Founder of Christian-based recovery house in Webster County faces six felonies of abuse through forced labor

WEBSTER COUNTY, Mo. — A pastor from Niangua, Missouri, faces felonies after allegedly abusing victims through manual labor for his Christian-based recovery and ministry program in Webster County.

According to court dockets, Isaac Tilden, born 1983, is charged with six counts of abuse through forced labor.

The probable cause statement says the abuse occurred from 2023 to July of this year.

Tilden is alleged to have made six victims perform labor on numerous occasions through the span of those years.

Tilden is a co-founder and principal officer of Divine Compassion Ministries, which is a nonprofit organization, and the Compassion House, both based in Niangua.

According to the Compassion House's website, it's a sober living facility where individuals are "encouraged to deepen their faith, drawing strength from their relationship with God and the support of their community."

The probable cause statement says the "vast majority" of residents in recovery at the Compassion House are court-ordered to be there as part of their probation, parole, or bond conditions. The program costs $500 per month for each resident.

The statement says at least six victims were forced to perform labor under the inferred or stated threat of Tilden kicking them out of the program, which would result in their arrest and incarceration because they were enrolled in the program under court orders.

One witness stated that the freedom of residents was "being held over their heads," the statement alleges.

On July 1 of this year, a second witness — who was a court-ordered Compassion House resident — told investigators, "It is scary because it feels like someone has some power on me going to jail that shouldn't have power. That kind of scares me." This witness was concerned about Tilden making residents work on Tilden's farm.

A third witness — who was also a court-ordered resident of the Compassion House — said many residents wanted to leave the program because they were afraid of Tilden's "legal security." That witness also stated they felt like Tilden would make up a reason to send residents back to jail.

Additionally, the third witness said residents were constantly used for projects around Tilden's house, while also being contracted out for work. Tilden was paid $1,500 for residents to build a pole barn, which the witness believed the residents did "for free," according to the statement.

That witness also described cramped living conditions — including a mention of 15 people living in a two-bedroom house provided by Tilden during the program. This house contained black mold, standing water in the basement and crumbling shower walls, the statement says.

The first victim listed in the statement says he worked on Tilden's farm and church properties, including digging post holes, tilling Tilden's garden, building a dog pen and more. The victim said there wasn't really a choice in doing the work. If residents were to deny doing the work, they would either get their "butt chewed out," kicked out or have to write scripture.

That victim also said they received no drug classes at Compassion House.

The statement's second listed victim said that Tilden claimed to have friends in "powerful places," including a judge.

A fourth victim told investigators that if anybody rebelled against Tilden, they were put on the "Humble Me Crew," which required working on the church or Tilden's farm for no compensation.

Additionally, a fifth victim said the program "completely cut them off from the outside world." That victim described the working conditions as "hell," and also noted the women's housing in the program had bed bugs, malfunctioning air conditioning and cramped living conditions.

Another victim described the women's living area conditions as "absolutely isolated," with black mold and no upkeep or maintenance.

Two witnesses told investigators that they were fired by Tilden after raising concerns over his harassment of a female resident. That female resident graduated from the program "three months early" after Tilden confessed his love to her, the statement says.

A warrant was served for Tilden's arrest on Friday, July 11, without bond. He's currently being held in the Webster County Jail.

Tilden is due in court on Tuesday, July 15.