Preachers and their $5,000 sneakers: Why one man started an Instagram account showing churches’...

Michie · Mar 24, 2021

...wealth

Rapper Kanye West sports Yeezy shoes during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington D.C. on Oct. 11, 2018. (Calla Kessler/The Washington Post)

From his couch in Dallas, Ben Kirby began asking questions about the lifestyles of the rich and famous pastors when he was watching some worship songs on YouTube on a Sunday morning in 2019. While listening to a song by Elevation Worship, a megachurch based in Charlotte, the evangelical churchgoer noticed the lead singer’s Yeezy sneakers were worth nearly the amount of his first rent check.

Kirby posted to his 400 followers on Instagram, “Hey Elevation Worship, how much you paying your musicians that they can afford $800 kicks? Let me get on the payroll!”

Plus, Kirby wondered, how could the church’s pastor, Steven Furtick, one of the most popular preachers in the country, afford a new designer outfit nearly every week?

Continued below.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/03/22/preachers-sneakers-instagram-wealth/

GOD Shines Forth! · Mar 24, 2021

Michie said:
...wealth

Rapper Kanye West sports Yeezy shoes during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington D.C. on Oct. 11, 2018. (Calla Kessler/The Washington Post)

From his couch in Dallas, Ben Kirby began asking questions about the lifestyles of the rich and famous pastors when he was watching some worship songs on YouTube on a Sunday morning in 2019. While listening to a song by Elevation Worship, a megachurch based in Charlotte, the evangelical churchgoer noticed the lead singer’s Yeezy sneakers were worth nearly the amount of his first rent check.

Kirby posted to his 400 followers on Instagram, “Hey Elevation Worship, how much you paying your musicians that they can afford $800 kicks? Let me get on the payroll!”

Plus, Kirby wondered, how could the church’s pastor, Steven Furtick, one of the most popular preachers in the country, afford a new designer outfit nearly every week?

Continued below.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/03/22/preachers-sneakers-instagram-wealth/

The congregation LOVES to lavish wealth on their representatives. It's a very human trait to want to elevate some figurehead, the person willing to step up and be that for them. His/her success is THEIR success, in a sense.

chevyontheriver · Mar 24, 2021

Michie said:
...wealth

Rapper Kanye West sports Yeezy shoes during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington D.C. on Oct. 11, 2018. (Calla Kessler/The Washington Post)

From his couch in Dallas, Ben Kirby began asking questions about the lifestyles of the rich and famous pastors when he was watching some worship songs on YouTube on a Sunday morning in 2019. While listening to a song by Elevation Worship, a megachurch based in Charlotte, the evangelical churchgoer noticed the lead singer’s Yeezy sneakers were worth nearly the amount of his first rent check.

Kirby posted to his 400 followers on Instagram, “Hey Elevation Worship, how much you paying your musicians that they can afford $800 kicks? Let me get on the payroll!”

Plus, Kirby wondered, how could the church’s pastor, Steven Furtick, one of the most popular preachers in the country, afford a new designer outfit nearly every week?

Continued below.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/03/22/preachers-sneakers-instagram-wealth/

There is something to be said for plain old clerical garb.

Jake Arsenal · Mar 24, 2021

God's people give generously.

Out of context do they say, "The labourer is worthy of his reward," while ignoring Paul's own model of sacrificing and laboring to ensure he was not a burden to the people of Corinth(one of the wealthiest cities in which he ministered).

1 Timothy 5:17-19 (regarding honoring elders)
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Acts 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

1 Corinthians 4:11-12
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it

2 Corinthians 11:9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

chevyontheriver · Mar 24, 2021

GOD Shines Forth! said:
The congregation LOVES to lavish wealth on their representatives. It's a very human trait to want to elevate some figurehead, the person willing to step up and be that for them. His/her success is THEIR success, in a sense.

So they get to vicariously wear Yeezy shoes?

Michie · Mar 24, 2021

When I tithe I certainly do not envision it going to a pair of Yeezy shoes, designer outfits, and Harley Davidson motorcycles.

renniks · Mar 24, 2021

You know I was thinking about this looking at Old Church buildings, the congregations obviously spared no expense was the lavish architecture.
That, I really don't have a problem with. But I see no reason for pastors to live in luxury.

GOD Shines Forth! · Mar 24, 2021

chevyontheriver said:
So they get to vicariously wear Yeezy shoes?

Sorry, I got this mixed up with a post yesterday about the Gucci (and up) swag various ministers sported. I don’t consider Yeezy high fashion. Any sign of wealth and success gives a vicarious thrill to a congregation that "just wants to bless" their pastor with a high life (home, fine suits, planes and, I guess, Yeezy's?).

chevyontheriver · Mar 24, 2021

renniks said:
You know I was thinking about this looking at Old Church buildings, the congregations obviously spared no expense was the lavish architecture.
That, I really don't have a problem with. But I see no reason for pastors to live in luxury.

The architectural beauty of a church building is an honor to God like a BMW for a preacher can never be. The building is built to last, and could theoretically last for couple of thousand years. The building is accessible to all, a place where they can come as children of the King of Kings to experience the beauty otherwise reserved for secular royalty and billionaires. If the building is well built it tells a story without words about the majesty of God. I have no problem with an expensive building to be the house of God. I prefer my ministers to wear simple clerical garb and practical shoes outside of that building. When inside they should be nicely vested in liturgical vestments and very practical shoes. A pastor should have his needs met. But his needs should be ordinary needs.

bèlla · Mar 24, 2021

Kanye West founded Yeezy’s. That’s his company.

chevyontheriver · Mar 24, 2021

GOD Shines Forth! said:
Sorry, I got this mixed up with a post yesterday about the Gucci (and up) swag various ministers sported. I don’t consider Yeezy high fashion. Any sign of wealth and success gives a vicarious thrill to a congregation that "just wants to bless" their pastor with a high life (home, fine suits, planes and, I guess, Yeezy's?).

Gucci? They wear Gucci too?

The pope, thankfully, does not have a plane. When he goes somewhere the Italian airline Alitalia provides him a charter plane appropriate to the distance. Or sometimes a plane from another airline is chartered.

Victor in Christ · Mar 24, 2021

Michie said:
When I tithe I certainly do not envision it going to a pair of Yeezy shoes, designer outfits, and Harley Davidson motorcycles.

The full tithe (3-fold tithe) in Malachi 3:9-10, i believe is the proper tithe which Paul used in his epistles and to be given on 1 Corinthians 16:2

bèlla · Mar 24, 2021

Realistically, it’s probably a combination of comps and purchases. Possibly at a discount. You can get a lot of freebies if you have a large following or a demographic the vendor is interested in.

They may also receive compensation for wearing the items. Same deal as influencers. But they’re pastors.

bèlla · Mar 24, 2021

Sorry @Cormack!

Cancels your skinny jeans, sneakers, and gym membership. :ahah:

bèlla · Mar 24, 2021

With a 240K following he’s earning more than most pastors with the housing allowance included. And selling merchandise.

This shirt sells for $40. Assuming a 5% conversion — which means 5% (12,000) of his followers buy the shirt would net him $480K.

GOD Shines Forth! · Mar 24, 2021

chevyontheriver said:
Gucci? They wear Gucci too?

The pope, thankfully, does not have a plane. When he goes somewhere the Italian airline Alitalia provides him a charter plane appropriate to the distance. Or sometimes a plane from another airline is chartered.

The wealth the Pope is surrounded by/has at his disposal makes these fashionista pastors look like pikers. But he has the regality of Old Money on his side.

bèlla · Mar 24, 2021

GOD Shines Forth! said:
The wealth the Pope is surrounded by/has at his disposal makes these fashionista pastors look like pikers. But he has the regality of Old Money on his side.

Looks can be deceiving. That’s why I did the breakdown. If he called me out I’d ask him to show his numbers.

chevyontheriver · Mar 24, 2021

GOD Shines Forth! said:
The wealth the Pope is surrounded by/has at his disposal makes these fashionista pastors look like pikers. But he has the regality of Old Money on his side.

So these 'pikers' are just trying to keep up with the pope?

pgp_protector · Mar 24, 2021

renniks said:
You know I was thinking about this looking at Old Church buildings, the congregations obviously spared no expense was the lavish architecture.
That, I really don't have a problem with. But I see no reason for pastors to live in luxury.

So how much should they make?
A percentage of the church funds or a fixed value?

renniks · Mar 24, 2021

pgp_protector said:
So how much should they make?
A percentage of the church funds or a fixed value?

Seems like they should have a moderate range income.

Preachers and their $5,000 sneakers: Why one man started an Instagram account showing churches’...

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

❤️

Well-Known Member

Jehovah Tsidkenu

❤️

❤️

❤️

Well-Known Member

❤️

Well-Known Member

Noted strange person

Well-Known Member

Similar threads