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Enquirer: Joel Osteen Caught In Financial Scandal
Megapastor ‘leveraging the church as a money-making vehicle’
WND
Joel and Victoria Osteen
America’s most popular supermarket tabloid claims famous televangelist Joel Osteen “is caught up in a financial scandal,” using his Houston megachurch to sell his books.
The National Enquirer alleges that New York attorney Richard Garbarini – who previously helped two musicians in a lawsuit against Osteen and his Lakewood Church accusing the church of unauthorized use of a song – is charging that Osteen uses his Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit to hawk his bestsellers.
“He’s leveraging the church as a money-making vehicle! The church pays (to air) his sermons, which are just de facto infomercials to promote his books,” Garbarini purportedly told the Enquirer. “The Lakewood Church is a shell to funnel people to his website so he can sell his books.”
WND called Lakewood Church three times to ask for comment on the allegations, and each time the person answering offered to connect WND to a spokesperson but disconnected the phone call. The woman answering refused to provide any other contact information.
The Lakewood Church website sells several of Osteen’s books, including his latest hot seller, “You Can, You Will.” The product listings do not indicate whether the proceeds of the sales go to the church or to Osteen himself. In 2005, Texas Monthly reported that Osteen contributed “a substantial portion of his earnings” from one of his books to the church.
Reposted with permission
That lawyer’s accusation has to be one of the stupidest mean spirited attempts to smear someone i a long time.
It’s completely backwards, too. Authors use books to funnel readers into more profitable ventures rather than the other way around.
The collection plate is going to bring in a whale of a lot more money than Osteen’s books probably by a factor of 100! Ostten might earn $3 or $4 from a book sale. But the people who come to his church who are well off could easily drop $50 or $100 EACH WEEK into the collection basket!! Even if Osteen were self pulished he would still only get maybe $10 one time.
So the church attendee generates $5,000 EACH year while the book has brought in $3 to $10 one time!!
Apparently the attorney has some animus against Osteen. There is no other reasonable explanation. It’s the books that are the prospecting tools…the loss leaders in some cases.
I’ve read part of one of his books. It increased my desire to hear him in person, because he is a good person trying lift people up. If I ever were in the neighborhood, I’d stop in for a church service. Paying him $50 is a better investment than paying $50 for a nose bleed seat at an NBA game. Even better would be to give a neighbor $50 worth of food.
Sorry for the typos. “…I’ve heard in a long time.” and “Osteen” rather than Ostten.
its all still just a scam..
John MacArthur is the best Bible teacher I Know of, many Free resources on his Grace To You website!
Charlatan!
Joel Osteen is as fake as Pamela Anderson’s boobs.. a total scam artist.
No different than Oral Roberts, Jim and Tammy Faye, Jimmy Swaggart and any other “God For Sale” Televangelist.
Gods prophets / teachers NEVER preach for Money…ever.
Just ‘my’ opinion about all this Olsteen stuff this man and his “corporation”. He IS a “business man”! Never forget that fact. He is WRONGLY ‘using’ the pulpit, for which he most likely will go to Hell it he doesn’t change and be a real Christian. He IS another Benny Hinn!!! He IS a “CON-MAN”.