The lavish lifestyle of a North Carolina megachurch pastor, including a $2.8 million dollar home and a $1.3 million alimony agreement, has been revealed in recently filed divorce papers.
The pastor, Gilbert Andre Thompson, Jr., who pastors the 15,000-member World Overcomers Christian Church in Durham, N.C., was granted an “absolute” divorce on July 1 from his wife of 33 years, Dequilla LaShawn. Thompson, also known as “Pastor Andy,” filed for the divorce on June 10.
The two-page divorce decree showed the couple were legally separated in March 2023. An “absolute” divorce is granted after a couple have been separated for at least a year and a day, according to a North Carolina government website.
The $1.3 million alimony payment is broken down to $12,000 a month for nine years, according to the settlement agreement and property settlement.
A woman who identified herself as a church employee who oversees media inquiries politely hung up the phone when questioned about the Thompson’s divorce.
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The property agreement spells out Pastor Andy Thompson will assume the couple’s 58 acres in Lolly Lane, in Mebane, N.C. which is located to the north of their current home.
Public records show the Thompsons’ residence is a 14,000-square foot, four-bedroom six-bathroom house in Mebane, North Carolina. According to published real estate records, the home is equipped with a gym, theatre seating, an infinity pool, and a hot tub. The house is worth $2.8 million, according to Zillow.
North Carolina land records show World Overcomers Christian bought the Thompson’s residence from 2020 properties LLC in 2018 for $1.53 million. The church turned around and deeded it over to another non-profit organization, Restore Community Development, in 2021. Land records show no money was exchanged in this transaction.
Land records show Restore Community Development is not utilizing the exemption status of a non-profit organization’s parsonage.
When the 58-acreage is sold, Dequilla Thompson will receive only $50,000, according to the property agreement.
The agreement also granted Dequilla Thompson the couple’s modest rental house, a 1,600 square foot house, estimated around $154,000 in Rocky Mount, NC.
As part of the agreement, Andy Thompson assumed a $25,602 IRS debt.
His four adult children’s automobiles are in his name, including a 2021 Kia Forte, 2024 Kia Seltos, a 2016 Jeep Cherokee and a 2013 Cadillac STS. He was also responsible for payments and expenses associated with the Forte, Seltos and the Cherokee and his personal vehicle, a Ford F-150, while Dequilla Thomson was awarded a 2010 Kia Soul.
Dequilla Thompson retained control of her business, Projects of Home Inc., and Andy Thompson retained control of his business Thompson Communications Group, LLC.
Touted on Pastor Thompson’s personal website as marriage counselors, Andy and Lashawn Thompson advertised the “wisdom and knowledge” that “helped them retain ‘Real Love’ for nearly 30 years.” In a July 28 sermon, a wedding ring was not visible on Thompson’s left hand.
Andy Thompson has authored two books — “Real Love Dating” and “Real Love Marriage,” according to his website.
Overcomers Christian Church was established in 2003 and boasts it “is one of the fastest growing churches in America. Its website also claims that God is using Andy Thompson “to impact over 1 million people each week through his innovative, in your face, faith filled television program called ‘The Truth.’”
The church’s website doesn’t identify with a denomination or organization affiliation but does say Thompson established the Overcomers Christian Church fellowship of pastors and church leaders.
“Pastor Andy realized a need for pastors and leaders to be pastored. OCF is a place where pastors and leaders can come receive insight, fellowship with other leaders and be ministered to,” according to the website.
Court records show two negligence lawsuits, a contract dispute, and one complaint involving a minor, was filed against the church and Pastor Thompson since 2017.
Sheila Stogsdill is a freelance print journalist and digital reporter, primarily covering crime issues for KSN/KODE.
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29 Responses
It was him and the pastor from Newhope church in Durham. They had two large churches. They both lived lavished lives. Both are now divorced. But you only report on him! Such a shame!
Mrs Thompson deserves very much more from that separation of assets. Where is the equity of time?
It would seem that if called any man called to preach, that man is pastored by God. If they need earthly advice or counseling it should come from the man that pastored him before he was called by God to preach the gospel.
Can you explain a little more what you mean by “pastored by God”?
If a pastor and wife have that kind of money, they need to be helping the needy. The homeless and homeless veterans. Where is their compassion? That is a problem with some Christians they think only of them selves and what they want. What about all the single mothers that struggle to put food on the table!!!! We are supposed to love and show love .
Pastors are the Shepherds of Gods people, therefore having a great responsibilities. They become discouraged just as we become discouraged. While yet their spiritual warfare is also much greater than ours. We pray for ourselves, friends, family let us not forget to pray for our church leadership 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Where does it say in Scripture that a “pastor’s” spiritual battle is “greater” than ours???
That’s simply false.
Also, their role as defined today did not exist in the early church.
Sounds like there might not be a lot of shepherding going on. hope I’m wrong but his God might be riches. This just doesn’t look good for the Christian church.
So are you saying you have a mind of proverty. I thought the goal was to live a comfortable life and an inheritance for your children. But of course we were taught by the other folks to wait until we arrived bodiless in heaven. I would pay to see you driving your new car in heaven.
@Jackson, all you’ve done is co-signed this nonsense.
The dichotomy between a multi-million dollar lavish lifestyle vs. poverty, is a bit dramatic don’t you think?
You make a very good point, Wilma….
“The Thompson were married for 33 yrs, and joined in marriage before God. It’s very clear that greed was driven by this leader, I speak leader because a pastor doesn’t lose his way,not when he’s following God. If Mr. Thompson was any kind of a man or a man of God, he wouldn’t have short change his wife after leaving the marriage. So that’s all she was worth of 33yrs, 50,000 and a condo worth 154,000. And the church Thompson founded got the martial property worth millions. 👀”Are these members blind or stupid enough not to see through this con artist.” So Mr. Thompson used the church to take the house from his wife, without paying Mrs. Thompson a dime Wow, remember people no money was exchanged. But the church owned the property now.👀🤔
$1.3M….$12,000 a month in alimony. Is that what you consider not paying a dime?
She’s also getting 1.3 mil in alimony , 12 ,000 per month for 9 years.
I am so sorry to hear of Thompsons’ getting a divorce. It’s so sad that they let the enemy come into their marriage after all these years. As a man and woman of God, they didn’t follow the holy scriptures and let God be the head of their marriage. They took their eyes off God and fell in love with the things of this world. God gave instructions for marriage, but the leaned on their own understanding and got lead astray from each other. I pray they ask God for forgiveness and follow His Holy Scriptures for divorce. Rom.7:2-3, Luke 16:18, 1 Cor. 7:39-40, Matt.19:8-9, Mal.2:15-16, 1Cor.7:10-17
Robin,
Were they a man and woman of God – or was God – and Jesus – and the Bible – pretty much just a prop….as so often in the religious circuit….
Holding themselves out as some kind of paragon of marriage virtue – all the while they obviously had a failing marriage….
THAT speaks volumes.
Are there any GOD fearing mega pastors? Seems like when the tithes and offerings start piling up the pastors, their marriages and their kids start failing to sin. Is it because of the money and fame? Or, did GOD truly call them to preach HIS gospel?
For those of you that don’t know this fact. Pastor Andy is Best Friends with Chris Hill who divorced his wife and married his spiritual goddaughter. Just let that sink in.
John,
Charles Spurgeon could be considered a mega pastor back in the day. I suspect he was God-fearing. So there is at least one.
I didn’t know the terminology back then but I was GROOMED by another married minister at WO 15 or so years ago; he wanted to meet me at a hotel which I secured, but the next day I couldn’t go through with it and I told him to leave me alone…a few weeks later, the minister showed up at my house unannounced and did what he said; I never should have opened the door. I served in the church too and some time later, I came forward to confess this to PASTOR ANDY and he told me I should have taken this secret to the grave. He shamed me, laughed at me and made me believe it was my fault.
There was a cycle of this type of thing happening with many of the ministers and women at WO: the men were as Eli’s sons and PA made the women seem like they were seducers!!!
When I attended WO, PA had a BMW and lived in Chapel Hill. Nothing wrong with pastors having a BMW or a nice house, but this article doesn’t even scratch the surface of whatever else they’re hiding. This is all so grieving. Praying their church gets answers and healing.
Celebratize yourself. Establish a cult of personality. Celebrity status established. Write books. Make money. Bigger congregation results in bigger salary. Make more money. Non-profit status means even more money. This is the business methodology of the industrial church complex. Biblical justification for personal riches has successfully convinced congregations that this is the goal to be achieved, but they must give to receive and the more they give, the bigger God’s financial blessing to them. This cycle and business model is not stopping anytime soon. It is rampant. I cannot think of a nationally known pastor or evangelist who has not hoarded in excess more than what was needed to be comfortable. Am I missing something? Is this God’s way???
People, Let their business be left alone. Nobody really knows what was going on in their life and house. It’s about his story, her story, and the truth. Leave it alone.
Speaking as a pastor and leader who just celebrated 59 years of marriage, sin can have such an insidious way of creeping in. Money, sex, and power are heady pleasures and intoxicating to the flesh…but, are they worth exchanging for Eternal Life?
The devil pays his minions very well in this life and sadly, there are many who choose that path b/c of it. “Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it.” Prov. 4:23 NIV
How many we see here in these reports who will hear these words from Christ Jesus, “Depart, I never knew you.”
Me: Pastor (small church, ordained), former Bible teacher at CC affiliated church Bible College, CC Bible College grad (3 years, certificated), Bible student for 50 years, married to same women for over 50 years, attended CC Costa Mesa for decades. The problem for most churches (including CCs) is the false teachings that enrich pastors. Tithing (“you must give 10% of your weekly income to our church) is the main one. Many solid Bible teachers have been warning the church for YEARS that God is against this un-biblical practice. Dave Hunt is one such person, as well as the late J.V. McGee. Yet man-called “pastors” have been beating the sheep with this lie. And to politely correct the author, with all due respect, many CC do mandate Tithing. The second problem is “nepotism”. Note: we know of some CCs that do NOT teach tithing or practice nepotism, but they are hard to come by. (Our small fellowship is one, CC Pasadena CA is another, as well as CC Winnetka CA…soon to be CC West Valley).
I don’t understand how she got so little after over 30 years with this man. He is worth hundreds of millions so $12,000.00/month is like $12.00/month to him and why only for 9 years. She also gets to keep the 1600 sq ft house and the 13 year old car while he can maintain the mansion, cars and other properties. This poor lady must have had the worse divorce lawyer in the world or none at all to settle for such a paltry sum. It’s really sad and if I were a member of his church that would be it for me because clearly he is not a just and fair man and no way is he a true man of God. He will be in the news again soon with the younger version of his wife and his new family, just wait and see! I just hate she is being treated and cheated like this.
I had a really bad divorce lawyer also and basically got nothing but OUT ALIVE which I was willing to settle for just to be away from that abusive, narcissistic alcoholic that I had suffered for 10 years trying to honor my vows. I gave up MY business, of which he assumed immediate control as if he had ANYthing invested, and everything I owned… even left my clothes when I slipped out the back door and left the state. It was hard to start over at 50 years old with absolutely nothing, but it was the best thing I could’ve done for myself. Maybe she was in the same frame of mind… (Fast forward 17 years: ‘he’ has been dead for 6 years and God has blessed me with a peaceful, content life.)
Who gave him all this money? Lay people. Pastors can’t live like this unless their “followers” enrich them.
Very sad, When ‘ professing christians’ cast the instructions of Jesus on the wayside and bring their offerings to enrichen their ‘Christ’ figure…Because what he says is of more relevance to them than what Jesus taught…
Luke 6:24
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”
In a seminary class I took many years ago, we had a guest speaker who was from a network of black evangelical churches. He explained to us that among many black congregations there is a sort of expectation that the pastor of their church have an affluent and lavish lifestyle: Live in a big house, drive expensive cars, wear custom-tailored suits, have privileged deacons carry his Bible for him to the pulpit, etc. The guest speaker said it was a form of vicarious living, in which many black congregants felt their church was blessed and favored by God if the church could afford to give the pastor a high salary and lots of fringe benefits. The only reason I bring this up is that sometimes there are big differences between how white churches and black churches see and react to similar situations. (By the way, despite my surname, I am no relation to the subjects of this article!)