If it is, indeed, easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, the 
Crouches may have their work cut out for them.
A new report shows that Orange County’s first family of Christian broadcasting earned scads of silver leading the Trinity Broadcasting Network empire:
- Paul F. Crouch, the pop (and president), makes $419,500 a year.
- Janice W. Crouch, the mom (and vice president), makes $361,000 a year.
- Paul F. Crouch Jr., the son (and vice president) makes $130,082.
The family salaries are highlighted in nonprofit watchdog Charity Navigator’s latest CEO salary report, which was released this week and tells us how much nonprofit leaders are making. (Generally speaking, not this much. The Crouches are among the highest-paid chief executives of religious nonprofits, the Chronicle of Philanthropy says.)
Trinity is the world’s largest religious broadcasting company. Its twinkling white headquarters - something of a cross between a Disneyland palace and an inspired recreation of the White House - is just off Interstate 405 in Costa Mesa.
TBN preaches “prosperity televangelism,” and preachers have urged the poor and debt-ridden to give, because God gives back most generously to those who can least afford it.
This inspired us to spend some more time with Trinity’s actual tax returns , which are posted at www.guidestar.com. Clearly, millions of people are listening, and digging deep into their pockets. In 2006, the most recent year reported, TBN:
- took in $200.7 million,
- spent $141.1 million,
- and socked away the extra $59.6 million.
The stellar year pushes TBN’s net assets ever closer to the $1 billion mark - hovering now at $839 million. (Stay tuned; TBN had $327 million in mortgage-backed securities, so we’ll see how those investments fare down the road.)
PALTRY IN COMPARISON
“TBN stands out and is different from other nonprofits in that we’re a broadcasting entity,” said spokesman John Casoria (whose law office is one of TBN’s highest-paid independent contractors, getting $164,200 a year). “Though we consider ourselves a church, we’re a 501 c-3 and have been so for the last 35 years. Clearly we work in a different arena than most other charitable organizations.
“TBN is the 8th largest owner-operator of TV stations in the world,” he continued. “The salaries of these three individuals pales in comparison with people in the secular world doing similar work. This has not been not a job for them, but a life endeavor, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“So when you compare us to other nonprofits out there feeding children and doing disaster relief, it’s basically apples and oranges. It’s still fruit, it’s still a nonprofit, but it’s a completely different charitable model.”
Casoria says that for the first 10 or 15 years of TBN’s existence, Mrs. Crouch didn’t take a salary, and Mr. Crouch’s salary was “well under $100,000.” A “truly independent third party compensation committee” was brought in a few years ago to review what the Crouches do and offer recommendations on what they should earn. “I can tell you the salaries they’re drawing are substantially lower than what was recommended,” he said.
GLOBAL VILLAGE
Trinity’s reach is truly awesome. In addition to broadcasting into most every American home, it arrives via satellite on TVs in Russia, Spain, Portugal, the Middle East, Central Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and, oh, many more places. It even broadcasts in Arabic and Farsi.
It produces films. Owns theme parks in Florida and Tennessee. Has a private jet and dozens of homes. The Crouches, once aligned with Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, have had their own brushes with scandal (a wrongful-termination and sexual-harassment lawsuit against Paul Crouch was settled in 1998 for $425,000), but people the world over apparently love them.
Why? In a 2004 story, the Los Angeles Times quoted Crouch telling viewers that God was essentially open to quid pro quo. If they did their part to advance his kingdom - say, by donating money to TBN - they shouldn’t be shy about asking for rewards.
“If my heart really, honestly desires a nice Cadillac … would there be something terribly wrong with me saying, ‘Lord, it is the desire of my heart to have a nice car … and I’ll use it for your glory?’,” the Times quoted Crouch as saying. “I think I could do that and in time, as I walked in obedience with God, I believe I’d have it.”
And what’s not to like about that?
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Teri:
Try to be honest when you write an article about christianity when it is obvious that you are clueless about the Word of god. Your article was cynicle, at best. I had a very high profile position in the criminal court building back in the seventies and eighties and would constantly watch reporters distort stories right in front of me. At times it was laziness but most of the time it was an attach on some one that they just didn’t like or agree with. Of all of the wonderful things that i have heard come out of Paul Crouchs’ mouth you take a random quote out of nowhere to prove your ignorant point of view. I have never given money to TBN but i respect what they do and i am glad that they will ignore this silly attempt on your part to attach a very important concept in christianity: sowing and reaping. Get the point Jesus is not impressed with cadillacs,bmws, or yugos. He is always trying to bless his family members,especially those that have worked so hard to promote his kingdom as Paul Crouch has. I wonder how you are going to feel when you find out that heaven is paved with streets of pure gold? Dig it up and give it to the poor? Please try to be fair when dealing with important issues that attach honorable men and women.It is the least you can do. thank you for your time bob i own a toyota pickup gomez
I saw these people eating at French 75 in fashion island. The “mom” had her bedazzled cross jacket, I’m sure with diamonds from her faithful sheep. The Catholic Church definately has its problems, but at least they advance the cause of charity and assistance to the needy as their number 1 priority…
just buying there way to heavon
Dear Jan and Paul,
I am your master. You are here to serve the Order of the Rosy Cross, and Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and Scottish Rite. We are all brothers. Thank you.
Mr. Gomez
It is obvious to most that groups like T B N fleece the people like you, that think that they do the “lords” work. All they are doing is lining their pockets and stealing from the masses that are stupid enough to send them money.
I used to work at Birraporetti’s at South Coast Plaza -(Where claim Jumper is now) they would come in for lunch, be rude, demanding, and leave no tip.
EVERYTIME! They were the epitome of neuvo riche, with 0 class. Not the kind of Christian that anyone should send money to.
I guess they don’t fit throught the eye of a needle.
Pretty typical of the moral majority.
Whilst fleecing the sheep for that muc money you would think she woudl be better looking through plastic surgery or maybe it is too much of it that has caused her to look so horrid.
Either way I commend them for finding a way to seperate people from their money in the name of their imaginary being in the sky. If I could do something similar for that kind of money I would but I don’t think i could keep a straight face through it all.
Hey Xtians.
Please remember how much wealth my son accumulated in his time on earth.
Gotcha!
Pardon my outspoken passion about this issue, but I truly fear for these people at TBN. A quid pro quo scheme? Do they even know what they are claiming about God?
Jesus was very specific about the mission he gave to his church. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you”. The Father sent the Son to obey and glorify the Father even as that caused him to miss opportunities for power, influence and wealth, even as he was obedient to the point of death. So too his followers.
The bible states the church is united to Christ in his sufferings, sent to bear witness to his death and resurrection. In fact, one cannot even be a Christian unless one considers one’s very life forfeit. For Christians, we are strangers and pilgrims in this world and this age; we seek a better country, a heavenly city. Riches and material gains are enticements that tempt us to have our Best Life Now, but at the cost of taking our eyes off of Christ and the heavenly inheritance he has brought us into.
Meanwhile this TBN “ministry” is wholly based on appealing to the most fundamentally selfish and self serving desires which all people have. The same desires appropriated by any successful marketing blitz. Of course EVERYONE wants more than they have, and wouldn’t it be great if they just pop that one investment that comes with a guaranteed return?
TBN certainly gets an A in sociology for their scheme, but their teachings are under divine curse. They don’t get a free pass if they qualify their teaching with, “I’ll use these material things for your glory.” That doesn’t change the fact that the plan is to use God’s glory as a MEANS to another END. The New Testament bristles with teachings about the glory of God being the end, and the blessings, the highest blessings promised, are nothing short of fellowship with God himself as he offers himself in the gospel. TBN short circuits that message by dragging the concept of blessings in the mud and filth of shiny cars and other crap that entices then rusts then is destroyed.
There are specific warnings to not even show hospitality to those who roam the towns and cities turning a distorted version of Christian teachings for profit and personal gain. They are ravenous wolves, false shepherds, preying upon those who have been convinced these teachers have their best interests at heart.
j
Jeff & Dina got it right. With wallets bulging with greens, sent to them by poor, desperate and stupid people, there is no way these con artists could fit through the eye of even he largest needle… Maybe that needle should, instead, fit through them to remind them of their immorality!
Whenever I pass by TBN’s palace, I am at once angry and sad. I am angry, because this organization wastes so much of their viewers donations on extravagance and luxury. I am sad, because so many viewers are not using their resources wisely and are enabling a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” organization to continue to distract people with a twisted version of God’s word.
This family looks like modern day Elmer Gantry types to me. Any resemblance between them and truly religious people is purely coincidental.
I dated one of the top hochos daughter for 4 years and man could I tell you about all the crap that went one there. As for $$ they were rolling in it. What I found funny was the Rolex watches that my girlfriends dad had that had other peoples name engraved on them. Supposedly they were donated from old gullible people. Oh ya he drove a top of the line Cadillac and always ate out at the best restaurants. Another funny thing was dinner time. He and his coworkers would curse like sailors. As for his daughter she was hot as hell and a supposed holy Christan ….
One thing is for certain, Jan’s hair will never pass through the eye of a needle.
I agree with gary - God can be very expensive.
If they TRULY believed in what they are preaching it would be great - but it looks like the only believe in the material things in life.
I have seen the lovely Mrs. Crouch out and about in public on two separate occasions-huge, long-flowing pink-tinted grey wig and flashy clothing. Once in Steven Thomas Antiques pointing to many different high-priced pieces and telling the salesperson that she’d take this one and that one, etc. I was totally appalled at the rate with which she was spending money (in light of their supposed “normal” lifestyle and “modest” home). Only later did I discover that they had just completed the construction on their new residence at Newport Coast!
The second time was at a Target store in Costa Mesa, where she was holding a little yapping dog in her arms while a housekeeper pushed the cart along behind her as Mrs. Crouch went along telling her exactly what she wanted from each shelf or aisle-god forbid her actually having to touch anything herself or assist in any way.
She is tacky and reeks of self-importance and entitlement. What a shame that all of their “partners” can’t see this side of them as they go on about spending copious amounts of money on living a lavish lifestyle.
The only one they’ll have to answer to at this point will be the one that’ll decide whether or not they’ll be forgiven and allowed to enter his eternal home at their time of reckoning. God Bless them!
They can make all the money they want. There are always plenty of weak-minded lemmings that will follow when they hear something they like. It’s too bad, but it always has and always will go on. It’s not taking away from anyone else, so, really, it’s a non-issue. You can’t “unstupid” millions of people.
I am a Christian and I thank Teri for posting this. In “Christian” circles there is a real reluctance to ask hard questions. What is a non-profit organization doing holding $327 Million in Mortgage-backed securities? Aside from the risk in such an investment, it implies that the ministry has enough extra dough lying around (not going to ministry purposes) to buy speculative investments.
I can’t believe they have enough money for speculative investments and then go on the air and ask for more dough!
1. Why is this news, didn’t we already know they steal an a$$ load of money from morons worldwide?
2. Why does TBN always have the ‘Happy Birthday Jesus’ sign on their building year round?
3. One of the telethons a few years ago (and probably many other telethons since) Paul Crotchface said that the money was being raised because in the Bible it said that TBN needed the money to build satellites for more broadcasting. O_o
4. Isn’t Paul gay? So does he agree that Jesus is cool with gays?
5. I’d be gay if my wife had pink hair
6. Where is LegalusCitizen?
7. The OCR should plan a field trip to a taping.
I’m not a supporter nor fan of TBN … not sure why anyone would tune in given it is aimed at a narrow Christian sub-culture. But the article was so biased as to be nothing more than another “let’s dig up dirt on the Christians” piece. Please. If you want ot be fair, now go out and do a piece on all the Christian charities that roll up their sleeves, get dirty to help those in need and do it on a shoe-string budget with mostly volunteer help and leadership that is paid modestly, if at all. There are a lot more of those in OC than the TBN type.
Ugghh. their building looks like a gaudy Vegas casino and a circus at the same time. What a Crock!
god is trendy and business is good!
FAL$E PROFIT$
That is all prosperity televangelists are.
Jesus commanded that we be non-materialistic and put others first.
About 6 years ago I was shopping at Ross in the Irvine / Tustin Marketplace when I saw Jan perusing the clearance rack. I was a tad surprised she was shopping there considering she can afford better. But I guess I was glad I hadn’t run into her blowing a fortune at a really expensive store. From the looks of it, fashion must not be her thing.
the prosperity doctrine that tbn and others espouse is at best theologically specious, and at worst, it is evil. my mom is a disciple of tbn, and my grandmother was an investor in the jim bakker’s heritage usa. they love the teaching and preaching and music. i suppose it gives them a sense of hope. however, i cannot believe that all of the poor christians of the world (who far outnumber the wealthy christians) have it wrong. do they lack in faith? do they not trust in the lord? tbn, fred price, creflo dollar, joel osteen, benny hinn, kenneth copeland and the like are preying on those who, i believe, trust in god but are fooled into believing their false teaching.
televangelism survives because it does not address the issue of sin, death and hell, but rather, how god will give you all of your material needs if you only have faith. i submit that the faith of an african peasant, or a villager in india, or a persecuted pastor in saudi arabia far exceeds that of any preacher on television today.
And then after pissing and moaning…. each one of you will go to your closets and pull out food and eat…shower in your bathrooms with running water and sleep in your Posturepedic beds; relaxing in your own comfort unaware of the starving children in need of medical assistance and food. As a matter of fact there are more of you who are more offended that someone has more than you deem necessary MORE than you are offended that there are children starving and in need of medical attention. (ya I borrowed that thought)
_R_
PS at least PFC has had the awareness to back the monies in something substantial…it helps to be able to pay the bills and not be in debt. Fiscal responsiblity is so far in the forefront of TBN’s mode of operation that I’m blessed to work for that tight fisted German….(his words not mine) Something Ted Turner, Donald Trump, and any other mogul hasn’t been able to accomplish without having to file Ch 13..or 11 or whatever. An opportunity to work at TBN has allowed many of us to serve our passion of making TV that carries a message of hope. I mean I could still be working at MAD TV or MTV making crap that no one has a real issue with or you’d be there posting complaints there instead of here……
Cya…
RC
the crouch’s are phonys, period!
To: imafootballdude Says:
Very well said! Thank you.
$$$Praise Jesus$$$
I love religion! Suckers…
The bigger the Christian, the bigger the crook. Read _Elmer Gantry_ for further information.
I saw them at the new Corner Bakery across the street from Mainplace last week.
…thanks to the clueless, brainwashed ones who send $$$ to these two circus clowns. And I know of one close to me in particular.
I want to scream!!
Who cares? The Orange County Register should report news. Lets publish the salaries of the executives at the OCR. Then tell us how much they generate to help the poor and needy. I would say that the Crouches salaries are small change to what the amount the generate to administer to the poor and needy.
Bottom line, none of this is the Register’s business. I could care less what they earn.
god does not exist
I think their salary is very fair for what they do. They put in alot of hours behind the scenes and helping other people. Their minstry has saved thousands of lives. The Bible never stated that you had to be poor to be a christian.
Just a bunch of salesmen on TV, and another reason why I don’t give money to organized religion - it’s all, or at least for the most part, a scam.
Be sure to send your 10% of your Gross Wages so that the leader of our church can buy their Newport Beach homes and other material objects that they deserve for teaching you the word.
Ditto to what Joe Branca says. I used to work at a bank and this little asian lady used to come in every two weeks, always her accounts were in the negative, and she always purchased cashiers checks for the different so called “Ministries” and she would always say “I am waiting for my miracle, these are good people doing great things for God”. I bet she never tithed in church to give to these people. The time is coming and we shall all face our judgment. We will see many surprises in heaven, as those who pass into the joy of our saviour, or those who are cast into the lake of fire. Let’s just pray Gos has mercy on these Crouches and their co - horts. GOd is more powerful than TBN, lets not forget that. God bless you all and read the word before you comment on it, do not condemn yourself out of lack of knowledge, even if you do not believe it, but read it before you comment on it. Blessings from this humble worship leader.
A fool and his money are soon parted, and TBN will make sure that happens. They’ve got a great scam going, and people are still falling for it. Donate your money to actual poor families that need food and shelter, and never give those TBN jerks another dime.
I guess everyone has to believe in something, I believe I’ll have another beer.
I would pay someone 1 million to bring in 200 million and 50 million profit.
I am not part of this group. Just saying……..
BTW Anybody see what the heck our BOS has picked for our Sheriff??? She is busy giving out no bid contracts to her buddies!
Maybe the staff at the Register should take up a collection and send it into TBN along with a prayer request asking the lord to let them stay in business 1 more year and see what happens.
O.C. watchdog is the only thing keeping the register afloat! These churches are nothing more then legal con jobs selling people forgiveness for their guilty conscience on a weekly basis, tax free……. all these people should be imprisoned for fraud. If the mythical “Jesus” were to actually see what his current “disciples” were doing in his name, he wouldn’t be too happy I think. What good have they done with the money?
the hanegraaff clan took just as much money in salaries…and CRI brought in much less. hank and kathy ran from OC after they were found out to be scamming the faithful.
maybe the two couples should hang out!
Help me Jeebus, send me money too.
Good for them, if the great unwashed want to send them money why stop them?
Only now is the whole family together making a million dollars per year. Honestly folks, that’s a pittance compared to what TBN brings into it’s coffers.
I’m not a Christian, but they are spreading around the world “The Good News”, and it is Paul and Jan Crouch who are directly responsible for that happening.
My hat is off to these people, if you want to condemn them because they eat at nice restaurants, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion.
18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’[a]”
21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.
24 When Jesus saw this,[b] he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!
OC ‘Health and Wealth’ Christianity is not what Jesus preached!
This is a message to the Crotches:
I’ll do your son’s job and more for only $100K - I’m more qualified and will even sing Jesus songs for you. I saw Jesus the other day - I see him and we talk almost daily. Jesus said if you don’t hire me, he’ll talk to the big G about your and the family.
Do a good deed - don’t let Jesus cross you.
…and they pay no taxes, because they’re a “non-profit” charitable organization.
While all the rest of us slave away, living paycheck to paycheck, and paying a large portion of it in taxes.
It’s time for an inquisition.
$$$$$$$ RELIGION. $$$$$$$
A Christian is someone who follows Christ, Jesus Christ. I am sure RICK WARREN isn’t far behind the Crouchs in income or ripping people off. False hope and half truths are just lies in a pretty dress. Don’t let jealousy be the reason you are so crotchety about this article, may it be the pure mockery of God that brings forth your disgust.
The folks at the Crystal Cathedral aren’t much better. Robert Schuller Sr. is a jerk to everyone around him who doesn’t have financial or other influence. And I can tell you from experience that he treats all of the workers and volunteers at the “cathedral” like servants at best.
Between these guys conning money from millions of people, the obvious corruptions of the Roman Catholic and other churches and the guys with loud speakers on the street corners of Fullerton telling me I’m on a one way street to hell, I’m scared and pissed off at Christians. Oh, and lets not forget the Christian biker gang, the Set Free Soldiers that was in the LA Times today for conspiracy to murder.
I hope I’m not alone when I say that I really hope that the end of the Christian era is near.
I flip them the one finger salute each and everytime I pass that awful place they have off the 405.
COGNOSCERE Robert Schuller Junior is a major jerk off. I was at his house one time and he had on a t shirt with a hole in it and I made a joke about his HOLY SHIRT and he reported me to my superiors.
JERK _ Hey Robert Schuller Junior………your mom!
The bible never mentions anything about buying blessings from God. Just because you give to church doesnt mean crap. That wont mean you get a Cadillac. The Crouches are 5% ministers and 95% salespeople.
If anyone wants to know God, read the Bible for yourself.
I always have an issue about making under 40,000 a year and giving to a church where the Pastor drives a car that is double my yearly salary.
Religion + Ignorance = Profit
My mother gave most of her money to TBN, she has litterally starved herself to feed them. She is now dead, and not a cent left to her name.
Thank You TBN
In Mexico they say, Dios los cria y ellos se juntan.
which means, “Like attracts Like.”
If Paul and Jan are so lilly white and morally clean, why are they associates with that phoney, rip-off artist that calls himself Benny Hinn??
Benny Hinn had a whole expose done by Primetime about his lavish, multi-million dollar weekends on the beaches of the Americas. The money he raises in his revival campaigns goes to his fun and lavish weekends.
It seems to me that if Paul and Jan really were morally upright, they’d distance themselves from people like rip-off artist Benny Hinn.
These people are a real act that use their religion as a cover. If you give them money you get exactly what you deserve.
I’ve been watching this couple on TV for over 15 years now, and after all the laughs and hysterical entertainment they have given me I can not begrudge them the right to drive Cadillacs and own 300 Million dollars worth of mortage-backed securities and visit the beauty parlor weekly for a pink rinse and a fresh comb-out.
God bless ‘em! They’re the best home grown entertainment OC has got!
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
If you want this ministry to go away - simple solution - doesn’t take rocket science - STOP GIVING THEM MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!
A CEO of a 200 million dollar a year corporation only making $400,000 a year. If I were Paul, I’d hire a arbitrator.
Some of you really need to learn how to spell. Bob, “cynicle” is really spelled “cynical” . . . your argument completely loses credibility when a word is misspelled. And Gary? It’s H-E-A-V-E-N.
And the winner of the Tammy Faye Bakker look alike contest iiiiiissss….
TBN used to be located in Tustin a billion years ago near my fathers business. I can remember crank calling them with my brother while he was babysitting me as a kid…..somehow even at 8 years old, I knew they were a scam. My mother (who loves to bargin shop at Ross, Tj maxx, ect) reports that she see’s the pink haired lady all the time….she is a rude, ugly person!
I feel like such a hipocrit to say this, but as a member of SAddleback church, I almost feel like Rick Warren is loving the celebrity more than the church……have you been there? It is absoluty beautful….it looks like a resort more than a church. But here is my delema……I want my kids to grow up there……there is always something wonderful and over the top going on…….I feel like such a hipocrit…
Most of mom’s income is spent on spatulas, buckets of makeup and fake hair! I’m guessing 110k annually at least………
TBN is a pernicious organization that preys on the weakness of a specific group of Christians. Paul and Jan, and their ilk will pay the price before God for their prosperity gospel. Enjoy it now, you won’t enjoy it later.
I have been familiar with TBN since 1984. For all the naysayers out there, if Paul and Jan are wrong in believing that God wants his people to prosper and be in good health as they go through this life then at least they will have millions of people they have helped lead to the Lord to apologize to when they get to Heaven. If you are wrong when you slander these people, how many people will you turn to in Heaven to apologize to that you have won to the Lord? Jesus can take care of his own kids. If you belong to the Lord and disagree with another, pray for them. Don’t publicly slander them.
I dont know why they are making a big deal here. Why dont they talk about the Pope, he has Billions and no one ever talks about him. The bigger the church the more money they have end of story!!!!!
Jan and Paul, together, make $780,500 dollars per year, while running and starring in a 200,000,000 dollar a year business.That is less than one-half of one percent of the gross. They have helped thousands, if not, hundreds of thousands of people over the last quarter century. They have worked very hard for their pay, starting with nothing.To put it into relative terms, Vladamir Guerrero of the Angels has to be alive for 19 consecutive days to make $17,000 more then the Crouches combined annual salaries (that’s Vladdy’s $806,854 for 19 days alive) Although I am a bigger Vladdy fan then a Crouch fan, I have great respect for Paul and Jan Crouch’s rags to riches story.
Janice Crouch needs a big salary.. It pays for the makeup that washes off everytime she starts crying… Wah wah wah….
Thank You Teri for your article. It is this type of misrepresentation of Christian doctrine by the Crouch’s that continually gives a bad name to the faith. Reputable churches and honest people will eventually lose there 501 c-3 status because of this money hungry organization. Thank you again for writing this article. It should be the church who should be crying out against this and not the secular media.
I simply cannot get exercised over the pay levels of
the Crouches, when I consider that they ORIGINATED and
BUILT this business from scratch, and all of their
revenue comes from VOLUNTARY contributions.
Moreover, their success at attracting $200 million a
year in contributions, indicates they are successfully
serving a market for their services. Lastly, their
ability to “put away” 29% of their revenue,
demonstrates responsible stewardship of their
resources. (General Motors can’t even put away one
percent. And the USGovernment, with thousands of CPAs on their
payroll, are $11 Trillion in DEBT.)
The Crouches are the kind of people we need in
Government, but never get.
Instead of beating up on them, for being successful,
we should install them in Sacramento. Kick out
Schwarzendoodle and the Doodlers, the Trough-Feeders
and Entitlement Queens who live off STOLEN money, let
the Crouches run the government with VOLUNTARY income.
If they can raise 30% MORE than they need, without
violating anyone’s rights, they could, for the first
time in history, bring morality to government.
The religious messages expounded on TBN vary widely. I
suspect that the Crouches don’t personally believe
EVERYTHING broadcast on their own airwaves, which
tells me, they are a generous and tolerant people who
believe in the 1st Amendment. That would also be an
improvement in Government.
If someone wants to smear the Crouches and make it
stick, they’ve got to show that TBN’s success was
achieved through dishonest or devious means, that they
used government for benefits and favors extracted from
others, and that they exploit their employees and
suppliers. Can anybody do that?
Otherwise, from here, it looks to me like the Crouches
live the life they preach, and have never hurt anybody
intentionally.
We could use a lot more Crouches in this troubled
nation, and a lot fewer Bushes, Cheneys, Bernankes,
Mukaseys, Roves, Boxers, Feinsteins, Rohrabachers, and
other mistakes of Nature.
Now for a direct address to the 80 previous Commenters on this story: Wake up, people. Pay attention to the subject under discussion. Teri Sforza’s story was about the ECONOMICS of TBN, NOT its correctness of faith or presentation of Biblical “truths.” Yet nearly all of the critics here have criticized the Crouch’s religious beliefs, as if you could look inside their minds and determine their motivations. As one Wise Person once said, Let him that is without sin cast the first stone.
Don Hull
Costa Mesa
Joe Branca got it right (August 6th comment)…
The Bible is full of teaching that condemns teachers who use the gospel to line their own pockets. These so-called teachers are ungodly (Jude 4) and false teachers, among other things. The good news of God’s grace–a gace that frees sinners from the judgment and condemnation of a holy and righteous God through the death of his Son–is twisted to the advantage of the false teacher. The Word of God reveals what truly motivates the ungoldly: their own sensuality (Jude 4). They are driven by their own craven desires and, as a result, pervert God’s grace.
How do false teachers pervert God’s grace? (1) By teaching that Christ’s death on the cross was insufficient and that something more is required to gain God’s favor and (2) By teaching that our walk with God is about earthly success here and now rather than the way of suffering. It is a monstrous perversion of what Jesus and the apostles repeatedly taught. By the standards of these false teachers (their standard being the accumulation of material wealth and earthly power), the biggest losers are Jesus and the apostles who lived and died penniless!
I regularly encounter decent Christians who are being bamboozled by these shysters because they are dazzled by the shysters’ worldly success (as if money and power were the standard by which we should measure their message). These ordinary Christians regard themselves as failures because they don’t own BMWs and live in mansions. They doubt their salvation, thus their effectiveness to do good works–for which they were redeemed–is seriously undercut.
The false teachers are peddling the American Dream, not the gospel. The two are incompatible. ‘And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever’ (1 John 2.17).
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