FILE - The playground at Terry Elementary School in Little Rock is seen in the foreground with Immanuel Baptist Church, located at 501 N. Shackleford Rd., visible in the background on Dec. 19, 2023. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Kyle McDaniel)
Immanuel Baptist Church Lead Pastor Steven Smith, who has apologized for failing to inform his Little Rock congregation about child sex abuse accusations, told worshippers Sunday that he will respond soon to a letter from a deacon accusing him of misleading the congregation and mishandling abuse.