Former Lakewood Church pastor John Gray gifts wife $200,000 Lamborghini

Pastor Gray gifted his wife, Aventer Gray, a $200,000 Lamborghini Urus.

The gift was an eight-year anniversary present. (Photo: Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle)

>>> Scroll through to see more on Gray's grand gesture. less Pastor Gray gifted his wife, Aventer Gray, a $200,000 Lamborghini Urus.

The gift was an eight-year anniversary present. (Photo: Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle)

>>> Scroll through to see more on ... more Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Staff Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Staff Image 1 of / 39 Caption Close Former Lakewood Church pastor John Gray gifts wife $200,000 Lamborghini 1 / 39 Back to Gallery

At Lakewood Church, pastor Joel Osteen proclaims, "It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty." Osteen, who lives in a $10.5 million mansion in River Oaks, practices what he preaches. Apparently. so does his former associate pastor, John Gray.

While the traditional theme for an eight-year wedding anniversary present is pottery, on Sunday, Gray took it to a whole new level, gifting his wife, Aventer Gray, a $200,000 Lamborghini Urus.

The lavish sports utility vehicle travels zero-to-62-mph in 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of nearly 190 mph.

"You light my fire, let this Lamborghini light your fire, baby," he says in a Facebook video posted by Prove Magazine/Dear Black Men Network.

Gray's grand gesture has left many shaking their heads, upset that a preacher would indulge in such opulence.

Debut book: John Gray is the picture of faith

But the current head pastor at Greenville's Redemption Church, who has his multiple sources of income including a show on OWN, plus other television projects, books and endorsements, stands by his decision.

"God helped me to make my wife's dream come true. Why not? She's made mine come true!" he said via Instagram on Tuesday.

Standing up for her husband, and for her right to own the luxe sports car, Aventer expressed her opinion on Instagram on Sunday.

"I don't see anyone screaming about how basketball players drive what they do while you paying $$$ to see them play in arenas and on fields. We don't live for people! We live for God!" she remarked.

Criticism of the spending habits of wealthy pastors is not a new topic for pastor Gray.

"I understand why and how people get there, but I think they should be very cautious to understand that if the individuals that are serving are honorable and committed to serving," he said in a December 2017 interview with The Greenville News.

Per Gray: Lakewood Church's John Gray defends the wealth of high-profile pastors

"If they've saved their money and want to do something nice for their spouse or they want to live in a home ... you've got one life."

After all, happy wife, happy life.

Pastor Gray could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Marcy de Luna is a digital reporter specializing in social media, the famous, and food. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Read her stories on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Marcy.deLuna@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message