Review of The Pastor’s Wife Rating *****
I have to admit that I couldn’t sleep after watching this documentary series. I kept replaying the events in my head, especially the final day of Mica Miller’s life. She appeared to be well on her way to escaping an abusive relationship. She had a new job, the support of her family, and she had finally served her husband, Pastor John‑Paul Miller, with divorce papers. So what was the final straw?
It can be argued that most religions have cult‑like features: chanting, rituals, devotion to religious leaders. But Solid Rock Church, in my opinion, crossed the line. At the center of this insular world was Pastor John‑Paul Miller — charismatic, controlling, and, as the documentary makes clear, a sexual deviant. The filmmakers wisely intersperse clips from his sermons throughout the series. If I had attended one of those sermons — where he talks about lust, obedience, and the need for wives to “meet their husbands’ needs” lest the husband be forced to wander — I would have walked out immediately.
Even when it became obvious to church members that their pastor had committed adultery, they kept coming back. Then the series reveals that his father was as bad or worse. It makes you wonder about people who claim to lead a religious life while behaving in ways that contradict every moral principle they preach.
When Mica pushed back against JP’s increasingly bizarre sexual demands, he insisted she was mentally ill. He had her committed against her will, where she was given medications she likely never needed. But Mica was in the grip of a cult leader who also happened to be her husband. She had breast‑augmentation surgery to please him. She agreed to sexual encounters with strangers to please him. She took testosterone to please him. None of it was ever enough. Only when she discovered he was cheating did she finally take steps to get away.
Thanks to her social‑media posts and her own writing, we hear directly from Mica about the abuse and her efforts to break free. That makes her suicide even more baffling. She had just served JP with divorce papers two days earlier. She had a new job. She had a plan. She had hope. So what happened?
I believe it was likely a combination of two factors. First, the medications she was taking. Many psychiatric drugs carry warnings about increased suicidal thoughts, especially during dosage changes. Second, I suspect there was some communication — from JP or one of his loyalists — that convinced her it was never going to stop. That JP would never let her live in peace.
Do I think Mica committed suicide? Yes. The evidence supporting suicide is strong. But there are anomalies that raise questions. There was no suicide note, despite her habit of writing down her thoughts. Why wouldn’t she leave something for her family? That suggests a decision made impulsively, without reflection. Then there were the two spent shell casings and one bullet. It only takes one bullet to kill yourself. Did she fire a test shot? Did investigators match the bullet to the gun? Did they test for gunpowder residue? Did they examine her communications that day?
And then there’s the 911 call. Mica tells the operator she is about to kill herself, and the operator’s biggest concern seems to be confirming the location. It’s likely there was more to the conversation, but the clip shown in the documentary is unsettling.
While JP has escaped criminal prosecution, he has not escaped public scorn. He will forever be held accountable.
Catch this on Netflix.