In order to increase the likelihood of the loans approval, Stovall manipulated Honey Lake Farms financial statements and directed accountants to write off the churchs debt. The report says Weems owes nearly $3.4 million dollars in misappropriated funds. This was done without authorization from the board, the report states. The Right Reverend Stephen Lake the Bishop of Salisbury gave a sermon at Holy Trinity Church in . The combined costs of salary, travel, expense accounts and staff to tend to Weems and his wife, Kerri, eventually accounted for about a tenth of the revenue for Celebration, said the report that described the church as having five campuses and 3,745 active members. The purchase of the Shellcracker property is part of the ongoing legal battle. It said the property was a retirement home for Weems and was never intended to be parsonage. We have nothing to hide. The high-quality food we had received at St. Mary's gave way to standard Navy chow . These staff members and pastors serve the congregation and are responsible for the development of the spiritual life of the church. Anthony G. St. Augustine, FL 19 137 607 3/15/2022 Pastor Tim Timberlake does an outstanding job preaching with grace, anointing and is unapologetic. This includes taking private charter flights to exotic vacations and having private assistants for every demand, which accounted for 10% of the churchs total revenue, the report says. That has not changed. Pastor Tim Timberlake was installed to succeed Weems so that Weems could focus on missions and other initiatives, prior to Weems suspension and eventual resignation. These cookies do not store any personal information. The two wings of our class would alternate their flying every two weeks, and class 12A L would start flying in the mornings first. . the reason is that fathers name the kids and back in the day the naming would . The closing documents were signed by Weems on behalf of Weems Group and the church, the report states. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Supporters wholivein the Springfield neighborhood said they've been racially profiled by police. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Click here:. $856,033.33 transferred to Honey Lake Farms First Citizens Missions Account. "We welcome all people - regardless of age,. He didn't look at me, I never saw the front of his face. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The church released a 22-page investigative report on its . The defamation suit said Weems, church trustees and the church attorney began putting a retirement package together for him and as part of that, the property was going to be given to Celebration Global, Weems missional non-profit, as a gift. He explained the $400,000 extra was because of renovations. Join the team "Our God, our mountain, this mighty fortress will win. The church accused Stovall of fraudulent mischaracterization and cancellation of Honey Lake Farms debt. Return to homepage. The church said the Weemses refuse to vacate the property and refuse to pay any rent. Second, and more damning, when asked by the Weemses realtor whether any renovations would be made to the property after closing for the purpose of obtaining homeowners insurance, Weems sent an email stating: No renovations after closing, the investigation reads. The first loan was for $2.2 million and used to pay staff salaries. The property in Glen Kernan Golf and Country Club was purchased in January 2020 for $1,295,000. Were so glad youre here! This action presents the latest chapter in a campaign of deception, manipulation, distraction, and abuse of power by Stovall and Kerri Weems against Celebration, reads Celebration Churchs motion. Read the full report of the investigation of Celebration Church of Jacksonville below: Weems Investigation Report by ActionNewsJax on Scribd, STAY UPDATED:Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories. Bound together by a single ancient text, these tales interweave to form a tapestry of solace and resilience and a celebration of storytelling itself . Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. Celebration Church said it agreed to purchase a parsonage for the Weemses to use as their personal residence. Weems said he spent more than $458,000 to make repairs and improvements. This was so the Weemses could focus on their spiritual acuity at all times.. The church said the Weemses do not have any authority to live at the Shellcracker Road property anymore because Stovall Weems resigned his positions with the church on April 15 amid a legal battle that includes allegations of financial misconduct, spiritual abuse and defamation. The fraudulent manipulation of financial statements and unauthorized debt forgiveness in connection with a loan application violates Florida and federal law, the report said. Celebration Church's mission is for God's family to pursue God's Kingdom. Kerri can tell you, like I was just kinda sobbing. The investigation, conducted by Nelson Mullins, a South Carolina law firm with a Jacksonville office, also alleges the Weems owe the church a total of more than $3.3 million. Weems executed a Mortgage Modification and Spreading Agreement, increasing the churchs debt by $1,300,000, according to the investigation. Little did Pastor Stovall know that Kevin Cormier was setting the scene to oust Pastor Stovall from the very church that Pastor Stovall built, the injunction reads. The home is on Shellcracker Road in the Black Hammock Island area of Duval County. Previously, the Weemses have denied the allegations against them and said a member of the Board of Trustees engaged in financial misconduct by improperly billing the church for construction-type services that he initially said he would provide as an in-kind donation. The CFO told Weems that because the church owned the property, he was not entitled to the sale proceeds, according to the investigation. Stovall Weems said Cormier was overbilling or improperly billing the church. Jacksonville's Celebration Church has gone to court to evict estranged founders Stovall and Kerri Weems from the high-end home they occupied as the church parsonage. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. The board approved the purchase. The Shellcracker property was addressed in the suit. The report states Stovall was frequently described as a narcissist by witnesses. In March, a Weems spokesperson told the Times-Union that the TurnCoin investment did not utilize any of the churchs PPP funds.. It said many witnesses described intense personal anguish and pain caused by working for the Weemses. The investigation said they treated people who attended to them as inferior and created a culture where you dont say no to pastor., RELATED: Office hospitality cheat sheet outlines former Celebration pastors daily instructions, The churchs internal investigation concluded with this statement: Weems violated the law by breaching his fiduciary duties to Celebration, committing fraud, unjustly enriching himself at the expense of the church and failing to meet the fiduciary duties and standards of care required by his office. The investigation also said Weems has brought Celebration to the brink of insolvency., In the Weemses defamation suit against the church, they said they worked tirelessly over the past couple of years to bring stability, structure and consistency to the churchs staff, congregation and organization and worked to improve the churchs financial position. 2023 Cox Media Group. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. An attorney for Celebration Church said the Weemses attorney sent him a letter on May 13 that stated the Weemses were allowed to live in the Shellcracker home until their deaths. Butsuddenly that silence was broken and chants erupted. Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. 130 talking about this. The church began receiving an influx of billing invoices from Cormiers entities, totaling approximately $700,000, according to the injunction. He claimed the church agreed as part of a three-year plan. If questioned, Weems would respond by saying that this direction was given to him by God through the Encounter, said the investigative report. The report said the churchs cash balance dropped from $9 million in October 2020 to $6 million in December 2020 to $2 million in March/April 2021. Celebration Church is hiring a part-time Children's Minister at two of our campuses. Its repulsive. Witnesses to the events at the Weems residence in the days following the Encounter describe Weems as visibly shaking and sobbing. In it, he claimed financial misconduct by a member of the churchs board of trustees. The church financed the purchase of the property by drawing on its line of credit from its primary lender. It said he disengaged in business meetings with staff and cried frequently. The church investigation said during this time, Weems appeared physically and mentally unwell. If you'd like to join our team and serve at any of our locations, send in a Celebration Worship Evaluation today! The money hasnt been used for a revival, the report said. Download The Celebration App to stay informed with the latest news on everything happening at Celebration Church on a global scale. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The report said Weems made a series of financial decisions without talking to his board at the same time that the churchs finances suffered. I can't describe the closeness that I felt with Jesus. Read the full report here. Celebration Church said it issued eviction notices to the Weemses on three occasions to vacate the property by May 31, 2022. Stovall and Kerri were suspended from the church and later Stovall resigned. The investigation revealed Weems purchased their home on Shellcracker Road on the Nassau River for $855,000 through his personal LLC. . STORY: Scooter driver killed in crash on Atlantic Boulevard. Were just into basic human decency. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The injunction said Kevin Cormier, who later became one of the churchs trustees, told Stovall Weems in 2018 that he intended to donate $1 million of in-kind construction-type services to the churchs mission at Honey Lake Farms, a non-profit in Madison County that was founded and initially funded by the church. Action News Jax facebook feed(Opens a new window), Action News Jax twitter feed(Opens a new window), Action News Jax youtube feed(Opens a new window), he claimed financial misconduct by a member of the churchs board of trustees, Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories, Florida Senator proposes bill to cancel Democratic Party in state, Airport Authority discusses bringing new commercial flights to St. Johns County, FHP: Man dies after FDOT Road Ranger rear-ends truck, pushes him over edge of Buckman Bridge, PCSO: No charges in case of mail carrier mauled by 5 dogs, Deadly crash on Buckman Bridge, vehicle into St. Johns River. Weems never had a grasp of where the money went and would oscillate between negligent attention to financial details and aggressive demands for voluminous information, said the report. Between October 2020 and March or April last year, the churchs cash balance fell from $9 million to $2 million, the report said. I couldn't sleep. The report is a public explanation of a situation the church initially avoided publicizing after Weems was suspended. The churchs internal investigation said Weems made several questionable financial transactions without board knowledge. A court hearing on this case is scheduled for May 20. Accept the resignation of Stovall and Kerri Weems as employees of Celebration effective April 15, 2022 without further compensation or benefits, Pursue the removal of Stovall and Kerri Weems from any positions of authority relating to the church, Honey Lake Farms, Honey Lake Clinic and AWKNG, Require Stovall and Kerri Weems to account for and return to the church all funds misappropriated by them, Remove Stovall and Kerri Weems from the parsonage and sell the property, Require Northstream Management, Habitat for Wholeness, Honey Lake Farms and AWKNG to repay all receivables and loans made by the church to those entities, Report these findings to the appropriate authorities to determine whether criminal charges should be brought, Engage in the Christian Conciliation Process outlined in Celebrations bylaws, a new Instagram page, Stovall Weems Ministries. Lego 41027 - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. "I can't breatheseventimes, I can't breatheeighttimes," chanted Pastor R.L. She said the couple did not have a comment. The Glen Kernan parsonage was sold on June 4, 2021 for $1,475,000. I-TEAM: Celebration Church releases findings of explosive investigation into founding pastor. The report said the Jacksonville minister, who was suspended by the megachurchs trustees in January, brought Celebration to the brink of insolvency while coloring his leadership with arrogance, entitlement, greed and other character flaws. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Welcome Home! The report said the Weems Group purchased it for $855,000 and four months later, sold it to the church for $1,286,863 an increase of $431,386, according to the report. Sky 4 video of Stovall and Kerri Weems' home on Shellcracker Road. The report said when the trustees asked for a five-minute break to ease the tension, the Weemses walked out. Throughout 2020 and 2021, Cormiers companies performed construction work and land management services at Honey Lake Farms, according to the injunction. Attorneys for the church said they interviewed more than 20 current and former senior leadership members, staff, former trustees, other advisors and consultants. Celebration Church Jax's mission is for God's family to pursue God's Kingdom. Renee Beninate is a Florida native and award-winning reporter who joined the News4Jax team in June 2021. Tim and Jen Timberlake serve as the Senior Pastors of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Stovall Weems, senior pastor of the 12,000-member Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, told his congregation Sunday that he met Jesus Christ on Good Friday and was surprised by His personality. . Celebration Church is a global, multi-site church located in Jacksonville, Florida. 2023 Celebration Church. Theyre also seeking restoration of their base salary, benefits and back pay. A hearing on the Weemses lawsuit is scheduled for May 20, according to the Florida Times-Union. Despite these privileges, the Weemses treated people who attended to them as inferior, the report reads. Gundy. RELATED: Celebration Church releases investigation into founding pastor accused of fraud, They were judge, jury, executioner. [1] and is led by Senior Pastors Tim and Jen Timberlake. 2023 Cox Media Group. Weems and his wife, Kerri, have been locked in a court fight with the board of trustees over the trustees decision to suspend him because of suggestions of financial irregularities. Were so far past Christian. Stovall Weems, senior pastor of the 12,000-member Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, told his congregation Sunday that he met Jesus Christ on Good Friday and was surprised by His personality. Pandemic-era PPP loans were designed for businesses to keep employees on payrolls or to cover a limited list of other expenses, like rent and mortgage payments. Christian Faith Center 101 South Peachtree St. Creedmoor, NC 27522 919 528-1581 The investigation said the Weemses attempted to justify keeping the profit because the money was needed for improvements. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. An investigative report made public by Celebration Church in Jacksonville suggests that blurred lines, intimidation and misuse of funds are at the root of the. 0:00. PREVIOUS STORY: Pastor resigns amid lawsuit with Celebration Church. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, dozens of people walked out of the sanctuary,and piled on the steps with signs protesting against police brutality and previous grand jury decisions across America. Christian college asks Supreme Court to stop Biden's trans dorm directive, M.I.A. Harry is a secret international spy who pretends . The report said over time, Weems used the encounter to justify his authority and maintain control of the church. So thank God I have a wife who has a great command of human language," he said to cheers from the congregation. They say he belittled and humiliated them and both Stovall and Kerri demanded others to serve them. The single word used most frequently to describe Stovall Weems was narcissist. Nearly every witness we interviewed used that specific word, the report stated. Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, and is confident in Gods plan for the church and that ultimately the truth will prevail. The church released a 22-page investigative report on its website, which claimed Stovall Weems used church money to line his own pockets. The report also said Weems bundled these funds with others so he could qualify as a legacy investor in TurnCoin and would be entitled to be paid back before other investors and receive 10% interest on their investment. According to the report, Weems told his lender that the church board approved purchasing the house, when they did not. There was also alleged misappropriation of church funds under the Weems leadership. Start your review of Celebration Church. The church and Weems have been in a civil court battle that includes allegations of financial misconduct and fraud. New Here? This increased the churchs debt by $1,300,000, according to the report. ", We look forward to seeing many of you since we will remain in Jacksonville where we will continue to pastor, preach and minister Gods Word, said the message. Celebration Church We believe in Christ first, in excellence in all things, that people are a big deal, that everyone will grow, and that we are all family. The Church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional and international locations. It was rejected. The church said Stovall Weems signed the closing documents as the seller (Weems Group, LLC) and the buyer (Celebration Church). 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