A Cobb County pastor was arrested Wednesday for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old girl at church.

John Aubrey Pinkston, 76, of Dallas, was charged with child molestation and sexual battery for allegedly touching the child between July and August, according to an arrest warrant obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Pinkston is the founder and pastor of Congregation of God Seventh Day church on South Main Street in Kennesaw, according to the church’s website. An ordained minister for more than 30 years, Pinkston is also an author and the voice of “Watch America” radio and television programs, according to his online biography.

According to investigators, Pinkston allegedly reached inside a 6-year-old’s clothes and touched her.

Pinkston was released from jail Wednesday night after posting $35,000 bond, jail records show.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Georgia Power's Plant Bowen in Cartersville is shown. The utility wants to add about 10,000 megawatts of power supplies in just five years, mainly to serve data centers. (Hyosyb Shin/AJC 2015)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

Featured

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney — pictured during a hearing Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 — has cleared the way for Georgia's State Election Board to obtain Fulton ballots and other documents from the 2020 election. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC