I grew up in the 80's and 90's where all you heard about was "Donate your money and make a difference to those children in Africa who need your love and support." My grandma had her favorite preacher who she did send money too often. I bet you too know someone who must support the cause.
From Joel Osteen to Kenneth Copeland and Pat Robertson you may begin to wonder why there are still poor individuals struggling in the world and, Yes even Africa. Let us look at a few of these Megga Ministers and assess where their heart lies.
Now there are Real Missonaries that are working the ground and spreading what Truth they know. They work hard to plant the seed and it is up to us to grow it into the Tree of Life that Yah requires us to seek. We are going to look at a few of the multi-millionair preachers and compare Scripture. This is truly one large reason of what is wrong in today's society.
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 24:24 For there shall arise false Mashiachiym,(messiah's), and false prophets, and shall grow great signs and wonders; so much so that , if it were possible,they shall deceive the very elect.
Kepha Ri'shon (2 Peter) 2:1-3
1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying YAHUAH that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of who the Way of Truth shall be evil spoken of.
3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you; whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.
Joel Osteen:
1. The 54-year-old pastor has an estimated net worth of $40 million and is listed as the fifth richest pastor in America, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
2. When the first, “Your Best Life Now,” nabbed a spot on the New York Times best-seller list in 2005, Osteen gave up his $200,000 church salary.
3.His second book, another best-seller, earned him an estimated $13 million, according Celebrity Net Worth. What’s more, tours and other merchandise associated with the books, generates a reported $55 million a year.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/joel-osteen-opens-doors-houston-megachurch-harvey-victims-article-1.3452261
4. Charity Report: Did Not Disclose
http://www.give.org/charity-reviews/national/religious/joel-osteen-ministries-in-houston-tx-24569
5. "Church Runs Like a Business": We have to be good stewards of God's money, so we run it by sound, solid business principles," said Osteen, who this year stopped taking his $200,000 salary from the church and instead lives on profits from sales of his best-selling book, Your Best Life Now, which has sold 2.8 million copies.
The documents show revenue for the 2004 fiscal year of $54 million, including $3.4 million from the church bookstore, which sells religious videos, CDs and books.
Records also show:
•It owns and operates KTBU Channel 55, "The Tube," a local television station that features religious shows and retro programming like Gunsmoke and I Love Lucy. •Employees have access to retirement plans. •It has had a multimillion-dollar line of credit at Northern Trust Bank and has seven-figure investments in securities.. •Lakewood structured a sophisticated $60 million construction loan with Bank of America to revamp its new home at the former Compaq Center using collateral pledges from its members, a deed of trust on its northeast Houston campus and a life insurance policy for Joel Osteen. •The church has successfully sued to protect Joel Osteen's name as a valuable trademark. •Osteen, who lives in a home appraised at $2.3 million in the ritzy Tanglewood neighborhood, is listed as president of Lakewood Church, a nonprofit organization. (A spokesman for the church noted that Osteen paid $380,000 for the home when he bought it, though it has since been remodeled.)
http://www.chron.com/business/article/Big-budget-supports-Lakewood-s-higher-calling-1920840.php
Pat Robertson
1. Net Worth $100 Million
2. Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson, son of U.S. Senator A. Willis Robertson, served as a Southern Baptist minister for many years before carving out a career as a media mogul and executive chairman. Robertson is host of "The 700 Club," the flagship program of the Christian Broadcasting Network, which Robertson launched in 1960 in Virginia Beach, VA.
3.Robertson was instrumental in building a number of organizations committed to promoting conservative Christian ideals. He is the founder, CEO, and chancellor of what we know today as Regent University. He also established the American Center for Law & Justice, a major public interest law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/8-richest-pastors-in-america.aspx?p=3#SD41jbXHAl32yKgK.99
4. Charity Navigator rates:
Overall Score & Rating 85.61 Financial 85.24 Accountability & Transparency 86.00
https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3498
5. Numbers:
Highest Compensation $400,278 Total Revenue:$ 308 MPrivate Donations$183 MOther Income$125 MTotal Expenses:$315 MCharitable Services $271 MManagement & General $16 MFundraising $28 MSurplus/Loss-$7 MNet Assets$141 MCharitable Commitment 86%Fundraising Efficiency 85% Donor Dependency 104%
6. Christian Broadcasting Network on Forbes Lists
https://www.forbes.com/companies/christian-broadcasting-network/
Benny Hinn
1. Net Worth $42 Million
Toufik Benedictus "Benny" Hinn is a televangelist originally born in Jaffa, Israel and was raised in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. He converted to Pentecostalism as a teenager in Toronto and became so immersed in the faith that it actually concerned his family. Despite dropping out of high school, he went on to found the Orlando Christian Center in 1983 and began professing his faith healing abilities. Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/8-richest-pastors-in-america.aspx?p=4#rTzuaTuLClTsiXA6.99
2.The prosperity teaching works like this: a proponent will tell you that if you want God to bless you (with money, of course), you will first have to ‘sow a seed of faith’ (translation: send money to the prosperity teacher). God will then (have to, according to some of these cons) send you as much as a hundred-fold in return. Alternatively, or in addition, God will also owe you physical healing…
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/10102-benny-hinn-money
3. In fact, MinistryWatch recommends that donors withhold giving to Benny Hinn Ministries:
MinistryWatch.com calls upon donors to prayerfully consider withholding contributions to Benny Hinn Ministries/World Outreach Church (BHM) in response to facts and allegations regarding reports that Hinn: • Lives a lavish lifestyle with funds intended for charitable purposes; • Preaches a self-serving prosperity theology message; • Manipulates individuals at “healing crusades” for personal gain; • Makes unsubstantiated claims of healings; • Is nontransparent and lacks independent board oversight
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/10102-benny-hinn-money
Joyce Meyers
1. In November 2003, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published a four-part special report detailing Meyer's "$10 millioncorporate jet, her husband's $107,000 silver-gray Mercedes sedan, her $2 million home and houses worth another $2 million for her four children," a $20 millionheadquarters, furnished with "$5.7 million https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Meyer
2. Charity Report; Did Not Disclose
http://www.give.org/charity-reviews/national/religious/joyce-meyer-ministries-in-fenton-mo-3113
3.Charity Navigator: Nothing to Report says IRs
https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.profile&ein=431382734
4.Financial Data
Revenue; Cash Donations $98,611,748 Noncash Donations$1,147,380 Other Revenue$7,559,192 Total Revenue$107,318,320 Expenses Total Expenses$110,035,924 Excess (or Deficit) for the Year$-2,717,604 Other$0Total Change in Net Assets $-2,717,604
http://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=24404
Jimmy Swaggart
1. Ministry Makes $150 Million a Year : Rich Life Style Reflects Swaggart Empire's Wealth
2.William D. Treeby, the ministry's general counsel, said the salaries of family members are taken out of the proceeds--$10 million last year--from the sales of Swaggart's best-selling gospel albums. "So it's a very small part of this," Treeby said.
http://articles.latimes.com/1988-03-14/news/mn-715_1_jimmy-swaggart/2
3.Revenue $6.437561 (Estimated)
http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/revenue-financial.jimmy_swaggart_ministries_inc.7e4a451af13412ab.html
4.Canada Location:
https://chimp.net/charities/jimmy-swaggart-ministries-of-canada
5. I cannot find financial information for this organization
How ever here is some very detailed information...
http://www.spiritwatch.org/fireswag1.htm
https://www.mikesiegel.com/news/jimmy-swaggart-devil-not-angel/ http://deceptionbytes.com/jsm-masters-of-the-sweep/
Luqas (Luke) 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things in which he possesses.
If you wish to make a difference consider the following:
1.Schools have hungry children who cannot eat if they do not have money on their accounts
2. Many inner city schools lack the proper supplies for each student. They also lack the funds to obtain white boards, computers and text books.
3. Elderly enjoy surprises. They also struggle with meals, and their bills as well.
Just a few ways to know where your money goes.
All Scriputure taken from my cepher app. For restored Hebrew Knowledge the app is 21.99
ecepher.net
