Pentecostal preacher pledges holy war against GOP senator

January 28, 2008

It hasn’t generated a lot of headlines, but in the world of religion and politics, it’s a pretty big deal. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, recently asked six high-profile, hyper-wealthy Pentecostal televangelists for their financial records, under the suspicion that they’re using their ministries for personal gain. (Imagine that.)

Not surprisingly, most of the televangelists’ ministries have been loath to cooperate with the inquiry. One in particular is pledging a holy war.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has gone after more than a few iconic nonprofits during his tenure atop the Finance Committee, including the Red Cross, Smithsonian and Harvard University.

But now the Finance ranking member and former chairman may have met his match: televangelist Kenneth Copeland of the sprawling Kenneth Copeland Ministries based in Newark, Texas.

In a Jan. 22 closed-circuit broadcast of his 2008 Ministers’ Conference obtained by Roll Call, Copeland pledges a holy war against “Brother Grassley” and the Senate for attempting to get a look at the controversial ministry’s finances. Grassley wrote a Nov. 6 letter to Copeland and five other prominent ministers requesting a variety of financial information.

“You render unto the government what belongs to the government. And you render unto God what belongs to God,” Copeland loudly intones to approving murmurs from the crowd of 1,000 ministers and their guests.

Oh, the irony is rich. These TV preachers believe the separation of church and state is some kind of Satanic, communist plot to be rejected by decent people everywhere. That is, right up until a senator wonders if perhaps they’re abusing their tax-exempt status, at which point the church-state wall is high and impregnable.

Now, I should note that, as a rule, I’m not inclined to have government officials poking around churches’ books — unless the church is receiving tax dollars or is suspected of wrongdoing. In this case, the latter applies.

Grassley contacted six ministries that has engaged in activities that certainly look like fraud. These tax-exempt ministries are required, by law, not to use donations from followers to enrich themselves, and there’s considerable evidence that they’ve done just that.

It’s no wonder, then, that some of these Pentecostal televangelists are reluctant to share information with Grassley. Copeland seems to be quite the drama-queen about it.

After a searing attack on Grassley’s tactics — which Copeland says were designed to sully his image and pressure him via the media — Copeland says he will never provide information on his donors, even if he is ordered to do so by subpoena.

“You can go get a subpoena, and I won’t give it to you!” Copeland storms. “It’s not yours, it’s God’s and you’re not going to get it and that’s something I’ll go to prison over. So, just get over it!” he tells Grassley, jamming his finger into the air. “And if there’s a death penalty that applies, well just go for it!”

I see.

As for the broader political context, because the six ministries involved are all mega-churches, filled with likely Republican voters, there’s quite a bit of consternation about Grassley’s inquiry.

Doug Wead, head of evangelical outreach for ex-President George H.W. Bush, said the move threatens to fracture the tenuous coalition of Pentecostal and Baptist voters that supported President George W. Bush in his campaigns. He said the ministers see the probe as personal because Grassley is a Baptist and the churches are all Pentecostal. Grassley argues the inquiry is about tax-exempt policy and not religious doctrine. He says he did not know the churches’ denominations before the letters were sent.

“He’s dividing the base that George W. Bush had,” Wead contended. “He’s opened this deep fissure. If you look at it as a Republican, it looks disastrous.”

Well, that’s certainly a good reason for a senator to look the other way on suspected fraud and abuse, isn’t it?

As for what kind of “holy war” these ministries might consider, we haven’t seen any details yet, but it should be interesting. Stay tuned.

“You render unto the government what belongs to the government. And you render unto God what belongs to God,” Copeland loudly intones to approving murmurs from the crowd of 1,000 ministers and their guests.

Last time I checked, God didn’t collect taxes, Elmer.

“You can go get a subpoena, and I won’t give it to you!” Copeland storms. “It’s not yours, it’s God’s and you’re not going to get it and that’s something I’ll go to prison over. So, just get over it!” he tells Grassley, jamming his finger into the air. “And if there’s a death penalty that applies, well just go for it!”

Be still, my beating heart.

I suggest this moron might want to go re-read the history of what happened to Al Capone.

Now, if Grassley would just go after the scumballs in the “Church” of Scientology…

  • Isn’t paying taxes the very meaning of “rendering unto Caesar.” If only they paid taxes, this sort of investigation would be pretty easy…and likely result in meaningful penalties when wrongdoing is found.

  • Good point CB. I loves me some good fundie hypocrisy.

    Note to Copeland. Declaring a “jihad” against the IRS isn’t all that smart. Didn’t work out so well for Leona Helmsley and (probably) Barry Bonds, either.

  • http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/01/24/qt

    “U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the leading Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, has made it a mission in recent years to question the behavior of colleges and other nonprofit groups on a variety of fronts — how they compensate their presidents, run their athletics programs and, most recently, spend down (or, in some cases, don’t spend down) their endowments. One of Grassley’s staff members has been widely seen as the driving force behind his boss’s mission — and now that aide, Dean Zerbe, is leaving Capitol Hill, to become national managing director of AlliantGroup, which provides tax services to accounting firms, a spokeswoman for the Senate Finance Committee confirmed Wednesday. Sources familiar with the committee’s work said they expected Grassley to replace Zerbe with another staffer charged with investigating the same issues, but some college lobbyists are quietly hoping that Zerbe’s departure will quell the senator’s ardor.”

  • On the bright side, penny-ante “Dr. Dino” Kent Hovind is still in stir, serving 10 years in the pokey for claiming that his wealth was a gift from God and therefore untaxable.

    Meanwhile, in Fairbanks, Alaska, a federal trial continues today for a pastor accused of siphoning federal grants to use for church construction instead. Oh, and for credit card bills. The trial is notable as the only corruption trial of several in Alaska involving a Democrat (he’s the former mayor of Fairbanks). Unfortunately for the GOP, they’ve been his biggest cheerleaders and it was Republicans who vouched for him to win the grants.

  • I haven’t followed up on this much but I have been curious as to why Grassley is looking into this at this particular moment. Evengelical blowhards have been living like maharajahs for decades, and there have been numerous television and newspaper exposes on their lavish lifestyles. Maybe it just takes a while (like, forever) for Congress to pay attention. Or maybe one of them did something to really tick Grassley off.

    In any event, just attention is long overdue and I hope he pursues it with the vigor it deserves.

  • This dolt just declared a state of war—against a sitting US Senator? I can see it now on the SP feed, circa sometime early in 2009:

    “Cretin Copeland Confined in Cuban Cage. Details at 6 and 11.”

    Copeland and his cronies have clearly broken the law. Take that “ho” Hinn, for example. He actually needed a brand new jet for his ministry, when the old one was still in showroom condition? NASA doesn’t change out space-shuttle groceries that often, for crying out loud! These clowns are enriching themselves at the expense of their flocks, pure and simple.

    Obedience to the laws of the land are a biblical concept; being a law-abiding citizen is something that we’re all supposed to “render unto Caesar”—and gold-plated toilets do not constitute any form of justifiable protest against an unjust government. Taking something under false pretenses is theft—and there’s something in that book about “not stealing.”

    Copeland wants martyrdom—until he actually has to suffer for his misdeeds. Then he’ll tearfully recant and remind everyone of their “Christian duty to forgive him his trespasses.” Investigate them all—and any one who’s violated the sacred trust justifying tax-exempt status should have to sit and watch as every last hymnal, collection plate, choir robe, table, chair, and structural shred of their “Golden Towers of Babel” go onto the auction block. Heck, I’ll even set up a side-show booth—$5 a swing for anyone who wants to take a sledgehammer to Benny Hinn’s shiny new plane.

    Just think of it as “OT Justice for an profiteering OT pander-bear….”

  • I wonder what that unemployed homeless guy whom these Elmer Gantrys claim to represent thinks of all this.

  • Probably shouldn’t have tried to take those deductions for the gay escorts, eh?

    I guess Copeland didn’t read his wife’s laundry list of things to do to get right with God, specifically 13, 16, and 19-24

    13. Patient in suffering
    16. Bless those who persecute you.
    19. Repay no one evil for evil.
    20. Be honest and above reproach. Avoid appearance of evil.
    21. Live at peace with everyone.
    22. Avenge not yourself.
    23. Do good to your enemies.
    24. Overcome evil with good.

    And check out this statement:
    http://www.kcm.org/financecommitteeresponse.php

    A compensation committee determines the compensation for each officer of the ministry, including members of the Copeland family, based on data compiled by an independent consulting firm. … we have also instituted procedures to ensure the privacy of our donors, employees, directors and ministers.”

    No further comments or interviews will be granted at this time.

  • When it comes to the government, especially to Senator Grassley, Kenneth Copeland is not practicing what he preached for years.

    When I was a Word of Faither, I constantly heard these verses preached from Copeland’s pulpit … Romans 13:1-7 (NLT, bold emphasis is mine):

    Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well. The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.

    Now, Copeland totally forgets that he preached these very verses.

    Man, I’m so glad I got out of that mess!!!

  • I have not always agreed with Grassley, but on this one he’s dead on.

    Sound like Chuck’s next step is to have the IRS pay a visit to the church/business.

  • Until recently, Copeland was a member of the Board of Regents at Oral Roberts University. At that time the ORU board chairman was George Pearsons, who is married to Copeland’s daughter, Terri.

    If I were a crooked televangelist like former ORU president Richard Roberts, Kenneth Copeland and George Pearsons are the kind of people I would want on my board.

    Birds of a feather…

  • Ministers are like politicians, neither are supposed to make big money off their vocation.

  • Grassley’s kind of an interesting guy. Most of the time he’s a down-the-line loyal Republican, but from time to time he gets a wild hare and does something right.

  • ‘Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.’

    Does that include atheist governments that outlaw religion? How exactly does that work?

    I hope Grassley’s just getting started.

  • Copeland would not be screaming indignantly unless he has much to hide. He would not attack the senator and threaten “holy war” if his hands were clean. He would do what he urged his congregation to do…pay their taxes and comply with governmental rules. Now he threatens not voting republican. The man must really have a lot to worry about and the senator’s group must be right on the money. Asking someone to abide by the same law everyone else must abide by is not unreasonable and certainly not to the extent that Copeland is making a war over. He is complaining too much to be innocent. I think we will find a whole list of financial improprieties and money laundering if we peek inside the real holy book.

  • As has been mentioned elsewhere, taxing churches should be done. And all non-profits for that matter. Flesh and blood people who lose their income are required to do so. But don’t ever expect that from this great beacon of democracy. Maybe they should Drop in and see the good reverend.

  • Mr. Copeland is guilty of many heresies. But this little stunt may put him over the edge. Were things in order Mr. Copeland would welcome the opportunity to exhibit his financial records.

  • I hope he goes after Pat Robertson next, and looks at the sale of the Family Chanel to private interests after that channel was built and financed through the donations of sincere believers for the production of wholesome family entertainment. It was never intended to enrich the family of Pat Robertson. It was a total scam which bilked millions from honest people.. It is really past time for some serious reform. These people are charlatans who prey on the most vulnerable and sincere amongst us.

  • These TV preachers believe the separation of church and state is some kind of Satanic, communist plot to be rejected by decent people everywhere. That is, right up until a senator wonders if perhaps they’re abusing their tax-exempt status, at which point the church-state wall is high and impregnable.

    Separation of Church and State has nothing to do with the portion of the tax code that allows churches to be treated as non-profits. The former is a right of the individual (not the Church) to practice the religion in his heart without interference by the authorities. The latter is a mere courtesy based on the traditional role of US Churches in social welfare work.

    Personally, I think that all church income that isn’t used for social justice work (and the overhead to provide that work) should be taxed as any other organization’s income is taxed. It would drive a few snakes and con artists out of business and would get rid of one of the perverse incentives in the US tax code that leads to lucrative mega-churches being built outside of every suburb in the midwest.

  • It reminds me of the hazy crazy days of the late great Dr Gene Scott. The IRS went after him and he jettisoned his non-profit status. His war with the IRS went on for years. It was fantastic. I could Dr Scott for hours (as could Werner Herzog who made a doc about him) as he would go into some amazing rant. When it came time to raise funds, he would tell the viewers their donations aren’t deductible, and if they didn’t trust him to do what was right with the money–DON’T GIVE IT TO HIM. He would also do things like refuse to speak another word until $xxx came in. Best use of dead air I have ever seen.

    Let’s hope the Rev Copeland has the same mettle as Dr Scott and renounces his special, government given tax status.

  • Huckabee weighs in… (courtesy of ThinkProgress)

    Cognizant of the support he receives from evangelicals, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has put political alliances over ethics. After Copeland received his letter from Grassley, the preacher called Huckabee and offered him “a chance to break his association” with the ministry:

    Huckabee “hollered at me on the phone. He said, ‘Are you kidding me? Why should I stand with them and not with you? They’ve only got an 11 percent approval rating.’”

    “I said, ‘Yeah, that’s my man,’” Copeland said of Huckabee.

  • They’ve only got an 11 percent approval rating

    Collectively that may be true, but Grassley is Senator-for-Life in Iowa.
    (As is Harkin, his polar opposite counterpart)

  • Can you just imagine the response if a Democrat had launched an investigation into these conniving swindlers? Go Grassley, Go, Go, Go!

  • Simple solution, Copeland, cut all strings with the government. Frankly, I would love to see the church stripped of its nonprofit status. I don’t think God says anything about the need to give a tax deduction for works done in His name.

    I always wondered why, if what religious groups do is so important, do they need to give tax breaks to those picking up the tab. Your faithful provide or they don’t — but to provide in order to reduce one’s tax burden — puleeze. Any church that can’t survive without special government incentives, probably isn’t doing a good job taking care of its flock in the first place.

  • At least he is waging war on a R. If this was a D, all wingnuts would be whining about separation. How we can have it both ways. But it’s not and that will make this even more interesting.

    What really amazes me is that the people of these churches don’t get some sort of financial statements, something telling them how much is collected and where it going.

    It’s real hard to feel sorry for people who are conned at a four year old level.

  • I’ve been covering these guys in some depth, including more from the Ministers Conference, where Copeland introduced one speaker with “Satan’s worst enemy is a preacher with money.”

    My archives on the structure of the prosperity gospel movement and relationships among some of the players are here:

    http://tinyurl.com/2saokv

  • Copeland and Robertson and others remind me of the Bhagwahn in Oregon sveral years ago. Seems he liked to collect Rolls-Royces; at last count he had 93 of them and lots of other worldly assets. He, too, was investigated and convicted on several charges. We can only hope history repeats itself.

  • To Tom Cleaver:

    Oddly enough, I just wrote a post (The Devil and Dan Vojir) about televangelists being the new mob. Copeland’s, Dollar’s and Hinn’s reticence about handing over their accounts looks incredibly suspicious. Grassely’s right: he’s not asking for any DOCTRINAL statements. These people have been targeted by MinistryWatch.com for several years because they have low transparency ratings. They feed – like latter-day Gantrys – on uneducated, vulnerable and (more than occassionally) stupid people who are desperate for someone to tell them what to do. Like the sign at the Creation Museum states: “Don’t Think – Believe.”

  • #20 Marc: Taxing most churches and non-profits would shut them down. They can’t afford to pay taxes on any small amount of “profit” they might make, which is most likely put right back into their mission. Besides, these groups do pay payroll taxes (FICA and any state unemployment, etc,) on their employees; they’re not totally “tax free” entities. (I speak from experience, OK?)

    Now Copeland I doubt very much fits into what anyone would think of as a non-profit. Which is why he is fighting back. More power to Grassley.

    One more thing: we should worry more about US corporations that avoid paying taxes by locating off-shore. Why spend time and effort looking for pennies (from churches and non-profits) when you could be getting some BIG BUCKS from these corporations?

  • Sad that the government has to step in, but there are so many gullible Christians who send off their “tithes” to these super-rich preachers. Of course, the preachers “cut and paste” the Scriptures that support their lavish lifestyles–so foreign to the way Jesus and early followers lived. Even as a Christian myself, I am inclined to think the mega-ministries should do their part and pay taxes. I wish people would give to their local churches, where their dedicated pastors are driving little cars and living simply.

  • I wish he would investigate what happened to the missing billions in Iraq they were using to play football with. Seems that would serve the Country better since that was ALL of OUR TAX money

  • Sure is funny how most of the posts here have already tried and convicted these ministries, while smugly proclaiming the law of the land. How about innocent until proven guilty? As I understand the law concerning non-profits, It’s the perview of the IRS not some grandstanding Senator to investigate these matters, If guilty then prosecute them.
    To the many posts here if you havent donated to any of these ministries why are you so out raged?

  • Hannah…

    Yes, the corporations are stealing and yes, corporate welfare exceeds US social program funding… but they are, at least, honest about their motivation – profit.

    The fraud and abuse heaped on those who can least afford it by these charlatans tips the ‘disgustometer’ in favor of hanging them out to dry. They should be made to spend the rest of their days as itinerant paupers,
    wearing a Ghandi-style loin cloth and carrying a beggars bowl.

  • The article is inaccurate. Copeland is not accused of wrong doing. And he provided information requested to the Grassley investigation. What he won’t give is information on his donors, which shouldn’t matter to Grassley anyway.

    Believe me, Copeland is smart enough not to break the law. He is not some dumb hick preacher.
    You may disagree with how his ministry spends its money but you can bet it is all legal.

    What Grassley is doing is grand standing. Maybe he wants to change the laws but he won’t find that Copeland has violated any existing laws.

  • I am a Christian and I say,” Let the light shine in all areas of these ministries and minister’s lives. We should all support this inquiry and know the truth whatever it is.”

  • I have been a partner with the Copelands for over twenty years. I consider my offerings spent very well. I have received more from their ministery than I have from the government for sure. I get angry when I see someone like Grassley acting like He is God. God can handle things. How about we investigate Grassley. Looks like He is looking for a name for himself. He needs to be investigated. Look at our government. What a mess! Some web sites claim he is a mason. They don’t like christians.

  • On January 30th, 2008 at 3:22 pm, Peggy Leonard verbally barfed:

    I have been a partner with the Copelands for over twenty years. I consider my offerings spent very well. I have received more from their ministery than I have from the government for sure. I get angry when I see someone like Grassley acting like He is God…

    Peggy,

    You are just the kind of person Copeland preys on. Pull you head out of your ass you stupid bitch.

  • I’m torn. I definitely don’t want Copeland to avoid paying taxes if he’s guilty (and he sure sounds it), but I have NO sympathy with the fools who are taken in by this greedy charlatan and his ilk.

  • I think they should pay there share of taxes, when Jesus was here he paid so why shouldnt they pay, are they above Christ himself.

  • Pingback: Trailhead : Huckabee's God Money

  • One point of correction. These guys aren’t Pentecostal, they’re charismatic! Traditional Pentecostals reject the prosperity message. The Pentecostal movement had humble beginnings and rejected extravagant living. Copeland and crew don’t meet or teach Pentecostal doctrine. They may claim a relationship, but the evidence says otherwise. Some say it is a thin line, but as an Ordained Pentecostal pastor/evangelist I reject any connection. Bill Burkett has a good series of articles comparing the two.
    http://www.actsion.com/NOTchar-I.htm

  • On January 29th, 2008 at 11:22 am, Tim said:
    “I wish people would give to their local churches, where their dedicated pastors are driving little cars and living simply.”

    Tim I detest these so called evangelists, but I also detest those who think that a man who spends his entire life studying, maybe gaining post-graduate degrees, spending all hours away from his family, and giving way more than he should be asked, should have to live in bitter poverty. I would think it a shame for the pastor to have to live in a financial struggle when his flock is secure. I’ve been there. I currently work a second job on top of pastoring because the flock is very poor. I don’t complain. But I’ve watched in secure parishes as the people took lavish vacations, bought new cars, and ate out all the time while my family struggled to make ends meet. Most pastors don’t ask for that level of comfort, but being able to pay your light bill is nice! If a pastor is blessed to serve in a secure community, why should he have to worry? You’re right, if they gave to the local church, then maybe the real man of God would be blessed.

  • The bottom line is simple – Copeland and other prosperity teachers are living very opulent lifestyles off the backs of the sick, the poor, the lost, the disenfranchised; in essence, the people they should be helping. Having seen Copeland speak, and having recently left a church that preached the prosperity message, I saw a lot of subtle fear and intimidation in the messages – if you don’t give, who knows what might happen? That sort of thing.

    I agree with previous posters that there is individual responsibility on the part of donors to be cognizant of who you’re giving to. But unfortunately – and I was one of them – a lot of people are desperate to believe, and these guys play right into that to win their hearts, their minds and ultimately their wallet.

    Copeland is responsible for every word that comes out of his mouth. And now he doesn’t like it when people are questioning him. Well, when you build a glass house ….

  • I think you all should give up this talk about the poor bring bliked out of their money for these mega ministers to live their lavious life styles. If we had thought of the prosperity gospel, and had received our share of the goods like these preachers have, then we would have other words to say. No one robbed those givers,nor theraten them to give their money to those preachers, and I bet they don’t like you all sounding like they are stupid for giving it either. For all we know they were supporting their local churches and everything. It is their right to give to whom ever they want to, whether the preacher is rich, living large, or what have you. so get of the case, and start thinking of some sort of system we can use to our own financial benefit, Ok? we know we have to pay the taxes.!!

  • Church of Jesus Christ

    Calvary Greetings to you and the entire church of Jesus Christ
    I really appreciate your effort and your obligation towards the second coming of our lord Jesus Christ, who we serve and also he is our father.

    I am Mike Nwachukwu a chorister and also an Asist. Editor of Christian Pentecostal Mission Int’l HQ. 10/12 Lateef Salami Street Ajao Estate off Muritala Muhammad Airport Road.

    I believe and I am adapted to the saving Grace of our Lord Christ and also a fore Running of the end time which is the second coming of our Lord Jesus.

    Introducing my effort and obligation to the serves of the Gospel.
    – Ministering songs and also creating and building dynamic creativities to the gospel in video editing, video conversion, Video Camering, Digital Graphic Designing, Computing Instructor, Computer Engineering and also in music.

    My mission as a fore running of the Gospel is
    – Bring deliverance to the people through worships and songs,
    – Creating awareness of the second coming of our Lord Jesus through songs and worship
    – Preparing the saint for the rapture through worships
    and also presenting communicating through the world as a whole in Editing, conversion to DVD, CD, MP3 Audio and any means of communicating been expected.

    Sir/Ma I can be a worker in the church voluntarily to work with out any payment or salary been given, because I have decided to make my self a sacrifice to work for your church voluntarily.

    Sir/Ma the Reason why I decided to work in your church is not that I want to be in your church but I really release what the Lord is doing in your Minister how the Lord has been so much useful at every services you preach and I am also blessed in the worships and songs given from the choir, so I decided to be a part of what the Lord is doing in your church.

    Secondly I am a Nigeria citizen but Sir to be of straight forward I really need help from you Sir/Ma, if God almighty can use you to be of help to me by working my VISA or paying for my VISA fees not only paying but been responsible to me as a son to his father because I have been dreaming a lot to be in your country to be with you all the days of my life has a son because right now I am alone with great talent no one can really help in my country but only God is my help but I really believe God almighty will use you as a point of contact to be of help to me or if I can be given to a family without a son to serve them and be a son to them with Good respect because we respect elders very well not been rude but diligent ready to serve any one that can be a good help to me.

    Sir/Ma a lot of talent are been deposited in me but no one could help me, the bible said that in the book of psalm (David’s book) that David fit up his eye to heaven and said that where cometh my help that my help cometh from above that is God only, only One in Existence Jehovah he is the only one that can touch someone to favor me. “ I have a dream, I have a future ahead and I know that this year 2008 my dream will come true because I believe in whom I serve and I am persuaded that he is able to help me and keep me on top only.

    Since the year 1995 to this present year I have been praying believing God even when I was in boarding school that I will be in your church without any doubt in my heart and the spirit of God confirmed it to me, I have no home, I have no help, but I know I have someone up them who is bigger then my problems and him only will help me because he knows that I should be in your church has a great ambassador for Christ which I believe that the church can be of Good help to make me. What the Lord has design for my future and I vowed that if this is done by God’s grace I promise that I will bring a sound offering to his church and I will serve any one as son to the his family I really need a father who can be of good help to bring me to my dreams,” Note I will never let he/her down, the one that has sacrificed his life to help me in any way.

    In conclusion, I believe in only one God our lord Jesus Christ the only savoir of the world, I believe he will touch someone in the church to be of help to me as an acceptance because he said he that come to him he will not wise cast out.

    Thank You Sir/Ma.

    Yours Faithfully,

    ifybank.
    …………………….
    Mike.l. Nwachukwu
    Chorister (CPM) HQ.
    25 years youth with ambition for greatness.

  • Kenneth Copeland put on a excellent performance at his latest ministers conference held on January 22,2008 visible at http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/copelandclips , which has now gotten the attention of people all across the USA, and abroad. The message he was unmistakably sending, came across loud and clear on every subject he was addressing. From voicing his personal feelings about the senate investigation, to a multitude of other issues facing KCM today. Surprisingly, Kenneth does admit to some element of truth in the letter KCM received from the Senate, but did not go into any detailed explanations. Also in his defense, he makes the accusation that the truth is being twisted a bit. A old saying comes to mind , what comes around goes around. Years of promoting the promises of prosperity, physical healing, and last but not least the twisting of biblical scripture for personal gain has returned to KCM full circle.
    “ I had a home“, “I had a life“, “I had faith“, “I had a family“, “I lost a loved one“, these are merely a handful of endless testimonies coming to light nationwide. Ranging from all walks of life, their heartbreaking testimonies can be found throughout the web, yet inconceivably, victims are being labeled as fools, ignorant, and basically downright blind for not seeing the truth behind the Prosperity Gospels falsehoods. Being only human, our quest for health and wealth, regrettably does lead some in the wrong direction. Promises and guaranties, made by the Prosperity Gospel ministers, give people that have not obtained these blessings on their own, a second chance at achieving their goals in life. An important discovery I made while reviewing testimonies, revealed the fact numerous victims had very little knowledge of the Prosperity Gospels dark side. These unfortunate victims, appear to be equipped with only a small portion of the web of deceit these ministers weave . For example, picture yourself being raised in a small country town, with a population of only a few hundred, the closest city, only a population of only a few thousand. Computers, internet, cable, satellite TV, and other high tech gadgets are not needed or desired. This was my life, before KCM.
    Prosperity Gospel ministers enter the homes of many victims though a thirty minute Sunday morning worship service on a local broadcast station. Myself, growing up in Jigger La., truly located in the middle of nowhere, I can testify to the fact that we only received on a clear day about three or four channels at most. Therefore warnings of the numerous dangers, and intentional deceit, associated with Prosperity Gospel ministries, being made by critics, ministers, and victims went unheard by many. The irony of this are the many warning labels we all encounter every day. From cleaning supplies to over the counter medications, labels posted on various products warn us of the dangers associated with that particular product. Regrettably Prosperity Gospel does not offer this, but should! Family’s have lost their homes, lifesavings, and some even their lives to the Prosperity Gospel.
    Unfortunately my mother was not one of the lucky ones, her confidence, and faith in this false Gospel, ultimately cost her, her life. After more than a decade of programming her mind to believe and think the Prosperity Gospel way of life, she lost her battle with cancer. By refusing medical attention, she sealed her fate, but the programming she had acquired from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland proved strong all the way to her last breath. A diary she left behind revealed the horrific tale of her life from 1992-2002, the top of each page titled with Kenneth Copeland, Gloria Copeland, or BVOV. Some mistakes in life we can not undo, and good intentions don’t always go as planed, these victims are simply following misleading promises of health and wealth. Their use of miraculous healing confessions, and newly found wealth testimonies, are their sales pitch, my mother among others, are proof that their sale pitch does work. The possibility of certain Mega churches misusing contributors finances for their own personal luxuries is ultimately what brought this scam to the publics attention, not the loss of life, the financially bankrupt, nor the numerous homeless victims that have been left in the wake of this devastating hoax.
    Knowledge, is the only discovery I found to be effective in this seemingly endless battle. Sadly for some our efforts will go unheard. As for my family, once again I am addressing another envelope to Kenneth Copeland Ministries, asking once again for a summery of my mothers (Bonnie Parker) contributions to KCM, and since they have bankrupt our family also due to the numerous expenses we encountered before and after mom’s death, and once more, ask them to purchase a headstone for mom. I believe they at least owe her that much.
    The family of Bonnie Parker
    E-MAIL sis359@gmail.com
    Photo, before and after KCM,
    http://picasaweb.google.com/sis359/BonnieParkerDiaryPhoto
    Documentary Suffer The Children, exposes televangelists lavish lifestyles ,
    http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/suffer-children
    Book recently published by Sara Posner, also looks into these subjects,
    http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Profits-Republican-Crusade-Values/dp/0979482216
    Request for contributions viewable at http://sis359.blogspot.com

  • Latest studies shows that the there were no Christians for the first three centuries. Jesus and Christianity was invented by the mafia King Constantine. Three hundred years of history of Christianity was cooked up, the entire fake existence of the tribe of Christians was made up, and fake Jesus and Gospels were created by one man, Eusebius was appointed for the creation of bible by the King Constantine who copied all the previous myths and wrote the Bible. Jesus was made as a true copy of the Son of God Osiris-Dionysus.who was prevalent at that time. In 325 CE Constantine called the Council of Nicaea to pass the Gospels and Jesus story. Arius voiced and voted against the new religion telling that Jesus was a character who did not exist before, Jesus is a fabrication, Jesus is a fiction as are his gospels. Initially 17 were against the idea of Christianity and Jesus, but King Constantine prevailed on them. Finally only three voted against and 217 voted in favour of the new religion Christianity and gave divinity to the new invention Jesus. After the religion was passed by the committee, Constantine implemented it in the Roman Empire. To hide evidence that Christianity and Jesus was a fabrication, Constantine had burned all the documents, but many survived. Constantine exiled Arius and others for opposing him and poisoned and killed Arius within a period of five years. The christian “Biblical History” was inserted into the political history of the Roman Empire no earlier than the rise of Constantine. Emperor Julian who came to power few decades later denounced the christian religion and Jesus as fake. He wrote that Christian religion was a fabrication and fiction of wicked men. Three Books written by Julian was censored by the Church in the fifth century to hide the truth. The British Museum, London , The Imperial Library, Paris, etc, have documents and books to show these truth. It is sad to see, intelligent humans are taken for a ride by the fraud King Constantine.

  • Even if we do not agree with Copeland’s teachings, the bottom line is there is a bigger picture here. Future implications could be something to fear. Other Christian leaders across denominational lines have stepped up behind Copeland hoping to secure our rights for the future.

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