Disgraced Lumberton Pastor Busted In Infidelity Scandal, Steps Down From Antioch Baptist Church
A disgraced Lumberton, North Carolina pastor has stepped down from his leadership role at Antioch Baptist Church located on Old Whiteville Road, after he was allegedly caught screwing a teacher employed at the church’s private Christian academy.
On Monday, April 28, 2025, Antioch Baptist Church posted a carefully worded statement on its Facebook page announcing the resignation of Pastor Blake Dodd. The church expressed appreciation for Dodd and his wife, Tiffani, writing, “We are grateful to the Lord for the time that we have had with Blake and Tiffani and for the ways that God has used them to encourage us to follow Jesus more closely.”
But behind the polished statement lies a scandal that has shaken the congregation to its core.
Multiple sources told The North Carolina Beat that Pastor Blake was allegedly having a sexual relationship with Mary-Alice Nichole Duckworth-Gandy, a English Language Arts teacher at Antioch Christian Academy — the private school operated by the church.
According to the church’s website, Pastor Blake and his wife, Tiffani, moved from Cedartown, Georgia, to Lumberton, North Carolina, in July 2020 to lead the church. They have three young sons. Blake and Tiffani celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary on December 3, 2024, with their 9th just months away.
The two tied the knot on December 3, 2016.
But their marriage has now hit rock bottom. Pastor Blake’s alleged infidelity has brought public embarrassment and heartbreak to his wife and children.
The North Carolina Beat reached out to the church for comment. Worship Pastor Doug Bell stated that the leadership had “no prior knowledge of Pastor Blake’s decision to resign until he informed them.” When asked directly if the resignation was connected to an affair with Nichole Gandy, Bell fell silent. It wasn’t until we hit him with “Hello?” that he responded, “I have no comment on that.”
Attempts to contact Nichole by phone were unsuccessful. However, her husband, Jay Gandy, did answer our call and simply said he had “no comment.” It remains unclear how long the alleged affair between Pastor Blake and Nichole has been going on behind their spouses’ backs, but in August 2023, Nichole posted on Facebook that she had been hired at Antioch Christian Academy as an English Language Arts teacher.
It’s also unclear how leadership did not have the spiritual discernment or Holy Ghost to recognize what was happening right under their noses.
Nichole and her husband Jay tied the knot on March 23, 2019, according to their Facebook pages, recently celebrating another year together. The couple shares two children — a son and a daughter.
In an attempt to reach Pastor Blake Dodd, we instead reached his wife, Tiffani Dodd, who confirmed that her husband had an affair with Nichole Gandy. Although she declined to share specific details, her confirmation was enough to validate the swirling rumors.
We still have been unsuccessful in reaching Pastor Blake – and it’s safe to say, he’s in hiding.
Honestly, this is the piece plastered all over the town?
I know Blake personally and I hope he Sue’s the pants off of you! The way this is written is a big LAWSUIT!
Blake and Tiffany, praying for you and your sweet family.
So what you know them personally. He has no lawsuit against the truth. He should keep his pants ziupped up. I have never read something as stupid as “The way this was written”. YOU should have known this was going on being that you know them PERSONALLY
You needed to choose pictures with their children? You realize this already destroyed the innocents spouses and their kids right?….this is just vile. This isn’t news. Pastors around here cheat all the time and all you did by this post was hurt the innocent parties even farther. Prayers to those involved and the writer of this. We all sin, hopefully yours don’t get plastered all over the internet next time you do.
The face of the kids are covered. This SINNING PASTOR has been exposed for the world to see. We all sin you say BUT the sinners are the ones in the church.
This isn’t anything new in the world . Church have the biggest sinners . You really have to have a strong mind to do certain jobs and this is one of them . Trust no man only God .
This is one of the most disgustingly cruel things I’ve seen in a long while!!! Do you not have a heart? Are you so desperate for readers that you would sink so low? This not only hurts the offenders but it also hurts the spouses and the children involved. It also hurts the church! You sound like someone bitter at the church or people that go to church. Find dignity and I also I hope you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and guide. He will definitely guide you to grace instead of hate!!!
Nichole Gandy…. I can’t believe you did this shameful act!!! I haven’t seen you in many years since we used to frequent the Chinese buffet in Lumberton… I’ll continue to pray for you, and absolve these wicked deeds