April 22, 2026 (Tehachapi, CA) It has come to my attention that Jeff Kaplan, Pastor at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Tehachapi, CA, and host of “Strength for Today with Dr J” online, has been involved in using his social media accounts to subscribe and receive content from highly inappropriate sexually suggestive content. This has been ongoing for quite some time, and has even increased in activity recently. I have documented why this is intentional, ongoing, unrepentant, and is the exact type of behavior that disqualifies men from ministry.
Watch YouTube Video of this article here: https://youtu.be/9b-16b6Q1oE
The Question You May Be Asking
We are all sinners. No one is better than anyone else. I am not better than Jeff Kaplan.
But there is a difference between a struggling believer and a disqualified leader. These are both clearly outlined in God’s Word.
Scripture is clear that elders, pastors, and overseers must meet specific qualifications. The most important of these may be two words from 1 Timothy 3:2:
“An overseer then must be above reproach.”
The key word is: “Above reproach.” Not perfect. But not caught in ongoing, intentional, unrepentant sin that is public and continues to be harmful to the body of Christ. Certainly not ongoing sinful behavior that is then concealed, covered-up, and continuous.
What I Discovered
Jeff Kaplan, Pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Church in Tehachapi, CA, hosts a personal YouTube channel and for-profit business called “Strength for Today with Dr. J.” On his website, there are links to his public social media accounts.
On one of those accounts, specifically his TikTok, Jeff is publicly subscribed to sexually suggestive and inappropriate content. These are not accidental clicks. To follow an account on TikTok, you must intentionally click a large, clear “Follow” button, highlighted in red.
Yet, mixed in with legitimate ministry accounts, I found numerous examples of sexually inappropriate content. Women displaying their bodies in provocative ways. Content clearly designed to arouse lust. Some accounts even contain links in their bios leading to pornography.
Some Accounts Jeff Kaplan is subscribed to and following:
I documented multiple instances. Then I discovered this behavior is not in the past. Jeff has followed additional inappropriate accounts in 2026. This is ongoing. It is unrepentant. And it is public for anyone to find.
This, combined with past concealment of a sexual assault, ongoing gossip and slander, retaliatory threats and actions against me and my family, theft, fraud, and lies demonstrates ongoing harm to the body of Christ, Shepherd of the Hills’ congregation, and the public.
It is sin, and it is a mockery to God.
Intentional, Not Accidental
Could Jeff Kaplan following just one account be a mistake? Perhaps. But what about two? Three? Four? Five? Six? Seven? Eight? How about Nine?
And what about following and receiving more of this content recently, long after anyone could claim ignorance?
First 3 Accounts Jeff Kaplan is following:
(These accounts have been newly followed recently)
Jesus said in Matthew 5:28:
“Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
A pastor who publicly associates himself with lustful content is not above reproach. When Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, he didn’t stay around her, he ran and fled. The Bible is clear to avoid even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). By engaging with evil, Jeff Kaplan is leading others into sin and destroying his own witness and that of the church. This is harmful to the Body of Christ and is contradictory to the Biblical qualifications that God outlines for pastors.
Why This Matters
Some will say this is private. But it is not private. It is public. Anyone can find it. Anyone can see what their pastor is connected to and engaged with. I truly believe these sexual sins, combined with the previous mocking and insulting language Shepherd of the Hills had on their website, all of which are public, is God’s way of shining a light on these sins and indiscretions due to Jeff and the Elder’s ongoing rebellion against Him and His Word. God will cause us to reap what we sow.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” – Galatians 6:7-8
Next 3 Accounts Jeff Kaplan is following:
Romans 2:24 warns:
“The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
When a pastor lives in sexual sin while preaching against it, unbelievers mock God. The church’s testimony is destroyed. And the body of Christ is harmed. While all Believers struggle with sin, we should never be committing such disregard for God’s Word in a manner that demonstrates the idolatry of personal reputation over the righteousness of God. When we sin overtly, intentionally, and openly, just like when the Prophet Nathan rebuked King David on his sin with Bathsheba, we should be in remorse (2 Samuel 12).
King David, when approached and rebuked on his sin, responds to Nathan the Prophet by saying “I have sinned against the Lord.” David was remorseful when he was approached and rebuked. He didn’t order his men to act as a shield for his sins and actively work to conceal and cover them up as Jeff Kaplan has done with his Elder board and sins.
The Biblical Response
1 Timothy 5:20 commands:
“Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.”
This is not gossip. This is obedience. Sin that is this overt is a mockery to God, and the Bible clearly warns Believers that God will not allow Himself to be mocked, especially not by those who claim to serve in ministry where qualifications are clearly outlined. Ongoing rebellion will often cause God to act in such a way to ensure your sins will find you out (Numbers 32:23).
Final 3 Accounts Jeff Kaplan is following:
(I redacted some of the text in these images due to their highly sexual content)
Ephesians 5:11-13 says:
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.”
The light is shining on the truth. What was previously concealed is now visible.
A Higher Standard
Leaders are held to a higher standard. James 3:1 warns:
“Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
Recommended Article to Read: https://www.9marks.org/article/can-we-restore-pastors-after-sexual-sin-a-longer-answer/
The bar for pastoral office is set high. Not because pastors are super Christians, but because the office demands it. When a pastor becomes disqualified, it is a serious problem, not just for him, but for everyone under his care.
We have many examples from God’s Word of how corrupt leaders have caused the downfall of those under their care. Ezekiel 34 shares this as it relates to shepherds. When David took the census, to satisfy the lust of his pride, over 70,000 men in Israel died from a plague as a result of God’s anger against him.
Above Reproach?
I return to where we began.
1 Timothy 3:2-4 describes an overseer as:
- Above reproach
- Self-controlled
- Respectable
- Not a lover of money
- Able to manage his own household well
Prior to this, I have shared ongoing slander, lies, gossip, theft, fraud, covering up of sexual assaults, and more. Given what has been documented here, which includes ongoing, public, intentional subscribing to sexually suggestive content, combined with a pattern of concealment and refusal to repent, the question is not for me to answer.
The question is for you:
Is this a man who is above reproach?
What You Can Do
- Pray. Pray for Jeff Kaplan. Pray for Shepherd of the Hills Church. Pray for the congregation.
- Seek discernment. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the truth. Study the Scriptures for yourself.
- Act on the truth of the Bible. If the Word of God is guiding you to act in a certain way, be attentive and act on the Spirit’s prodding as it relates to the truth of Scripture. God is truth, and in Him there is no lie.
- Watch. There is more to come.
“Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed.” – Proverbs 27:5