A local church elder has been arrested and removed from his leadership role following a child abuse charge, according to court records and church officials.

Nicholas Blevins, 41, served as an elder at Reformed Fellowship Church, where his duties included leading members and children in worship. Blevins was booked by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office on September 10 on criminal warrants out of Loudon County, and he is currently being held in the Loudon County Jail on a $50,000 bond as of Tuesday afternoon.

In an official statement, Reformed Fellowship Knoxville expressed shock and sadness, stating they were completely unaware of any prior allegations before the charge. Church officials confirmed that Blevins has been immediately removed from leadership and placed under the oversight of other church leaders.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) has confirmed that they are involved in an ongoing investigation regarding the matter. Church leadership strongly condemned all forms of child abuse, emphasizing that they are fully cooperating with civil authorities and directing affected individuals to certified counseling resources for healing.