Thousands of Jacksonville families get much-needed help at grocery giveaway hosted by Celebration Church
Thousands of families in Jacksonville got much-needed help Saturday morning thanks to Celebration Church and Convoy of Hope members who partnered to host a grocery giveaway.
Judge considers case involving Celebration Church and former pastors
A judge heard arguments Thursday between attorneys for Celebration Church and its former pastors amid an ongoing legal battle that involves allegations of defamation. After a nearly two-hour hearing, Judge Marianne Aho said she would take the arguments under advisement.
Church group accused of orchestrating Celebration Church takeover calls accusations ‘unfounded and inaccurate’
The Association of Related Churches (ARC) responded to a new federal court filing from two local pastors, who accuse the organization of masterminding a conspiracy to take over the church they founded and oust them from their roles.
Federal complaint: Church planting organization masterminded conspiracy to frame pastors
The former lead pastors and founders of Celebration Church filed a new federal complaint accusing a church planting organization and three other pastors of masterminding a conspiracy to take over the church and oust the founders from their roles.
Former Celebration Church pastor releases report he commissioned to dispute financial misconduct accusations
Behind a Jacksonville megachurch, a tangled web of money and power is now at the center of multiple lawsuits.
‘I want to clear my name’: Embattled former pastor of Jacksonville megachurch sits down with I-TEAM
The News4JAX I-TEAM on Tuesday sat down with the embattled former pastor of a Jacksonville megachurch.
I-TEAM: Former megachurch pastors settle lawsuit with bank over $716K+ debt
The former pastors of one of Jacksonville’s largest churches settled a lawsuit with First Citizens Bank over a $713,123 debt they and their businesses owed.
Unsolved murder, megachurch legal fight, embattled surgeon: These are the I-TEAM’s most read stories in 2022
As the year nears its conclusion, here are some of the biggest I-TEAM investigations from 2022.
Former leaders of Celebration Church demand jury trial in defamation lawsuit
In the latest chapter of an ongoing legal battle between Celebration Church and its former pastors, the former pastors have re-filed their defamation lawsuit against the church and are demanding a jury trial.
Judge dismisses defamation suit brought by former pastors against Celebration Church
A judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought forth by the former pastors of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in Northeast Florida, ruling that the court does not have jurisdiction over ecclesiastical matters.
I-TEAM: Celebration Church argues in court for dismissal of defamation suit brought by former pastors
For months, Celebration Church has been in the midst of a bitter and public battle with its former pastors, and on Tuesday, a defamation suit filed against the church found its way in front of a judge.
I-TEAM: Former pastors accuse Jacksonville church of taking ‘cult-like position’
The former pastors of Celebration Church accused the church of “taking a cult-like position” on an issue of their church membership in their latest court filing. The pastors also accuse the church of violating their rights to religious freedom.
I-TEAM: Stovall Weems releases future plans amid legal battle with Celebration Church
The pastor who founded one of Jacksonville’s largest churches and resigned amid a bitter legal battle has announced his future ministry plans.
Celebration Church founding pastors want court to dismiss eviction notice for disputed property
Newly filed court documents show Stovall and Kerri Weems want the court to dismiss an eviction notice they’ve been served by Celebration Church -- the church they founded in Jacksonville in 1998 and grew into one of the largest in the city.
Celebration Church founding pastors served with eviction notice at disputed property
Celebration Church filed an eviction complaint against its founding pastors, Stovall and Kerri Weems, in a move to get the couple out of a home the church owns on the Nassau River.
Celebration Church issues eviction notice to former pastors who ‘refuse to vacate’
Celebration Church filed an eviction complaint against its founding pastors, Stovall and Kerri Weems, in a move to get the couple out of a home the church owns on the Nassau River.
Founding pastor sues for defamation in wake of Celebration Church’s investigation
The ongoing legal battle between one of the largest churches in Jacksonville and its founding pastor took another turn Tuesday.
I-TEAM: ‘Office hospitality cheat sheet’ outlines former Celebration pastor’s daily instructions
The News4JAX I-TEAM is digging deeper into claims made against Stovall Weems, the founding pastor of Celebration Church.
‘Looks like a classic fraud,’ former prosecutor says of Celebration Church report
The News4JAX I-TEAM on Tuesday spoke with a former federal prosecutor who examined the internal investigation into Celebration Church’s founding pastor, Stovall Weems.
Celebration Church founding pastor steps down amid legal battle
The founding pastor of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in Jacksonville, announced Monday he’s resigned from his positions amid a legal battle with the church’s trustees.
‘Your church is OK’: Celebration Church pastor reassures congregation amid legal dispute
The senior pastor of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in Jacksonville, took a moment during Sunday morning service to address a legal dispute between the church and its founding pastors.
I-TEAM: Celebration Church pastors deny misuse of PPP money
A spokesperson for the founding pastors of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in the Jacksonville area, says the couple did not misuse government PPP money as the church alleges in a court filing.
I-TEAM: Celebration Church in legal dispute with founding pastors
The founders of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in the Jacksonville area, are in a legal dispute with the church that involves allegations of financial misconduct and fraud.
‘Allow love to take place’: Pastors plan memorial for Tristyn Bailey
Thousands are expected to show up Tuesday evening when the family of Tristyn Bailey holds a celebration of life for the 13-year-old who was killed last week in her St. Johns County neighborhood.
New vaccine sites open at Southside church, Northwest Jacksonville center
Celebration Church on the Southside of Jacksonville is a new vaccine site. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two new coronavirus vaccine sites opened in Jacksonville on Wednesday. According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the sites are located at The Legends Center in Northwest Jacksonville and at Celebration Church on the Southside. The site at the Legends Center will be open seven days a week while the church site is only closed on Sunday. The Legends Center site, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will also offer COVID-19 testing.
Celebration Church welcomes members back for 1st in-person service in months
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Celebration Church welcomed its members back to the building on Sunday morning for its first in-person service in more than five months. March 7 was the last service before the church shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. We have to rethink the way we do everything.Celebration Church welcomed the congregation back on Sunday morning. Celebration Church is asking its members to wash their hands, socially distance themselves from others and not touch their faces. Celebration Church members entered the building on Sunday morning.
Northeast Florida churches get creative for Easter Sunday services
However, many churches in Northeast Florida told News4Jax they will not open their churches. Instead, they will stream Easter service online. At University Church, lead Pastor Frank Ciresi, said they will also stream Easter Service online. In addition to streaming Easter service, other churches are bringing people together at a safe social distance. Their drive-in Easter service will be held on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. in the Northeast Florida Fair parking lot to accommodate hundreds of worshipers.
Channel 4 to air Resurrection Sunday service from Celebration Church
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – We know many of you haven't been able to attend church in person in a few weeks. Celebration Church will be sharing their Resurrection Sunday service with us, and it will air at 9 a.m. on Channel 4. Celebration is a local church with a main campus in Jacksonville, and several other campuses in surrounding areas. The church said if you'd like to join in communion, just grab crackers and juice -- or whatever you have on hand. We hope you’ll join us this Sunday, and we can all feel a little closer as a community, despite having to stay apart.