Evangelist Won't Help Receiver in Ponzi Case

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

Several high-profile evangelists entangled in an alleged investment scam targeting born-again Christians are helping authorities unravel the operation.

One prominent pastor, however, has declined to assist: the Rev. Ralph A. Wilkerson, founder of Melodyland Christian Center in Anaheim, according to the court-appointed receiver whose job it is to salvage the remains of what federal prosecutors allege was a Ponzi scheme.

Wilkerson's failure to cooperate is hampering the effort to recover the millions of dollars some investors lost with Ontario-based IPIC International Inc., receiver Dennis L. Roossien Jr. said last week.


<snip>
According to court records, Setser promised people that they would make money on import-export deals for goods such as bottled water, scooters and condoms. But prosecutors said he did little actual business and instead used millions of dollars from investors to buy his family homes, a yacht and a helicopter

<snip>

Several well-known evangelists netted profits with IPIC, including three who have shows on the Trinity Broadcasting Network: faith healer Benny Hinn; Reinhard Bonnke, whose Orlando, Fla.-based Christ for All Nations evangelizes in Africa; and Marilyn Hickey, who heads a Colorado-based national ministry.

Los Angeles Times; Free registration required

[UpInArms]

1. gack!

from your link:

Offering lively music, healing sessions and fiery preaching, Wilkerson founded a seminary, battled Motown Records for rights to the Melodyland name and was roundly attacked for extolling the positive points of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, who presided over a murderous regime and whom Wilkerson visited in May 1978.

and

Wilkerson adds that he is "certain and confident that there are countless more Greg Setsers out there who can help finance the end time harvest. I pray 'Making Million$ for Ministry' helps discover and train them … for His Kingdom."

Who are these people???

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. This guy is an ass who has tried every trick in the book in order

to get publicity for his ministry including talking a young pregnant woman into inducing labor one year so she could go on record as having the first child of the New Year...it was a big story here in "the OC"

Just another Right Wing hypocrite profiting in the name of the Lord and leaving gullible old ladies to eat Skippy.

[denverbill]

2. Televangelists are virtually all crooks.

I'm sure there are actually a few good apples, but the bad apples outnumber the good ones 10-1. If there is a Hell, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson and all the rest of these sheisters who use God to enrich themselves sure as hell better be in the Express Lane.

[DavidFL]

6. I don't think they'd mind because that's where they came from: hell (n/m)

[struggle4progress]

4. kick

:kick:

[uhhuh]

5. What??

"According to court records, Setser promised people that they would make money on import-export deals for goods such as bottled water, scooters and CONDOMS. But prosecutors said he did little actual business and instead used millions of dollars from investors to buy his family homes, a yacht and a helicopter"

I thought condoms were evil and encouraged teens and others to sin??

Did they have a cruxifix on them or something?

[Scurrilous]

7. The condoms...

...probably had tiny holes in the tip.

[R Hickey]

8. No, the condoms are used to keep their crucifixes dry

You see, during their whole-immersion Baptism, it used to be that sometimes their crucifixes would get soaked, and the wood would gradually rot.

Now, they've learned to fashion tiny raincoats from the imported condoms, and the little crucifixes stay dry.

-That's what the Reverend Marilyn Hickey told me...In her broadcasts, she tells me all I need to know. In fact, I find her so inspirational, that I changed my last name to Hickey...it used to be Smith.