It’s also been a consideration of mine when stepping back and looking at this situation in order to make sense of everything but I do think this angle is highly likely. A guy who wasn’t popular in back in the day is thrust into the spotlight and given the reins, suddenly he gets a rush of that feeling of power and prestige and in a sense is viewed as a celebrity/held in high esteem by these younger folks. I’m sure it was intoxicating. What never sat right with were the personal assistants he utilized on Sundays. These (in my memory) were mostly ever female and were expected to just follow him around on Sundays, carry his things, sit next to him until he got on stage to preach and would even carry up his things, set out his chair or pulpit. Basically they had to do whatever it was he felt streamlined his life on Sundays but come on, who needs this type of treatment. It screams “I feel important” and “I can’t be bothered with these trivial tasks.” Not exactly the example I would expect of someone who is called by God to SERVE. I’m not judging or saying the guy is guilty as sin but to me (even as a young teenager who lived most of their life in the church) he fancied himself a celebrity. I also remember the blindfold incident and it being talked about with such brevity as to downplay the absurdity of the idea in the first place. Just weird stuff. Too many stories of stuff like this or even just the culture in general in those years that maybe didn’t add up back in the day but looking at it through the lens of someone who is much older now is a little more unsettling.

I'm so sorry you went through this.  I too have witnessed how he controls children, young adults, and even families.  What you describe is a pattern of behaviors that have made me uncomfortable for years and I'm ashamed that I did not speak up more about it.  Unfortunately cult culture and behavior tends to silence people and trap you.   It's hard to ever speak out against someone so powerful and who has so much control.  Once a family is deeply rooted in the church, he tries to control their life, especially once he indoctrinates their children.  The way he inserts himself in  children's lives is disturbing.  He and many other staff are too close to the children in my opinion.  It's controlling, grooming, and brainwashing techniques used to lure them into his personal cult.  He gives children his cell phone number and spends a lot of time with the teens.  Many are invited to his house.  Entire church families that are his favorites are invited to his house for holidays.  Many children are invited to his house for holidays.  He buys them gifts.  He becomes their idol.  It's weird and spiritually abusive.  Many staff are close to the children but Rod is the only one that I have seen so close that it made my skin crawl.  Other concerns I have are financial concerns.  There is no transparency when it comes to church finances.  No accountability to the members.  If you have ever been in his office you will see the special waters, syrups, coffees, and other items that the church purchases for him.   These are not just main stream brand names, these are expensive brands.  The lifestyle he and his family live is extremely top tier and certainly not middle class living that one would expect on a pastor's salary.  The trips for he, his family members, and staff have always given me concern.  Why do they need to go to Disney to do staff development?  All the out of the country trips for he and his family, including the daughter-in-laws and other staff members.  Staff have cars provided for them, including his wife.  And not just any car.  She has expensive SUVs that are replaced every few years.  An expensive house that members of the church decorate for her at Christmas.  Members that do construction are used to get discounts to build and remodel houses for he and his family.  Some staff have housing provided for them.  Many staff have both spouses salaries tied into to the church.   It is a culture of favoritism and he picks which families get the benefit of being in his circle.  Many of these families are in his circle due to their wealth, what businesses they own, or even their political or other standing in the community.  Others because he can control them and use them for his benefit.  He aligns himself with other men who have power and he leverages this power to benefit himself and his family.  All of this is power and control.  

What is the blindfold incident that’s being talked about? Ty.