| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Fredric L. Rice" |
| Date: |
09 Jun 2005 09:49:55 PM |
| Object: |
"faith healing" Christanic frauds |
Christian Ministry Keeps Profiteering TV Prophets Under Close
Surveillance
By Allie Martin and Jenni Parker
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/6/92005b.asp
The founder of a Texas watchdog organization that monitors television
evangelists across the U.S. says many of the donors who give their
money to self-appointed "faith healers" are in desperate situations. He
is concerned that many of these people may be prone to exploitation by
"prosperity gospel" profiteers.
Ole Anthony is founder of the Dallas-based Trinity Foundation, a
ministry largely made up of people seeking sanctuary from the ravages
of homelessness, poverty, and addiction. The Foundation often provides
people in crisis with shelter, food, education, or other assistance,
such as providing a place to do court-ordered community service or
receiving parolees and helping them to forge positive relationships.
Foundation members also work with individuals struggling with financial
hardship and instability over the long term, helping the needy secure
employment, medical and dental treatment, legal aid, counseling and
guidance. However, the organization has become internationally known
for one particular ministry focus -- investigative work in exposing the
fraud of many nationally known televangelists, many of whom it contends
prey on the poorest of the poor.
Anthony says many of the people who come to the Trinity Foundation have
given their last dollar to televangelists in hopes of either physical
healing or a financial return. That is why the ministry founder spends
much of his time monitoring the activities of TV preachers. He says the
gospel preached by many of these televangelists is not to be found in
scripture.
"Sixty percent of the donor pool for televangelists comes from elderly
women," Anthony notes. "Thirty-five percent are what we call a
desperation pool -- they've tried everything else. Their son is dying
of AIDS, or they have cancer." The remaining percentage, the media
minister watchdog points out, "are people that are relatively well off,
that want a spiritual justification for their own greed. If their
preacher who they listen to is justifying greed, then they feel
comfortable with their greed."
Several of the Foundation's members are licensed private investigators
with informants and undercover agents in ministries nationwide.
Anthony, who has overseen the ministry for more than 20 years, is
deeply committed to its ongoing efforts toward exposing frauds who use
a Christian platform to exploit people's faith.
The Trinity Foundation spokesman wants to see believers "return to the
basic principles of Christianity," he says; a time "when you had the
small groups and vulnerability, and you laid down your life for one
another and for the poor around you -- not use God as a heavenly
lottery. That's just goofy."
Still, in an age when so many people would rather watch a TV preacher
than read the Bible for themselves, Anthony says it is easy to
understand why many Christians get taken in by the claims of so-called
faith healers and self-proclaimed prophets who are only out for profit.
He encourages believers to shun the gospel of greed that he feels many
televangelists preach, and instead to become familiar with the true,
biblical gospel to be found in scripture.
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Scientology crooks: http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/otiii-gif.html
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End Republican race hatred: http://www.thedarkwind.org/
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