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Eternal Salvation, Or Triple Your Money Back

Jun 25, 2009
By .
Effluvia

Well, Reverend Creflo Dollar, of Creflo Dollar Ministries and World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia,  doesn't actually promise salvation.  And he doesn't give a money back guarantee.  But he has hit on a pretty sweet deal as part of his "prosperity ministry," which teaches followers that God wants them to prosper, financially, here on earth.

As part of his gospel, the Reverend Creflo Dollar texts salvation messages to subscribers for a modest fee of $4.99 a month.  According to a lawsuit filed by a business partner, that earns the Reverend Creflo Dollar's ministry a cool $50 million each year, tax free:

A lawsuit filed in a California court Wednesday accuses Atlanta televangelist Creflo Dollar of stealing a spiritual text message business concept, then marketing the business to his worldwide audience for millions of dollars in revenue.

The lawsuit, filed by Devone Lawson of Marina del Rey, Calif., accuses Dollar, son Jeremy Dollar and other ministry staff of breach of nondisclosure agreement, fraud, unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy, breach of contract, and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Mass-texting, on the scale practiced by the Reverend Creflo Dollar (or for that matter by Barack Obama), is quite inexpensive.  Of course Barack Obama never charged his followers to receive the good news, but no one ever said running a ministry is cheap.

In fact, when I first read of Reverend Creflo Dollar's method of getting out the good news, my first thought was, "Damn, why didn't I think of that?"  But then I realized I'd probably spend the money on limousines, private jets, and mansions rather than for charitable and religious purposes.  And I was ashamed.

No doubt the Reverend Creflo Dollar needs every penny.

Last 5 posts by Patrick

17 Comments
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17 Comments

  1. Mike  •  Jun 25, 2009 @10:00 am

    What a genius!

    I am going to visit my best friend this weekend. What will we do? Eat Papa John's while watching TBN. We are big fans of Creflo Dollar!

    There is no better show on television than a good TBN Praise-a-Thon. I'm not even half-joking. It's true.

    Each of the shysters has a different pitch. There's this Arab used-car-salesman looking guy. Benny Hinn. Paul and Paula – and their son, who his most assuredly gay. Creflo and the black ministry technique.

    It really is fantastic entertainment.

  2. Patrick  •  Jun 25, 2009 @10:11 am

    None will ever top Ernest Angley.

  3. Mike  •  Jun 25, 2009 @10:38 am

    Never heard of him. I'll YouTube him later.

  4. Chevon  •  Jun 25, 2009 @12:28 pm

    I thank its a shame that before you understand the character of man (not just Dr. Dollar) that we already have him accused and crucified.

    Shame on people who write nonsense (even if its true) like this. Why not pray for him, Why not asked what you can do to help his family (particularly his children) who may be feeling embrassed by this.

    Why do people like this exist…are you not afraid that their is God in Heaven…who sees this type of uncalled for behavior.

    God help us all if we don't start loving each other.

  5. Patrick  •  Jun 25, 2009 @12:43 pm

    Chevon, the man is charging thousands of people to send them text messages. The text messages aren't even individualized. If he writes them himself, it takes him a minute at a computer terminal to do so. And he charges each of them $4.99 a month.

    That they buy the text messages, which probably have a marginal cost to Dr. Dollar of less than a penny apiece, for five bucks is their own lookout. Fool and his money, at least they're not spending it on drugs, etc.

    But that doesn't make it right. One can pray for Dr. Dollar. One can forgive Dr. Dollar. But forgiving does not mean condoning.

    The man charges suckers five bucks a month to send canned text messages. It's as unethical as three card monte.

  6. Ken  •  Jun 25, 2009 @12:45 pm

    OK, so Jesus would not wear a Rolex on his television show. But would He Twitter?

  7. Chris  •  Jun 25, 2009 @2:14 pm

    We're fortunate to not have to see Paul retweet @Corinthians.

  8. mike  •  Jun 25, 2009 @2:25 pm

    Lol at chevon's comment. Serious or not (hard to tell), it had me laughing out loud in the airport. Thanks!

  9. Patrick  •  Jun 25, 2009 @2:48 pm

    Mike, it seems that, unfortunately, Angley isn't well documented on Youtube. I believe he had an illness and fell out of tv favor after the 1980s. Nonetheless, I contend Angley was the best comedy tv preacher of all time.

    On the other hand, Youtube has an extensive collection of videos featuring the young Billy Graham, in the 1940s and 50s. I recommend those to anyone who has a serious interest in rhetoric and persuasion. That's a serious preacher.

    Nixon and Carter and Clinton jokes aside, I like Billy Graham a lot. The only widely recorded and filmed orator in Graham's class is Malcolm X.

    Try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i95RXDyY70

    There are web-available recordings of William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech, but styles differed in those pre-microphone days (the point was to speak loudly and clearly enough that a man more than a hundred feet away would hear it clearly – it sounds affected), and some of the issues Bryan spoke about are so arcane to modern minds that the speech requires an interpreter.

    On the other hand, parts of the CoG speech still speak as clearly to modern Americans as anything Obama has to say.

    But back to my main point, any lawyer or public speaker would profit from watching the early sermons of Billy Graham.

  10. Jones  •  Aug 30, 2009 @2:40 pm

    I cannot judge Creflo like his critics did. It looks like they were just waiting for the opportinity. Let Creflo be innocent until proven guilty. I will be praying for him and his family. May the Lord be gracious to him and give him the strength during this difficult time. I know even some born again christians have joined the world in 'celebrating' the lawsuit. The bible says we must bear one another's burdens, but we fail to do so. That leaves satan wagging his tail in excitement.

  11. elderh  •  Oct 27, 2009 @8:29 pm

    i agree with jones,this man does a lot of good that not many people know about, for example his ministry built 3000 home in Brazil and is currently ministering to strippers and the homeless giving people a chance to get on their feet. We must stop believing the worst about people and focus on the good that they are doing.

  12. Yelonda  •  Nov 14, 2009 @7:11 pm

    Touch not Gods anointed one and do thy prophet no harm! Everyone that is reads the bible should know the word of God and about speaking against a man or woman of God! Everyone is human and make mistakes but be mindful of what comes out of your mouths! Innocent until proven guilty!

  13. Carl  •  Feb 2, 2010 @3:56 pm

    If you don't want the text message don't buy it… I am a proud member of this church/ministry and I didn't complain nor critisize this business venture when I found out about it I just didn't subscribe to it. The truth of the matter is his son brought the idea to him. This idiot that's suing is going to loose because he is not the originator of this form a messaging just a waste of the time gosh. What is another sad thing is christians of most in the world think that a preacher or a christian in general should prosper financially. Making money and loving money is not the same. If someone gives me a $1,000,000.00 to write a book best believe I will be writing that book. The world may not understand but as believers I hope we get over this jealousy of others prospering financially and than calling them false prophets. In the old testament Israel was a rich nation. In the new testament you had rich christians as well as poor christians… come on people we have to get it together.

  14. gilles  •  Feb 4, 2010 @8:39 am

    I believe in propesrity but the real prosperity is In two word Jesus Chris. God has sent his son so that through he sacrifice we're spiruatualy reconnect to him and the rest ( money wife husbant car all the material thing comes second) those properity gospel preacher focuse on one thing Gog wants us to be rich, if being rich was a proof of being a true Christian or being a true Christian well I thing bill gates and all the prince in Dubay Saudi Arab would be very close to Jesus chris. God does't really care about your money he's not poor what he wants it's your heart. most of the richest people on hearth does't even believe in god their heart are very far from God.the role of the leader like creflo dollar is to make the rady for the rapture forthe second coming of Jesus and not to focus all their teaching on money. some them does not read the bible some of the preacher have no clue about what the bok of revelation mean. When Jesus reign into somebody life you don't need to spend time teaching on how to love your neighbour , give your offering ,3 etc the most important thing is Christ Jesus. we should live like him Jesus never ask for somebody for money his provision was in heaven . So we should do the same Jesus Chris first please brothers and sister.

  15. vondalee  •  Feb 14, 2010 @8:54 pm

    We as christians are supposed to prosper spiritually, physically, and financially.3 John:2. God does give us the power to get wealth Deut.8:18, because He owns everything Ps. 24:1. Creflo spends most of his airtime going through the word, not promoting foolishness like other preachers who cut the word short with selling themselves instead of extolling God's message. If we would take the time to read our bibles Josh1:8, it tells us how to make our way plentiful in every area of our lives. Nothing lacking! No judgement, no jealousy, no ignorance, no hating, no poverty(if so God will provide), but wisdom, peace, love, and wholeness.

  16. Don Harder  •  Apr 9, 2010 @11:55 am

    I've watched Creflo and Taffi on TBN and seen some good Word teaching. If Creflo is feeding the hungry and clothing the naked and homeless, Praise God. If Creflo is using the $$$ to get the Gospel and TRUTH about Jesus Christ out to the lost world, then glory to God. Jesus Christ is Lord

  17. Cherryl  •  Jun 29, 2010 @6:49 am

    I have been watching Creflo Dollar's teleministry for some years now. He has preached on many topics, not just money. Many people fail to realize that there is a very practical, real aspect to church that does include finances. How do u think lights stay on? or heat? or expanding the size of the building when it gets too small for so many members? the last i knew, the USA still runs on currency, not a bartering system! Because Creflo Dollar is a minister that is blessed to be an astute businessman is a great gift to his ministry. By raising funds he is able to help so many…so what if he can do for others as well as apply those gifts to his own personal life. Ministers do deserve to have an income.