Creflo Dollar Still Wants A Gulfstream G650!

Creflo Dollar Still Wants A Gulfstream G650!

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In March I first wrote about Creflo Dollar, the mega-Church pastor and preacher of “Prosperity Gospel,” who was asking his members to help him fund a $65 million Gulfstream G650. The church even created a fundraising video, which at first I thought was a joke:

After much public outcry, the campaign was eventually halted, though that didn’t stop the church from making all kinds of excuses. They explained that the church needed the Gulfstream G650 so it could carry a dozen people plus 100,000 pounds of food. Clearly they didn’t do any research on the plane, because the Gulfstream G650 has virtually no cargo capacity.

G650

Then in April, Creflo Dollar addressed the situation with his congregation, explaining that the devil didn’t want him to have a Gulfstream (and he actually makes a frighteningly compelling argument):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcT7cKr3hCw

Well, Creflo Dollar Ministries is at it again, and the only thing they apologize for is that the original video may have caused “confusion.”

Creflo Dollar Ministries issued the following statement, explaining that they plan to move forward with Project G650, though they’ll have a better video this time around. Why are they acquiring a Gulfstream? Because “it is the best, and it is a reflection of the level of excellence at which [their] organization chooses to operate.” Goodness, this Prosperity Gospel is almost convincing, it’s scary.

Here’s the statement (and while it’s long, it’s well worth a read):

Dr. Creflo A Dollar is the founder, senior pastor and CEO of this organization. While he is the spiritual leader and the public face of CDM around the world, he is also the CEO of a global, multinational ministry corporation and, as such, reports to this Board like any other CEO. All significant projects, policy changes and financial expenditures, regardless of the circumstances, are presented to the Board and approved prior to implementation. A proper system of checks and balances is in place to insure the ministry’s dealings are beyond reproach. When Dr. Dollar steps forward to announce a ministry initiative, please make no mistake that it is actually an action of this Board.

Our community is centered on biblical principles directly from the Word of God. There is no area of the organization that does not base its foundational principles and operational guidelines on what the Bible has to say to us about God’s love and His grace. We understand that others may interpret biblical truths differently – the freedom to worship as one chooses is a fundamental hallmark of a free society – but wish to assert our God-given right to practice what we believe. This is our faith, the very basis for what we believe, and it is not necessary that we justify it.

It is our belief that this ministry is called to serve people globally – to literally change the world according to the Great Commission – and our infrastructure and operational plan reflect the worldwide nature of that assignment. Our pastors share the gospel of Jesus more than 300 times per year – in churches, arenas, venues, convention centers, stadiums and other facilities across the entire planet – and are committed to aggressive travel schedules that cannot be fulfilled via any means other than private aircraft. A long-range, high-speed, intercontinental jet aircraft is a tool that is necessary in order to fulfill the mission of the ministry. In light of an unfortunate accident that recently resulted in the ministry’s aircraft being declared a total loss, it is our intention to purchase another airplane at a time, place and price of our choosing.

The G650 appeal published on the creflodollarministries.org web site was directed to a specific community of like-minded people who love and support the ministry and its global missions work. There was not, nor will there be, a request for donations from the public at large, people outside that faith community or the members of local World Changers churches in Atlanta, New York and two dozen other locations. There are some 3 million donors in the ministry’s global databases, with tens of millions of others who are connected to the ministry through books, magazines, social media, missions outreach and a daily television broadcast that is translated into many languages and aired worldwide. There was no pressure of any kind applied to anyone, but rather an opportunity was presented to those in our community who may be inclined to participate and who stand to benefit from the global mobility of our ministry leaders. We fully acknowledge that the campaign video did not do a good job of communicating the request, and we apologize for any confusion it may have caused – it is in the process of being revamped and will be re-released when complete.

We wholeheartedly reject the notion that the ministry’s airplane project is an imposition on our community or that it somehow takes advantage of our people. Quite to the contrary, this request is seen by our community as standard operating procedure for people of faith. We believe that if our efforts are focused on building the Kingdom of God around the world, then it is His desire for us to see the desires of our hearts. We have funded numerous multi-million dollar projects this exact same way, including parking facilities, various church buildings, previous airplanes, our teen ministry headquarters and even our sanctuary, the World Dome. We seek out what we believe to be the will of God, we allow ourselves to dream BIG, we present our ‘family’ with an opportunity to ‘invest,’ and we all come together to turn those dreams into reality. We plan to acquire a Gulfstream G650 because it is the best, and it is a reflection of the level of excellence at which this organization chooses to operate. We, the World Changers family, so value the lives, the safety and the well-being of our pastors and leaders that we wish to provide to them the best air travel experience possible.

(Tip of the hat to Wayne)

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  1. Donna Martinez Guest

    I am so amazed by how narrow minded people can be when it comes to this pastor. You are focussing on a plane? have you ever tuned in to his broadcasts to see what the man is all about and the application of the plane? I say NO you haven't. World Changers ministry does so much for the community and missions all around the world. Just because he is prosperous doesn't mean he is a...

    I am so amazed by how narrow minded people can be when it comes to this pastor. You are focussing on a plane? have you ever tuned in to his broadcasts to see what the man is all about and the application of the plane? I say NO you haven't. World Changers ministry does so much for the community and missions all around the world. Just because he is prosperous doesn't mean he is a crook. He is a dynamic teacher of the Word of God first and foremost. His wife Taffy has a heart for women...do you know how many strippers she has ministered to by meeting them where they are? (Prestige Ministry) They have dug wells for clean water, built houses for people living in shacks, provided support for Katrina victims when the Gov. said they couldn't get in...provided food and clothing for those in Hati. I challenge all of the accusers of the brethern (Revelation 12:7-12) ..look a little bit closer, dig deeper, suspend judgement. Seek to understand and not judge. The Bible says "Touch not my annointed, do my prophet no harm" That is not just this prophet, but all of God's Children of annointed to perform his work.

    One question I ask of all his critics...Who among you have a personal relationship with God giving you the power to discern the truth? In the end God will judge us all . Selah

  2. MJ Guest

    I don't agree with the way Creflo Dollar did the attempted fund raising of his desired new jet. The good news is that his board acknowledged that it could of been done better. HOWEVER, I'm soooo tired of "people" assuming EVERY BLACK CHURCH is filled with "POOR PEOPLE." It's PATHETIC!

    Creflo pastors an UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS congregation. The people are NOT BROKE! Some are millionaires. Many of his thousands of partners are also MIDDLE-CLASS professional...

    I don't agree with the way Creflo Dollar did the attempted fund raising of his desired new jet. The good news is that his board acknowledged that it could of been done better. HOWEVER, I'm soooo tired of "people" assuming EVERY BLACK CHURCH is filled with "POOR PEOPLE." It's PATHETIC!

    Creflo pastors an UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS congregation. The people are NOT BROKE! Some are millionaires. Many of his thousands of partners are also MIDDLE-CLASS professional black people WITH MONEY! So stop the out right stupidity of thinking that it's Creflo taking advantage of "mindless poor" black people. These are college degreed people who have families, homes and MONEY! Therefore, MIND YOUR BUSINESS! If they want him to have it, that's THEIR BUSINESS! No one else's! PERIOD!

    PS And for the record SCORES OF BLACK CHURCHES here in the US, London and Africa have VERY WEALTHY congregations! Do your research! Smh! @ ignorance.

  3. RLF Guest

    I cannot believe the nerve of this guy. Obviously, not only using GOD'S name in vane, but he is taking advantage to the exact people he says he is saving. No one with an ounce on intelligence would pay for this. So he feed on the lower income, lower educated people who he has brainwashed. This man is obviously a fraud and should be preaching to inmates in the prison where he is sent. The...

    I cannot believe the nerve of this guy. Obviously, not only using GOD'S name in vane, but he is taking advantage to the exact people he says he is saving. No one with an ounce on intelligence would pay for this. So he feed on the lower income, lower educated people who he has brainwashed. This man is obviously a fraud and should be preaching to inmates in the prison where he is sent. The sad thing is the majority of the money he is collecting come from people's welfare checks and he does not even care. I thought Jim Bakker was bad, but the guy is the spawn of SATIN.

  4. FT Guest

    They were at London shopping at Harrods for the poor people of the world

  5. Racerboy 80 (Bill) Guest

    Interesting...what stood out to me was Creflo's wife and daughters were on the plane when it was departing London.

    I'm sure they are a part of the ministry too, and were in London spreading the word of god. ;-)

  6. Charlie New Member

    @Maury...Seriously ?? Can you just imagine how much money this joker takes in from his followers. Basically just a criminal shielded by calling himself a pastor. For about $29.00 I can be a pastor too...Google it

  7. Maury Guest

    You just won't leave that man alone, will you?

  8. Alpha Gold

    @ qwerty -- donations to Ben weren't tax deductable.

  9. Billy Guest

    Amen, brother. The 650 is just right.

    You could have more kinky fun in that than I ever do on the second bed in a hotel room.

  10. snic Diamond

    Sarcasm, farnorthtrader, sarcasm.

  11. snic Diamond

    "I never asked you for a dime!" (4:00 minutes in).

    vs

    "we present our ‘family’ with an opportunity to ‘invest’"

    The difference escapes me.

  12. farnorthtrader Guest

    snic, I think you have it all wrong. Think it must have been the hand of God reached down and smote the good preacher's plane. Pretty sure no God in any religion wants his voice on earth to be bilking people for millions of dollars in His name.

  13. snic Diamond

    From aviation-safety.net: "It's unclear what went wrong as the airplane was attempting takeoff from runway 03. The airplane came to rest in the grass next to the runway in a position perpendicular to the runway. The nose gear had collapsed."

    Actually, it's perfectly clear what happened: the Devil reached up and yanked on that nose gear just as the plane was in the middle of its takeoff roll.

  14. The Value Traveler (@ValueTravelerOz) Guest

    Perhaps I have been going at it all wrong all this time. I didnt realize replacing my patio door simply involved making a video begging for the money, and convincing the herd 'i NEED it' ....
    Someone should teach ol' Creflo the art of #mfgspending.

  15. Ben (not lucky) Guest

    I'm a Christian and prior jet owner myself (for my business not a "ministry"), I find this unbelievable and terrible. How he justifies this in his head is beyond me.

    For what it's worth, his previous plane (captured from the video) was a G3 - so he's obviously convinced people/his board that planes are a necessity for his work.
    http://flightaware.com/resources/registration/N103CD

  16. 02nz Guest

    To add to what Steve said: wouldn't they have insured their previous jet? The whole thing stinks.

  17. Steve Member

    I'd like to know what happened to the last jet they had. According to the statement due to an "unfortunate accident" was declared a total loss.

    Anybody know what up with that?

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ Steve -- See here:
      http://corporatejetinvestor.com/articles/gulfstream-iii-n103cd-comes-runway-biggin-hill/
      http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20141124-0

  18. James K. Guest

    There is a distinct difference, Qwerty.

    Lucky has no power or influence over anyone. The pastor of a church, with a god-fearing audience, has significant influence over his flock. Obviously they are still human beings and they can say no, but he can use God and the church as wedges to pry money out of poor peoples' pockets.

    It's the difference between your buddy asking you for a personal favor and your boss --...

    There is a distinct difference, Qwerty.

    Lucky has no power or influence over anyone. The pastor of a church, with a god-fearing audience, has significant influence over his flock. Obviously they are still human beings and they can say no, but he can use God and the church as wedges to pry money out of poor peoples' pockets.

    It's the difference between your buddy asking you for a personal favor and your boss -- you can say no to both, but the power dynamic will probably compel you to do what your boss says.

    Further, please actually read Lucky's posts about the Etihad residence. They are as self-deprecating as you can imagine. The polar opposite of the quasi-humanitarian self-righteousness of the dollar ministry

  19. ohoho Guest

    maybe mr. qwerty is actually a donor and is covering his shame by equating it to your etihad fundraiser. didn't realize funding your etihad excursion would buy me the favor of god though

  20. JimC Guest

    This is so pathetically terrible that I'm not sure whether I want to laugh or cry.

  21. Qwerty Guest

    Lucky, how is this any worse than your Etihad fundraiser?

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ Qwerty -- I suppose if you buy into prosperity ministry than it's not. Personally I think it's wrong to basically shame people into contributing to a $65 million jet if they want a place in heaven, rather than what I did, which was say "hey, this is ridiculous, if you want to take part in it do, but there are better ways to spend your money."

      But if you see it differently I certainly respect that.

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Donna Martinez Guest

I am so amazed by how narrow minded people can be when it comes to this pastor. You are focussing on a plane? have you ever tuned in to his broadcasts to see what the man is all about and the application of the plane? I say NO you haven't. World Changers ministry does so much for the community and missions all around the world. Just because he is prosperous doesn't mean he is a crook. He is a dynamic teacher of the Word of God first and foremost. His wife Taffy has a heart for women...do you know how many strippers she has ministered to by meeting them where they are? (Prestige Ministry) They have dug wells for clean water, built houses for people living in shacks, provided support for Katrina victims when the Gov. said they couldn't get in...provided food and clothing for those in Hati. I challenge all of the accusers of the brethern (Revelation 12:7-12) ..look a little bit closer, dig deeper, suspend judgement. Seek to understand and not judge. The Bible says "Touch not my annointed, do my prophet no harm" That is not just this prophet, but all of God's Children of annointed to perform his work. One question I ask of all his critics...Who among you have a personal relationship with God giving you the power to discern the truth? In the end God will judge us all . Selah

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MJ Guest

I don't agree with the way Creflo Dollar did the attempted fund raising of his desired new jet. The good news is that his board acknowledged that it could of been done better. HOWEVER, I'm soooo tired of "people" assuming EVERY BLACK CHURCH is filled with "POOR PEOPLE." It's PATHETIC! Creflo pastors an UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS congregation. The people are NOT BROKE! Some are millionaires. Many of his thousands of partners are also MIDDLE-CLASS professional black people WITH MONEY! So stop the out right stupidity of thinking that it's Creflo taking advantage of "mindless poor" black people. These are college degreed people who have families, homes and MONEY! Therefore, MIND YOUR BUSINESS! If they want him to have it, that's THEIR BUSINESS! No one else's! PERIOD! PS And for the record SCORES OF BLACK CHURCHES here in the US, London and Africa have VERY WEALTHY congregations! Do your research! Smh! @ ignorance.

0
RLF Guest

I cannot believe the nerve of this guy. Obviously, not only using GOD'S name in vane, but he is taking advantage to the exact people he says he is saving. No one with an ounce on intelligence would pay for this. So he feed on the lower income, lower educated people who he has brainwashed. This man is obviously a fraud and should be preaching to inmates in the prison where he is sent. The sad thing is the majority of the money he is collecting come from people's welfare checks and he does not even care. I thought Jim Bakker was bad, but the guy is the spawn of SATIN.

0
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