Pastor Marc Brule & Pastor Andrew Thompson of Wellspring Community Church
From 1995 to 2009, Wellspring Community Church was my home, my refuge, and for a time, the closest thing to family I had ever known. Initially, it took some time for me to feel truly welcomed, but eventually, I came to feel a deep connection to the community. Looking back, despite everything that later unfolded, I can still sincerely acknowledge the positive impact those early years had on my life.
When I first arrived, the church was still known as Jubilee Worship Centre. At that point, I had been clean and sober for five years, living on a disability pension due to the long-term effects of PTSD. This condition, which is often associated with war veterans, had plagued me since the age of three as a result of childhood abuse. It was not something I would ever have chosen for myself, but it was my reality.
In Wellspring's defense, they recognized signs of my struggle with mental health. One person, in particular, Paul Lacroix, reached out to me with genuine kindness. Though Paul no longer identifies as a Christian today, his efforts to connect and welcome me into the community were pivotal during those early days. Paul, if you ever read this–thank you for your kindness.
Enter Andrew Thompson: Early Challenges and Fractures
Over time, my experiences with Pastor Marc Brulé, Pastor Andrew Thompson, and others at Wellspring began to challenge my faith in ways I never expected. What they modeled in their actions stood in stark contrast to the ideals of the gospel they preached.
Early on, I was invited to help with a new initiative called “The Party,” a monthly community event spearheaded by Paul Lacroix and Marc Brulé. My role was to secure sponsors, and I brought on board Tim Hortons, Pizza Hut, and even Zeller’s, which was still operating at the time. The first event went off without a hitch, and I felt a sense of accomplishment and belonging.
Then, at a planning meeting for the next event, Andrew Thompson attended for the first time. He had not been involved in the previous event, yet he abruptly began berating Paul and me for our choice of sponsors, particularly Pizza Hut. He argued that a local pizzeria, Volcano’s Pizza, was a better option. His outburst over something so trivial stunned everyone in the room.
In hindsight, I now recognize that this wasn’t about pizza or sponsors. Andrew’s true frustration seemed to stem from not being the center of attention. His behavior revealed an unsettling pattern–an insatiable need to dominate and be recognized, even at the expense of others.
The Shift in Dynamics
Paul Lacroix left the church not long after that confrontation, without providing an explanation. Rumors spread that “he took offense,” but I now believe Andrew Thompson’s actions played a significant role in driving Paul away. The Bible warns about the gravity of causing another believer to stumble, yet Andrew’s jealousy seemed to overpower his better judgment. It was heartbreaking to see a man like Paul, who had genuinely ministered to so many, become the target of unwarranted hostility.
The cracks in the church’s foundation continued to widen. One Sunday morning, following a Promise Keepers Canada Men’s Conference, we had a surprise guest speaker–one of the event’s presenters. I had no prior knowledge of this addition to the service and was leading worship as usual when Andrew approached me, hinting at the speaker’s presence. His tone suggested he wanted me to be “prepared” for something.
As the worship set began, the congregation was fully engaged, singing and clapping along. Then, without warning, and with what resembled a child acting out, Andrew walked onto the stage and took the microphone from my hand mid-song. He began issuing directives to the band, dictating which songs to play. The awkwardness was palpable–for me, the band, and the congregation. He later claimed that God had instructed him to intervene.
So somehow, " the God who created the universe, was suddenly incompetent to communicate this to me, the worship leader?" and apparently, only Andrew can hear God. It was a baffling moment that left me questioning not only Andrew’s actions but the unchecked authority he seemed to wield.
Questioning Faith
Despite moments like these, I continued serving at Wellspring Community Church with unwavering dedication. I immersed myself in scripture and tried to align my life with the teachings of the Bible. However, the deeper I delved, the more I began to see discrepancies between the church’s teachings and its practices.
I witnessed bizarre behaviors passed off as spiritual encounters–people running around the sanctuary like trains, rolling on the floor, or falling backward during prayer, sometimes injuring themselves. One woman cracked her head on a chair during a prayer session, blood pouring out as others declared it “God’s work.” These incidents were often justified by twisting scripture out of context.
Over the years, I served on the worship team for more than 12 years, including four as a worship leader. I also led the men’s ministry for seven years. During this time, I built strong relationships with many members, attended countless weddings, baby dedications, and church events, and truly believed I was part of a family. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine becoming an outcast.
Betrayal and Accusation
In the spring of 2007, my world turned upside down. Without warning, Andrew Thompson, driven by political ambitions and bolstered by nepotism, orchestrated my downfall.
We had been close friends for years. I had supported him through personal struggles, even giving him my car when his broke down. I loved him like a brother. But that bond was shattered when he used another church member, Nicole Smith, to fabricate a false accusation against me.
The claim? That I had yelled at Pastor Marc Brulé’s teenage daughter, Amy, and said, “I’m not here to serve you; you’re here to serve me!” The accusation was absurd and completely out of character for me. But it didn’t matter.
I was removed from leadership without being allowed to defend myself, confront my accuser, or have anyone speak on my behalf. The environment at Wellspring resembled an inquisition–guilty until proven innocent, and the accused was never given a chance to prove otherwise.
Even more shocking was Amy Brulé’s silence. When Pastor Marc, her father, questioned her about the incident, she reportedly stormed off, refusing to discuss it. To this day, she has never recanted the lie.
Isolation and Reflection
For two years, I held onto hope that conviction would catch up with Marc and Andrew. I believed they would eventually admit the truth. But instead, I faced whispers, judgment, and isolation. Members of the church, many of whom I had once considered friends, assumed the worst without even knowing the details of the accusation.
I waited in vain for justice. At an annual general meeting, Christine Journeay asked Pastor Marc why so many worship leaders were being removed. His response? A blatant lie: “No worship leader has been removed; they’ve just been reassigned.”
This was the final blow. I knew then that I would never see justice or accountability from the leadership at Wellspring. The same people who claimed to follow Jesus had abandoned love, mercy, and truth for political gain and self-preservation.
Moving Forward
After leaving Wellspring, I found a new church home at SouthRidge Community Church. Around the same time I was invited to be a part of a successful barn ministry as a worship leader, and eventually asked to be a co-leader of the ministry. It was called Redeemed Lives and it was a division of Open Arms Mission of Welland Inc. These years helped me rebuild my sense of purpose and community.
Ironically, my friendship with Andrew continued in a limited capacity for years after the fallout. I even invited him to join me in opening for Randy Stonehill, a pioneering Christian artist. I hoped these moments of grace might lead to reconciliation.
But Andrew’s political ambitions resurfaced, once again driving a wedge between us. Despite his public praise of me as “a man of integrity,” just 2 weeks before his betrayal, in front of all the men at the barn ministry, his actions behind closed doors told a different story.
A Final Betrayal
Ten years had passed since I left Wellspring Community Church. By now, I was employed at Christ Community Church as their worship Director. I had moved on, fully integrated into Christ Community Church, leading a thriving ministry. Marc Brulé and Andrew Thompson seemed to be doing well at Wellspring, and I believed our strained history was behind us.
Then came another blow. My pastor at Christ Community Church, Carson, asked me to represent our congregation at the pastoral prayer meetings during his absence. He sent an email to the other pastors informing them of my participation, and the responses were overwhelmingly positive–except for Marc and Andrew.
According to Carson, Marc and Andrew raised vague concerns about my “confidentiality” and accused me of favoring one recovery ministry over another–claims that made no sense. I was the leader of both ministries, neither of which they had ever attended in five years.
Their objections blindsided me. Just weeks earlier, Andrew had publicly praised me as a “man of integrity” in front of 85 men at our barn ministry. Yet now, they seemed determined to undermine me once again.
Questions of Faith and Leadership
This final betrayal left me with lingering questions:
- How can leaders who claim to follow Christ disregard His teachings on reconciliation and forgiveness so easily?
- Why did Andrew and Marc, two men who professed love and faith, act with such hypocrisy?
- How could a church community turn its back on someone so quickly, based on an unverified accusations?
The scriptures are clear: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone” (Matthew 18:15). This process of reconciliation was ignored, by a leader of the church, replaced with gossip, judgment, and exclusion.
The experience forced me to reevaluate my beliefs. If Christians, who are called to demonstrate extraordinary love and mercy, couldn’t embody those values, what did their faith truly offer?
Moving Beyond Religion
Today, I no longer identify as a follower of Jesus Christ. While I still respect Him as a historical figure, like Gandhi, I no longer subscribe to any religious system or faith. The pain I experienced at Wellspring Community Church ultimately led me to question the authenticity of Christianity itself.
Love is supposed to endure, to forgive, to reconcile. Yet, time and again, I saw relationships and friendships sacrificed for the sake of religion and politics. If Christians cannot demonstrate extraordinary love for those they can see, how can they claim to love a God they cannot see?
To those who identify as Christians, I ask this: if your love, power and mercy is no greater than those who lived without Christ, what do you have to prove that you actually believe?
Closing Reflections
Despite everything, I am grateful for the lessons learned through these experiences. They have shaped who I am today and given me a deeper understanding of humanity, both its flaws and its potential for growth.
To those still searching for meaning, I offer this: judge a person not by their words but by their actions. Love that fails to rise above ordinary human behavior is no evidence of divine power.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
– Don