Pastor Creflo Dollar Embroiled in Scandal Involving Malnourished Horses Found on His Property in Atlanta

Prosperity gospel hawker Pastor Creflo Dollar is in the news again. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has launched an investigation in the treatment of horses on his property. You see, these animals are apparently "skin and bones," according to Debi King, who once owned one of the horses, a former champion. State inspectors said the person who bought the horses from King failed to feed the mare that died and several other horses that were also kept on Dollar's property.

King sold the horses to Jason Mitchell, a Dollar family friend, after Mitchell said the animals would be kept on the pastor’s property.“It’s Creflo Dollar. You feel privileged to have horses going to somebody who is well known,” said King. Records that were obtained by Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Jones indicated Dollar told inspectors he and Mitchell agreed to keep the horses on his property so kids at Dollar’s church could use them for recreation. Soon after, the agriculture department received a complaint about the horse’s poor health.

Records showed the horses had no water, or had dirty water. They weren’t properly fed and that led to their body weights dropping to dangerous levels, according to records. Mitchell was cited for inhumane treatment of animals.“Did he kill the horse? In my opinion, yes,” said King. Mitchell told Jones he had financial problems and couldn’t take care of the horses. He said the horse that died was sick, which is something King disputes. Source: WSB-TV

This is a shame. Creflo Dollar wouldn't want to be treated in such a manner. Shouldn't Mr. Mitchell be faced with more than a slap on the hand for this? TOM JONES: Malnourished Horses Found On Creflo Dollar's Property

A spokesperson for Dollar said the horses were owned by Mitchell and on Dollar’s property, but the pastor was not responsible or involved in their care. W&W Public Relations released a statement of behalf of Dollar that said, “Although the horses owned by Mr. Jason Mitchell were being stabled on Dr. Creflo Dollar’s property, Dr. Dollar was not in any way responsible for or involved with their care.”King got her horses back. She thinks Dollar should have made sure they were fed.“I mean, it’s his property,” King said. Dollar evicted Mitchell from the property. King said she is angry the state didn’t remove the horses. Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin said his office only removes animals as a last resort, partly because it doesn’t have the money or staff to take care of the animals when they’re removed. Source: WSB-TV

The bottom line is that the horses were on Creflo Dollar's property and I am pretty sure he should have known what was going on. Had this been his Bentley, he would have known if it had a flat tire. Or if the water was seeping out of his swimming pool. If he can't put the proper oversight mechanisms in place to take care of animals on his property, then how can he minister to people about doing the right thing? If he didn't eat for two days, I am pretty sure he would notice that he was experiencing hunger pains. There is no justification for this and one has to wonder why he ran into the arms of a Public Relations firm to release a statement on his behalf. That money could have been used to take care of these horses. If he had nothing to hide he could have just spoken with WSB-TV and explained his position. Hey, if it walks like a dog and barks like a dog, then guess what? It is a dog.

SLIDESHOW: Horses Found On Pastor's Property

Televangelist Robert H. Schuller's Empire in Financial Tailspin, Son and Recent Successor Robert A. Schuller Abruptly Resigns

Robert Schuller & Son Robert A. Schuller (Photo Chris Carlson)

Misery loves company. Well, once known as one of the America's most popular televangelists, Rev. Robert H. Schuller is watching his life’s work and financial empire slowly crumble. You will remember Rev. Schuller for the "Hour of Power" broadcast from behind the walls of the shimmering, glass megachurch aptly named the "Crystal Cathedral." Funny, as they say, all that glistens isn't gold. Rev. Schuller has been a staple on television for more than three decades.

The church is in financial turmoil. It plans to sell more than $65 million worth of its Orange County property to pay off debt. Revenue dropped by nearly $5 million last year, according to a recent letter from the elder Schuller to elite donors. In the letter, Schuller Sr. implored the Eagle’s Club members — who supply 30 percent of the church’s revenue — for donations and hinted that the show might go off the air without their support. “The final months of 2008 were devastating for our ministry,” the 82-year-old pastor wrote.

News flash -- it has been devastating for just about everyone in this country. Hey, whatever happened to the prosperity gospel these pastors preach? The Crystal Cathedral blames the recession for its woes. Yep, years of living lavishly at the expense of its congregants and ministry supporters. Isn't this the same predicament Revs. Paula and Randy White (who are divorced), with their megachurch "Without Walls International Church" are facing after the Evangelical Christian Credit Union began foreclosure proceedings against them in November and has demanded the repayment of a $12 million loan on the church's property? Wait, what about Kenneth Copeland Ministries' brand of prosperity gospel, which amounted to nothing but a serious mismanagement of the hard-earned donations of supporters? Copeland has refused to release the salaries of his wife, himself and others. Gee, I wonder why?

Seems like the prosperity gospel is on Skid Row. Wow, these same high-flying icons coined this brand of spreading the Word -- the belief that God rewards signs of faith with wealth, health and happiness -- have run into some serious financial turbulence. Psst, Rev. Schuller and Co., it's time for you to sow the same seed into your ministries as you begged your supporters to do. I am waiting for Oral Roberts to pop up saying that God has given him another mandate to get $1 million in 30 days. Folks, TV-based megachurches are on their way out. The days of the models of Rev. Schuller, Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts, Quack-extraordinaire Benny Hinn and Rod Parsley are OVER.

The Schuller family drama is very interesting. They consider the church a family business, with the younger Schuller's 2006 appointment to lead the Crystal Cathedral. But that all fell by the wayside. The church announced on Nov. 29, 2008 that Schuller Jr. had resigned as senior pastor, just a month after he was removed from the church’s syndicated broadcasts. In a news release, Schuller Sr. said: “Robert and I have been struggling as we each have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry," only to replace him with a rotating line of guest pastors. Funny, another pastor who just can't practice what he preaches -- unity and love. Then they wonder why church membership is down and why donations are down drastically, all the while ignoring the real problem -- themselves.

UPDATE#1:  Well, what do you know. The prosperity gospel doesn't really work, now does it? You see, the Crystal Cathedral has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to the Seattle Times, the cathedral owes about $7.5 million to unsecured creditors. The bankruptcy filing seeks court protection from its creditors.

Televangelist Robert H. Schuller's Empire in Financial Tailspin, Son and Recent Successor Robert A. Schuller Abruptly Resigns

Robert Schuller & Son Robert A. Schuller (Photo Chris Carlson)

Misery loves company. Well, once known as one of the America's most popular televangelists, Rev. Robert H. Schuller is watching his life’s work and financial empire slowly crumble. You will remember Rev. Schuller for the "Hour of Power" broadcast from behind the walls of the shimmering, glass megachurch aptly named the "Crystal Cathedral." Funny, as they say, all that glistens isn't gold. Rev. Schuller has been a staple on television for more than three decades.

The church is in financial turmoil. It plans to sell more than $65 million worth of its Orange County property to pay off debt. Revenue dropped by nearly $5 million last year, according to a recent letter from the elder Schuller to elite donors. In the letter, Schuller Sr. implored the Eagle’s Club members — who supply 30 percent of the church’s revenue — for donations and hinted that the show might go off the air without their support. “The final months of 2008 were devastating for our ministry,” the 82-year-old pastor wrote.

News flash -- it has been devastating for just about everyone in this country. Hey, whatever happened to the prosperity gospel these pastors preach? The Crystal Cathedral blames the recession for its woes. Yep, years of living lavishly at the expense of its congregants and ministry supporters. Isn't this the same predicament Revs. Paula and Randy White (who are divorced), with their megachurch "Without Walls International Church" are facing after the Evangelical Christian Credit Union began foreclosure proceedings against them in November and has demanded the repayment of a $12 million loan on the church's property? Wait, what about Kenneth Copeland Ministries' brand of prosperity gospel, which amounted to nothing but a serious mismanagement of the hard-earned donations of supporters? Copeland has refused to release the salaries of his wife, himself and others. Gee, I wonder why?

Seems like the prosperity gospel is on Skid Row. Wow, these same high-flying icons coined this brand of spreading the Word -- the belief that God rewards signs of faith with wealth, health and happiness -- have run into some serious financial turbulence. Psst, Rev. Schuller and Co., it's time for you to sow the same seed into your ministries as you begged your supporters to do. I am waiting for Oral Roberts to pop up saying that God has given him another mandate to get $1 million in 30 days. Folks, TV-based megachurches are on their way out. The days of the models of Rev. Schuller, Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts, Quack-extraordinaire Benny Hinn and Rod Parsley are OVER.

The Schuller family drama is very interesting. They consider the church a family business, with the younger Schuller's 2006 appointment to lead the Crystal Cathedral. But that all fell by the wayside. The church announced on Nov. 29, 2008 that Schuller Jr. had resigned as senior pastor, just a month after he was removed from the church’s syndicated broadcasts. In a news release, Schuller Sr. said: “Robert and I have been struggling as we each have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry," only to replace him with a rotating line of guest pastors. Funny, another pastor who just can't practice what he preaches -- unity and love. Then they wonder why church membership is down and why donations are down drastically, all the while ignoring the real problem -- themselves.

UPDATE#1:  Well, what do you know. The prosperity gospel doesn't really work, now does it? You see, the Crystal Cathedral has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to the Seattle Times, the cathedral owes about $7.5 million to unsecured creditors. The bankruptcy filing seeks court protection from its creditors.