Former Hillsong Atlanta Pastor Sam Collier Announces Divorce Amidst Infidelity

Former Hillsong Atlanta church senior pastor Sam Collier announced on Friday (Dec. 1) that he and his wife, Toni, are getting divorced. Collier founded Story Church in Atlanta last year. The church formed in the wake of the shuttering of Hillsong Atlanta, of which the Colliers had been pastors. 

"I'm in the middle of the hardest season of my life. I am heartbroken, yet still hopeful. If you could see all the ways God has been kind to me and my kids your jaw would be on the floor. After years of discovering and enduring repeated acts of infidelity, I have chosen to end my marriage with Sam," Toni Collier announced.

"Despite seasons of hope, attempts at reconciliation, and counseling, after recently discovering more infidelity, I realized this wasn't a sustainable or God-honoring marriage anymore. I'm at a point where I have to say 'no more.' I'm taking time off the stage and social media to focus on healing with my kids. I have no desire to hurt Sam but do want to vigorously protect my heart and my children," she added before ending with, "Thanks for giving us privacy to do that, and for prayers that will undoubtedly be felt. Love y'all."

In a separate post that has since been deleted, Sam Collier accused his wife of being a "liar and abuser" and insisted that they made a mutual decision to divorce.

"Toni Collier is a liar and abuser. It is documented that she has abused me our entire marriage and wants to continue to. I asked Toni not to do this. As well as our team and 'our' lawyers. She is not divorcing me, we are divorcing each other," he wrote. "AND I tried to divorce her 7 times and she begged me to stay and kept abusing me. I will tell more of the story later."

Following that post, Sam Collier released a separate, formal statement and an apology: "I would like to apologize for my earlier comments regarding my divorce. It did not reflect the leader I am or my sincere feelings. I was emotionally overwhelmed and angry at the highest level. These past two months have been extremely exhausting." 

 

 

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