Some more details on the Six Televangelists being investigated by the U.S. Senate, if the listing of items below is true, these people should have their “ministries” dismantled! There can be no justification for a person who claims to be a Minister of the Gospel spending donations in this manner.
This type of over indulgence is typical of those who are unregenerate thieves! It will also bring down the wrath of the State upon even faithful Chruches. Lord forgive us all!
From an article at 46 News Atlanta:
“Grassley’s letter asked Meyer to provide his staff with documents detailing the finances of the Joyce Meyer Ministries, including the religious group’s compensation to Meyer, her husband and other family members, as well as an accounting of their housing allowances, gifts and credit card statements for the last several years.
Among other things, the letter asked for a “detailed accounting” of all her and her husband’s expense-account items, including clothing and cosmetic surgery, information about any overseas bank accounts and deposits, and the tax-exempt purpose of items at her ministry’s headquarters, such as a $23,000 marble-topped commode, a $30,000 conference table and an $11,219 French clock.”
I stand in a state of amazement. Has the Meyer’s camp issued any statements about this?
As fas as I know the Joyce Meyers Ministry is not denying the purchase of the items, nor denying the Plastic Surgery.
It has been common knowledge for quite a while that The Meyers have had facial plastic surgery.
And what do they see when they look at themselves in the mirror in the morning?
I think its sad that the secular government (senate) has to step in and demand answers… Why is it that we Christains cannot be accountable to each other??
This whole prosperity thing has gotten way out of hand. Like Chuck says: “What do they see when they look in the mirror?”
I pray that truth prevail and falsehood be exposed.
-igy
I just want to know how they keep the IRS off their backs!
$23,000 Commode? Get the facts here:
http://joycemeyer.org/aboutus/mediarelations/whatwedo.htm#Commode
And here is the text from the link Mr. Daehn supplied:
“Regarding the Purchase of a $23,000 Commode – While many have mistakenly associated this piece of furniture with a common household toilet, this particular term actually refers to the classic definition of commode identified by Webster’s Dictionary as, “a tall elegant chest of drawers.” In 2001, when the ministry moved into its current 150,000-square-foot headquarters located in Fenton, Missouri, a significant amount of furniture was needed for the larger facility. This “commode” was one piece of a total of sixty-eight pieces purchased from a single supplier to finish out the interior of the offices. A total of $261,498.21 was paid for these sixty-eight (the majority were significant in size) pieces of furniture. The $23,000 purchase price of this chest of drawers was actually an errant value assigned by the selling agent after the transaction was complete for the entire sixty-eight piece lot. Joyce Meyer Ministries humbly regrets not paying closer attention to specific “assigned values” placed on those pieces that have now led to gross misrepresentations. Joyce Meyer Ministries takes financial stewardship and accountability very seriously, and this oversight serves as an opportunity to only improve future practices.”
Now I work as a Professional Consultant in the Corporate world and there is a name for this type of “explaining away” of questionable activities but I don’t use that phrase and I wont use it here.
But what I can say is their explanation does fit the very worst of “clintonesque” legalese language.
I refuse to accept that Joyce Meyer’s Ministries failed to catch an “errant assigned value” of this size. What they are doing in this publicity exercise is the same as any faceless corporation does. Silence those who call them to account. And hope that the “storm” passes without any lasting damage.
Also their supposed Webster’s Definition of what a Commode is: “a tall elegant chest of drawers” is far off the mark of what a commode actually is:
The actual Webster’s dictionary definition of a commode is:
“a low chest of drawers”
Nowhere in the definition does it say what the Joyce Meyers Legal department has released to the public on her website.
Having lived and worked in Europe half my adult life I know what a commode is and what it looks like. you would think that if they actually did let a bill of $23,000 pass for a commode, they would at least get the press release correct on the description of it so there wouldn’t be any further questions about it!
Which to me lends further evidence that their press release is nothing more than an attempt to sweep this issue under the rug in order not to affect their financial support!
John Baker
True Discernment
Hi John,
You are right, just posting that link was not the coolest thing to do. There are several posts besides yours out there and I was trying to point people to an explanation and I took a shortcut.
I also agree that what is on the website sounds very corporate. Not how I would write or talk personally, but the facts are there.
I can only speak for myself, but I have been impressed with how open this place is with their finances. An annual report is voluntarily published on our website right now that details how all the money is spent. I would not work here if I felt money was being used inappropriately or not going to the programs we support.
I am baffled when I read so many people ripping into us that have only heard one side of the story. You are entitled to your opinion about the ministry and I am not trying to change your mind, I thought you might like to hear another opinion.
I appreciate what you are doing because there is a need for accountability in these matters. Thanks for the dialogue!
-Michael 🙂
Why does a Christian minister with the influence of Joyce Meyer’s feel the need to have plastic surgery?
She think a surgeon can do a better job than God? Sound’s like she’s slapping the Big Man in the face…
Also, not a v. good example to new Christians as to how to deal with life’s inevitable hurdles (deeling with low self-esteem/image issues.)
Plus, from a purely subjective point of view why have plastic surgery you’ll look ridiculous in later life!!!
Hi Phil, not sure about this as I haven’t done any research, but could there be a chance that the plastic surgery was for medical and not cosmetic reasons?
Blessings,
Andy
I used to watch J Meyers…prob first saw her about 8 or 9 years ago….was very moved by her sermons at first- then about 2-3 years ago things just didn’t seem genuine with her anymore- can’t explain why, just a gut feeling I got when I watched her. Have watched the beginning of some of her sermons since but never finish them- they seem scripted to me. Tonight I happened to catch her preaching in India- I think :)- I caught the middle of the program & I’m not really sure which country she was in- but she was leading them into a prayer to be saved……at the end of the prayer she didn’t say “in Jesus name”…I kept waiting for it but it never came…. the whole sermon struck me as some type of motivational speech rather than a sermon on Christianity…just my opinion.