Brooklyn pastor Lamor Whitehead, also known as the "bling bishop" for his extravagant style and expensive taste in jewelry, has been charged with fraud.
You may remember Pastor Whitehead from earlier this year, when we wrote about a live-streamed sermon that turned into a live-streamed armed robbery of the pastor and his wife. They claimed an eye-popping amount of jewelry and other luxury items had been stolen.
Now, the controversial pastor has been arrested on financial fraud charges, with Manhattan prosecutors alleging that he defrauded parishioners. Whitehead is being charged with wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, attempted extortion, and making a false statement to a federal agent.
Church-Issued Jewelry
Until the robbery in late July, Pastor Whitehead was perhaps best known in the world of faith for his flashy and audacious style of dress. Adorned in expensive suits and hundreds of thousands in jewelry around his neck and on his fingers, it’s safe to say that Pastor Whitehead is not a big believer in faith leaders living humbly.
However, he would argue that he’s giving his congregation something to aspire to. Before starting his church, Whitehead spent time in prison for fraud and identity theft, and his expensive clothes, it could be argued, are the ultimate sign that anything is possible through God.
Many of Whitehead’s followers see things that way. As one said of Whitehead, “rappers, singers, the way they attract people, that’s what he’s doing. People want to know how you got all that. Once you get here, you see he is teaching God.”
Whitehead was briefly vaulted to the national spotlight earlier this year when he was robbed at gunpoint during the live-streamed sermon.
And this wasn’t exactly like someone slipping a few bucks from the collection plate into their pocket; the thieves reportedly made off with roughly $1 million dollars worth of jewelry from Pastor Whitehead and his wife.
Even at the time, there was rampant speculation that Whitehead was somehow in on it – speculation which will undoubtedly continue considering the recent arrest. However, it’s worth noting that the police have made no indication he was involved, two men were later arrested, and none of his current charges involve the shocking robbery.
Bling Bishop Loses His Luster
Prosecutors are accusing Whitehead of a variety of crimes, most notably of defrauding one of his congregants. According to federal prosecutors, Whitehead convinced one of his parishioners to invest roughly $90,000 dollars of her retirement savings into his businesses, with the pastor’s guarantee that he would also help her find a home in exchange.
He allegedly spent the money on personal luxuries for himself. When she asked for the money back, he told her it was gone.
In another incident, Pastor Whitehead allegedly tried to get a local businessman to give him half a million dollars in exchange for a stake in some of Whitehead’s real estate dealings, as well as political favors from the New York City government.
For his part, Pastor Whitehead says he’s innocent, and that God is on his side.
"The bishop is not guilty. And I'm going to fight it. I have the right legal team, and more importantly, I have God,” he explained in a recent Instagram Live post.
That will likely be determined in a New York courthouse next year.
52 comments
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Humanism Clergy Linda
Doesn't surprise me at all. He's dressing just like and acting the televangelist who are worth millions stealing from their parishioners. There was someone sitting to the side just watching looks like it was all planned to me
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Rev. Dr. G. Waldron
Here we go again. Another anti-Christian sensational article.
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Rev. Kev
I don't see it as anti-Christian because of two reasons. First, it's about a specific person and not all of Christianity. Second, I personally don't see this man as a Christian to begin with. You can't teach and live in opposition to Christ and honestly be a Christian at the same time. Sure. He calls himself a Christian. But I see it as equal to someone calling themselves a car just because they hang out in a garage.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Rev Kev; why you’ve decided to just stay a “Rev” and not a bishop ( with two DD’s) raises a few questions about why you initially decided to become a “Rev.”
Jesus never read or wrote anything, neither did Muhammad, Buddha, Zeus, Jupiter or the “flying spaghetti monster.”
I’m far better educated, than any of those from whom you acquired your beliefs — so that we can only assess your options, based on their source.
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Rev. Kev
What does having DDs have to do with being a bishop? They are mutually exclusive. And why care what title I use?
Lastly, you have zero idea why I went into the ministry or what education I have, or what education any of my instructors or sources of information have. So what makes you think you can make the claim that you are far better educated?
You seriously think neither Jesus nor the Buddha nor Muhammed ever read anything? Then claim your superior education? That's humorous.
Your post was little more than an exercise in personal ego and innuendo. Color me underwhelmed.
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Rev. Dr. G. Waldron
Here we go again. Another anti-Christian sensational article.
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June Tanner
Just another greedy con man using the guise of God to strip people of their hard earned money. And people wonder why the churches are empty. From con men to molesters, including cruel, abusive nuns, is nothing sacred?
With that being said, there is the old adage, "You can't cheat an honest man."
How many of those cheated didn't believe they would make a fast buck by investing in one of his businesses or real estate schemes?
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Nicholas J Page
Give him a life sentence Fraudster enjoy wearing prison issue clothes,food,no car,etc then see his parishioners feel and make him pay back all the money he has stolen then defrock him Justice served
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Stephen Mohlaloga Makgoathane
Today's Pastors are counted within the rich and the famous.What does the Congregation says about their Pastors wealth, are they saying our Pastor is Blessed, don't they know that this is their money, and not the Pastor's? No one in the Congregation ever suspected anything mischievous? This Pastor needs prayers.Presently we do have such Pastors who says Whitehead was a fool to do this and that, thinking they are smarter. IN EVERYTHING WE DO, LET US PUT GOD FIRST." Stephen Mohlaloga Makgoathane" South African."
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Stephen Mohlaloga Makgoathane
Pastor Bling Bishop ( Pastor Whitehead) needs help,he is attacked by Satan " He needs strong Prayers from all over the world. He is weak, Spiritually DEAD. HE MUST BE BORN-AGAIN. He is too greedy,he is looking for Christ Jesus on the wrong side" Materially" I feel sorry for his wife's reputation, his family and relatives as a whole. But ' let us" The World not Judge him " MAY THE GOOD LORD CHANGE HIM TO BE ONE OF THOSE WHO ONCE SINNNED,and be Converted into a new born baby. Oh'GOD HAVE MERCY " This flock is lost. He was not Christ Jesus follower,he ignored the Christians basics rules.We have such references a lot"Most of today's Church owners are Billionaires," My question is " What does GOD have to do with money? GOD wants to see US His children living better. In everything" LET US PUT GOD FIRST" First of all " A Priest is not suppose to be involved in such DEVIL'S activities" this is insane. Ag'shame. A surely must be BORN-AGAIN. Let us leave this matter with the Legal System and concentrate on Christians behavior maybe finally we must pray for him.We usually like saying THE DEVIL HAS NO POWER" THE DEVIL IS A LIAR " Indeed that is true, but look at what the Devil does with God's people.This Devil truly gets away with murder. This is the time where God's present is needed. Like i said' Let's not pass Judgement on this filthy Pastor, and look at worse Pastors whom some are still doing it, saying I am not Whitehead,i won't be caught. These Pastors and others, need our Prayers. That's me. REVEREND STEPHEN MOHLALOGA MAKGOATHANE " South Africa"
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Lionheart
Do you have any demonstrable evidence Stephen, to your claims of what you are saying is in fact, true?
To this day, no one has managed to prove that any of the worlds Gods are real, even yours. There is a Nobel prize, waiting for the first man to prove any God is real. It seems that Satan is a human construct created by religionists, unless you can prove otherwise.
Are you getting all of your stories, and tales, that you obviously believe, from a book somewhere?
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Rev Frankie PG
I wonder if he has the same legal team as Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton, after all they're cut from the same cloth. Extravagant lifestyle and stealing from the hands they swear they're helping (ie- rappers, gangs, BLM, those that are already lost). At least Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton about that they're politicians.
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Wilberta M. Berry
This is not surprising. The Catholic Cardinals and Bishops were richer than kings in medieval days. This has been going on since Jesus walked the Earth. Remember that is why he got angry with the Sadducees and Pharisees and money changers. Minsters if they were really following in Jesus's foot steps would preach the word for free and get a secular job to live off of, not the congregation. After all what does God need money for.
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Rev Mark D
People who worship a con man deserve what they get. As to the con man himself, he won't get out of life alive.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
It's only because he was black they he got arrested. Look at Joel Olsten, he ripped off nearly $600 million only for $30,000 to be found in the walls of his bathroom. Then there's Peter Popoff, Jim Baker, Kenneth Copeland, Franklin Graham, Pat Robertson, John Gray, Robert Jeffress, John Hagee. Notice how all of the white God guys get away with stealing and the one black guy gets nailed.
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Rev. Kev
Playing the race card is way too easy. It had nothing to do with the color of his skin. If you read the article, his arrest was due to actual fraud; getting an individual to invest in a business and then using that investment money for his own, personal use. It wasn't about his fleecing of the sheep during services. White pastors have also been arrested for various crimes. Look at the Bakers as an example.
The truly sad thing here is that he has convinced his flock that being a greedy, self-absorbed, materialist is actually "teaching God" when his life is the exact opposite of the teachings of Christ. Not sure what Bible his church uses.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev. Kev Jim Baker and his buddy John Fletcher were caught with their pants down after drugging and rapping Jessica Hahn hush in the name of God.
God must like White preachers as Jim's sentence of 45 years was reduced to just eight years, and he's out brining in millions in the name of God for him to spend.
Joel Osteen and the $600,000 he stole. Hasn't been to jail or if he has it was Just Visiting.
Black preachers, like black drug dealers always get worse sentences compared to their white counter part.
This is America home of white capitalisms, being greedy, self-absorbed, and materialistic in the name of God. The white Europeans call it Manifest Destiny. which is still happening today. American Destiny is what made America Great along with slavery. The Bible tells whites to pursue Manifest Destiny.
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Rev. Kev
Douglas, you mention money Osteen stole. What money, exactly? The only theft of that amount I can find is money stolen from the church several years ago that was found hidden in the church. Which the church was quick to report to the police. The only people claiming Osteen was involved are the social media gossipers. The police questioned Osteen back in 2014 but they never filed charges nor made any official allegations. So upon what basis are you making this claim? To assert something as a fact with no evidence isn't honest.
You are entitled to see everything through as racial perspective. I just don't share your view.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev. Kev You don't have to share my view. You might want to dig a bit deeper about the Joel Osteen theft. Out of the $600M stolen, only $30,000 was found stuffed in the walls of Osteen bathroom. So where's the other half million in cash?
Joel and the Church's staff was questioned by police and found there was not enough evidence to bring charges against him and get a conviction, but that doesn't mean he didn't do it, God knows he did.
There was $30,000 in evidence that was found. Rev Kev, answer me this.... How did all of that money find it's way into Osteen's bathroom wall?
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Rev. Kev
Let me make sure I have this straight. You admit there was no evidence to charge Osteen for the theft. A theft he had zero reason to even perpretrate. A theft where -- for some convoluted reason -- he supposedly stashed maney in a wall and just let it sit there for years instead of getting it any time he wanted. But you're certain he did it even though you can't possibly know it. You simply make the assertion.
I don't know how the money got in the wall. Neither do you. And making wild speculation in the face of zero information is meaningless when it comes to knowing what is true. You don't get to fill in the void of knowledge with your imagination and say that's what happened and be an honest person at the same time.
Unless, of course, you have been gifted with omniscience. In whch case, you may want to use your supernatural powers for good and work with your local police to dig up solid evidence and solve crimes that actually impact people's lives.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev. Kev That's the problem, you don't have it straight. I never said there was no evidence, in fact the evidence is there right in Joel's bathroom. Read what I said.
"This police and found there was not enough evidence to bring charges against him and get a conviction, but that doesn't mean he didn't do it, God knows he did." Get the difference?
What do you mean we don't know how the money got in the wall? Joel or someone on Joel's staff put it there. Or are you trying to tell me God put it there?
How do you know Joel hasn't been spending the cash over the past several years. Joel sure has a good motive to steal the money as he as senior pastor, he draws no salary from the church. Who knows, maybe he took the money to pay off a Jessica Hahn or Stormy Daniels.
No I have not been gifted with omniscience. But I do have a brain and was taught critical thinking skills and deductive reasoning.
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Rev. Kev
So I was correct. You have no evidence for your accusation. Merely innuendo and speculation.
Evidence leads directly to a point. Just having money somewhere tells us nothing about who did it. Basically, a lack of evidence is why no charges could be brought. Simply asserting what God knows (as if He talks to you directly and informs you of what's happening) is your imagination at work. Not evidence.
Again, we don't know how it got there. Obviously, we can assume someone put it there. But that's about it. Again, no evidence that points us to anyone specific.
What "good motive" does a wealthy man who accrues a massive income from book, calendar, speaking fees, radio show, and merchandise sales, have to steal what amounts to a pittance in his income? It makes zero sense. Why risk a felony charge when he legally makes far more than that?
His reported income is around $70 million per year in total revenue. Or a little over $191,780 a day (not counting unspecified benefits he still receives from the church). He almost earns in a day the actual cash amount of the money stolen. Then we have to consider he would need to cash the checks (thus leaving a paper trail) to use the rest.
Seriously. Neither critical thinking skills nor any deductive reasoning was employed in your unfounded accusation. Your entire position is: "Money was in the wall. Who put it there? Therefore, had to be Osteen. Even God knows it." And: "He had good motive to steal it. Maybe (emphasis on maybe) he needed it for stuff I'm just asserting because."
No verifiable evidence that leads anyone to anything specific. And just not liking the guy or his ministry (which I am not a fan of, by the way) isn't enough for an indictment.
I can see we've reached an end point to this exchange since no new information appears to be forthcoming at this point. Carrying it further seems a poor use of any more invested time. So I'm calling it done, on my side. Thanks for your time and the discussion.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev. Kev From your post you have made it clear you are looking at this subjectively and your own conformational bias is preventing you from looking at this objectively.
You own conformational bias is preventing you to evaluate the evidence
Let's look at what we know. The crime was reported to the police on Monday with the theft occurring between Sunday afternoon or early Monday morning. They have video cameras and in viewing the videos it was only Joel and staff who were around. The safe was not damaged which means the combination was used. It had to be someone who knew the combination to the safe since everyone on the security videos was known.
The evidence, which there is a lot of doesn't eliminate Joel.
Now here's where your bias is interfering with your thinking. You say Joel is a wealthy man with a massive income. Are you sure?
There are many wealthy people in have been sent to prison for fraud and theft. Could it be Joel needed some non-reported cash money to pay someone or for something?
Joel and/or Joel's staff hiding the money in the walls was a clever. They knew where the money was at all times and had access to it. Joel would have also know the missing money was covered by insurance, which it was. Joel also knew there was a statue of limitations which once reached he could not be prosecuted.
Did the police and DA have enough to prosecute AND get a conviction against Joel, no. Was there enough evidence that the law enforcement knew Joel did it? Yup. The videos don't show it wasn't an outsider.
Joel got away and no one would have every known had it not been for the honest plumber.
Joel's reaction and actions in hearing a plumber found the stolen money in the walls of Joel's bathroom speaks his involvement in the theft.
Joel is just one more of the pastors who have stolen millions... Jim Baker, Peter Popoff, Evan Edwards, Charles Southall, Bill Lucas... It's a very long list. While Joel may have committed the prefect theft, it's the pastor Barry Minkow that should not be forgotten. And Pastor Barry was recently released from federal prison for the second time.
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Rev. Kev
I can address all your claims with the following:
Citations for the facts you assert, please?
Proof to support the allegations, please?
It's hilarious that you are accusing me of being biased when I'm asking for proof -- solid, verifiable, objective facts -- to support your position. Whereas you are all but shoving someone in a prison cell with nothing but suspicion and some unsupported surety that you are right.
Projection much?
Repeating the same, unsupported claims isn't worth any more of my time. If you come up with solid, verifiable, facts and citations then it'll be worth my time to look at. Until then, have a great week.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev Kay You are right is asking for a citation. But let me not only give you your requested citation but the original source documents. https://www.houstontx.gov/police/public_information.htm
All you have to do is make the request.
I’m not accusing you of being biased, I stated you are and provided several examples. Your bias is getting in the way which is why you aren’t aware of your bias.
I am having a wonderful week. Thank you.
Looking forward for to your reply once you have read the police reports so you can confirm I am correct about Joel and the theft.
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Rev. Kev
Giving the website for requesting documents isn't a citation. A citation would be the actual document(s) you used for the facts you claimed. What exact documents did you even request from this website? Using which link?
You wrote: "I’m not accusing you of being biased, I stated you are and provided several examples."
First, stating I was biased IS an accusation by definition.
Second, you gave zero examples that indicate any bias on my part. I haven't made a single assertion of innocence or guilt of any party. That's all been you. Asking for facts (which I keep doing) is the opposite of bias.
The only other thing I have done is poke holes in your narrative to illustrate your lack of substantive evidence to support your position.
You don't appear to English very well.
And the fact that you appear to be relying on ad homs to try to shore up your position only makes it weaker.
I won't respond to any more of your posts until you finally get around to ponying up facts. You made the claims, you bear the burden to support them. Not me. I don't care enough about this to waste any more time.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev. Kev You do realize this was a crime and a criminal investigation and not a college research paper. If all you are after is an APA citation I've given it to you less the HPD for the case numbers. Something you could easily request with the last URL in my previous post.
If you don't know how cite an APA case here you go. Seems pointless to me when I've provided you access to primary source documentation. Seems to me that's what you want so you can verify everything I have stated as being trustful and without bias.
Dude I gave you several examples of your bias. If you can't see it, it's because of your bias.
You are funny. You keep threatening to not respond but you do it anyway. Guess you are not a man of your word.
Fact still remains this was the perfect crime.... Joel and his friends can't be prosecuted as the statue of libations has expired.
The guy is one good con-man. One has to wonder what other crimes he's committed.
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Rev. Kev
P.S. The original theft wasn't all cash. According to the news (I just happened to read WKBN.com) there was $200,000 in cash and the rest in checks. So if you wonder where all the rest ot the cash is....it isn't.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev. Kev The money was stolen from Joel's safe. How many people do you think knew the combination to the safe other than Joel? You do realize the statue of limitations has expired so Joel so even if law enforcement had a confession from Joel that he stole the money he can't be prosecuted. He committed the perfect crime, stealing God's money, and got away with it.
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Rev. Kev
It was stolen from the church safe sometime between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. The only references I could find about the safe was that a church employee discovered it had been broken into. I couldn't find any reporting that said someone used the combination to open it. And, even then, I suppose someone could be good at cracking safes. I have no specifics on what sort of safe it is, how secure, or how it was breached. If you have an unbiased, verifiable source for those specifics, please feel free to cite it. Otherwise, we are still left with a lack of evidence that points us to a specific conclusion. Which is, again, why the police didn't charge anyone.
IMO it's not much of a perfect crime if no one cashed the checks or used the credit card information, and cash was recovered. Basically, it sounds more like an epic fail since no one got the benefit of the theft.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@ Rev. Kev The police can't charge anyone at this time, as the statue of limitations has expired.
Guess I'm not following your math. If there was $200,000 in cash was stolen and only $30.000 was recovered doesn't that leave $170,000 unaccounted for? This means Joel could have that $170,000 tax free money to spend on his mistresses and other pleasures.
You are leaving out some important details of the crime. The safe was not broken, it was opened with the combination. Joel has security cameras, and there were no foreign people in Joel's office when the money magically moved from the safe into the wall of the bathroom and Joel's pockets. There was no safe cracker or outside burglar, it was an inside job. How is this an epic fail? It's the perfect crime. Joel stole $170.000, it's tax free AND now that the statue of limitation has expired Joel can't be charged with the crime. I would call that an epic success.
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Rev. Kev
I can address all your claims with the following:
Citations for the facts you assert, please?
Proof to support the allegations, please?
Repeating the same, unsupported claims isn't worth any more of my time. If you come up with solid, verifiable, facts and citations then it'll be worth my time to look at. Until then, have a great week.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
At the very least, my fellow ULC bishops (with DD’s) — if they haven’t yet done so, should re-read Nietzsche’s “Thus Spake Zarathustra” especially the portion that deals with “priests.”
Zarathustra opines, that priests (more-so than anyone else) know that everything that a priest says about God (and his appendage Jesus) is a lie; lies based on manmade stories, so that their church could control human thoughts and behavior.
In other words, the Christian Church, from a historical perspective- is based entirely on a foundation of lies (politely call myths).
The “Greatest Hoax Ever Perpetuated on Mankind.”
If you’re not a ULC Bishop, with at least one DD (I have two) and you’ve never read Zarathustra— your remarks would be based on such profound ignorance — that they would akin to 10-year-old Chinese child trying to describe how an atom relates to a Black Hole.
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Rev. Kev
I'm just curious upon what basis you make such sweeping assertions? Hopefully not the credentials of an honorary DD from ULC that carries zero educational requirements. And, even then, this could be seen as an attempt to employ the fallacious appeal to authority. Basically, you appear to just be randomly stating that anyone with X title and X declared honorary degrees needs to read your subjective choice of author or they are just ignorant. Correction: profoundly ignorant. What qualifies you to say such things and have anyone take your opinion seriously?
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Lionheart
This just shows how unbelievably gullible all religionists are. They will believe anything with no demonstrable evidence whatsoever, totally relying on what they call “faith”, because that all they have. The exact same thing all religions use in a vain attempt to say their faith is the true one. Even people like Daniel Gray, and John Partin, here at the Monastery blog are taken in by it all. Both claiming that their religion, their dogma, their god, is the real one, and that they haven’t been conned with their faith. They no doubt continue to pray to it. 🤭
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Colleen McAllister
Why do you pre-judge everyone? Why do you lump them all in groups? And I'm not sure what you mean by "religionists?" Faith does not need nor ask for proof yet some of those who believe have seen proof. I feel sorry for you who denies Faith.
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Lionheart
No amount of faith, Colleen, makes anything fact. That’s why in a court-of-law, if all you are relying on is faith to prove someone is guilty or innocent, you’ll be thrown out of the jury. Some jurists have been thrown out just because they said the “Holy Spirit” has spoken to them about the innocence of the accused, only to find the accused was eventually proven guilty when all the facts became available.
Religionists are all people on earth who believe that their religion is the real one, and all relying on faith.
Do you also feel sorry for those who are not denying their faith, and yet do not subscribe to your religion?
Thank you for your comment, and have a happy new year. 🤗
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P. Keith Benefiel
Faith is believing in something you know ain't so. -Mark Twain
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John D. Partin
No faith is not believing in something you don't know ain't so.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Is it fraudulent, to claim that one “actually” believes in stuff such as “Holy Ghosts” — a Christian God who, apparently, created himself — a Christian God who drowned all of humankind (except Noah et al) arranged to have his one and only son tortured to death — so that all of the humans he created could, after they died — spend eternity worshiping such a brutal God?
To “actually” believe in any religion requires a brain lacking in common sense.
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Ryan S Romanek
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24 He will be judged one way or another...
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Daniel Gray
Should rip him a new one. A pastor should live in a home that cost no more then the highest paid home of his or her congregation, should drive a car no more expensive then the highest salaried person in his congregation, and if they want 300 dollar armini suits and solid gold jewelry and chains then let them pay for it themselves. The main reason to be a pastor is to teach the word of God. If you cant do that without stealing from the church or enriching yourself on the backs of the congregation, then you have the wrong line of work.
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Amber Fry
Considering he tended to cater to the very wealthy, no, he shouldn't. People of the cloth regardless of religion should never be supported past absolute necessity. Jewelry should never be on the list of necessities. Anything considered luxury should never be on the list. Extra past food, clothes and a basic but well tended home should be left to help those who really need it as the church was supposed to insure in the first place.
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Daniel Gray
dont give a rats butt if he catered to the wealthy or the poorest of the poor, you are there to teach and lead in your chosen religion, not to enrich yourself. if a person cannot seem to understand this simple fact, then they need to find another line of work. I mean judas priest, who in their right mind thinks that a "man of god" requires or deserves to have 1 million dollars of jewelry on them? Just think of how many people that would have helped, especially in this time. If it were up to me I would be doing a major audit on this fool and his finances and ask the religion he claims to be a part of (baptist/7th day Adventists/etc) if this is how the religion wants to be viewed as.
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David Cox
Another Judas...money hungry....wolf in sheep's clothing
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Colleen McAllister
This man is violating one of the most important rules of Christianity. Living humbly and sharing with those less fortunate was among some of Jesus most importent teachings. There is no need for anyone to live a luxurious lifestyle. Especially a pastor or minister. What kind of example is he setting?
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Stacey Owens
Non, he was self serving.
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Rev Mark D
It's not as if he doesn't have even larger examples to look up to... And look all over YouTube these days, you're going to find he may be in the majority.
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Colleen McAllister
That does not make it right.
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Takaya Kovani Sweeney
Exactly, I’ll be more impressed when they start rounding up the Billy Graham’s of the world and stop going after the small potatoes.
Our Alphabet Boys always ONLY seem to be able to go after the bottom rungs…I wonder why?😑
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Rev. Kev
While I am not a fan of televangelists who rake in money and get rich off the faith of others, the "rounding up" of such folks begs the question: round them up on what charges, exactly? If people freely donate money, and evangelists and pastors get wealthy from it, that's not a crime in the U.S. Like the pastor in the article (who was guilty of fraud), there needs to be an actual crime. Many pastors have been investigated and arrested on various crimes. Things like fraud, tax evasion, and abuse. Even ones who are (or were) well known and had large ministries. Even a former head of the SBC was arrested. Hardly a bottom rung.
There are things that don't seem fair or right to us on a subjective basis, and there are things that are wrong under the rule of law. Authorities can only investigate and charge under the latter. That's life. Not some conspiracy.
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The Brooklyn's Bling Bishop does not serve two Masters at the same time. Straight to the point: HE DOESN'T BELONG TO THE FAMILY OF GOD. He is not counted among Us. Greedy, maybe he cannot afford or meet his DEBTS, most probably he has a mistress,he is involved. No self'control,his financial demand is more than his balance in his pocket and his bank balance. He needs prayers, also Forgiveness from all Christian Pastors. I feel sorry for for the Bishop. Thanks.STEPHEN MOHLALOGA MAKGOATHANE