Mega Preacher John Gray – Redemption Church Files To Evict Pastor’s Relentless Church Amid Dispute Over Lease

Pastor John Gray, wife Aventer Gray

Mega Preacher John Gray’s Church Files To Evict Him Amid Dispute Over Lease

The drama between Relentless Church and Redemption Church has gotten deeper.

The pastors of Redemption Church, Ron and Hope Carpenter, handed over the Grenville, N.C. church to Pastor John Gray and his wife Aventer Gray in 2018, who transformed it to Relentless Church.

But now, Redemption Church has filed for eviction against Relentless Church, according to Greenville Online. The filing reportedly took place Thursday (Jan. 2) and requests an application of ejectment, claiming that Relentless failed to keep up with the lease agreement. Specifically, the filing alleges Relentless has not kept up with payments to cover funds for the sanctuary, The Imagine Center, and the church’s sports and fitness center.

Still, the new filing comes roughly a month after Redemption ended its lease with Relentless, reportedly telling Relentless pastor and former OWN reality star John Gray, that the church had until the end of the year to vacate the property, which is still owned by Redemption. Back then, the Grays maintained that they were not behind on payments.

John Gray released a new statement on the matter Thursday (Jan. 2):

“We stand behind our original statement and are confident that the payment amounts required under the leases referenced in the complaint have and will continue to be paid. Our efforts at mediation and with wise counsel to present every detail absent of legal have proven fruitless on their end multiple times.”

He also had a message for Relentless Church members:

“To the Relentless Church family, please note, we have dealt honorably and have utilized every possible measure to resolve these differences to date. We will continue to serve the Lord, reach the lost, and serve the community. This unfortunate issue will not hinder the vision, work, functionality, or heart of this church.”

He went on to request the media do their “due diligence” when reporting on the story

“as we allow our legal team to proceed accordingly.” 

Meanwhile, the attorney for Redemption Church, Katari Buck, said in a statement Thursday (Jan. 2),

“Redemption is unable to continue to absorb the mounting debts and past due accounts associated with the Greenville property during Relentless’ tenancy and therefore has no other option but to seek to regain possession of the property sooner rather than later.”