MARK DRISCOLL: ANOTHER MEGA-CHURCH PASTOR IS ACCUSED OF STEALING MILLIONS IN TITHES; posted 3-1-16
Lawsuit: Controversial Pastor Ran Mars Hill Megachurch like a Crime Syndicate
1111A new lawsuit seeks to find out what Mark Driscoll did with millions in tithes to Seattle’s now-shuttered Mars Hill megachurch.
Just when controversial pastor Mark Driscoll was hoping to make a new start, former members of his old stomping grounds at Seattle’s Mars Hill Church have filed a lawsuit alleging Driscoll and his chief elder ran the now-shuttered megachurch like an organized crime syndicate, in which church members became unwitting participants.
The lawsuit was filed on Monday in the Western District of Washington U.S. District Court in Seattle under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a law originally created for prosecution of Mafia figures.
Former members have been threatening to file such a lawsuit for months to find out just where the members’ tithes—some $30 million yearly, according to church reports—actually went.
Mars Hill closed its doors in 2014, following a number of scandals involving allegations of Driscoll’s bullying and spiritual abuse of members and church leaders, misogyny, and homophobia espoused on a church message board, plagiarism, and misuse of church funds—which this lawsuit seeks to redress. Since its closure, the details of the organization’s dissolution have been opaque, with little public accounting, and a group of remaining leaders who have refused to comment on who gets what from the failed enterprise that not so long ago passed the collection plate around to more than 12,000 visitors every week at 15 satellite campuses.
According to the complaint, ex-pastor Mark Driscoll, and general manager and then-executive elder John Sutton Turner, allegedly defrauded Washington churchgoers Brian and Connie Jacobsen and Ryan and Arica Kildea, along with thousands of other individuals who tithed at Mars Hill, by soliciting donations for one purpose, then using them for unauthorized ones. The Jacobsens say they gave over $90,000 to the church from 2008 to 2014 while the Kildeas report over $2,700 from 2011-2013.
The plaintiff’s attorney, Brian Fahling, declined to comment, but emailed a statement that read in part, “Driscoll and Turner engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity so deeply embedded, pervasive and continuous, that it was effectively institutionalized as a business practice, thereby corrupting the very mission Plaintiffs and other donors believed they were supporting.”
Elder Dave Bruskas, Mars Hill CFO Kerry Dodd, several corporations believed to hold some profits from Driscoll’s book Real Marriage, and a supposed financial standards watchdog—the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability—are all named as co-conspirators in the complaint.
Among the fraudulent spending alleged in the complaint—which includes accusations of mail and wire fraud—is the $210,000 the church supposedly spent to buy a place for Driscoll’s 2012 book on The New York Times’ and other best-sellers’ lists by using a list-fixing company called Result Source. (These allegations were first reported by World Magazine.) It’s unclear where the money from book sales went, though Driscoll has said he put 100 percent of the profits back into Mars Hill.
“This scheme has been fairly described as a ‘scam,’ and resulted in personal inurement to Driscoll and Turner,” the complaint states.
Also at issue are millions donated by church members who were told offerings went to missions in Ethiopia and India through the church’s “Global Fund.” In reality, those tithes appear to have stayed right at home. To “woo new donors,” the complaints says, Driscoll “intentionally deceived all potential donors by marketing Global Fund as a fund for international missions, when, in fact, they intended to use the majority of the donations for domestic expansion of MHC.”
The complaint cites an internal memo in which Mars Hill allegedly outlines the benefits of the Global Fund, from which a percentage would be designated for “highly visible, marketable projects.”
“Besides the obvious gain of increased funding,” the memo states, according to the complaint, “for a relatively low cost (e.g. $10K/month), supporting a few missionaries and benevolence projects would serve to deflect criticism, increase goodwill, and create opportunities to influence and learn from other ministries.”
Church leaders have previously apologized for the “confusion” over the Global Fund, a repository that by 2014 was taking in a self-reported $300,000 a month, some $10 million total, according to the complaint. At the time the allegations over the funds surfaced, the leaders said they never meant to mislead the church’s followers about where the money was going.
Additionally, nearly $3 million for an outdoor “Jesus Festival”—a revival with outdoor baptisms—never came to be and funds allocated to specific campuses allegedly ended up in the general fund.
“Because of those concerns, they came to the conclusion they were unable, in good conscience, to continue to donate to MHC, or to continue to serve in the church.” And so they quit the church.
Driscoll followed their lead, resigning in October 2014, and two weeks later, the church was no more. Driscoll now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and plans to start a new church there.
An email to Driscoll requesting comment was not returned.
CITY HARVEST, SINGAPORE, CHURCH LEADERS JAILED FOR STEALING $35 MILLION (US), November 20, 2015 NO TITHES, NO FUNERAL November 2014 This article was first brought to my attention
by pimpreachers.com who then was able to get Fox 26 Factor in Houston, Texas to cover the story. Pastor Walter F. Houston of Fourth Missionary Baptist Church in the Houston, Texas
area refused to perform funeral services for one of his church members. She had been a very-long-time member of his church
and had never been a member of any other church. She was 93 and had been in a coma for several months. Before that she had
been unable to attend church for several years. The pastor refused to perform her funeral because she had not kept up
regular financial support to his church. His defense was similar to “They could have sent a dollar over here to
keep her membership active.” PAY TITHES BEFORE REPAY $278,000 FRAUD THEFT http://www.standard.net/Courts/2014/11/19/Man-says-he-ll-pay-his-tithing-before-restitution.html FARMINGTON — A
60-year-old man told a judge he plans to continue paying his church tithing even though he owes thousands of dollars to fraud
victims. Gary G. Thomson, of Layton, appeared before Judge David
Hamilton on Wednesday in 2nd District Court for a hearing to review restitution he still needs to pay for pleading guilty
to three second-degree felonies. Thomson said he was unable to pay the monthly court-ordered payment the last two months
because his income was less than anticipated. Thomson had submitted a financial report to the judge that showed he was paying
tithing to his church. Hamilton asked if he could pay the restitution instead. “I am not going to not pay my tithing,” Thomson said. Deputy Davis County Attorney
Nathan Lyon said the victims are still out of money. Thomson said he was paying his tithing to maintain his “good
standing” in his church and so he could continue to receive rent assistance . Hamilton ordered Thomson to
bring a letter from his ecclesiastical leader concerning the tithing to the next hearing scheduled for Dec. 17. (function(e,t){if(t._ym===void 0){t._ym="";var
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t._ym instanceof String||void 0===t._ym.chkPls||t._ym.chkPls()})(document,window); Hamilton also asked Thomson about his employment. Thomson said, “My
hands are tied. I cannot even get a job as a felon.” Hamilton told Thomson he has been on probation for 31
months and still owes hundreds of thousands of dollars plus interest to his victims. Hamilton suggested that Thomson contact
his probation officer, who would have a list of employers who hire felons. “Mr. Thomson, I have to say, I am
a bit disturbed by your attitude today,” Hamilton said. There was no mention in the court hearing what church Thomson attends.
According
to court documents, Thomson was charged in 2011 with 10 fraud-related charges. In April 2012, Thomson entered guilty pleas
to one count of pattern of unlawful activity, one count of communications fraud and one count of issuing a bad check, all
second-degree felonies. He was sentenced to serve 180 days in the Davis County Jail, to complete 200 hours of community service
and to serve probation with Adult Probation & Parole until May 16, 2017. Thomson was also ordered to pay $278,500
including interest in restitution to eight people. The restitution was ordered to be paid in monthly installments of $500,
according to the court website. The probation and jail sentences were in lieu of three sentences of 1 to 15 years at the
Utah State Prison. According to court documents filed in 2011, Thomson is accused of taking money from several people
in Davis County stating it was a loan for his business and promising to pay them back at a high interest rate. The incidents
occurred in 2008 to 2011. Those people tried several times, unsuccessfully, to collect the money they loaned to Thomson for
his business. Contact reporter Loretta Park at 801-625-4252 or lpark@standard.net Wealthy Nigerians, Pastors Spend $225 million on Private
Jets May. 17 2011 - 12:32 pm | 0 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments By MFONOBONG
NSEHE, FORBES MAGAZINE http://blogs.forbes.com/mfonobongnsehe/2011/05/17/wealthy-nigerians-pastors-spend-225-million-on-private-jets/ Nigerian pastor and private jet owner David Oyedepo. (Image via Wikipedia) A few wealthy Nigerians spent at least $225 million acquiring private jets between March 2010 and
March 2011, a Nigerian newspaper reported on Monday. According to the report published by the Punch Newspaper, a couple of the acquisitions were
made by billionaires Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga. Last year, Dangote acquired a US$45 million Bombardier jet as a gift to himself on his 53rd birthday, while Mike
Adenuga purchased a Bombardier Global Express XRS. Both Dangote and Adenuga own at least two private planes each. Apart from wealthy business tycoons, Nigerian clergymen and spiritual leaders are also joining
the very elite league of jet owners. In March this year, David Oyedepo, a Nigerian cleric generally believed to be Africa’s wealthiest gospel preacher, acquired a Gulfstream V jet for US$30 million. Oyedepo, who
presides over the Winners Chapel, one of Africa’s largest churches, now owns a private collection of four aircraft. In addition to his latest acquisition,
he previously owned two Gulfstream planes and a Bombardier Challenger Aircraft. He is also reportedly creating a private hanger
to accommodate his flying toys. Oyedepo is not the only Nigerian clergyman to own a jet. Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the revered overseer
of Nigeria’s largest congregation, The Redeemed
Christian Church of God, is also a proud jet owner. In March 2009, the great man of God spent $30 million on a Gulfstream
jet amidst widespread criticism. Pastor Sam Adeyemi, another cleric and founder of the Daystar Christian center, a flourishing
Pentecostal congregation which repeatedly preaches financial prosperity, is also a jet owner. It’s not cheap to own a private jet. On average, it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars
annually to maintain a personal plane. The majority of Nigerians frown at such flagrant displays of opulence, particularly
on the path of their clergymen, given that 60% of Nigerians still live below the poverty line. Paradoxically, the same people who complain about the extravagant lifestyles of their spiritual
leaders are the same ones who finance it. Every Sunday, swarms of worshipers rush to the church to give away their hard-earned
money to the pastors’ coffers in the form of tithes, offerings and special gifts with the deluded hope of multiplied
financial blessings in return. For many, this is but a pipe dream. Deep down, the pastors smile; they’ve got just the
perfect suckers. J.
Parker, Another Tithing Abuse Story Published
with Permission, 5-5-2011 Dear
Brother Kelly,
I’d like to thank you for your work helping believers escape the bondage of tithing and the Old Testament Law. My wife and I suffered under that bondage for 15 years until I finally
took the initiative to research the claims of tithe-teachers myself. I came to the Lord when I was 21, started attending an
Assemblies of God Church, and faithfully gave 10% of my gross income to that church regardless of whether I could
afford it or not. Unable to afford it because my wife and I were raising 4 young children on a meager income, we
started to accumulate a lot of credit card debt. We approached our Pastor at the time who told us we had to tithe,
but that the church couldn’t help us out financially. We continued like this for years eventually ending up with
over $30,000 in credit card debt, mostly from buying groceries.
There were many times during those years that I questioned whether Christians needed to tithe, but would always run into opposition
from my wife, friends, and pastors. Several of our closest friends were Word of Faith people who operated under the fear
that if they didn’t tithe, they’d be cursed.
I used to work a job in a paper mill that required me to work 6 or usually 7 days a week, so I rarely felt I had time to study
God’s Word. In the long run, it cost me dearly. Eventually though, I grew disgusted with what I saw as abuse in the
church as I listened to pastors preach to poor people that, regardless of their circumstances, still needed to tithe.
After all, they’d say, “who knows what kind of trouble you’re saving yourself by tithing. Quit now and your
life will really get tough.”
After months of careful study, compiling my notes into a book and practicing what my arguments would be, I felt confident
enough to share with my wife, friends, and pastors what I had learned regarding tithing. My wife eagerly listened and eventually
saw the light. Most of my friends were so fearful of not tithing that they wouldn’t see the light unless their properly
ordained pastor told them they didn’t have to tithe. Most disappointing of all was the response I received from almost
every pastor I spoke with---5 of them absolutely refused to discuss the issue or even look at my copious notes. Over
the years, only 1 pastor of a very small fellowship read what became my book and changed his mind about tithing.
This has been a very discouraging battle for me. Prior to becoming a Christian, I was a devout Roman Catholic. You can imagine
the turmoil I endured as I explained to my parents that I was leaving the Catholic Church to attend a Protestant Church.
They were heartbroken and even considered not attending my protestant wedding because their Priest told them it would be a
sin for them to set foot in my church. I had to leave Catholicism though. I had always questioned authority and had I not
I’d still be Catholic today. This is why I have a hard time with the people I know not wanting to question tithing.
Many of these friends came out of Catholicism as I had, but it’s as though, once they became protestant, they quit questioning
everything. They’ll believe anything their pastor tells them. Your
Fellow laborer in Christ, J.
Parker P.S.
I love your book. HORROR
STORY FROM USA UPPER MIDWEST April 21, 2011: My name is … and I am writing from …. Have been researching tithing and
am convinced that I have been deceived. I should have read the bible more rather than listen to the ministers. They
said at church that God works on the multiplication principle. To be a member of the church I was expected to tithe and not
tell anyone they did not have to tithe. If anyone told others they did not have to tithe they were asked to leave the
church. And I was to be in subjection to the authorities over me. I
do not know what to do now. My … career is shattered, pension gone, savings gone, and out of work for almost ..
Years and on the edge of losing my home. I am … years old, a woman alone, and have worked and supported myself
forever, and grew up in poverty. I cannot even come up with words to explain what I feel or think. I
have been a teacher for .. years and now have nothing to show for my entire life of work. Can't even believe that this
has happened to me. I
would rather be dead than life like this for the rest of my life. Have spent half my life as a Christian and have basically
worked myself to death to give money to a church and lived in fear and poverty. I
just do not even want to ever go back into a church. It all seems like witchcraft and demonic spirits. I do not
even know why I am writing you. Your writings have helped me and I just want to live in the truth and do it God's way. The
money is gone. Thousands and thousands for years and years. Thinking God wants souls and we are to serve God and
He would somehow multiply it all like the loaves and fishes and that I have treasures in heaven and am rich toward God. How
do I now access this treasure I have in heaven. How do I ever recover? Maybe
you could pray for me or something. Feel like I have been in a cult and brainwashed. How long will this take before
I can ever be normal? It seems like all I think about now is that I am robbing from God because I am not tithing and that
God will nor protect or provide. I need a miracle from God. Anyway,
thanks for your writings.
I was in a minor car accident
that was not my fault. … I was told by a so called "pastor" in the church that I was in an accident because I
didn't tithe my full 10%. Can you believe this manipulating, intimidating craziness!?!? … Now I'm realizing
what I was a part of was cultic in many ways. I guess I should be thankful that I am out and free. … Shouldn't
there be a law against this garbage?? Thank you for all of your research and writings. Anonymous July 2010
G.
Dewey Friedel, Shore Christian Center Prosperity Church Failure
SHORE CHRISTIAN CENTER, Squankum Rd, Wall, NJ With membership
high, the church borrowed $4.5 million, refinancing previous debt and spending some for needed renovations on the original
building. "We are not too small to accomplish this forty million dollar project." Elder Joseph
Raspanti of Brielle said any member was always free to raise questions, but he also believes that objecting to decisions would
display a lack of faith. "When you give to the church, you give what you believe belongs to God. To give it, and then say,
"I don't like the way it's being used.' That's not tithing," Raspanti said. Tithing Insurance: If you lose something or hve something stolen at church
and waive the deductible, you can collect $750.00 tithe insurance. Courier-Journal.com Louisville, Kentucky -- Southern Indiana http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090926/NEWS01/909270329/Christian-only+insurance+benefits+hit+snag+in+Kentucky Christian-only insurance benefits hit snag in Kentucky Anthony Baize of Sellersburg, Ind.,
was shopping for a homeowner’s policy in 2006 when he saw an interesting offer from GuideOne Mutual Insurance Co. nefits
and discounts for “churchgoers.” Nick Valenzuela was looking for renter’s insurance for his Louisville apartment when he saw the same “FaithGuard”
deal offering $750 in “tithe” insurance for policyholders who are disabled, and waiving the deductible for property
lost or stolen at church. But the policies didn’t seem right to Baize, an atheist, or to Valenzuela, an agnostic, because the benefits the
company and its agents advertized are available only to Christian churchgoers, according to court records. They filed complaints with the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and later the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, alleging discrimination based on religion by the West
Des Moines, Iowa, company and two agencies that sell its policies in Louisville and Lexington. On Sept. 18, the U.S. Justice Department announced a settlement in which GuideOne, Young Insurance Agency of Louisville
and Lee Insurance Agency of Lexington agreed to pay $45,000 in civil penalties — plus $29,500 to Baize, Valenzuela and
to the Lexington Fair Housing Council, which investigated their complaints. The settlement, which must be approved by the court, also requires GuideOne, which marketed the FaithGuard endorsement
in at least 18 other states, to stop selling the policy anywhere in the United States and to train agents on their responsibilities under the U.S. Fair Housing Act, which
the Justice Department had accused the company of violating. “All individuals have the right to secure homeowners and renters insurance without regard to their religious beliefs,”
Loretta King, acting assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, said in a prepared statement. Melany Stonewall, a spokeswoman for GuideOne confirmed that the company had settled the suit and will phase out the
coverage in homeowners and renters policies by mid-2010. She said it disputed that its coverage was discriminatory or violated
federal law.(2 of 2) Stonewall said the GuideOne policy endorsement applies to any house of worship, including mosques or synagogues, not just churches. The policy provision, which is available at no additional cost, doubles medical payments
if the policyholder is injured in an accident on the way to or from church. It also pays $750 toward tithing or church donations
if the policyholder is disabled at home, according to the suit The Justice Department’s lawsuit said such benefits are not available to non-churchgoing
policyholders, or to those who suffered a loss that wasn’t related to a church activity. The suit said that an agent in the Lexington agency told a tester for the Lexington
Fair Housing Council that FaithGuard provides benefits “if an individual goes to church or is a Christian.” The application for homeowners and renters insurance from GuideOne included a space
for the applicant’s religious denomination, and prospective customers were required to sign a statement verifying the
information, which “is material to the company in determining whether they accept this application,” according
to the suit. The suit said Young Insurance Agency sold the renter’s policy with FaithGuard. Baize left a message declining to comment on the case, and Valenzuela could not be reached
for comment. Another company spokeswoman said in 2006 that 46,000 customers nationwide had FaithGuard
coveragefor their homes or autos, and its president and CEO said their popularity proved that “Americans who attend
church regularly also are in the market for insurance that understands their beliefs and needs.” The company said at the time that it insured more than 43,000 churches, and that FaithGuard
was developed as a natural extension of its business to offer coverage for the more than 90 million people who attend church
regularly in the U.S. Reporter Andrew Wolfson can be reached at (502) 582-7189.
African
women prostitute themselves to afford ‘tithes’ May
5, 2009 http://groupsects.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/african-women-prostitute-themselves-to-afford-tithes/ GROUP
SECTS (3RD PARAGRAPH
ONLY) People are now paying for prayers; paying for praising and worshiping their heavenly Father. No wonder ladies are going
into fornication and/or prostitution in order to pay their tithes and offerings, some of which are up to eight (if not more),
alongside forceful vows and other levies. In the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) led by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, there
are divisions: Yoruba caucus, Igbo caucus, Delta/Edo caucus, etc; everybody fighting for his selfish interest; not the preaching
of the gospel of salvation, which our Lord Jesus Christ upheld. MISSIONARIES REFUSE TO BAPTIZE NON-TITHER WHO FULLY SUPPORTS SIX ORPHANS December 17, 2008 I
flipped my lid when I read this today. I told the pastor that he should go to hell. Forgive me if you disagree but I am serious.
They thought that they had consigned Pablo to hell because he could not tithe and they would not baptize him. The following
is a small portion of the blog.
http://hermanajensen.blogspot.com/ Hermana
Stacey Jensen
Pablo
fell because he cannot commit to pay his tithing. Talk about a shock that we didn't see coming… he was totally on board
when we taught tithing, but it turns out that he's not after all. It's not because he doesn't want to share his money, it's
that he wants to share it his way. When this problem came to light, we also learned that he takes care of 6 abandoned and
battered little boys. He buys their clothes, pays for them to go to a psychologist, and for their medicine and all that jazz.
He does this with his own money. So the issue is that he doesńt want to pay tithing because he says he wońt be
able to keep caring for these 6 little boys. He is all about serving, but he wants to be able to use his tithing in his
own foster home project. We told him that Heavenly Father would bless him to be able to pay his tithing and still be able
to care for these little boys and left him with the eternal homework to "pray about it." So his baptismal date fell, but fell
hard core because we weren't able to just take out another date right then for the following weekend, rather his date fell
and fell into the "eternal investigador" category where it's like the group of people that will surely get baptized someday,
but not this transfer, not when Íll be able to see it happen. ...................................... BLACK SHEEP AFTER
READING MY BOOK David N.; 2-23-08 TITHING ABUSE STORY I am writing this with a broken
heart. I am all alone and all isolated since reading your book (I am not finished yet) and others online. I have tried to
talk to people at my church whom I thought were my friends about tithing and financial unaccountability. This is a Word of Faith church
and Kenneth Copeland and his wife are here for a week of meetings. [The wrong part] I am not doing
everything right. I am lashing out, actually reaching out for support and friendship. I just want to talk to somebody
but no leader will talk to me about it. they shut me off and have blacklisted me in the church. I try to talk to my friends
but they have to choose carefully whom they will remain loyal to. Everyone is backing away and telling me they are praying
for me or think I am in danger or on the wrong road, etc. I am all alone. My wife is really
having a hard time. She is trying to be loyal to me but is in the choir and being fed different things from the other side. It is really touch on her. I need help. Who can I turn to? I guess I can’t change my church or my friends (who aren’t friends any more
or soon won’t be). It doesn’t seem to be an issue where you can agree to disagree or compromise and meet in the
middle. It is either their way or the highway and that makes me wrong, immature and a rebel. Help. MORMON
TITHES STOLEN MONEY Deseret Morning News, Ogden, Utah http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695250905,00.html Drastically
reduced and edited by Russell Kelly. The abuse
here is that tithing is so ingrained that the person wanted to keep God's blessings so he tithed that which he had stolen. Ogden Man Charged with Real Estate Fraud Utah Attorney
General filed charges against Val Edmund Southwick for $140 million dollars. VesCor
Capital was a massive Ponzi scheme lasted 17 years before May 2006. New investments were used to pay old real estate investments. Investigators
said Southwick touted himself as a respectable LDS gentleman --- a devout Mormon. He used
the money to pay for his personal mortgage, massages, vacation, LDS TITHING, moving costs and attorneys’ fees. http://www.getreligion.org/?p=2890#comments Judy Willingham says: Hi, When I had trouble
paying my bills, I was told I should tithe first. When my electricity was turned off I was told I didn’t have
enough faith, or that I had hidden sin. When I asked the church for help, I had to fill out enough papers to choke a horse
and made to feel like I was stealing from God. It was the Catholic Church in my area that helped me more times than
I can remember. (I’ve never been Catholic). In 2005 I had
a wreck (even though I had been tithing) and was hurt. Two surgeries on my knee made it almost impossible to wear heels,or
anything besides tennis shoes, so I quit going to church because it hurt to walk. My car was totaled and I had to buy a new-used
car. In buying the car, my first consideration was would I still be able to afford to tithe if I buy this car. I bought a
4-yr old 2001 Suzuki, hoping I would still be able to tithe. Car payments,
on top of tithing just did not work for me. I started missing my tithe payments and eventually quit mailing them in. Earlier this year,
I was crying out to God on my knees, in my bedroom! Begging him to forgive me for not tithing, and for “robbing”
him. He led my back to my Bible in Malachi 2-3, Malachi is talking to the PRIESTS of that day who were keeping the best of
the tithe. I couldn’t believe I had read those scriptures for years and years and there it was. . .right in front of
me. Then I dug in
and started researching and telling my story. At that point I had officially quit tithing in my heart. I wasn’t going
to send any more money to the church. A complete stranger read my story on one website and contacted the website owner to
send me $500. He just wanted to send me a blessing. . ..I can’t begin to tell you how much of a blessing that was. Then
in August I received a financial settlement that had been long overdue. If I had received it before, I would have sent 10%
to the church. Also, I recently received a substantial raise at work. And it looks like next month I will finally be able
to own my own home. All this AFTER I quit tithing. May I say too,
that I have come to realize that the Prosperity Gospel is a pack of lies, and twisted scripture. Sataline’s report states
that Steve Sorensen advocates tithing because then you are under God’s “protection.” Then please explain
this, my best friend was an avid Chirstian woman. She died 5 years ago of cancer. She tithed, gave offerings and I never saw
her let that plate go by without putting something extra in it. I literally saw her take the shoes off her feet and give them
to someone who needed shoes. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and was very active in her cell group. She fought
such a hard fight to live. But it wasn’t meant to be. Why? Did she not have enough faith, hidden sin? What would you
tell her husband? two young daughters? her parents? Friends? After googling
every preacher on TBN, for example “john hagee false teacher” and seeing the over the top lavish lifestyle of
greed these pastors live, I got mad. When I gave my money to the different ministries, I wasn’t counting on it going
to line the pockets of these mega televangelists. It is obscene. I sat at my computer
and cried my eyes out at watching the videos on www.false-teachers.com. How that must be such dung in the eyes of God. The whole thing was such a shock to me, that it is
all such a money scam. I am so grateful
that God cared enough about me to remove me from that apostate church. Now, I firmly believe that God has given Hagee over
to a reprobate mind. He obviously believes a lie, given the heresy he’s been saying lately, like “Jesus did not
come to be the Messiah” so he can promote his latest book. I lost friends
when I walked away from that church. In a way, I lost my identity since I had been involved in severaly ministries too. I’ve
had to re-learn everything about the Bible. My cell leaders, who profess to love me, told me that I had LOST MY SALVATION
and CURSED MY CHILDREN because I quit tithing. Then they refused to speak to me about it any more. . ..it was not open for
ANY discussion. Just a little cultish wouldn’t you say? Now, I’m
grateful that I’m out. I see the brain-washing I got and wonder how I could have sat there for so long in such a delusion
(It must have been the Kool Aid). I have asked God for forgiveness for seeking his hand and not his face, and I have repented
for ever going to a place like Cornerstone. I’ve had
people tell me all the good things that Hagee has done in the world. Most churches have done good things. But the greed is
more than I can stand. One table in GETV cost more than I make in two years. Why? Because money says your successful? I think
not, from what I’ve read, Jesus would have said, “sell it and give it to the poor.” About 3-4 years
ago Hagee has us start paying off the church debt. It was somewhere around $30 million and he said that he “didn’t
want to leave the next generation a huge debt.” This new payment was over and above the tithe and offering. Now that
the debt is nearly paid, Hagee has bought a private jet. Jets are very expensive to maintain. In closing, I
like Senator Grassley’s analogy of “Jesus rode a humble donkey”, why do these preachers need jets and fancy
cars? Jesus could have been carried everywhere in a golden chariot, but he chose to walk or ride a donkey, why should it be
different for these preachers? They say they do so much for us but when was the last time you got to speak directly to your
pastor? Is he/she covered by body guards (why do you need body guards to go to church?) Is your pastor always off traveling
or on speaking engagements? I still give.
I have always loved to give. But now, the poor in my community have my heart. I also give to a hospital that never turns a
child away for not being able to pay. One last question.
Where is the faith of the preacher? Why can’t he/she preach the Word correctly that Paul taught us to “give as
you purpose in your heart” and “give cheerfully?” Let the people give and let the preacher have faith that
God will meet his/her needs. Judy U. S. SENATE INVESTIGATION http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Lavish_lifestyles_of_televangelists_raise_eyebrows_1106.html Lavish televangelist lifestyles raise eyebrows
at Senate Finance Committee
The reportedly extravagant
lifestyles of six television evangelists are raising some eyebrows at the Senate Finance Committee, which wants to know if
the popular preachers are paying their fair share in taxes. Sen. Charles Grassley, the
committee's ranking Republican, has written letters to the evangelists, asking that they "disclose their assets, spending
practices, compensation plans and business arrangements," according the Wall Street Journal's Suzanne Sataline. "The letters aren't formal subpoenas, and the six aren't required
to reply." Although religious organizations
themselves are not required to pay federal taxes, any for-profit ventures a church may engage in are not similarly exempt.
"Mr. Grassley said his investigation
was prompted by complaints from watchdog groups and others that the ministers live in multimillion-dollar homes, travel on
private jets and engage in profit-making ventures from their ministries," reports the Journal, adding that the senator said
he would withhold judgment until he got "the story from the ministries." Evangelists receiving letters
from Grassley were Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer and Paula White. Spokespersons for
Dollar, Hinn and Meyer all denied any wrongdoing in statements to CBS News. CBS also reports that Sen.
Grassley's letters were prompted in part by Ole Anthony, an investigator with the Trinity Foundation, a religious watchdog group that probes
potential fraud among religious groups. "We've been working with
them for two years," Anthony told CBS. "We have furnished them with enough information to fill a small Volkswagen." According to the Wall Street
Journal, the ministers under scrutiny are all "prosperity theology adherents who preach that wealth is a sign of God's favor." "Ministers who espouse prosperity
theology promote themselves as conduits for God's blessings, saying that believers will reap benefits as long as they give
generously to the ministries," continued the Journal."Most evangelical ministers urge believers to donate, but don't link
donations to earthly wealth."
..................................... http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/06/cbsnews_investigates/main3456977.shtml (CBS) This story was written
and reported by Laura Strickler of the CBS News Investigative Unit. By Laura Strickler © MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.savannahnow.com/node/396346
11-11-2007 IRS has set guidelines The
Internal Revenue Service treats churches generally the same as nonprofit organizations. To keep their tax-exempt
status, both are prohibited from making large profits or providing a substantial benefit to for-profit interests. Churches
and nonprofits also are forbidden from attempting to influence legislation or political campaigns. Most
churches fall well within those guidelines, said Michael Broyde, professor at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. "Churches
have nothing to worry about if their expenditures are vaguely reasonable and the standard of living of their pastors is within
the norm," he said. The
"norm" is usually at the discretion of church leaders and depends on the local cost of living and salary range of parishioners
and colleagues, Broyde said. Religious
groups might jeopardize their tax-exempt status if they use it to compete with private business or substantially benefit a
member of the organization. Examples
of prohibited activities include "payment of dividends, the payment of unreasonable compensation to insiders, and transferring
property to insiders for less than fair market value," according to the IRS. .... In
October, three former professors at Oral Roberts University filed a wrongful-dismal lawsuit against the school. The suit includes allegations of
extravagant spending by the Roberts family. It describes a $39,000 shopping tab at one store for Richard Roberts' wife, Lindsay, a $29,411 senior trip to the Bahamas on the university jet for one of the Roberts' daughters, and a stable of horses for the Roberts' children. The Associated Press reported that university President Richard Roberts, the son of evangelist Oral Roberts, disputed the allegations of overspending but has taken a leave of absence pending
an investigation.
KENYA, AFRICA The East African Standard (Nairobi) 12 November 2007 Mangoa Mosota, Nairobi The sprouting of countless charismatic churches in the country
has heralded a new breed of church leaders and worshippers with strong faith in the power of miracles. An increasing number of Kenyans are turning to 'sowing the seed'
(giving huge sums of money for offering and tithe) at the prompting of church ministers who promise them to expect prosperity. However, it appears there are 'men and women of God' who are
out to take advantage of the unwavering faith and ignorance of worshippers. These are people who hide self-interest under
the cloak of religion. They quote biblical verses to suit their intentions and convince the congregation of the need to give
more in order to receive more. Indeed, many Kenyans have sad tales to tell after being convinced
to 'sow seeds.' A woman who only wanted to be identified as Evelyn said last year she sold her property and took a bank loan
at the prompting of her pastor. "He told me to invest in the work of God so that he could miraculously
secure me a job within a month. In total, I gave him Sh120,000," said Evelyn, 35, who is still jobless even after the promise
of a miracle. Evelyn said she realised that the preacher was conning her after
she discovered that there were many members of her church who the pastor had promised instant miracles, but are still waiting.
Some have been waiting for five years. "I am distraught and confused. I don't know whether to sue or
confront him in public," lamented Evelyn. Miracle merchants Stella Wanjiku told Crazy Monday earlier this year that she
saw a white man preaching in Spanish on Aga Khan Walk, Nairobi. "His lunch time sermon was then translated into English and Kiswahili
by two other people," said Wanjiku. "I was perplexed when he said that he could cure people living
with HIV/Aids by just touching them," said Wanjiku, a secretary with a Nairobi company. For Jonathan Wambasi last year provided a moment of disbelief
when he saw a former schoolmate on TV getting 'healed' after suffering a 'lifelong' physical disability. The man on crutches had 'healed miraculously' after being
prayed for by one of the well-known preachers in Nairobi. "I grew up with the man and he was born without any disability," Wambasi says. He met the former schoolmate later on the streets of Nairobi and asked him about the 'miraculous' incident. "Wachana nami. Hapo ndipo nakulia. Usiamini miujiza yote ya kanisa,"
Wambasi's friend retorted (Let me be. That is where I get my daily bread. Do not believe in all church miracles). From that day, Wambasi has been doubting church ministers who
claim to perform miracles. Many men and women of God have paraded people they claim to
have been previously suffering from HIV/Aids, who they claim to have healed. Mid last year, Prophetess Lucy Nduta of Salvation
Healing Ministry appeared in a Nairobi court accused of defrauding people living with the scourge. Many people claimed that they had paid her for the healing. Nduta
was charged with obtaining money from HIV/Aids patients in the pretext that he could heal them. In May, the wife of Kenyan evangelist Gilbert Deya, Mary,
was sentenced to two years in jail by a Nairobi court
for stealing a child. Mary claimed that one of her two accomplices had given birth
to the child, but the court proved the woman was not the biological mother. "The actions and claims of miraculous birth deserve no mercy,"
said the magistrate who made the ruling. Relevant Links |
Deya runs a number of churches in UK cities and says he aids infertile couples by prayer. Kenyan police allege the Gilbert Deya Ministries is an international baby-snatching ring, allegations Deya denies. Some children were taken into care when DNA tests showed they were not related to women claiming to be their mothers.
Conversion strategies
The men and women of God have given themselves titles such as archbishop, apostle, prophet (or prophetess), evangelist or bishop. Others call themselves 'Dr' yet nobody can tell which university gave them the title. The names of the churches are equally amazing, with most of their titles promising miracles and predicting doom for non-believers or the second coming of Jesus.
Minister Sentenced for Theft Sep
12 2007 8:38AM Associated Press Condensed and Edited by Russell E Kelly ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) A former Aberdeen minister has been given a suspended jail sentence for stealing money from a church member with Alzheimer's disease.
Edward
Maciorowski who recently moved to Wisconsin pleaded
guilty to theft by exploitation. The victim's lawyer says Maciorowski could have gotten up to $200,000 from the impaired woman in the past 6 years.
The lawyer says it's hard to tell
when the minister began taking advantage of the woman who was tithing $600 a week to the church and gave Maciorowski a car and spending money.
The Brown County prosecutor says he's not sure how much money the minister
took from the woman. Maciorowski who was pastor of the Living Word Bible
Church pleaded guilty to theft of no more than $1,000. He'll be
on probation from a year, must do community service and may no longer contact the woman.
‘Fraudster’ Blames Hillsong
The Australian, Sept 19, 2007
www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0.25197,22303984-5013404,00.htm.
……………………….
How it began. In 1998 over 100 members of Hillsong contacted a church member when they discovered that he was a property developer. They sought and he afterwards promised a 25% return on their investment.
Now Robert Orehek, a 45 year old property developer, has been accused of fleecing mostly members of Hillsong Church in Australia of $25 million dollars after his business collapsed in 2003.
Orehek claims that it was the Pentecostal materialistic ethos [of the prosperity gospel] preached at Hillsong that made him do it.
While in court on August 24, 2007 the judge, James Bennett, said that Orehek’s actions reflected someone who believed “perhaps with a little trust in God it will all work out at the end of the month.”
Speaking in defense of Orehek was Consumer Advocate Neil Jenman who had built a reputation usually fighting against people like Orehek who were unscrupulous property frauds. Jenman said that Orehek was a “dreadfully inept businessman” and “not particularly intelligent” but he did not set out to deceive investors.
Hillsong’s executive pastor, Joel A’Bell, along with pastor David Crafts combined lost $540.000.
Orehek, who had been attending Hillsong twice a week for five years, was shocked when he was told in February 2004 that he could no longer enter the building for worship. Brian Houston, the founder of Hillsong, defended the ban in writing by saying “We maintain our right to ask anyone displaying predatory behavior to cease attending our church …”
Orehek was charged with four counts of fraud and using $150, 000 of investor funds for personal use.
...................................
African Prosperity Churches: Gospel Riches From Christianity Today, July 2007 [This is less than 5% of the article.] Pages 22-23 show a church in Nigeria and describes the pastor
standing up from a golden colored chair wearing a glittery green gown and facing 4000 members in a church with all modern
video equipment and laser-light strands. On page 24 we are told that most African Christians
believe that God grants material prosperity to believers who have enough faith. “The
African Big Man idea honors rich powerful leaders such as prosperity preachers.” Page 25: People turn it (TV) on and assume that
TBN is American Christianity and Americans know everything so why not listen to it.” TBN, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Hagin,
TD Jakes, and Kenneth Copeland are their heroes of the faith. Page 27: “A religion of hope gleams brightly
against the backdrop of African poverty. Currently 315 million sub-Saharan Africans live on less than a dollar a day. …
The average life expectancy throughout the continent is 41 years.. One in three Africans suffers malnutrition. The prosperity gospel offers a picture of
an ideal life in the midst of neighborhoods wracked by poverty, gang violence, sub-standard education and pervasive drug and
alcohol abuse. Yet it rarely, if ever, changes the real-life picture in those neighborhoods. Page 28:
It plays into the African cultures already existing urge to communicate with the supernatural. … For many divine
provision in the face of lawlessness, ramshackle living conditions and other urban quagmires makes intellectual faith alone
seem stale. Page: 29: There is a photo of a 54,000 seat church
in Nigeria. … “Prosperity for most Africans means to have a roof over their heads and clothes.” ……………………………………….. Tithing-Study group friends: I partially blame a lot of this on the acceptance
of tithing by mainstream churches. The prosperity preachers unanimously BEGIN with tithing and go from there. Russell Earl Kelly
Uganda: The Pastor's Holy Spirit Shock Tricks and Tithing The Monitor (Kampala) OPINION 15
July 2007 http://allafrica.com/stories/200707160735.html Rodney
Muhumuza Kampala In the wake of rising cases of worshippers accusing their pastors of extortion, fraud and
other dubious conduct, born again city businessman John Katto has spoken out to reveal the schemes employed by some Pentecostal
clerics to "keep followers inside" a web of ignorance. In an interview with Sunday Monitor, Mr Katto, who became a born again Christian in December
2004, revealed how some pastors have used the "manipulation plus intimidation and judgement" equation to keep their congregations
blinded and unable to leave churches that are clearly suspicious. "We have a few good pastors and many bad ones." Illiterate pastors Mr Katto, a trailblazer who led several initiatives in the Ugandan media, said "In fact, many
of these [pastors] cannot read or even be able to tell you a few verses in the Bible." NEW REVELATIONS: New converts, he said, are the most vulnerable to manipulation, especially when pastors claim
that "you will be cursed" if tithe is not paid. According to Mr Katto, 47, "people end up paying tithe using even borrowed
money" because of "coercion". Even those who need counselling, Mr Katto explained, "are expected to pay money and the bigger
their problem the more money they are expected to pay". The church of one Muwanguzi, a cleric with a fearsome reputation, has been accused of commercialising
church proceedings. According to Mr Katto, "at Pastor Muwanguzi's church, on Entebbe Road, they have envelopes. If your problem is big and you need to be prayed for quickly, the amount of money is Shs100,000". According to Mr Katto, the basic trick of the manipulative pastors is to project themselves
to their victims as substitutes to God. "Then you are judged, especially when it comes to things like finances, and giving."
Mr Katto, who converted to Pentecostalism at Pastor Isaac Kiweweesi's Kansanga Miracle Cathedral, said after the pastors have
projected themselves as glorious "substitutes" for God, they inspire fear and loyalty among followers who are likely to be
desperate for quick miracles. "When [pastors] start churches, they feel that for them to grow they have to pull people in
and when they are in, to find a way of holding them in," Mr Katto said. "So instead of using the church to liberate them from
the oppressions they have been facing, they instead add a few. So [people] are held in." ……… The NFBAPC says that although there are 20,000 churches for born again Christians countrywide,
only 1,020 have joined the fellowship. Within NFBAPC, there is agreement that because the activities of the Pentecostals are
not regulated and monitored, "dirty" undertakings have gone unreported. Interest into the activities of churches for born again Christians peaked last week after
the arrest at Entebbe Airport of Obiri Yeboah Kojo, the Ghanaian born Kampala pastor who was interrogated by police over an
"electric touch" gadget that he attempted to clear into the country. Police crackdown Police suspected the gadget, which is marketed on the Internet as a miracle-maker,
was to be used by Mr Kojo to shock unsuspecting worshippers to make them falsely believe the Holy Spirit is entering them.
Some pastors, including the crusading Solomon Male, have called for an independent inquiry into the activities of the Pentecostals,
going beyond merely probing Kojo and Kitaka. According to Mr Katto, "we have come to that tragic point" where pastors have turned the
Church into a "money basket". He said pastors' "sale of miracles" has enabled them lead flamboyant lifestyles, including
the ability to become "the best clients in Kampala's boutiques". Said Mr Katto: "Pastors have made themselves look like substitutes for God and so people look
to pastors for their needs rather than to God. Fortunately, I have been lucky to be open-minded, so I have not fallen for
these [tricks]." Mr Katto pioneered private radio broadcasting in Uganda by setting up Radio Sanyu in 1993. He also introduced colour newspaper printing by bringing the first
colour separation equipment that all the city's papers used before developing their own capacity. Katto now manages a printing
business. Concluded the media trailblazer: "Born again Christians are better off "building personal
relationships with God...the dependence we have on pastors is just not right".
Posted to the web 16 July 2007
BARF TIME: WHY BOOKS LIKE THIS ARE NEEDED.
WCFcourier .com Waterloo, Iowa; Support payments
The Cedar
Valleys Home Page
Friday, August 5, 2005
The Living Word
Tabernacle in Waverly, Ohio, terminated the membership of Loretta Davis recently, according to a July report by WCMH-TV in
Columbus, because she had stopped paying her tithe. Davis' contributions ended in January after she was hospitalized the first
of 15 times this year for congestive heart failure. The church's founder said non-member Davis could still attend, but Davis'
daughter said, "In the time of (her) need, (the church) should be caring, supporting, asking what she needs, help her if she
needed help." When healthier, Davis was donating $60 a month out of her $592 Social Security check.
TITHING ABUSE STORY #1 OF
10, 000, 000++ This e-mail from “T” is in my possession
and portions have been shared by its writer to the Tithing-Study group at Yahoo.com. Underlines supplied by me. I have always been a tithe-payer since learning
about it in church. I have always tried to pay my tithes faithfully since that time. Even when I was on welfare I tithed.
… When I could pay my tithes consistently I felt safe in God, but when I could not I felt like something bad would
happen to me and my kids and God would not meet our needs. We were told to
tithe off of our gross and not our net. The preacher would say that if Uncle Sam got his off the gross, then why shouldn’t
God. As for an offering I was told to give above my tithes. … I was a single
mom with two kids and I just couldn’t do that. So I would give an offering as the Lord would lay it on my heart. What made me start seeking the Lord about the
truth concerning tithes was when I was still struggling after paying my tithes! I was told to give out of my need and
God will bless you (make a sacrifice and watch God move). When I did that it still didn’t work. Mind you because
of God’s goodness He still would meet my needs… [even when unable to tithe] I would go to church and they would have these
$100, $500 and $1000 money lines. If you had the money you would get a special prayer and God would move for you in 3, 5 or
7 days. Then they would tell the rest of us to come up and bring what you have. Most times we didn’t get prayed for
--just a tap on the hand or a touch on the head. Imagine how that made us feel --like what we had to give God was not
good enough to give. There have been times when so-called Prophets
would come into town. This one particular instance this lady asked if anyone would like a prayer cloth and two women stood
up to get one. As they did this she said “The price is $15.00.” You should have seen the look on their faces.
They were disappointed and they quickly sat down. In another instance I was invited by a friend
to see a well-known Prophet. They had a money line also. Then they told the rest of us to give what we had. I only
had $20 and needed it to get to work. I was going to give $10 but couldn’t get change. Then the prophet’s spouse
said for nobody to leave without giving something. All of a sudden I felt the spirit of dread over me like something
bad was going to happen to me (like I wasn’t going to make it home safely) if I didn’t give the money. So I gave
it. … Mr. Kelly, I am a giver and will continue
to give, but by the leading of the Holly Spirit and with wisdom. What the enemy wanted was for me to get so angry and
frustrated about tithing that I wouldn’t give at all. Thank God for leading me to the truth. Your web site and others have confirmed some things in my heart after reading Hebrews, 2 Cor 8 & 9,
the book of Acts (which really showed how the people of God should give) and other scriptures. This type of giving is not
being done in most churches today. What I realize is that people pick and choose what they want from the Bible for their gain. I just want the truth.
2-12-2007 ……………………………………….. Yes. You definitely can quote me, Mr. Kelly. It will be my pleasure. This type of thing is happening a lot in the DC area, especially
in the African American churches. … They will come back and tell you their quota for Sunday was not met and they
will literally beg you to give more when they know you don’t have it. … I have seen “prophets” tell people
that “Don’t let me expose you and tell the exact amount and where the money is in your pocket book.” That
is their way of scaring people into giving. I can remember thinking “Thank
God I don’t have any money.” I didn’t want to die like Ananias and Sapphira. I was a babe in Christ then.
One woman I know personally got evicted because
she would pay her tithes and offerings over paying her rent. She had to live with another friend of ours until she could get
back on her feet. This is why people leave the church and never
come back! They become angry with God when these so-called blessings don’t
manifest like the pastor and prophet said they would. They’re doing this stuff in Jesus’ name and making a
mockery out of Christianity. The Bible says woe to these pastors who scatter the sheep. I stopped going to church for a while, but I
still prayed, read my Bible and communed with other Christians. I don’t boast on myself but I boast in the power of
the Holy Spirit who will keep those who truly belong to him. I know others who
have done this same thing. They refuse to go back because they are tired of the mess in the church and they just want God.
Plus the Holy Spirit is not there! If it wasn’t for Jesus and His hand upon our life we would be in a backslidden state. Thanks again and God be with you. 2-13-7