Popular televangelist Creflo Dollar, who founded World Changers Church International, hoped for 200,000 people to donate $300 each, so he could purchase the luxurious Gulfstream G650 aircraft that costs $65 million for his ministry’s use. Reportedly, several billionaires were waiting in line to buy one of these private jets last year.
The appeal on his website for the funding of the purchase of this multimillion dollar aircraft stated that this fundraiser was triggered by the recent engine failure of the ministry’s current carrier, which could have led to a terrible tragedy, had it not been for his skillful pilot.
“The ministry's current airplane, was built in 1984, purchased by the ministry in 1999 and has since logged four million miles. Recently on an overseas trip to a global conference, one of the engines failed. By the grace of God, the expert pilot, who's flown with Creflo for almost 20 years, landed the plane safely without injury or harm to any passengers,” said the appeal.
Dollar insisted that he requires the aircraft, which happens to be one of the most luxurious private jets in the world, because that would make easier his mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Due to this recent incident coupled with the 31 years the airplane has been in service, we believe it is time to replace this aircraft so that our Pastors and staff can continue to safely and swiftly share the Good News of the Gospel worldwide. Believe it or not, there are still millions of people on this planet who have never heard of Jesus Christ and know nothing of His greatness. Our hearts desire to see precious lives changed and snatched out of darkness and thrust into His marvelous light! We need your help to continue reaching a lost and dying world for the Lord Jesus Christ,” the appeal continued before asking supporters of the ministry to sow a $300 seed into the airplane fund, billed Project G650.
“The mission of Project G650 is to acquire a Gulfstream G650 airplane so that Pastors Creflo and Taffi and World Changers Church International can continue to blanket the globe with the Gospel of grace. We are believing for 200,000 people to give contributions of 300 US dollars or more to turn this dream into a reality — and allow us to retire the aircraft that served us well for many years.”
Not only does the Gulfstream G650 aircraft have an obnoxious price tag but also requires unbelievably high levels of maintenance. According to SavannahNow, only 100 such aircrafts had been built until November 2014. When the media attempted to find out from the ministry how much of the required funds had been raised, they were directed to a customer care service line that went unanswered repeatedly.
During an interview last year, Kayla Dollar, representative of World Changers Church, implied that sharing the gospel, despite being convenient for the pastor, does not seem feasible for the churches that he ministers, as church members have to partially foot the bill for his fuel costs.
“He does not have a set honorarium now but he does just ask for half of his fuel to be paid while travelling and then anything else if you want to add just as a love offering, would be fine,” she explained.
Naturally, the pastor’s initiative received condemnation from various quarters. Less than a week after Dollar had put up the appeal on the ministry’s website, Juda Engelmayer, his publicist, clarified that there was no longer a campaign for the private jet, as the pastor had decided against it and deemed it right to travel via commercial flights only. She also added that the suspended fundraising campaign was not representative of Dollar’s values.
Photo Credits: Patheos
