MCDONOUGH, Ga.–A credit union has foreclosed on a Georgia megachurch here as it seeks to recover an outstanding debt of nearly $22 million.
Evangelical Christian Credit Union, Brea, Calif., plans to hold a public auction on Jan. 3, 2017, to sell the church to the “highest bidder for cash” to recover the debt of $21,569,133.97,” according to a notice of sale published in the Henry Herald. The news was first reported by The Christian Post.
The Higher Living Christian Church at one point claimed it had a 10,000-member congregation, which it served with its 4,000-seat sanctuary. It was led by Senior Pastor Andre Landers, who was described by The Christian Post as “controversial.” The publication said the church was being evicted by the local sheriff’s department ahead of Christmas and that the building has been padlocked.
The church was founded in 2001 with 25 members and within a year had moved into an AMC 24 theater complex in Jonesboro, Ga. In 2004 it purchased 42 acres of land and in 2008 the Higher Living Christian Church was completed.
Landers said he is starting a new church to be called the iThrive Christian Church.
Editor's Note: An earlier report incorrectly identified the credit union that made the loan.