How to Fleece For Fun & Profit II
This article sent to me from my friend (and Hillsong insider), written by Phil Cooke:
FRAUDULENT CHRISTIAN FUNDRAISING
“SANTA MONICA, CA (ANS) – For churches and ministries across the country, fundraising has become a vital tool that’s used to raise the necessary money to make ministry happen. It’s a noble effort, because people need to understand that without financial support, significant outreach is nearly impossible. However, in many cases, the tail has started to wag the dog, and some ministries focus on raising money more than their actual mission.
The science of fundraising has become a massive business. It has spawned financial consultants, direct response companies, fulfillment businesses, telemarketing, and more. Helping ministries raise money has become an industry in itself.
The fact is, the “personal” ministry letter you receive each month was probably not written by the ministry leader at all, but by a direct mail strategist, and designed by a graphic designer for maximum response. Today, color scheme, spacing, layout, and structure are some of the most important features of monthly letters – and the most effective fundraisers can even compare responses based on different colors of the envelope. They mail the letters on just the right day each month so it arrives when people get their paycheck – either from the mail or direct deposit. Statistics prove that if it’s only a few days late, the response will drop considerably. I’ve seen people fired from ministries because they mailed the monthly letter 48-72 hours behind schedule – it’s considered that important.
In fact, I spoke to one “Christian” fundraiser who said that the single most important thing is getting a person to open the envelope - and he would be willing to do anything to make that happen.
Even lie about what’s inside.
It’s important to note that I’m not against fundraising with integrity. There are some marvelous ministries out there doing great work because of effective relationships with their supporters and partners. But I do think you need to know how the business works – because believe me – it’s a business, and they’re trying to work you.
Here are some suggestions to consider as you pick up the next fundraising letter from your mailbox:
1) They’ve timed the letter to arrive when you have the most money in the bank. Giving will be easier for you, but that shouldn’t control your decision.
2) The cute little underlines, exclamation points, and arrows that look like the writer inserted with a pen after it was written - weren’t marked by a person, but a computer. Each one was strategically planned for placement and effect.
3) The amount of the “suggested gift” on the reply was calculated by a computer based on your past giving history, and often with the goal to nudge you to give a little more.
4) Even the color of the paper was researched based on past responses to that particular shade.
5) The trinkets (Jesus junk?) the ministry sends you actually gets results! You’re more likely to give because they ministry sends you something in return.
Sadly, we wouldn’t even need fundraising if Christians gave as the Bible teaches. So am I suggesting that we stop fundraising? Absolutely not. As I said before, great ministries are impacting the world because good people give. Plus, there are many gifted fundraising experts who are ethical and operate with utmost integrity. Frankly, I wish people gave more to deserving churches and ministries.
But I am suggesting we become informed givers. Don’t be a ministry zombie and give on impulse – for any reason. Give because you’ve researched a ministry, believe in what it’s doing in the world, have confirmed its integrity and track record, and then prayed about the gift.
Giving for any other reason, is usually a waste of money”.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Churches and individuals get heaps of Christian junk mail these days, you wonder how much is spent on printing and postage. It almost amounts to competition between agencies, perhaps a close equivalent to Christians taking each other to court?
Lance has often transcribed mini-sermons preached when the offering is collected and it’s sad that a church is so financially pragmatic in that respect. I love it that at my church we’ve on occasion forgotten to take the offering, accidently miss a row, etc.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
“A prophetic word given by Claude Carrello during the evening service [at Christian City Church Rockingham] on February 25, 2007.
The day is near and upon us where the ridiculous blessing of the Lord shall manifest. The church has entered, this church has entered the days of great and outstanding blessing and with it persecution.
Miraculous healing. Provision. Favour. Fame. Fortune. Soul Harvests. Souls. Lots of Souls. Supernatural, exponential and outstanding increase is upon us. And with it much criticism. Guard well and guard now your heart, your relationships and your leaders.
The writing is on the wall.
Publishers, politicians and prophets will make up our number. Physicians, pop stars and powerful entrepreneurs will pop up and stay up all over the congregation.
Money will come in like a flood and go out in power packed purpose.
The writing is on the wall.
We win and the devil looses. (sic)
The writing is on the wall.
You win and the devil looses. (sic)
The writing is on the wall.
You speak and it happens.
The writing is on the wall.
Many will not understand and cast accusation.
The writing is on the wall.
You will need to be grounded in humility and the fruit of the spirit.
The writing is on the wall.
Jesus will be proclaimed Lord over all!
The writing is on the wall.”
From http://cccrockingham.com.au/connectcentral_vision2.html
You host a Christian confidence trickster like Pat Mesiti, then of course you’re gonna get criticised. Duh.
And then when you get justifiably criticised you go…’see!…see!…we were right!’.
If only dumb Christians didn’t continually fall for this ..
Have you noticed how ..when they do a ‘prophesy’..instead of using the modern English ‘will’..they use the ye olde English ’shall’..?
As in ..”where the ridiculous blessing of the Lord shall manifest…”
I just don’t know how they ever used to do prophesies before ye Olde English came in..centuries after the New Testament letters were written.
This is my favourite bit…
“You will need to be grounded in humility ..”
An arrogant arsehole CCC pastor….as if..
April 18th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Of course Signposts will be checking periodically with CCC Rockingham ..to check how many pop stars have ‘popped up and stayed up’…all over the congregation.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
My church isn’t big on prophesy so I have to ask - is that an example of prophesy in the modern Christian Church?
Because I am apalled.
All the statements cannot be rebutted ‘because they are yet to occur’. That’s not prophesy, that’s science fiction.
Fame before souls?
What is the difference between ‘WE win and the devil looses’ and ‘YOU win and the devil looses’. Who is the WE and who is the YOU?
Looks like he phucked up his alliterations as well - instead of the soft ‘ph’ of physicians he needed the hard ‘p’ of perverts, protstitutes or proctologists to complete the sentence.
The writing is on the wall alright. How about this for a prophesy ‘Mene Mene Tekel Uparsin’? And that’s one you can take to the bank.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
You could always use the “post office lost your donations so send us more money” effort that CRI tried a few years ago
http://www.cultlink.com/news/CRIfraud.htm
The defermation suit brought by CRI was just thrown out
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/515-hank-hanegraaff-lawsuit-thrown-out-of-court
April 18th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Thats a shame about CRI .. but HH should be hung out to dry if all allegations are true… and they look plauseable .. if he doesn’t make amends.
let it not be said that we don’t call for accountability from all in Christian leadership no matter what side of the theological fence they sit
April 18th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Thats a shame about CRI .. but HH should be hung out to dry if all allegations are true… and they look plauseable .. if he doesn’t make amends.
let it not be said that we don’t call for accountability from all in Christian leadership no matter what side of the theological fence they sit
April 18th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
thats a shame about CRI
let it not be said that we just call for financial accountability from the theological freaks
April 18th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
damn i hate it when my comment doesnt show then i do a cut down one and then my original one shows…….!!!!!!!
April 18th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
abtruth - I just assumed you had Tourettes.
April 19th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
who said tourettes?
April 20th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
er, I did!
August 13th, 2007 at 10:02 am
“The tax-fraud conviction Friday of the pastor of one of Birmingham’s largest churches may have reverberations in the way ministers accept and report gifts.”
“Churches that pay honorariums to visiting ministers routinely file a Form 1099, and the individuals are expected to claim it as income on their tax forms, Neptune said.
“The IRS is going to classify that as income,” Connor said. “It’s really for services that have been performed.”
In Clarke’s case, when churches paid him as a guest speaker and filed a Form 1099, he claimed it on his taxes, according to prosecutors during his trial. When churches didn’t file a 1099, he didn’t claim it as income.”
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20070723/NEWS/707230312/1007/RSS&source=RSS