Senator Grassley Investigates TV Evangelists Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Paula White, Benny Hinn

I attended a dead church that car to donate fell asleep in for 20 years as a youth growing up until accidentally stumbling upon the conclusion of a Christian TV broadcast. The show called the 700 Club was led by Pat Robertson who invited viewers at home to pray with him, which I did inviting Christ Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to come live big in my heart by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Immediately I was filled with the Holy Spirit in my bedroom as an electric sensation and powerful divine visitation deeply effected me both inwardly and tangibly upon my body. Four days later I went with a Marine, whom I jogged with every morning, to a youth service at Pastor Benny Hinn's former church Orlando Christian Center. Though Pastor Benny wasn't there, the Presence of the Lord and His Spirit was. Again I had another supernatural visitation at the youth Doom Patrol in which a young lady spoke a word God had placed on her heart. As she spoke I felt quadruple the fire of the Holy Spirit I experienced in my bedroom.

I said girls comics of that to say this, God can use TV to touch humanity as He did me. The vessels through whom God works can be flawed (as we all our who live in human flesh), but undoubtedly the Lord God can use people regardless of their motivation for being in ministry. Jesus anointed a rooster to crow and speak to his backslidden apostle Peter who denied Him three times. God in the Old Testament used a donkey to speak to a rebellious prophet. So know assuredly God's 1956 Topps football cards will be declared throughout the earth by every means possible.

When ministers obtain with their magnificent ministries fame and fortune, if they are not careful along with that they can hinder people from focusing upon the Lord. That is one thing I always appreciated about Pastor Benny (as I attended his church for 2 and 1/2 years, completing a youth Bible Training with him over a 13 week period). Pastor Benny always warned us never to touch the glory, girls, or gold. He said that if our hands would not get greedily sticky, the Lord would allow money to flow through our hands to do the work of the ministry.

Certainly I have done my personal best preaching the gospel around the world, having traveled to over 50 countries as well where I have visited many impoverished third-world and war-torn nations. Sadly for me I have never had the financial wherewithal of these great ministers and have greatly depleted my own personal savings serving the Lord without taking a salary from my ministry. That being said I now have to take a job with Homeland Security to sustain myself financially.

Therefore having money is not evil, as it undergirds and sustains the work of the ministry. What is questionable however is the allocation of funds donated with sincerity of heart to ministry purposes that are alternatively earmarked and used for the minister's own lavish lifestyle. I do believe in prosperity, though I am far from it in my own life. Moreover I believe many of these famous ministers sowed in tears in their early years of ministry and are entitled to live well for serving well.

Why should a drug dealer and foul mouthed rap singer be allowed to roll in the dough and live large, but not a minister? Certainly I realize the means by which ministers raise money can be highly questionable if such funds are not used accordingly. This is what Senator Grassley as a servant of the American people who elected him is endeavoring to remedy and account for.

"I'm following up on complaints from the public and news coverage regarding certain practices at six ministries," Grassley said in a statement. "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. "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."

Another point worth noting is TV is not cheap. I'd love to go on Christian TV, but can hardly afford consistently paying for such a broadcast. I can only imagine the multiplied millions that are necessary to pay to be on TV in over 100 countries, as Pastor Benny's "This is Your Day!" program. People should also keep in mind that ministers like Pastor Benny (Grapevine, TX) make lots of money from book sales, which royalties they as authors are entitled to enjoy. As an author myself, I know writing a book is a lot of work.

Certainly Bishop Eddie Long (Lithonia, Ga.) has greatly impacted the community and nation with his politically active congregation of over 25,000. Grassley seems to have a problem with a God that blesses both financially and spiritually, but this is Bible Senator.

Pastor Creflo and Taffi Dollar (College Park, Ga.) have a thriving broadcast known as "Changing Your World" which is seen in more than 150 countries. Economic empowerment is important and helpful to people abroad as the demand for such programming is evident.

Where the controversy begins is when ministers like the Dollars owns two Rolls Royces, multiple private jets, a $2.5 million apartment in Manhattan and a mansion in Atlanta. This to some is an "appearance of evil" and excess which more conservative Christians think we as believers should avoid so as not to bring reproach upon the Lord and the God-given message (see 1 Thessalonians 5:22).

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland (Newark, Texas) have a broadcast and publish the "Believer's Voice of Victory," which touches and strengthens people throughout the world. Solid and fully persuaded practitioners of the Word of Faith movement, the Copelands themselves have been very generous giving to many ministers and charitable causes. They too believe in financial and spiritual rewards. And why shouldn't they? After all the Bible says, "godliness is profitable in all things" (1 Timothy 4:8).

Pastors Randy and Paula White (Tampa, Fla.) overcome great adversity and setbacks in their personal lives to build Without Walls International Church which has mightily impacted the poor and helped the disenfranchised throughout their community. Few Pastors dare to lift those in the inner-city as have the Whites, who surely have sown in tears personally while ministering to humanity.

The Whites are being persecuted for owning a $1.9 million jet and a $3.5 million condo in New York. Owning a plane is certainly less expensive in terms of time and money spent to fly commercial airlines when you have a demanding speaking schedule around the world as do the Whites. Unfortunately in August 2007, Randy and Paula White announced their divorce. I pray somehow they can reconcile and be renewed in their marriage as they are a tremendous blessing to the body of Christ and greatly loved.

Joyce Meyer Ministries (JMM) apparently was the first to receive an inquiry letter regarding her ministry's financial integrity from the Republican staff of the Senate Finance Committee led by Senator Grassley.

JMM continues in its desire to be transparent, and has posted its 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 audited financial reports on the ministry website. Also available for viewing are the 2004, 2005 and 2006 annual reports (above and beyond the level of accountability required by law and/or that expected by most donors).

JMM has been committed to helping hurting people for more than 20 years, and is proud to point out that in 2006, 82% of its total expenses were used for outreach and program services directed toward reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When I was in India, Joyce Meyer had just left and the Indian Pastors were telling me how she was giving them bicycles and TVs for ministry purposes.

JMM also provided more than 11 million meals in 2006, and built nearly 200 freshwater wells and churches in underdeveloped countries. The ministry fully funds and operates more than 50 orphanages around the world, and presents the Gospel to a potential audience of 3 billion people every day via its television program.

JMM is honored to be a small part of spreading God's love and His Word to millions of people around the world. The ministry strives to conduct all activities with excellence and integrity, just as it has for more than 20 years.

In his five-page letter, Grassley also asked Meyer for:

- "detailed accounting" of all her and her husband's expense-account items, including clothing and cosmetic surgery.

- Any overseas bank accounts and deposits made outside the U.S. after international evangelical crusades.

- The tax-exempt purpose of items purchased for her ministry's headquarters, such as a $23,000 marble-topped commode, a $30,000 conference table, and an $11,219 French clock.

- A detailed accounting of total monthly expenses for upkeep on the Meyers' personal residence, and any vacation 1952 Bowman baseball carsd from 2004 to the present.

- An explanation of any personal use of the ministries' tax-exempt assets, including "jets, employees, facilities," from 2004 to the present.

- An explanation for how personal gifts from donors, such as money or jewelry, are handled and reported to the IRS.

I'm no stranger to investigations as my new job offer with Homeland Security came with extensive background checks of my family, friends, neighbors, former employers, everywhere in the world I have traveled, income verification (or lack thereof over several years to the surprise of my investigator), and interactions with foreign nationals. Nevertheless such is beneficial and useful to keep us clean, walking circumspectly, and safeguard national security.

As the government takes on the powerful Church world, the ministers of God should simultaneously be standing up and pointing out the corruption in government.

David, a man after God's own heart, cried out: "How the mighty have fallen" (2 Samuel 1:19). Sadly it is so, but truly God alone is Almighty and our rock of ages. In Him alone will I trust.

Truly "judgment begins in the house of God" (1Peter 4:17) after which America itself shall be judged for the hypocrisy of its own failed democracy and foreign policy - not to mention its own wasteful spending of hundreds of billions of dollars on war without end.

Pray for the ministers of God who live in flesh and blood too! We who love the Lord must keep our eyes on Christ not His followers.

Let God be true and every man a liar (Romans 3:4), particularly the "false accusers" in Congress who approve war spending without end and refuse to keep their own accountable for misdeeds (see 2 Timothy 3:3).

Paul Davis is a highly sought after professional speaker, life purpose coach, worldwide minister, and change master.

Paul is the author of several books including United States of Arrogance, Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.

Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul's organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.

Paul inspires, revives, awakens, impregnates with purpose, imparts the fire of desire, catapults people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitates destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

Contact Paul to minister, speak at your event or for life coaching:

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