one import we don’t need
November 18th, 2007
The Singapore church has imported so much of the American (…and some say Australian too) megachurch culture that I pray that what the US Senate is currently investigating is not part of the culture we are going to import to our island’s shores. After all Singapore already imports almost everything it consumes. Its again the “megachurch” and “megamedia” of Christendom that lands the church in US into suspicion, doubt and shame. Why so? Why so? Why so?
Senate Inquiry Targets Televangelists
By ERIC GORSKI
AP Religion WriterActing on tips about preachers who ride in Rolls Royces and have purportedly paid $30,000 for a conference table, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said Tuesday he’s investigating the finances of six well-known TV ministers.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said those under scrutiny include faith healer Benny Hinn, Georgia megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar and one of the nation’s best known female preachers, Joyce Meyer.
Grassley sent letters to the half-dozen Christian media ministries earlier this week requesting answers by Dec. 6 about their expenses, executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets.
In a statement, Grassley said he was acting on complaints from the public and news coverage of the organizations.
“The allegations involve governing boards that aren’t independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls Royces,” Grassley said.
“I don’t want to conclude that there’s a problem, but I have an obligation to donors and the taxpayers to find out more. People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code.”
Those ministries that responded Tuesday either said they were cooperating or committed to financial transparency and following the law.
The investigation promises to shine new light on the kind of TV ministries that were crippled by sex and money scandals in the 1980s. Experts also say it stands out as an unusual case of the government probing the inner workings of religious organizations.
Most of those under investigation preach a variation of the “prosperity gospel,” the teaching that God will shower faithful followers with material riches.
Grassley’s letters went to:
_ Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries of Newark , Texas , a $20 million organization and prosperity gospel pioneer. Questions were raised about the transfer of church assets to a for-profit company, Security Patrol Inc., a $1 million loan from Gloria Copeland to the group, and a “personal gift” of more than $2 million given to Kenneth Copeland to mark the ministry’s 40th anniversary.
A Copeland spokeswoman released a statement saying the ministry is working on a response to Grassley’s letter, follows all laws and best practices governing churches and religious nonprofit groups, and “will continue to do so.”
_ Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park , Ga. Grassley’s letter asks for records on private planes, board makeup, compensation and donations and “love offerings” to visiting ministers. In a statement, Dollar called his ministry an “open book” and said he would cooperate. He also questioned whether the investigation could “affect the privacy of every community church in America .”
_ Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn Ministries of Grapevine, Texas, is asked about use of a private jet, a home in Dana Point, Calif. and “layover trips” while traveling on ministry business. Hinn did not respond to requests for comment.
_ Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries of Lithonia , Ga. , was questioned about his salary, a $1.4 million real estate transaction and whether he, and not the board, holds sole authority over the organization. Long plans to fully comply with the Senate’s request, and his church has “several safeguards” to ensure transactions comply with laws governing churches, according to a statement from Long’s spokesman.
_ Joyce and David Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton , Mo. , who were quizzed about receiving donations of money and jewelry and the handling of cash from overseas crusades. They also were asked about expenditures at ministry headquarters, including a $30,000 conference table and a $23,000 “commode with marble top.”
The ministry’s lawyer released a statement describing the ministry’s work and public release of several years’ worth of audits. He also said the IRS found in October that the group continues to qualify for tax-exempt status.
_ Randy and Paula White of the multiracial Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa, Fla. are asked about home purchases in San Antonio, Texas, Malibu, Calif., and New York, credit card charges for clothing and cosmetic surgery and the reported purchase of a Bentley convertible as a gift for Bishop T.D. Jakes, a prominent Texas preacher and televangelist. An e-mail to a spokeswoman for Jakes was not immediately returned.
In a statement, Randy and Paula White declined to comment on specifics, saying they needed time to review the letter with their lawyers. But the Whites called the Grassley letter “unusual, since the IRS has separate powers to investigate religious organizations if they think it’s necessary.”
Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar all sit on the board of regents for Oral Roberts University , which is mired in a financial scandal of its own.
The Senate Finance Committee has chided secular nonprofits for governance and compensation problems in the past, but this level of scrutiny for what are basically “non-pulpit churches” is unprecedented, said Ken Behr, president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
Because the groups have tax status as churches, they are not required to file tax forms open to public inspection.
(November 7, 2007 - 8:35 a.m. Copyright 2007, The Associated Press.)
Entry Filed under: Church, Megachurches
what really grates me is the total lack of proportion between those under investigation and what’s going on elsewhere, especially in the mission field.
Missionaries have to, at times, do lots of deputation (euphemism for begging) to raise the minimal amount to serve in the field. Deputation is time consuming and draining WORK.
Third world pastors live hand to mouth.
Hi Blogpastor,
Understand Kong Hee is on the Benny Hines and Cho Yonggi Board of Governors.
I think the importation or parallel development of ultra-mega ministries is well entrenched -
We have super pastors and reverends, see the 2006 Idol list:-
Just for fun, and for those who are Christians/Buddhist here. Now there are so many sort of idols here….singer, acting, host….there are also many pastors/monks here who have that X-factor and can woo the crowds in…..so who will you nominate as Singapore Pastor/Monk Idol 2006?
Nominees:
1. Renci Hospital’s Venerable Shi Ming Yi. see
http://www.buddha.sg/gif/up2003/form0103c.htm
2. Apostle Lawrence Khong (FCBC)
3. Pastor Kong Hee (CHC)
4. Pastor Edmund Chan (Covenant)
5. Pastor Joseph Prince (New Creation)
Any other nominees?
Like all Idols, are we setting these ‘gifted” people for a big fall?
Seems like “Religion Feel Good and Absolution from Guilt is a growing and thriving enterprise. Best of all, this franchise appears to be FREE - FOC!
This week learnt about the Samson moment.
Having immense gifting without the temperament or character or the covering of His grace can be personally disastrous.
God can still use the results - this was a novel and awesome personal insight.
The report that the PhD of Rev Shi in hospital administration is from a completely unknown Welsh University is not good for the credibility of this successful and supposedly social enterprise.
WRPF still wants to become mega and ultra mega??
Hi, I am just wondering: does it matter that Rev Shi’s PhD is from a less or unknown university? Frankly, I do not know if he had ever stated claims on that title at all.
Though I am not a Buddhist, I respect him for being honest about helping people. That kind of sincerity should be respected.
Who are we to judge or cast the first stone?
If we the Believers of Christ are not able to be gracious to others, frankly we are not different from the ways of the world.
It is easier to point fingers at others, not unlike what I am doing now, than to turn around and say, “Hey, I think there’s something good we can learn from so and so.”
Pray for Rev Shi’s salvation.
His PhD status does not concern anybody except the authorities and his possibly aggrieved supporters who have contributed time and resources. It was just another piece of local news reported in the ST.
Right or wrong, we often demand and expect a higher standard of morality from either our elected or proclaimed leaders.
Authenticity and truth becomes the capstone of a trust relationship with a leader.
Christians should be gracious but also gullible??
“Right or wrong, we often demand and expect a higher standard of morality from either our elected or proclaimed leaders.
Authenticity and truth becomes the capstone of a trust relationship with a leader. ”
Hi Journeyman,
What you have said is true.
But remember too, I do not need to be a Christian to know this moral law and apply this on others. Similarly, Christians and non-Christians will also apply the same expectation on me in my area of work or dealings with others.
And to claim that I imply that Christians, by being gracious, are gulible is really putting words into my mouth.
I remember reading my bible. In Luke 23 Jesus prayed to our Abba for His transgressors.
“33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
Am I to say that Jesus is gullible?
Well, even if Rev Shi is convicted legally of mismanagedment, who is to say that he has mismanaged because he has a PhD from a less well-known school. Does a scholar from Princeton will never mismanage?
You have raised some points which I also agree. But not to forget to temper justice with grace.
After all, Jesus died for you and me while we were still sinners. When we are so undeserved of His Grace, He died an undeserved death for us so that we can now live.
Shalom Bro,
Peggy
Hi Peggy,
My apologies if you ever got the impression I was trying to put words in your mouth.
Yes, Jesus was gulless because he was holy and perfect.
The rest of us even with Jesus as a personal savior are “competent sinners” - aware about our short comings and surrendering our will to His (sometimes)?
Unfortunately many of us fall short of ethical and moral standards that non believers may expect from the “book” people.
The last time I checked, they seems to be no statistical difference between Christians and the secular society eg divorce, suicides, hiv rates etc……nothing that will bring glory to the Boss.
Harsh indictment?
Hi,
I am very curious…
How “Singaporean” is your church’s culture that you are leading?
How different is your church vs. the Amercian or the Australian churches?
What are the benefits of adopting a 100% Singaporean church culture?
and what exactly is a Singaporean church culture?
Thanks.
Simon
Hi simonawe,
Sorry. Hopefully you can wait a while for I hope to do a post on “does the size matter?” or something along that line, and we may then have some interesting conversations on things like “megachurch” culture. The church I serve is medium sized and does not bear the characteristics and values of a megachurch.
Hi Bro Simon Awe,
I really don’t understand why you have raised those questions about the church culture.
Pastor Kenny’s church may be medium but they happen to be filled with many fellow brothers and sisters who are passionate and sincere about serving Christ. For example, they went as far as to Myammar to teach and to help the locals on a regular basis as a church.
Frankly, when there are so many good things happening in our local churches, big or small. We should give glory to God.
And I think it is inevitable that our Govt is going to continue to monitor the financial accounts of all the charitable organizations. This shows the wisdom and prudence of our Govt in their governance of Singapore. And I thank God for it.
Intriguing idea but is there such a thing as a Singaporean culture and is there a definitive uniqueness about it?
Dear Peggy,
To be honest, I do not have any issues with the size of the church. As long as a christian is growing and is brought closer to God - this is a wonderful church. I am sure you would agree with me.
However, I find it strange that P.kenny highlighted that the churches here are importing too much of american and austalian church culture and uses words like “shame” to describe these culture. And as such, I am really curious - what is considered a singapore church culture and what are the differences in the singapore church culture? I really hope that he could substantiate his claims and perhaps, I could learn a thing or two from him as well. I am approaching this subject with an open mind.
I am not sure how you get the impression that I am against the US govt audit. I would like to assure you, I believe such audits are necessary and it will certainly bring forth more transparency and accountability.
Cheers
Simon
Hi Simon awe,
“Its again the “megachurch†and “megamedia†of Christendom that lands the church in US into suspicion, doubt and shame.”(blogpastors post)
Often the church that gets into bad press in the US and brings the church there under suspicion, doubt and shame are pastors and leaders of the megachurches and megamedia ministries(tele-evangelists etc.,). Remember Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart and many others before them.(Of course, there are many leaders of other-sized churches that stumble too, but they are not national news fodder). Now another batch of Christian leaders are under investigation. It troubles me. I am praying that we won’t “import” the excesses alleged in the report - it would be such a shame if that happens in Singapore.
“P.kenny highlighted that the churches here are importing too much of american and austalian church culture and uses words like “shame†to describe these culture.(simonawe)” There are good and bad characteristics in US and Aussie megachurches. Right now it is the bad characteristics, like lack of financial accountability and transparency, that is landing the US church under a cloud of suspicion and shame. We should enhance the megachurch characteristics that are reflective of Kingdom culture, and discern the characteristics that do not.
A Singapore culture? That’s interesting. Do we have one? What makes us uniquely Singaporean and how can we reflect the kingdom-compatible of that culture in church life? This makes for another interesting conversation. You guys seem to be inspiring the agenda on this blog.
Hope I am clarifying and not muddying matters. Shalom.
Some questions to ponder and challenge your perceptions:
Does this mean small churches work better? If we use mean failure rates analysis are large churches more prone to failure? - is this statically significant. If it is, then we can handle the risk better.
Mega churches fail because of the initial design flaw or inherent limitation to scalability?
Churches fail because leading man is flawed and without support of other men or women with complementary gifts that can check and balance, every “emperor” will ultimately be naked?
Churches need to have diversity in governance and have an odd man on that board?
Futile effort to create anything that is not Christ centered as it is doomed to fail in finite time?
Is the Catholic Church a ultra-mega church or a distributed network?
Do the Muslims have a better model?
Is Toyota, McDonald’s or Starbucks better using pragmatic “modernization” to remain contemporary a better model?
Is constituent (or shareholder) accountability needed?
We believe that our GOD Is, Was and Will be the same, how come our practise does not have an eternal format that will work thru the ages?
Have we misinterpreted the “great commission,” and got it all wrong?
My thoughts are these…
It is not about the size of the church or about the differences in the church cultures - it is all about a man’s walk with God.
Regardless of the size of the congregation, a leader or a pastor is still a fallible man especially when the person has too much faith in his own flesh and abilities. For every name highlighted by you, I am very sure there are many unreported cases from the small and medium size churches. Therefore, we should never make a sweeping statement that BIG is bad and small is good. There are many good megachurches and likewise, there are many good small and medium churches.
Secondly, the lack of transparency is not just an issue faced by some charity organizations or some religious groups. We can find many examples in the commercial world and Enron is a very good example.
Lastly, while P.K has picked up a number of very controversial issues that are interesting but I can’t help but feel that there is this constant negative biasness towards the mega churches here.
What I really hope to see or read is this – the pastor would not generalize but instead, use actual proven cases to highlight his points. The example highlighted about the on-going investigation is still an on-going investigation and as such, we should not jump into any conclusion and not forgetting, the devil is always playing the role of a brethren accuser. Unknowingly, we could become a tool for the devil. Just imagine, what kind of impression we would have created for the new believers and unbelievers when Christians are arguing over who is better and who is more right and who is more saved (if there is such a thing)?
Finally, if a brother has truly fallen, what should we do about it? The Lord says: “He who has no sin, let him cast the first stone.â€
John15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Cheers
Simon
Hmmm….small fry blogpastor involved in megachurch battery and assault, huh?
I’ll have to “make restitution” in my post on the megachurch and substantiate my points with more facts, stats, etc. Okay …but it will take a longer time to get it done. You will find I am not biased against megachurches; in fact, there will be more such churches in Singapore, and I think small churches should consider closing down or merging or niche-ing or face an insurmountable wall. 
My thoughts on size.
I think a church should aim to be both big and small - big congregation and small cellgroups.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a proponent for size for size’s sake. But a congregation growing in size should mean a depletion of non-christians and an increase in new christians “plunder hell, populate heaven” (assuming that the church is growing organically and not importing christians from other churches). So a church should have a healthy motivation for growth - to reach out to the lost and bring them into the family of God, and not stagnate by remaining contented in its holy huddle.
But paradoxically, it should also be “small”. A mega-church with well-choreographed services and bustling with activities can be a very lonely place for an individual who’s not connected in godly relationships. And its really in godly relationships (mentoring, accountability, cellgroups) that christians grow spiritually and learn to love God and people more. No man is an island.
So I see church (in this context) really as a structure. The body of Christ is far broader than our definitions of mega-churches, small churches, anglicans, methodists, catholics, chinese, indian, hokkien etc - there are countless ways to demarcate it. In this sense, church (as a structure) is only a means to an end - to bring connections between followers of Christ as they journey through life together. Ultimately, when we stand before Christ, there would be no more such distinctions as jews, greeks, anglicans or brethens - only christians.
Interestingly all the 7 existing churches did not pass muster by the Angel of God in Revelations. Each was fatally flawed with some “white spots.”
My imagery is that churches are like ships of different design, function and size, all capable of conveying when conditions are beign. However few will be intact or reparable after a severe storm or tempest.
Storms (physical and spirtual) seem to be an inevitable part of human existence where the survivors are strenghten and sometimes even prospered. Those that fall have to go back to the Savior for a second chance or languish.
7 year cycles 7 types of churches is there a link??
Another mega meltdown in the happening…….
Sex scandal hits Atlanta-area megachurch
By DORIE TURNER - Associated Press Writer
John Amis
Senior pastor of Cathedral at Chapel Hill church, D.E. Paulk rests his head back while being interviewed in his home Friday Nov. 9, 2007, in Marietta, Ga. DNA tests reveal that Bishop Earl Paulk, D.E’s uncle and the church’s founder, who has been plagued with sexual lawsuits, is actually D.E.’s biological father.
http://www.mycathedral.org
DECATUR, Ga. —
The 80-year-old leader of a suburban Atlanta megachurch is at the center of a sex scandal of biblical dimensions: He slept with his brother’s wife and fathered a child by her.
Members of Archbishop Earl Paulk’s family stood at the pulpit of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church a few Sundays ago and revealed the secret exposed by a recent court-ordered paternity test.
In truth, this is not the first - or even the second - sex scandal to engulf Paulk and the independent, charismatic church. But this time, he could be in trouble with the law for lying under oath about the affair.
The living proof of that lie is 34-year-old D.E. Paulk, who for years was known publicly as Earl Paulk’s nephew.
“I am so very sorry for the collateral damage it’s caused our family and the families hurt by the removing of the veil that hid our humanity and our sinfulness,” said D.E. Paulk, who received the mantle of head pastor a year and a half ago.
D.E. Paulk said he did not learn the secret of his parentage until the paternity test. “I was disappointed, and I was surprised,” he said.
Earl Paulk, his brother, Don, and his sister-in-law, Clariece, did not return calls for comment.
Abraham lied that Sarah is his sister.
Issac lied that Rebecca is his sister.
Rehab was a prostitute
Jacob cheated on his brother
David committed adultery
David murdered
Solomon turn away from God and worship other gods
It is interesting to note that they are the grandfathers and grandmother of Jesus Christ.
Our God did not just come for the good man, the self righteous, the rich, the famous, the most hardworking but Jesus came for the sinners like you and me. As God, He could have chosen to come from a “clean” family but instead, He has chosen a blood line of people like us.
Not too long ago, there was also another sexual scandal involving a church leader in the US. The reporters interviewed his wife and wanted to get her reaction about her husband’s sin. Instead of condemning her husband or distance herself from the situation, she said these words: “That is why we all need Jesus.”
Cheers
Simon
Hi Journeyman,
You said:
“Interestingly all the 7 existing churches did not pass muster by the Angel of God in Revelations. Each was fatally flawed with some “white spots.—
Can you please explain to me where’s Jesus admonishment for the Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia?
I am confused that you find all the churches mentioned in Revelations as “fatally flawed with some white spots”.
Thanks.
Have problems of not being a theological scholar - I think the Revelations was to given to John of Patmos.
The interpretation of the Bible is dependent on how you treat it as a piece of literature - is it history, poetry or allegory or is it all 3, if so in what proportions?
Personally I lean to the way CSLewis ‘interprets” the Bible - may I humbly suggest you will have to interpret the Bible for yourself with the help of your personal tutor, the holy spirit.
I pray you will be given to perceive the image of the invisible God through a progressive revelation of the Bible.
Trying to justify my personal interpretation of this particular passage would be counter productive and would even be worse if I tried to convince you - seek and you will find, like the brides waiting for the groom, it is very, very personal, just like the relationship I have with our savior - it is very personal but does not exclude anybody else wanting a similar relationship.
Seek the truth for that is where you will find God.
Shalom and have an enjoyable fulfilling journey ahead - it is vibrant and exciting!
When Faith is not grounded in truth and based on heresay - well meaning, insecure people are disasterous……….idolatory, fantatics, hysteria and large gatherings are an explosive mix. Pray that we never have that this does not happen in God’s churches!
Teen’s eyes gouged in exorcism
26, 2007 - 10:07AM
A 14-year-old who nearly died during an exorcism needed emergency treatment to save her sight after relatives scratched at her eyes to remove the devil.
The girl is a cousin of Janet Moses, the woman who died during the October 12 ceremony to lift a Maori curse. The girl had chunks gouged from her eyeballs.
New Zealand newspaper The Dominion Post has learnt that her family believed they saw the devil in her eyes - and tried to scratch out the curse with their fingers. Relatives also syringed water into her eyes and poured it down her throat in an attempt to drive out the curse.
Yes, this is madness. The devil steals and kills and destroy. Gives the deliverance ministry a bad name. But as God’s people we can see how Jesus does it to the glory of the Father: for he came to give abundant life, and the people he delivered are set free.
Should we certify and license “Deliverers?”
Can darkness exist in the Light?
Amazed that the devil has so much influence in our journey in the light despite our proclamation and professing.
The prosperity gospel is blatantly heretical and must stop spreading before it tarnishes the image of christianity. Megachurch goers, please open your eyes to what is right and wrong.