‘God is on our side’: Fruitful Vine churchgoer launches legal action against pastor, alleges he ‘deceived’ her out of $620k

A member of a failed new age Christian church has launched legal action against its pastor after he allegedly duped her into handing over her life savings to buy an investment property.

Anyda Stein has launched legal action against pastor Philip Kitchen, alleging he duped her into handing over $620,000.

A member of a failed new age Christian church has launched legal action against its pastor after he allegedly duped her into handing over her life savings to buy an investment property.

Anyda Stein, 48, claims she was “deceived” by Fruitful Vine Melbourne Church pastor Philip Kitchen, 73, into handing over $620,000 over the course of more than a decade.

In a writ filed before the Supreme Court of Victoria, Ms Stein alleges Mr Kitchen encouraged her to make monthly contributions to help purchase a property for the church in Lysterfield in Melbourne’s east.

The Herald Sun understands the property, known as Lot 28, was to be used as a cottage for use by Fruitful Vine members and those interested in the church.

Pastor Philip Kitchen allegedly used Anya Stein's life savings to purchase an investment property. Photo: Supplied

According to the court documents Mr Kitchen and his wife, Yvonne Kitchen, quietly claimed ownership over the cottage in early 2013, allegedly without informing Ms Stein.

Under the allegedly false assumption she was helping to pay off a 10-year loan on the cottage, Ms Stein forked out a total of $626,255.37 between January 2013 and February 2023.

She continued to make her monthly payments even after the loan was allegedly paid off in 2017, with Mr Kitchen telling her to continue making contributions into another bank account.

The court documents claim Mr Kitchen did eventually pay back Ms Stein following a Fruitful Vine committee meeting to discuss her sizeable contributions in early 2023, but only about $30,000.

Anyda Stein is seeking legal action against Fruitful Vine church and pastor Philip Kitchen. Photo: Supplied

Mr Kitchen would later claim in an email that Lot 28 was to be an investment for his and Mrs Kitchen’s “retirement”.

Ms Stein claims that it was after she stopped making her monthly payments, and after she raised concerns about the church irresponsibly managing its finances, that she was removed from the Fruitful Vine eldership in January of this year.

She was told the senior minister and church elders had decided she was “no longer in harmony” with major issues affecting the operation of the church.

Fruitful Vine, which is believed to have had as many as 40 members a year ago, was suddenly wound up last month, with all remaining assets now set to be transferred to the Faith Christian Church.

Faith Christian Church general manager Alex Attard said the group was aware Fruitful Vine had wound up, but had not accepted any assets set to be transferred to their organisation.

“We have had no association with pastor Philip Kitchen or Fruitful Vine Church prior to his decision to wind up the church,” Mr Attard said.

Fruitful Vine and Mr Kitchen, who is the brother-in-law of former World Vision Australia chief executive Tim Costello, have drawn the ire of former members over the decision to wind up the church.

In her writ, Ms Stein alleges eldership had not received support from a majority of members prior to the decision to wind up the church, nor had they appointed a liquidator.

Ms Stein is seeking a reimbursement of the $626,255.37 she gave to Fruitful Vine and an injunction restraining the church from winding up and distributing assets.

Ms Stein told the Herald Sun: “Myself and our community who are heartbroken, we will have a miracle. God is on our side.”

Ms Stein and her lawyers declined to comment further.

Mr Kitchen confirmed he was aware of the legal action against him, but neither he nor Fruitful Vine Melbourne Church would comment on the matter.

Originally published as ‘God is on our side’: Fruitful Vine churchgoer launches legal action against pastor, alleges he ‘deceived’ her out of $620k