Source: Greenville News
This story has been updated to clarify the contents of a letter sent to Relentless Church based on a copy of that letter provided by the church’s spokesperson.
Redemption Church, which owns the property now occupied by the Rev. John Gray’s Relentless Church, has threatened to evict Relentless by the end of the year.
The eviction letter is shedding light on what is potentially a larger conflict between the two churches. The eviction comes less than two years after Relentless formed when Redemption’s Ron and Hope Carpenter moved their ministry to California and placed the Greenville congregation in Gray’s hands.
In a sermon at Relentless on Sunday, Aventer Gray, John Gray’s wife, made a reference to emails and direct messages and threats against the church. In a response to the Carpenter’s eviction notice, the Grays disclosed Facebook messages to church members that included negative comments about John Gray.
“I have a message for you, devil. You can’t do anything with Relentless Church. Agree with me. You can’t do anything with Relentless Church,” Aventer Gray said during a sermon at Relentless on Sunday.
Ron and Hope Carpenter did not immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking comment. Greenville attorney John Devlin, who sent the initial letter representing Redemption, declined to comment.
The Carpenters and Redemption still own the 17-acre property in Greenville. They made an agreement to lease the land and buildings to Gray and his newly formed Relentless Church, the churches announced during the transition in 2018.
In a letter delivered to Relentless on Nov. 27, Redemption terminated its lease agreement with Relentless and instructed Relentless leaders to vacate the property, Gray’s spokeswoman, Holly Baird, confirmed to The Greenville News in an email.
But Baird said John and Aventer Gray have been current with their lease payments and all financial obligations. Read More…….
