Our Public Statement 5/29/26

Over the last three years, our church family has walked through one of the most painful chapters in our history. In April 2023 our former Lead Pastor, Nick Rains, was removed from the pastorate following the revelation of marital infidelity and the misappropriation of a large amount of church funds for personal use, both of which brought significant pain to our congregation and the wider community of Lenoir City. The latter of these moral failures led to an internal audit and subsequent criminal referral by the Elder Board. Following a Comptroller investigation, a criminal case was brought against him by the State of Tennessee for theft in excess of $250,000. Now, in May of 2026, that case has reached its conclusion in a plea deal, and we are grateful for the work of those who pursued accountability on our behalf. We know that no legal outcome can fully heal the wounds our congregation and community has carried, but we believe that truth and accountability are necessary steps on the path toward genuine restoration.

       To Nick Rains: You are a person made in the image of God, and God loves you unconditionally. That has not changed, and we have not forgotten it. We do not stand against you in bitterness. We genuinely hope that this moment becomes a turning point toward humility, repentance, and real restoration. We forgive you, and we pray you find your way back to wholeness.

      To our church family: We see you. We love you. And we are not done. We are committed to being a place of hope, integrity, and grace, and we believe the best days of this church are still ahead.

Elder Board

theboard@vineyardlc.com