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Megachurch took in $69 million in 2006
Kansas City Star ^ | Nov. 11, 2007 | A.P.

Posted on 11/11/2007 5:20:17 PM PST by Graybeard58

An Atlanta megachurch took in $69 million in 2006, according to a financial statement the church's minister released in response to a Senate investigation into him and five other well-known televangelists.

The Rev. Creflo Dollar disclosed the World Changers Church International's financial information to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but said the money he spends is his own.

Dollar said his income comes from personal investments, including businesses and real estate ventures. But the church gave him a Rolls Royce, which he mainly uses for special occasions, he said.

"Without a doubt, my life is not average," he said. "But I'd like to say, just because it is excessive doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong."

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, launched an investigation into the finances of six ministers after hearing reports of some preachers' lavish and opulent lifestyles. In a letter last week, he requested answers by Dec. 6 to questions about their executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets.

(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Georgia; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: 110th; atlanta; christianity; christians; chuckgrassley; classenvy; congressionalprobe; creflodollar; elmergantry; filthylucre; fleecingtheflock; grassley; lordjesuschrist; megachurch; milliondollanoholler; money; moneychangers; pharisees; probe; religion; rollsroyce; sanhedrin; televangelists; wwjd
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To: eleni121

Yup. Unlike our elected officials, megachurches aren’t giving hundreds of millions of dollars to Palestinian terrorist orgs and lining the deep pockets of third world parasites the world over..


61 posted on 11/11/2007 6:35:10 PM PST by Mr. Mojo (“Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors and miss.")
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To: Lazarus Longer

Unlike our elected officials, megachurches aren’t giving hundreds of millions of dollars to Palestinian terrorist orgs and lining the deep pockets of third world parasites the world over..


You got it!


62 posted on 11/11/2007 6:36:14 PM PST by eleni121 (+ En Touto Nika! By this sign conquer! + Constantine the Great)
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To: MHGinTN

At one time no taxes was a good idea but since many of these so called churches are nothing but side shows and the use of TV to further their scams, they are no longer a church but a scam.


63 posted on 11/11/2007 6:40:25 PM PST by SoCalPol (Duncan Hunter '08 Tough on WOT & Illegals)
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To: mission9
This is a Grassley warning to Evangelicals not to endorse the wrong candidates and to be sure to donate to the right ones.

Your right, it's an old fashioned shake down.

64 posted on 11/11/2007 6:41:29 PM PST by oldbrowser (Democrats don't care about "the kids".)
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To: MHGinTN
An example of where law should intervene is the purchasing and paying property taxes for not just the Minister but the family members who get homes through the ministry also (think Joyce Meyer)

Let's hope my grand daughter (Holly_P) doesn't see that reference to Joyce Meyer, we do not want to get her started on that subject.

Yes, I'm talking about another member and not pinging her and don't you do it either.

65 posted on 11/11/2007 6:42:52 PM PST by Graybeard58 ( Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: PeterPrinciple
I agee, non profits are out of control.

One of my bosses at a "non-profit" took approximately a month long vacation in Italy. "Non-profits (not all, but many) are providing management nicely. Workers - not so much! People calling always asked "is your company a non-profit?" Of course we were, but the wool was already over their eyes by that point.

66 posted on 11/11/2007 6:44:50 PM PST by MamaDearest
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To: eyedigress

OK - I understand now and I appreciate it. Sometimes it’s hard to get what’s being said, so I hope I didn’t put you off by my misunderstanding. I like the simplicity of worship and communion in my small parish church and that suits my personality - thoughtful and reflective - more than a large and openly demonstrative kind of church setting would. I guess I’m not either an “evangelical” or a “charismatic” Christian - just a deeply flawed believer.


67 posted on 11/11/2007 6:46:17 PM PST by Emmett McCarthy
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To: driftdiver
No doubt our congress will show these nonprofit groups how to pinch pennies like they do.

God’s work is not underfunded. He works for free....and you couldn’t afford his hourly rate if he were to charge.

what is sometimes “underfunded” is our work “on his behalf”.

It would seem like the nonprofit groups singled out in the article are actually over-funded since there is money left over for opulent living.

Congress may get away with squandering our money, but I think you would have to not believe in God to dare squandering the gifts of his people on yourself, and if you’re wrong there could be hell to pay.

68 posted on 11/11/2007 6:48:03 PM PST by ME-262 (Nancy Pelosi is known to the state of CA to render Viagra ineffective causing reproductive harm.)
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To: Graybeard58

Um, got it.


69 posted on 11/11/2007 6:49:36 PM PST by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
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To: Graybeard58
I like to listen to Creflo Dollar while waiting for Fox News Sunday, they are on the same Direct TV channel here. Creflo has a common sense approach to the Bible and a good sense of humor when preaching. I expect that he will comply with what he legally needs to since he strikes me as a person who practices what he preaches. I respect Senator Grassley and I expect that he too will be fair and impartial with his investigation of all the TV Evangelists.
70 posted on 11/11/2007 6:52:02 PM PST by mountainfolk (God bless President Bush)
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To: Graybeard58
"For my next trick, I shall pass this camel through the eye of this needle..."

On one hand, I'm glad that Christians are so generous and that there are so many generous Christians, but these super successful, high dollar churches seem unsavory to me. I don't expect them to be poor and give away every dollar and have Sunday services in a shack, but gaudy displays of wealth and opulence seem out of step with Jesus' message, as is my judging. Oh well, I guess it's the devil in me that distrusts televangelists and preachers in Rolls Royces...

71 posted on 11/11/2007 7:01:43 PM PST by GBA ( God Bless America!)
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To: Graybeard58

http://ministrywatch.com/mw2.1/H_Home.asp
Really does not matter what the gross is it is what is done with that money that is important. Trying to hide what the money goes to is one of the first clues to a problem. The above organization rates ministries mostly on their transparency or in other words openness about telling all about where the money goes. Preachers need to live too and we do expect them to dress better than the congregation.


72 posted on 11/11/2007 7:07:42 PM PST by scottteng (Proud parent of a Star scout.)
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To: Graybeard58

people are just jealous that his church is successful. But you know what? if you want successful institutions you have to reward the ‘CEO’ and this applies for churches and non-profits just as much as for-profit companies.


73 posted on 11/11/2007 7:10:34 PM PST by ari-freedom (I am for traditional moral values, a strong national defense, and free markets.)
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To: Graybeard58
"But I'd like to say, just because it is excessive doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong."

That about says it all "it is excessive!" Where does Jesus teach us about about excessive living? Lots of excessive wealth here no treasure in heaven.

However the gov has no business making this there business to investigate. If there are laws being broken let the FBI and IRS do their jobs.

Cannot help but wonder how this may be connected to the lefts strategy of disarming evangelicals for the purpose of advantage in the next election.

74 posted on 11/11/2007 7:55:04 PM PST by free_life (Pro God is Pro life ~ ~ The Democrats are phony Americans.)
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To: Graybeard58

And some wonder why people have a beef with organized religion. This is disgusting, not to mention highly hypocritical.


75 posted on 11/11/2007 8:01:27 PM PST by abercrombie_guy_38
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To: Always Right
I trust these TV preachers more than I trust Congress with my money.

More fitting; I would NOT trust EITHER!!!

76 posted on 11/11/2007 8:38:04 PM PST by danamco (Now, I would LOVE to hear your solution as to how to remove 12 to 30 million people from this countr)
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To: Graybeard58

Sixty-nine million? Sounds almost purpose driven.


77 posted on 11/11/2007 8:41:42 PM PST by AD from SpringBay (We have the government we allow and deserve.)
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To: Ferox
I hope their money is used to fuel the fires in hell that they will experience. Hell is too good for these people. They pervert the Gospel of Christ for personal gain. They are worse than a murderer or a pedophile

And just how many people did you save today?

78 posted on 11/11/2007 8:49:32 PM PST by Always Right
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To: Graybeard58

good for him. It’s none of the government’s business.


79 posted on 11/11/2007 8:50:20 PM PST by balch3
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

I would love to see Operation PUSH investigated, but who in their right mind would be willing to be called racist and every other name in the book by the likes of Jackson and Sharpton???


80 posted on 11/11/2007 8:51:51 PM PST by DennisR (Look around - God gives countless clues that He does, indeed, exist.)
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