Famed televangelist Creflo Dollar and his son Jeremy Dollar were accused in a California court yesterday of fraud, misappropriation of trade secrets and a dozen other charges related to the ministry’s text messaging service.
According to Devone Lawson of Marina del Ray, California, in 2004, long before the explosion of SMS text messaging, he began working with the Dollar family to develop a program that would “generate tremendous income from mass SMS text messaging of ‘devotional’ or ‘inspirational’ messages delivered daily to subscribers’ cell phones.”
And despite the non-disclosure agreement that Devone entered into with Creflo Dollar Ministries—wherein the latter would “equally share the revenue” derived from the “nearly 1 billion viewers”—the plaintiff claims the ministry went forward with its own “Word on the Go” daily service. The official complaint claims that the service generates Dollar more than $50 million a year in profits since well over a million subscribers pay the $4.99 monthly subscription.
While it is doubtful that Creflo Dollar’s imagination or thumbs produce these daily “inspirational” texts, I am certain the pastor’s legal team constitutes his “favorite five.” As one of the “Grassley Six” (six prominent televangelists being investigated by the Republican senator about spending patterns and non-profit status), Dollar has remained the most defiant in regard to the senator’s inquiry. This is not to mention the charges of “paying off” Atlanta police officers, hiding money for Evander Holyfield during the boxer’s divorce, and even contempt of court arrest warrants that were once laid at the preacher’s alligator-covered feet.
In short, Dollar has found himself in court over the past decade as often as O.J. Simpson and Phil Spector. This makes sense to me. The way Creflo Dollar’s prosperity gospel murders the Christian faith, he and his ministry should be brought up on charges!
Tags: creflo dollar, prosperity gospel, prosperity preachers, texting
Like the other televangelists, Creflo has become RICH in the name of God. I wonder if people will ever see the truth about "christianity" and the "leaders" who preach and teach Gods word. It is extreamly interesting that it is almost completly the fundalmentalistic, literalistic "christians" who USE God and His word for thier personal gain and or political purposes. Wake up people!! you don't need some one else to tell you what God has to say, He will tell you himself, just wake up and listen. A criminal is a criminal even when they are able to quote The Bible cover to cover. It is time we stop allowing these "christian" "leaders" to control our lives!!!
I personally disagree. I know this man, and I know that he preaches based on the word of God. God gives his people the power to get wealth. It's not the ministry's fault texts cost money. Texting is just more convenient to get the word of God out. If people don't have time to read the Bible, they can have a scripture at tehir fingertips. You don't blame Apple for making applications with the Bible for $30. There's no prosperity gospel. The gospel is all the same. If making money that God enpowered us to make isn't "good news", which is what the gospel is, then what is good news?
Taking us our crosses daily and dying with Christ?
Excuse me . . . you totally ignored the claim of the lawsuit (i.e, fraud, missappropriation of trade secrets, etc., ect., etc.). Since he preaches the Word, does the Word have anyting to say about being "just in your dealings?"
Friend the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Not making money! you don't need the gospel for that!
Comments closed
The comments for this story have been closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.