Rocky Lelton Goodwin, 86, was charged Monday, Sept. 16 with 10 counts of Distributing/Possessing Or Viewing Matter Depicting Sexually Explicit Conduct Involving A Child — First Offense, Class C Felony under AR Code 5-27-602, according to documents obtained by South Arkansas Reckoning (SAR).
According to court documents, Goodwin is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Warren and the CEO of Evangelistic International Ministries.
August Arrest
Arkansas State Police sent a press release to media on Aug. 16 about Goodwin.
Goodwin was transported by ASP to the Dallas County Detention Center, where his bond was set at $150,000.
In an August Friday Felony Facebook post, Dallas County Sheriff Mike Knoedl confirmed Goodwin was in jail in his county.
Goodwin's Ministry
As the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Goodwin is well known in the small south Arkansas town of Warren.
Goodwin's Facebook page validates that he is executive director at Evangelistic International Ministries (EIM).
The EIM website gives a Warren address as its international headquarters but a PO Box in Magnolia is listed for donations. began in 1998, according to an article in Baptist Trumpet honoring Goodwin.
The EIM site states:
“We are a registered faith based 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry committed to reaching the world with the hope and love found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. EIM believes that our ministry is two-fold, to take the Word of God to the ends of the earth and to meet the needs of our world’s most vulnerable people.
For over 20 years, God has taken us from small town Arkansas to the countries of Ghana, Honduras, Nepal, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Tanzania. It’s in these places God has grown our ministry and allowed us to make an impact for the Kingdom.”
The president of the organization is Mike Goodwin, who, according to Facebook posts, is his son. Members of other South Arkansas churches are also associated with the group.
The organization's Facebook page is crowded with pictures of Rocky Goodwin with children from around the world including most recently Honduras.
According to one Facebook post, Goodwin has ministered for more than 62 years.
The Evangelistic International Ministries, website states:
“Early in our ministry, Bro. Rocky became burdened by all the children he saw, children who were malnourished and lacking life’s basic necessities. His heart longed to minister to these precious children in a special way. It was through the Holy Spirit that our Shepherd’s Bag Ministry was born. After praying for ways to bless the children of the world, the Spirit brought the story of David and Goliath to Bro. Rocky’s heart. As a shepherd boy, David relied on the contents of his ‘shepherd’s bag’. Everything he needed to fight the enemy, those things trying to hurt or kill his sheep, he kept close by him in his little pouch. On the day he would fight Goliath, David took 5 smooth stones from the river bed and placed them in his bag as he headed towards Goliath. This became the concept behind our Shepherd’s Bags. Using a one gallon zip bag, we can bless needy children around the world. It’s a simple gift that has opened more doors to the gospel than we ever dreamed.”
The organization also holds “overseas Bible schools” and teaches others how to minister. It also sells t-shirts and coffee.
Community in shock
Several people in Warren say that Goodwin was set up, and someone hacked his laptop, placing sexually explicited content on Goodwin’s computer in an attempt to shut down his ministry.
Those who know Goodwin say he is an upstanding citizen and the facts will come out. His congregation stands behind him.
SAR emailed Evangelistic International Ministries for comment when Goodwin was arrested in August. So far, no one has responded.
SAR also requested a copy of the search warrant from Arkansas State Police in August.
“I have received confirmation from the Arkansas State Police CID that this file is also still open, so your request is denied as the records requested constitute an ongoing, undisclosed investigation by law enforcement pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. 25-19-105(b)(6),” Cindy Murphy, director of communications for Arkansas Department of Public Safety wrote in an email to SAR.
Read the Affidavit For Warrant Of Arrest:
