KC Star Exposes Pastor Jerry Johnston of First Family Church

[LJohn]

Congratulations to Judy Thomas for exposing this snake oil salesman who has reaped millions of dollars from his followers.

Posted on Sun, Mar. 11, 2007

Lavish lifestyles at odds with pastor’s calls for the faithful to sacrifice
Johnston and his family travel abroad, live in big houses and drive church-owned SUVs.By JUDY L. THOMAS
The Kansas City Star

Expensive trips. New homes. An elite credit card.

The lifestyle of the Rev. Jerry Johnston’s family has raised eyebrows among former members of First Family Church.

“Everything is extravagant,” said Melisa Gingrich, who left the church last year. “That’s the way the Johnstons live.”

Johnston and the church board will not reveal his compensation, nor how much he makes from his for-profit corporation that handles his books, videos and speaking engagements.

The Johnstons go on several “Christian tours” each year. Last year, Jerry and Christie Johnston went to Hawaii, the Holy Land and Rome. Last month, the Johnstons spent six days in Hawaii. They plan to visit England in May and Germany in July.

The advertisements for their trips are enticing: “Join Pastor Jerry and Christie on Waikiki Beach,” says one. “Travel with Pastor Jerry and Christie to Rome,” says another.

Johnston said he started the trips to show appreciation to the church’s television sponsors and others who had made substantial donations to the church. But now the church offers them to anybody who pays for them.

“They go on these trips, and we minister to them, and then I preach on many different continents on planet Earth,” he said. “So when I go anywhere, I’m engaged in ministry.”

Johnston told The Kansas City Star that the church did not pay his family’s expenses on the trips, but a board member said that the fees charged to other participants covered the costs for church staff members. After The Star raised questions about the trips, all references to them were removed from the church’s Web site.

Critics say the trips are just another example of Johnston’s lavish lifestyle — and one they say contradicts his teachings of sacrifice and stewardship. In a series of sermons on compact disc titled “God’s Way to Financial Success,” for example, Johnston stresses to church members the importance of tithing.

“Maybe we’re going to decide to wear the same pair of pants for a year because we’re going to honor God with our finances and we’re going to get it right,” he said. “Lordship means I seize the moment regardless of the inconvenience.”

But former members want to know how Johnston is sacrificing. He lives in southern Johnson County, and his property is appraised at $586,400. The house, with an in-ground swimming pool and high-tech security system, was built in 1999.

Johnston’s three children are all living in new homes. Records show that Jeremy Johnston’s Overland Park house is appraised at $430,600.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...printstory.jsp

[arm53]

God pays. I'm going to pray right NOW!

[WhiskeyTango]

So...who is this guy?

[LJohn]

So...who is this guy?

An excellent speaker and con man who has been able to start his own church and make a fortune for himself and his family. He basically sells "Religion Lite," which is very popular these days.

[Piute]

Politicians call the overseas trips fact-finding missions.

[LJohn]

So...who is this guy?

Turn on any TV and he is either talking on his own show or on Bill O'Reilly, Hannity, et al.

He calls himself "Dr." although it is an honorary degree. In reality he has a high school GED.

[WhiskeyTango]

So...he's a hipocrite & talks to Hannity, etal?


SHOCKER!!!

[flynlow]

My personal favorite is Reverend Ike. He's up front with where he stands. No hypocrisy. Here are some of his quotes:

• ”I love money and money loves me.”
• "The lack of money is the root of all evil."
• "The Bible says that Jesus rode on a borrowed ass. But I would rather ride in a Rolls Royce than to ride somebody's ass!"
• "Be proud of the way I look, because you spend $1,000 a week to buy my clothes."
• "The best thing you can do for the poor is not be one of them."
• From Reverend Ike's voice mail message that he sold to his followers:

1. "Money is wonderful!" 2. "Calling money!"

Check out his web site. Yes LJohn.. here I am pimping again.

www.revike.com

[Dies Irae]

[LJohn]

A leading Christian radio network on Monday dropped the Rev. Jerry Johnston’s daily program from its lineup, saying it had concerns about financial accountability.

Bott Radio Network, which aired Johnston’s 30-minute program Monday through Friday on KCCV-AM 760, pulled the program in response to articles published Sunday in The Kansas City Star.

Dick Bott, founder and president of the network, said he was surprised to learn that Johnston’s First Family Church is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, an organization that sets standards for charities and religious groups.


http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16891018.htm