The leader of a megachurch told his congregation the actions of a former pastor caught on CCTV breaking into congregant's home TWICE after stalking her for eight years was "just sin"."

Sergio Guardia, 49, former pastor at the renowned Thomas Road Baptist Church was convicted by a jury last month on two counts of burglary and one count of stalking, according to Lynchburg Circuit Court in Virginia, after he targeted former church member Marie Columna's home.

The megachurch in Lynchburg — founded by Jerry Falwell Sr. and affiliated with Liberty University — is one of the most celebrated Baptist churches in the country and is affiliated with the scandal-hit Southern Baptist Convention.

Marie, 43, a service coordinator for early intervention said she reported Guardia's increasingly bizarre behavior before leaving the church in 2016 - but "nothing was ever done about it"."



He was taken to trial after she caught on security camera footage, and she shared her story last month.

Now, a video — filmed by a parishioner on Sunday March 23 - shows senior pastor Jonathan Falwell telling the gathered members the church was still supporting the former staff member.

He did not refer to Guardia or Columna by name but said the staff member was "terminated immediately."

He added: "What would not terminate is that we as a church would continue to minister to him and to his family and to the other parties, the victim. "

"We would minister to all of them because that's what a church is supposed to do."

Falwell called Guardia's arrest

"a tragic situation," and added: "What really it is, is just, it was a stupid decision made by a human. "

"In other words, it was just sin is all that it was, and sin breaks everything that it touches."

Falwell also emphasized their commitment to supporting Columna, who he also didn't mention by name.

"A few days after that, one of our pastors talked with the victim in this situation, the other party in this situation, and offered to her our prayers," he said."

"Number one, offered to her assistance, any assistance that we could give, offered counseling if she so chose to take advantage of that at no charge."

He added: "Last week, it went to trial. It was adjudicated. He was found guilty on all charges."

"And so today I'm able to stand up and share with you what we did all through this journey, what we've done all through this whole situation, which has been a tragic situation. "

"And by the way, understand that in a situation like this, no one wins."

"Everything that we have done, we have done with one purpose in mind: to make sure we act with integrity and that we do things biblically."

He added: "Our staff member who was arrested, we love him, we're praying for him, and it breaks our heart what happened. "

"But we love God and his word more."

A parishioner present at the service — who requested to remain anonymous — recorded the speech.

They added: "At the beginning of the service, Jonathan said that after the service, if the church members could stay, he wanted to address something that had been in the news."

"I felt like she [Marie] had a right to know what was being said when everybody else did too," they explained."

The parishioner said there were discrepancies between Falwell's account and Columna's version of events.

"It's kind of a weird thing because I totally support Marie and believe what Marie said," they said."

"I've known Marie now for years, but I also want to believe what Jonathan said, and they're different."

"My opinion of the church has not changed. I want to believe both of them."

Speaking out about the video, Marie Columna said "it wasn't surprising but a big disappointment."

She added: "But I was surprised by how inaccurate his statements were, especially knowing that he knew the seriousness of the charges and then dismissed their impact on me and my kids by saying it was just a ‘sin.'"

"It's hurtful and confusing for him to talk highly of Sergio and tell the church they supported Sergio but dismissed me and my family. "

"He was completely diminishing Sergio's actions and crimes. It makes it very unsafe for the people in the church."

The Thomas Road Baptist Church did not immediately respond to request for comment.