A former Tennessee pastor who used church funds to pay for family vacations and what prosecutors described as “female companionship” has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $250,000 from his congregation.
Nick Rains, 48, the former lead pastor of Canvas Church, now known as Vineyard Church of Lenoir City, accepted a plea agreement that will see him serve 120 days in Loudon County Jail and the remainder of an eight-year sentence on probation.
He was also ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to the church, in addition to court costs and legal fees.
Church elders removed Rains from leadership in 2023 after concerns were raised by members of the congregation. The elders later referred the matter to authorities, leading to an investigation.
An audit by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office found that Rains used church funds for personal expenses, including family vacations, a trip to Alaska, mortgage payments and what prosecutors described as “female companionship".
According to the district attorney’s office, Rains pleaded guilty to theft of more than $250,000, a Class B felony.
"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 church elders said in a statement.
"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."
Addressing Rains directly, the church said he remained "a person made in the image of God" and that God loves him unconditionally.
"That has not changed, and we have not forgotten it," they added. "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."
The elders also addressed church members, writing: "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."
