Campus life mother encourages community toward healing after youth leader's arrest

HUNTINGTON, Ind. (WANE) An Huntington mother is encouraging the community toward prayer and healing after a Youth for Christ middle school leader was arrested and accused of soliciting nude photos from minors , including kids in his own youth group.

Nathan Hasty worked as the Crestview and Riverview Middle School Campus Life director for nine years.  Court documents say he was arrested after admitting to the use of fake Facebook accounts to solicit the nude videos of boys.

NewsChannel 15 spoke with Leah Doughty about the arrest and charges facing Hasty.  Doughty has three children who have been involved in the Youth for Christ Campus Life program. She knew Hasty and said she was shocked and disappointed at the information that came out on Monday.

"Nate has been a part of our life, of the life here of the community, for about nine years and before this event I thought I knew him really well.  He did a lot of amazing things for kids in this community," Doughty said.  "We didn't know he needed help.  We didn't know how to reach out to him and just [feel] a lot of regret and betrayed."

Doughty is also the children's pastor at Life Church in Huntington.  She said Hasty had lived in isolation.

"Sickness is what happens in secrecy and that happens for the Christian or the non-Christian.  So if there's anything going on in someone's life that they aren't willing to talk about, we've got to push them.  They've got to talk about it…because I regret deeply that none of us knew and we were people who loved him," Doughty said.

But through the hurt, the mother is urging a community toward healing.  To do that, she's encouraging victims to shine light on an issue shrouded in darkness.

"I think something wonderful is in store for this community.  I pray that any children, any youth that were in any way hurt by this that they bear no shame, that they speak with people that they know love them and are going to care for them, and that everything comes out in the open and we deal with it and we move on," Doughty said.  "Now it has been exposed and the healing and the restoration and the redemption can begin."

Doughty said she's already seen the community coming together for each other despite the betrayal.  She hopes that those outside the community will keep the tragic situation in their prayers.

"Definitely be praying for the people in the community and especially the youth who are very confused and disillusioned right now, who aren't sure who they can trust, as are the parents," Doughty said.  "It makes you realize that every decision that you make in life can have profound impact for people around you."