Popular founder of NewSpring Church in South Carolina, Perry Noble, who was fired in July 2016 for alcohol abuse and other “unfortunate choices and decisions,” announced Wednesday that after 17 years of marriage he is getting a divorce from his wife, Lucretia.

In a statement shared with The Christian Post through his publicist, Hunter Frederick, Perry said he “never imagined” himself in this position.

“This is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever communicated and I understand it will be even more difficult for many of you to read. After being married for 17 years I have found myself in a place I never imagined I would be — as no one who has ever been married ever dreams in a million years that their marriage will one day end in divorce,” Perry wrote.

“However, that is where I find myself at this point in time. I am doing my best to walk through this deeply personal and painful process with as much grace as possible,” he continued before asking that the privacy of his family be respected at this time.

“I would ask for your prayers in this season as well as [I] humbly ask for privacy for my family in this matter as we work through this deeply personal situation,” he said.

Commenting on Perry’s firing last summer, NewSpring Executive Pastor Shane Duffey said they were forced to relieve him of his post at NewSpring.

“Over the course of several months our executive pastors met with and discussed at length with Perry these concerns regarding his personal behavior and his spiritual walk, Perry’s posture towards marriage, increased reliance on alcohol and other behaviors were of continual concern. Due to this the executive pastors confronted Perry and went through the steps of dealing with sin in the church as outlined in Matthew 18,” said Duffey.

“Because Perry chose not to address these ongoing issues and didn’t take the necessary steps toward correcting them, he is no longer qualified as outlined in I Timothy 3 and the church’s bylaws to continue as pastor of the NewSpring Church,” he added. Full Report