According to Psychology Today, “Our home conveys messages about who we are.” This is true about pastors whose homes range from modest to extravagant.
More than 2,000 years ago the prophet Micah wrote, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
The following homes were sold in 2023.
While we avoid posting current addresses of living religious leaders to avoid doxing them, this article does link to real estate website listings for former homes. In some cases, these pastors have lived in homes financially unobtainable by most of their church members.
For comparison’s sake, the lowest priced property on this list is $455,000 which is more expensive than most homes sold in America. According to real estate website Redfin, “The median price of a home in the United States is currently $414,633.”
Each of the beach houses and beach condos on this list were secondary homes for their owners.
Glen Berteau Ministries
Glen and Deborah Berteau, founders of The House Modesto megachurch, sold their Florida beach house in February for $795,000.
Redfin reports, “Location is everything and this Florida Cottage is within 1/2 mile to the beach & just 100 yards to Legion Park, a public boat ramp/park on the bay.”
Hillsong
Hillsong Property Holdings LLC acquired a home in Newport Beach, one of America’s most expensive cities in 2015 for $2,180,000 and sold it in 2023 for $3,525,000.
Investigators and journalists wondered if this home was the residence of Brian Houston, the founder of megachurch Hillsong.
Redfin describes the property: “A true live/work residence. Downstairs includes a large open Commercial Office Space that has its own separate entrance and its own full bathroom. Parking for 6 cars including an attached 2-car garage.”
John and Lisa Bevere – Messenger International
The Beveres are a textbook example of long-distance ministry. Their ministry is based in Colorado while they live in Tennessee and Florida.
The Beveres purchased the property in 2013 for $585,000 and sold it for $1,760,000. The home in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, is located less than half a mile from the beach.
Redfin describes the home: “Beautiful Florida cottage offering amazing privacy and high-end finishes located in a prime location close to the beach …”
Theresa Cerullo – Morris Cerullo World Evangelism
Theresa Cerullo, the widow of televangelist Morris Cerullo and mother of INSP president David Cerullo, died in 2022.
The Cerullo family lived in a ministry-owned home located in the exclusive gated community Del Rayo Estates. The home can be described as a mansion, as it is 11,402 square feet.
Redfin reports the 7-bedroom home was sold for $6,273,200.
Keith Craft – Elevate Life Church
Besides pastoring a church, Keith Craft runs a coaching/mentoring business, charging clients up to $84,000 annually. Craft also operates a charter yacht business charging $5,000 for an 8-hour cruise and owns a Cessna 650 jet.
In the 1980s, Craft was a member of the Power Team, a group of bodybuilders engaging in evangelism.
In another case of long-distance ministry, Craft’s church is north of Dallas while he owned a beach house in Santa Rosa Beach, on the same street as John and Lisa Bevere.
Keith and his wife Sheila purchased the property in 2014 for $650,000 and sold it in June for $1,825,000. Redfin reports the Florida beach house sat “along a charming brick paver street.”
Mac Hammond – Living Word Christian Center
Mac Hammond pastors a church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His church owns a Falcon 50 jet.
About 15 years ago, the IRS attempted to audit Hammond’s church and the courts blocked the audit due to a technicality. At the time, the law required church audits to be approved by regional commissioners of the IRS, but those positions no longer existed due to an IRS reorganization.
In 2019,Mac Hammond and his wife Lynne purchased a beach condo for $273,000 and sold the condo in July for $455,000.
According to real estate website Zillow, the homeowners association requires dues of $556 per month, which is higher than the dues for some of the more expensive houses on this list.
Carl Lentz – Transformation Church
Carl Lentz has moved to Tulsa to serve as a strategist for Pastor Mike Todd’s megachurch in Tulsa.
In January, Lentz, the former pastor of Hillsong NYC, sold his home in Bradenton, Florida, for $778,000.
Lentz’s home was the lowest-priced of all the primary residences in this list. According to Zillow, the home contains three bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Touré and Sarah Jakes Roberts – One Church
Touré Roberts and his wife Sarah Jakes Roberts, the daughter of Pastor T. D. Jakes, lead One Church in Los Angeles.
In 2020, the Roberts purchased a 9,473 square-foot home in Calabasas, California for $4 million.
Redfin described the home with flowery praise: “Sited on nearly 10 bucolic acres, this opulent 6 bed, 7 bath main residence captivates you from the moment you step through the double entry glass doors.”
The Roberts were careful to conceal their ownership. Their names did not appear on the deed. However, a journalist writing for entertainment newspaper Variety learned of the Roberts’ home purchase and reported the news.
In 2022, the home was listed on real estate websites for sale with a price tag of $9,495,000 attracting more news coverage. After a price drop, the home was sold in August.
According to Redfin, the home was sold for $6,400,000.
Ed Young Jr – Fellowship Church
Besides pastoring Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, Ed Young Jr hosts the annual C3 Conference. Young is well known for attracting media attention with publicity stunts. In 2012, Young and his wife Lisa staged a bed-in by staying in a bed located on the church roof for 24 hours. The stunt promoted their book Sexperiment: 7 Days to Lasting Intimacy with Your Spouse.
The Youngs sold their Dallas residence in February for an undisclosed amount. The sale is not reported on real estate websites but is disclosed on on the Dallas Central Appraisal District website.
Redfin estimates the 7,027 square-foot home to be worth almost $4.6 million.
Currently for Sale
Pat Robertson – Christian Broadcasting Network
Christian Broadcasting Network founder and long-time 700 Club host Pat Robertson died in June. His home in Hot Springs, Virginia, is for sale with a reported price of $4,250,000.
Redfin describes the property as being a “palatial country estate located on a magnificent 27 acre mountaintop setting at 4,100 ft. elevation, offering a peaceful, quiet setting with 360 degree long ranging views of mountains, valleys & forest.”