for sexually abusing multiple children in the dormitories in February 2018. This would be at least the fourth person arrested in recent years for sexual of abuse of children at the Gainesville church. In addition to Hemenez, Christian Vargas and Noel Cruz, both the sons of church pastors, have been arrested in recent years amid allegations they sexually abused several girls who attended the church.
Mother PA Doe, identified by a pseudonym to protect her daughter, who is still a minor, said “I filed this lawsuit because my daughter was failed greatly by these defendants. I trusted what was promised to me by them – that she would be safe and supervised by responsible adults. Instead, my 10-year-old daughter was hurt and changed forever. There has been no accountability for what happened to my daughter and others at the Ignite Summer Internship, where they went to seek a closer relationship with the Lord. That ends with the filing of this lawsuit today.”
Jane PA Doe, by and through her mother and natural guardian, Mother PA Doe, v. Florida Multicultural District Council of the Assemblies of God, Inc., and Ignite Life Center, Inc., is now pending in Orange County Circuit Court (case no. 2025-CA-006966-O).
For more information about our cases against Ignite Life Center and the Florida Multicultural District, contact Adam Horowitz or Jessica Arbour by email or by calling (954) 641-2100.
The lawyers at Horowitz Law represent children and adults who are survivors of sexual abuse by priests, ministers, rabbis, deacons, nuns, and other clergy members in civil lawsuits. If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual abuse or sexual assault at a church or other religious organization, please contact us at 954-641-2100.
Editor's Notes: Horowitz Law has a related lawsuit in New York against Mariano Rivera and Refuge of Hope Church, which is heavily connected to Ignite Life Center. There's also an additional lawsuit in Orange County filed by Bagen law against Ignite Life Center and the Florida Multicultural District of the Assemblies of God.
