BANGOR (AP) – A pastor who helped build Abundant Life Church from 22 members who met in motel function rooms to a congregation of nearly 800 with a $2.5 million facility is now charged with embezzling from the church he created.

The Rev. Ron Durham, who now lives in Savannah, Ga., was indicted Monday by the Penobscot County grand jury for theft. In all, the former pastor used more than $100,000 in church funds for personal use, prosecutors said.

He’s scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 27 in Penobscot County Superior Court. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and could be fined up to $20,000. He also could be ordered to pay restitution to his former congregation.

Durham, who founded the church in 1987, resigned in November 2003 after announcing a leave of absence to undergo treatment for alcoholism.

His wife, Lynn Durham, also was active in church ministry. Ron Durham’s son, John Richie Durham, 32, who worked as the church bookkeeper, and his wife, Theresa, manager of the church bookstore and a secretary, also resigned.

The families sold their Bangor area homes a short time later and relocated to Georgia, where the former pastor was raised.

Durham allegedly used the church credit card between 2000 and 2003 for travel that included cruises outside the United States, stays at hotels, meals at restaurants, and bar tabs, Deputy District Attorney Michael Roberts said Monday.

The alleged theft was uncovered in 2004 after an audit by a Portland accounting firm, according to former church treasurer Bernard Bunny Doak of Orrington.

Since Durham’s departure, a new church board has been elected and church members are more aware of the church’s financial situation and its annual budget, said the Rev. Darren Farmer, who along with his wife, took over the reins of the church in June.