Oh, no!!

[JimB]

Oh, no!!

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A high-profile Ohio religious leader is telling followers his ministry is in financial crisis, urgently needing funds.

On his Web site, Rev. Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church outside Columbus appeals for donations by Dec. 31, saying his ministry is under "the greatest financial attack in 30 years."

The church issued a statement Wednesday saying the recession hurt giving, leading to a $3 million fourth-quarter deficit even after a budget cut of nearly one-third.

The church also says its situation was made more serious by a $3 million settlement with parents who said their toddler son was left with marks from a spanking at a church day care center.

The statement says there are no plans to shut down church operations, such as schools.
​

Do you think it is really an “attack” … or something else?

PS, I have opened this thread in the debate forum for those who want to debate it.

~Jim

We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest “well pleased.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain​

​

 

[Deba]

Well for starters, spanking someone else's child in this day and age is just stupid.

 

[Deba]

$3,000,000.00 of stupid.

 

[Faulty]

Perhaps the pastor is being called to do something else. Who knows.

 

[tansy]

Bit of a coincidence

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Oh, no!!

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A high-profile Ohio religious leader is telling followers his ministry is in financial crisis, urgently needing funds.

On his Web site, Rev. Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church outside Columbus appeals for donations by Dec. 31, saying his ministry is under "the greatest financial attack in 30 years."

The church issued a statement Wednesday saying the recession hurt giving, leading to a $3 million fourth-quarter deficit even after a budget cut of nearly one-third.

The church also says its situation was made more serious by a $3 million settlement with parents who said their toddler son was left with marks from a spanking at a church day care center.

The statement says there are no plans to shut down church operations, such as schools.
​

Do you think it is really an “attack” … or something else?

PS, I have opened this thread in the debate forum for those who want to debate it.

~Jim

We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest “well pleased.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain​

Sure it's a financial attack....things like this happen when finances are not appropriated correctly. As to the spanking.....whoever did that should have known better. Do any states still allow spanking in places like schools, etc. (I think spanking by the childs own parents is appropriate) ? I know when I worked with the kids in Florida we were not allowed to spank them. And to leave marks???? Yikes! I do think 3 million is too much though. Those parents were either out to get rich or prove a point. Maybe a little of both.

 

[mont974x4]

Spanking is a good and godly thing. Spanking someone else's child.....eh, not so much. This is not a financial attack, its bad judgment on the part of the people involved. They should either appeal the outrageous settlement (which I am sure they are) and take their lumps. They must suffer the consequences for their bad decisions and I feel no pity for them. If the situation were different, well then they might have a point.

 

[JimB]

Um. This thread is not about spanking.

(Just a reminder.)

~Jim

We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest “well pleased.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain​

 

[Leah]

Well for starters, spanking someone else's child in this day and age is just stupid.

Deba, you said it too well.

Let me tell you, with all my heart, if I had a child(ren) and found out that some stranger decided to act a fool and spank MY baby............I will give new meaning to that old school song "mamma said KNOCK YOU OUT!"

 

[Leah]

Um. This thread is not about spaking.

(Just a reminder.)

~Jim

We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest “well pleased.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain​

Well Jim, with all do respect, I don't think any of us in this thread have ever been to Pastor Parsley's church or are active members of it now. So why and how could any of us start talking about the financial crisis they're in when we don't even know the whole story? :shrug:

 

[pgp_protector]

The church issued a statement Wednesday saying the recession hurt giving, leading to a $3 million fourth-quarter deficit even after a budget cut of nearly one-third.

The church also says its situation was made more serious by a $3 million settlement with parents who said their toddler son was left with marks from a spanking at a church day care center.

Hmm I think I see the problem.

 

[JimB]

Well Jim, with all do respect, I don't think any of us in this thread have ever been to Pastor Parsley's church or are active members of it now. So why and how could any of us start talking about the financial crisis they're in when we don't even know the whole story? :shrug:

Then, with all due respect, I guess we’ll see you later.

--------


Parsley calls it a “demonically inspired assault” on his ministry …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d0jUTxf2Go ​

George Carlin used to mock televangelists and media preachers by saying that, if we were to believe them, God always needs money: "He's all knowing, all powerful, and all wise, but somehow he can't hold on to money." He could also have pointed out that the televangelists always blame it on Satan, never themselves, when there isn't enough of the green stuff flowing in.

~Jim

We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest “well pleased.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain​

 

[imperfectchristian]

I am not exactly sure how to answer your question Jim.

Let's just say, I have never sent any financial gifts to anyone on TV, with the exception of one time on James Robison, they did a fund raiser for an orphanage in Russia. I called to give $20 from my credit card. They then asked me if I wanted a gift. (I'm not lying...it was the nail in the coffin on my already terribly skeptical views of TV ministry)

Then I started recieving tons of solicitions through the mail from them. I wrote a hasty little message that said something of the equivalent that they should take the money they are spending on postage to send me their junk mail and give it to the charities and take me off their *#%*!# mailing list.

Needless to say I was pretty ticked off.

About two weeks later I recieved a card hand written from Mrs. Robision. I don't even remember what it said, only that it was hand written and signed with her name.

At the end of the day, the bottom line is I don't trust people on TV. I am not saying they are all bad, just that I don't trust them.

I don't know much about Rod Parsley other than that I don't care for what I have heard based on the few times I have heard him speak. I have a more passionate opinion, but I will not share it here.

Is it the devil? If it is the devil then why would he be winning, I thought God was bigger than the devil and the gates of hell would not prevail against the church? Oh wait, no I get it...it's my fault...I'm letting the devil win. If I love God and love his church then I'll send the money. Where have I heard this type of thing before....hmmmmm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN__LdCFQFU

 

[JimB]

I am not exactly sure how to answer your question Jim.

Let's just say, I have never sent any financial gifts to anyone on TV, with the exception of one time on James Robison, they did a fund raiser for an orphanage in Russia. I called to give $20 from my credit card. They then asked me if I wanted a gift. (I'm not lying...it was the nail in the coffin on my already terribly skeptical views of TV ministry)

Then I started recieving tons of solicitions through the mail from them. I wrote a hasty little message that said something of the equivalent that they should take the money they are spending on postage to send me their junk mail and give it to the charities and take me off their *#%*!# mailing list.

Needless to say I was pretty ticked off.

About two weeks later I recieved a card hand written from Mrs. Robision. I don't even remember what it said, only that it was hand written and signed with her name.

At the end of the day, the bottom line is I don't trust people on TV. I am not saying they are all bad, just that I don't trust them.

I don't know much about Rod Parsley other than that I don't care for what I have heard based on the few times I have heard him speak. I have a more passionate opinion, but I will not share it here.

Is it the devil? If it is the devil then why would he be winning, I thought God was bigger than the devil and the gates of hell would not prevail against the church? Oh wait, no I get it...it's my fault...I'm letting the devil win. If I love God and love his church then I'll send the money. Where have I heard this type of thing before....hmmmmm

The cost of airtime on TV is expensive and I understand why “ministries” fall into the fundraising trap. It is a sad thing to watch a ministry that was once focused on helping people stoop to beg for funds. What God ordains He sustains, they say, and I agree with that. Desperation causes people to do unseemly things.

~Jim

We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest “well pleased.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain​

​

​

 

[nephilimiyr]

Oh, no!!

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A high-profile Ohio religious leader is telling followers his ministry is in financial crisis, urgently needing funds.

On his Web site, Rev. Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church outside Columbus appeals for donations by Dec. 31, saying his ministry is under "the greatest financial attack in 30 years."

The church issued a statement Wednesday saying the recession hurt giving, leading to a $3 million fourth-quarter deficit even after a budget cut of nearly one-third.

The church also says its situation was made more serious by a $3 million settlement with parents who said their toddler son was left with marks from a spanking at a church day care center.

The statement says there are no plans to shut down church operations, such as schools.
​

Do you think it is really an “attack” … or something else?

PS, I have opened this thread in the debate forum for those who want to debate it.

This is about as rediculous as blameing Satan after being convicted of committing a sin.

 

[~RENEE~]

link please

 

[imperfectchristian]

The cost of airtime on TV is expensive and I understand why “ministries” fall into the fundraising trap. It is a sad thing to watch a ministry that was once focused on helping people stoop to beg for funds. What God ordains He sustains, they say, and I agree with that. Desperation causes people to do unseemly things.

~Jim

We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest “well pleased.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain​

Jim I agree that most of these people probably start out trying to help others and even when they are raising millions to fund a monster organization, they are doing it with the idea that they are doing God's work.

I think there needs to be an overhaul of the whole concept of church and Christian ministry. Paul was one of the biggest heroes in the Christian faith and he was a tent maker and taught mostly on the weekends.

Honestly, my personal prayer is to see these mega churches crumble.

Ironically sometimes I think a little religious persecution is exactly what Christianity needs, but you won't find it here in the U.S. ...there's just too much money to be made.

 

[JimB]

Jim I agree that most of these people probably start out trying to help others and even when they are raising millions to fund a monster organization, they are doing it with the idea that they are doing God's work.

I think there needs to be an overhaul of the whole concept of church and Christian ministry. Paul was one of the biggest heroes in the Christian faith and he was a tent maker and taught mostly on the weekends.

Honestly, my personal prayer is to see these mega churches crumble.

Ironically sometimes I think a little religious persecution is exactly what Christianity needs, but you won't find it here in the U.S. ...there's just too much money to be made.

I have personally known several televangelists from my past, a couple of whom are still prominent today. In the beginning they were fresh-faced idealistic young men who wanted to save the world. But as their reputations grew so did the size of their ministries and when they launched out into expensive television ministries the trap was laid and they fell into it. I still think that at heart these are good men but fundraising became a necessary obsession to maintain their status. Ego had a lot to do with it, IMO.

I have prayed that these once valuable ministries would shuck their prominence and return to preaching the Gospel they once did so effectively.

~Jim

We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest “well pleased.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain​

​

 

[JimB]

link please

The Church Report




-

 

[Faulty]

I have prayed that these once valuable ministries would shuck their prominence and return to preaching the Gospel they once did so effectively.

I couldn't agree more.