Elevation Church has something to crow about. Their pastor lives better than the richest man in North Carolina (Jim Goodnight-the owner of SAS). What a witness to the riches of the faith!
According to Charlotte Observer link
Furtick will live in "only" 8,400 square feet of heated space. The other 8,000 will be devoted to a garage (lots of cars, I guess), porch, attic.
Furtick is living better than :
• Panthers owner, Jerry Richardson, Charlotte, total square feet. 7,068; tax value: $2,621,000.
• Investor, businessman, wealthiest man in Charlotte C.D. Spangler Jr. Charlotte, Total square feet: 6,169; tax value: $1,407,200
• Businessman, wealthiest person in North Carolina, James Goodnight, Cary, Heated area 7,510 (total square footage not available); tax value: $4,977,270
SOURCE: Public records
Contrast this to Francis Chan who, though a neo-Cal, has presumably had homeless people live in his house.
I’m thinking Furtick will move out of his house. To much of a distraction now.
Here’s the link to the news story. It’s 8-1/2 minutes long! http://www.wcnc.com/video/featured-videos/I-Team-How-a-pastor-paid-for-his-multi-million-dollar-home-228870731.html There will be a follow up story tonight about the men who determine Furtick’s salary.
@ Marge Sweigart:
Sorry for the redundancy, I didn’t realize that you posted the link in a previous post. Anyway, I’m really glad that WCNC did such a great job on this expose. Thanks for alerting us, Dee and Deb!
The book deal that Futrick credits for providing the money for this house doesn’t make sense, because his books don’t sell well on Amazon and they aren’t on the top 50 Christian book list.
His congregation can be very proud of what their contributions have accomplished in the name of God. Might as well have constructed a golden calf.
JeffT wrote:
Furtick has already been functioning in that role.
Janey wrote:
Ya think? There is a lot more to this story. “Chunks” Corbett, the megachurch pastors compensation committee, outside consultants to help them determine Steve’s compensation package, intellectual rights, parsonage allowance, etc. Check out his buddies: MacDonald, Driscoll, etc and see how they live.
Everyone needs to ask themselves a question. How does a young man like Furtick (early 30s) build a house bigger than Jim Goodnight just a few years after arriving at Elevation.
Folks-we are being had-big time.
I appreciated the full disclosure at the beginning of the segment. Obviously a response to “yall just a bunch of haters.”
Lest we think the Protestants have a monopoly on clergy greed, looks like the Catholics have a bishop that has one-upped Furtick
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/prayers-to-riches-tale-of-bling-bishop-puts-german-church-in-spotlight-1.1569629
If Furtick is making so much money off his books, why is he still pulling a salary from the church at all? I can’t stand the double dipping these guys pull.
Ron White had a story about Robert Tilton that seems strangely relevant:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3rBBRIVYsc
Christians have got to quit buying into the BS spewed by so many “Christian’ ‘clergy’ about how Christianity is being destroyed by outsiders like atheists, scientists, etc. and look closer to home for the cause. Pogo said it best “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
This is making quite a buzz in Charlotte, ya’ll. Keith Larson, morning talk show host on WBT will be talking with Stuart Watson, the reporter later this morning. Keith has been tweeting about it all morning. A little while ago he said this:
“his tax exempt church buys, pays to promote, & resells his books. he buys the house w/the book profits & advances. clever.”
His Twitter profile is this, if you’d like to follow: https://twitter.com/ClubLama
Shine a light and watch the rats scurry
@ Marge Sweigart:
I don’t know anything about money laundering in the world of bad guys, but can this be considered “holy money laundering?”
And this is a tax-exempt church and not a business?
Kristin wrote:
Then there is triple dipping. They go to conferences on church times, get paid to speak at thee conference, and then get paid to hawk their books written on church time. Then they can build bigger houses than the richest man in North Carolina. What a deal!
I have been on the news side and know all too well how many stories are not researched enough just to make the story worth listening to. If this reporter ever went to Elevation, he would also need to report the over 10 million dollars the church has given over the 7 years to outreach partners and charities. There will always be doubters esp. when a church has grown as fast as Elevation has. Did anyone ever wonder why? Maybe the Word that is being preached is actually understandable and reaches our youth, adults and seniors in a way that many have not been able to? Pastor Steven knows his haters…and talks about this and where the money came from for him to build his home which is from his book sales. If this reporter ever read one of Pastor Furtick’s books, he would have a different take on writing and reporting this story. Maybe in the future…don’t damn those who are helping so many…maybe write the story about the good that is coming from all of this instead of looking for the bad in people.
dee wrote:
Dee, fixed your post 🙂
@ JeffT: I heard about that one.
@ Marge Sweigart:
Thanks for the recommendation-I retweeted him.
PS-I told you that you would have some proof in the near future!!
JeffT wrote:
You definitely said it better.
Bridget wrote:
Seems that way to me.
Lisa wrote:
Apparently you are venting as opposed to actually listening to the “news side that you know all too well.” That is precisely what the reporter did.
You are the type of member that Furtick needs to continue his quest for a really, really great house as opposed to a 16,000 sq ft “not that great” house. Keep giving him money. He will really appreciate it.
dee wrote:
See how Gawd provides?
JeffT wrote:
Isn’t that bishop in hot water with the Pope over this?
Lisa wrote:
Could you please alert the Elevation staff that the “Hey Haters” video is not selling well outside of the church? We always know when people are being egged on to comment here. They always use the “haters” theme. It is old, it is boring and it is a seedy agendized approach.
Perhaps you would do better by going to work some extra hours to help Steve raise more money so he can heat his garage. He would really appreciate the contributions to make his “not so great ” house something to really write home about.
dee wrote:
Sadly, the hook’s in pretty deep in a lot of people.
Haven’t posted in awhile – much going on here in Knoxville and haven’t gotten to read a lot on the WW site. Trying to do more on following some of these stories.
Guys, this is just….. well, silly. I’ll never understand how these guys get away with this! These are the same ones who will castigate anyone dissing the contemporary mega churches and who will castigate those who like/prefer the traditional churches and these are ones who scream that we should be more like Jesus and reach out to the poor, widows, orphans etc. Bring them in from the highways and hedges….. yet none of these guys even begin to live as Christ did….. Christ – the son of man has no place to lay his head. This guy and others, even us here, have a place to lay our heads at night – this one has a 16,000+ square foot house in which to lay his head! Really??!! Additionally, most of the folks that attend these churches certainly don’t look like the “highways and hedges” type.
I just don’t get how this goes on. The pastor at my church is 77 years old and works like a man of much younger years and the church is 125 years old – a traditional church – the kind these guys like to kick around yet we still get things done with a lot less. Yes, we have a nice older facility and we’re having to work on it a little…. we don’t have a praise band but a choir, no guitars and drums but a nice pipe organ and grand piano kept up and used regularly, we have Sunday morning Bible Study and even a monthly business session though that may change to quarterly and we generally know what comes in and goes out even what staff salaries are and no confidentially agreements and threats. Guess what – people still come and still like this type of church and worship! We feed those who come to us in need, support missionaries including a couple from our church who are full missionaries in the Ukraine and more….. point is all this that Furtick and similar are doing does not put christianity, the church, and more importantly, God in a good light. People see this for what it is much, much more than these guys realize and this won’t last…. it can’t!
I have no issues with a man – a pastor making a living….. we’re supposed to see to that as a church but this is off the wall and Furtick is not the only one that walks this road…. there’s Ed jr, Driscoll, Osteen and others and this does a great damage to the church and the advancement of God’s kingdom. This is not right!
So the 16000 sq ft house is now “only” 8400 sq ft? Handwave and jive.
The 8000 sq ft of “garage, porch, attic, etc” is still the equivalent to an 80 x 100 foot (24 x 30 meter) building. 80×100 feet. 24x30m. And that’s the non-livable space. The livable space is 5% larger. HUMBLE little cottage, isn’t it? Tithe, Tithe, Tithe…
Bridget wrote:
Sounds like Richard Dawkins and Madelyn Murray O’Hare are making more and more sense by the day.
P.S. Is Furtick trying to one-up the Papal Palace in Rome? Or just Jim & Tammy?
@ Headless Unicorn Guy: Repent HUG and send money to heat his huge garage so that his bottom will not need to sit on a cool leather seat during the “arctic” winters here in North Carolina.
@ JeffT: I think some of these comments come directly from the staff or friends. They utilize the same lingo and think they are being very clever.
dee wrote:
They called out the damage control team, eh?
Lisa wrote:
There is certainly another reason why a church might radically grow. It might do this because its leader is a good at fundraising and at gathering a following. Someone can have these qualities without having anything to do with following Christ. It also helps to be charismatic (in the non-religious sense) and to have a feeling of self-importance.
With no help from God, such a leader would likely grow a very big church. As we’ve seen through the years, many such people already have.
@ Lisa:
We're waiting to hear from the church members who so generously give to the church. How do they feel about their pastor's extravagance?
One has to wonder why there is so much secrecy regarding Furtick's salary and lifestyle and what's with the confidentiality agreement???
@ JeffT: It is so tedious reading their comments. They love the word “hate” recalling that “Bride of Chuckie” Furtick video. Bless their hearts. (They live in Charlotte so I am going to us a Southernism-one North Carolinian to another). They have no idea how that sells outside of the Kool Aid factory.
Surely they have some folks with some pizzazz that can really let us have it. Right now, we have one person claiming that we are uneducated. At least that got me laughing. It was a good try and all but it is a bit behind the eight ball.
J Pow wrote:
Bam!
@ Headless Unicorn Guy:
We live in North Carolina. The Biltmore Mansion in Asheville is the gold standard. A few more books and he should be able to build The Biltmore at NASCAR.
Lisa wrote:
Documentation for this claim, please? This is just words from Elevation Church with no hard evidence to back it up, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s up there with Scientology’s claim to have 8 million members. As in, I’m not believing it without documentation.
Show me the paperwork!
Lisa wrote:
Let’s do some math.
Homes in NC that aren’t falling down but need work in the major metro areas cost at least $100 per square foot. In decent condition or to build with nothing special about $200/sf. And many new larger homes cost upwards of $300/sf.
This home is 8400 sf heated. (We’ll ignore the other 8000sf.)
So this house costs some where between $8,400,000 to $25,200,000 give or take. And I bet real figure is easily over $10,000,000.
So based on your comment at least as much if not more money has gone into this home as has gone to “outreach partners and charities”. Is really the way for a church to allocate it’s money?
As to his books royalties paying for the home, that’s got to be a really sweat deal. Over $10 million in royalties is a LOT of book sales or one of the best royalty deals in the world for, well, still, a LOT of book sales.
NC Now wrote:
You sound smarter than his defenders.
dee wrote:
I’m very disappointed in them. They could have at least added “gossipy women”. 🙂
@ Southwestern Discomfort: I would not be surprised if they did give this money to the community. Could it be that Furtick thought his generosity (remember, its all about him, not the little guy) would buy him some grace when he built his house?
JeffT wrote:
Gospel gossipy women, please.
Headless Unicorn Guy wrote:
I knew Ms. O’Hair when I was in university back in the day (early 1980s) and she, Jon Garth and her granddaughter Robin lived in a house in a nicer subdivision in Austin. I think the house had the luxury of a vaulted ceiling in the living room area and (don’t laugh) a large “holiday” tree. Because Robin wanted one. (This was the year “My Life Without God” came out and the family was feeling rather put upon, Robin was only 16 and in college, and Madalyn wanted to make her feel better despite the betrayal she was feeling about her father’s book.) If that house was 3,000 square feet, I’d be surprised. (For what it’s worth, Madalyn was very nice to a religious girl who was having family problems and I will remember her for that. And for teaching me how to make a pie crust from scratch.)
Seriously, though, Furtick simply doesn’t get how bad the optics of this are.
dee wrote:
I doubt this for a few reasons. Even if you’re giving money out to groups that provide aid, you should be able to say, “Yes, we gave $XXX,XXX to local food bank, local housing aid society, local group providing aid to pregnant women, local group providing clothing to schoolkids, etc., etc.” I see none of that there.
Also, I’m well aware that sometimes the “dollars” in a contribution are based on in-kind donations which can be (and have been, by other organizations, in the past) manipulated. I do not claim to be a tax expert but there may be a reason for those donations, if only for tax purposes. We’d have to see the documents to be able to tell.
And finally, $10 million is just a nice, round number. Too nice, too round. Puts it into eight figures. Looks hinky.
As far as I’m concerned, without documentation, it’s just a statement with no proof. And I would hope the members of Elevation ask their pastor for financials about the church. There may be another James MacDonald situation lurking in the background, but with all the secrecy, we’ll never know.
I love Elevation Church! Part of our “code” found at http://www.elevationchurch.org is #8-
8. WE ARE RUTH’S CHRIS, NOT GOLDEN CORRAL
He tells us up front he really likes nice things and I for one don’t have a problem with that!
If you want YOUR Pastor living in a double wide, then LEAVE!
He is claiming his inheritance right now.
Pastor Steven spoke about the anointing and how it flows from him to us and he quoted recently from Ps. 133:2-
“It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.”
I don’t envy the house…I want one too! We are people of faith at Elevation-you and your Pastor live in the shack, my God has something GREATER for me!
PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!
And here’s the dead tree version of the story:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/10/22/4407782/elevation-pastor-building-big.html#.Umf3nSSQTx5
NC Now wrote:
Are you counting the value of the land underneath it? I understand Furtick doesn’t have a ten-foot-deep back yard like we have here in SoCal. More like an Estate. Complete with view blocks around the entire property line.
Or he’s copied the L Ron Hubbard approach to book sales: COMMAND INTENTION LRH FROM FLAG TO ALL ORGS, PRE-CLEARS, CLEARS, AND OPERATNG THETANS! BUY! BUY! BUY!
Headless Unicorn Guy wrote:
After posting that, it hit the news: Pope Suspends “Bishop of Bling”. Apparently that bishop got recalled to Rome, had a closed-door “meeting” with his boss Pope Francis, exited giving a hopeful spin to the media, then shortly after was suspended as Bishop (removed from office) pending investigation. A Vatican-appointed Vicar (Administrator) has taken over the diocese pending investigation. Sounds like that bishop’s in some really hot water.
I just picked this up from Twitter, from RC Sproul Jr.. Let's see if it comes through:
Whoops, make that the disreputable RC Sproul JR. Can someone fix that?
Lisa wrote:
You apparently did not watch the reporter’s story at all. He actually opened by saying this. By refusing to look at the evidence, you seem to have closed yourself off to any possibility that your leader could be imperfect. Idolatry.
Sharon Long wrote:
You are too, too funny. Glad to have you visit again. I have used that Ruth’s Christ quote frequently this week. May you achieve the dream house of your dreams but treat me to a steak when you do.
I really need to let Furtick’s unbridled greed go for a while and get my work done, so I have one final thought. Something struck me after reading here about Furtick and then MacDonald’s rants against charismatics and RC Jr.’s ‘defense’ of Furtick. I think many charismatics go way overboard, particularly when it comes to speaking in tongues, but they have a very legitimate point – the old spiritual gifts did not cease with the death of the Apostles. I’m think in particular about prophesy. Unfortunately, the term “prophet” is too often a negative connotation associated with foretelling the future when, in fact, that’s very little of what a prophet in the Bible did. In one of the best books I have ever read on the Bible, The Prophets by Abraham Heschel, he said:
Prophecy is the voice that God has lent to the silent agony, a voice to the plundered poor, to the profaned riches of the world. It is a form of living, a crossing point to God and man. God is raging in the prophet’s words.
Keep prophesying Dee and Deb!
@ Moxie: I have been hearing that the troops are out all over the internet defending the honor of their poor pastor who must live in that “not so great” house.
JeffT wrote:
WOW!
Sharon Long wrote:
Gee, Sharon, I live in a double wide. My husband works pretty hard to keep us in it, too. We have names for people like you that I’m too polite to repeat, but “Christian” is not one of them.
@ NC Now:
I think your numbers are off NC. I come up with $1.6m at $200 per square foot. It will probably be more, plus the land. So, it’s close to $2m. Land seems cheap at approx. 17,000 per acre.
BTDT
I want to reassure you that this comment is a parody. I know for sure.
@ Sharon Long:
If he in claiming his inheritance as a child of God right now, that means he is giving up his inheritance in heaven. Sorry, but you don’t get it twice!!!! So if that is a statement he has made, he is confessing to not planning on being in heaven.
Arce
This comment is a parody written by someone who is defintely not enamored of Furtick the Large.
@ Lisa:
Yah, I love how Furtick and Noble “helped out” Anderson Univ professor James Duncan.
http://www.pajamapages.com/holy-rage-at-the-spring-2/
@ Sharon Long:
Sorry but you sound like an Amway person who buys more stuff so their gemstone leader can live in a big house and own a plane. The big sin is to not be happy for them and not buy more stuff.
The Guy from Knoxville (Randy) wrote:
It is not guys like Furtick who bother me the most. They will ALWAYS be around doing their shickt. What bothers me are the MASSES that follow them and buy into it making them so well known and successful. (here and now)
I think it is a social phenomenon that needs to be studied. Is it a lack of critical thinking skills? (yes) Is it a need to be part of a big group? A need for some sort of identity through someone else on a stage? It really needs to be studied.
What Noble did to James Duncan is insidious. What cowards these little men are.
@ Sharon Long:
Glad to hear you’re parodying. I was about to say that we should leave all questions about trickle-down economics to…well, the economists. And Furtick is most assuredly, not one of those. 😉
Hester wrote:
As well as the Daffy Duck problem you get with trickle-down:
“MINE! MINE! ALL MINE! MINE! MINE! THERE’S ONLY ENOUGH FOR MEEEE! MINE! MINE! ALL MINE!”
dee wrote:
Problem is, Dee, everybody, that in an Age of Extremes like ours, it’s near-impossible to spot a parody. Because as over-the-top crazy as a parody can get, there’s some True Believer out there twice as over-the-top crazy and Dead Serious. And with Social Media(TM), the crazies can link up with each other and organize into a Movement.
Headless Unicorn Guy wrote:
I work with architects. These are the numbers used to start a conversation. $100 is to buy in a cheaper area without a lot of dirt. $300 gets you upper end with decent amount of dirt. A starting point is it will cost you $200/sf to build at a minimum in Raleigh/Durham middle class neighborhoods. Charlotte I’m guessing is about the same. Mileage will definitely vary. Both above and below these numbers. But the decimal place will be fairly on target.
As my friend at New BBC blog says, “Follow the money.” Let’s do just that…
Tonight will be part 2 on the megachurch pastors that make up the board that decides Furtick’s salary and “mentor” him. One of them is Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in TX, my former church, that did not report the known child sex abuse by his staff member and minister Langworthy:
Corbett would not divulge Furtick’s salary, which is set not by a group of lay members of the church, but by a board of five out-of-town pastors. Furtick is also on the board, but doesn’t vote on his salary, Corbett said. These out-of-town board members are friends and mentors to Furtick and, like him, lead growing megachurches. They include Perry Noble of NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C., and Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist in Plano, Texas.
This board bases Furtick’s salary, Corbett said, on a “compensation study formulated by an attorney’s office” that’s not tied to the church.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/10/22/4407782/elevation-pastor-building-big.html#.UmgYMfmsjLQ#storylink=cpy
Brett Shipp, WFAA reporter that exposed the abuse coverup (http://www.wfaa.com/news/investigates/Disturbing-revelations-about-former-Prestonwood-minister-127284918.html) by Prestonwood helped Stuart Watson put the story together for WCNC.
Bridget wrote:
Nuts. You’re right. Still not a cheap house.
And to say they have given $10 million over the years to the community compared to spending on this house (AND UPKEEP) still seems a bit shallow.
And would still require a non trivial number of book sales.
(Need to turn on commas on my calculator.)
NC Now
Do not be in such a hurry. Remember, he must decorate it, furnish it, and there are always overages. The land was bought on the cheap so that needs to be looked into. This is going to be a very, very expenisve enterprise and we have only seen what is on paper at the moment.
Sharon Long wrote:
Sharon Long is the wife of my prankster great-nephew, Bill Rogers. 🙂 She kept her maiden name, Up here in heaven, I know more than a couple celebrity pastors living in TLC-needing single-wides! They claimed their inheritance right then!
From the “dead trees” article, “Corbett said Furtick, 33, is paying for the five-bedroom house with income from the books he’s written and will write.”
Shoulda said “God Willing”. There are some others up here who came to meet Saint Pete before they got the chance to write their books!” Even if God lets him hang around, what if The Lord tells Pastor Steven to spend more quality time with the Flock, or with his Family? Pastor Steven will have to say “No, thanks, Lord. I got a book to write! Mortgage payment, ya know!”
Lisa:
I am glad to see you comment here. I don’t live in North Carolina, but one of my best friends is a Pastor at Forest Hill Church in Charlotte.
I have never heard of your church or your pastor. I don’t have an ax to grind against either.
I have been a Christian for about 39 years. I have been exposed to many churches adn ministries over those years. Many of them do a lot of good for others.
I am sure that you feel very close to your church and your pastor, and that is natural, espeically if God has done a work in your life through their efforts.
But that does not mean that everything they do is right or that everything they say is correct.
The one thought that I would want to leave you with is to recommend that you never give your money or time to any organization that is not up front about its finances. If you cannot get a financial statement and an income statement showing where every penny went and to whom it was paid, that is a situation without adequate safeguards and protections.
Also, I would not be part of a church that did not have undershepherds (elders, deacons, whathave you) helping to lead the church who were members of your congregation and who would answer any question that you might have about how the church is run, how the money is spent etc. That is the biblical model.
The model that appears to exist at Elevation does not appear to be consistent with what the Bible teaches about New Testament churches. The report I watched says that the leaders at the church do not belong to the church. That concerns me greatly. Also, I am concerned that you cannot get the financial statements and income statements that show what the church pastors are paid etc.
I hope that you and your friends at Elevation will ask about and request changes such as the ones I have suggested. It would make your church a safer and open place.
I wish you the best.
dee wrote:
Don’t forget that this is a lifestyle he’s buying into. I doubt Mrs. Furtick is going to scrub seven bathrooms and clean the “heated” living spaces herself. And “pastor” Steve probably won’t be mowing grass and trimming hedges. (Too much time wrapped up in book writing.) Someone is going to pay for all the services that accompany this type of lifestyle.
I have to admit, I’d love to own that house. Why should Furtick have it and not me?
Anonymous wrote:
Actually, nobody “belongs” to Elevation. They don’t have any formal membership. The way I understand it is that if you go there and you participate, then you can consider yourself a “member.” The only thing I’ve been able to find on their website regarding membership is this brief statement: “At Elevation Church, we don’t stress membership. We emphasize participation. And there are several ways to join in with what we’re doing here.” Seems to me that if there is no formal membership, then there is no one for the leaders to be accountable to. Pretty slick.
@ NC Now:
Yes. Still a lot of money and, yes, some one will be keeping up the house. A full time bathroom scrubber will be necessary.
@ Marge Sweigart:
I wonder what the confidentiality agreement is for then? I believe Dee has seen it and it was in the news report.
Seneca wrote:
Because you’re not charismatic enough to scam people out of millions of dollars?
@ Seneca:
Ask him if you can have one of the spare rooms. I’m sure Furtick would be more than happy to open his home to anyone in need 🙂
BeenThereDoneThat wrote:
Talk about a gift for discernment! You go, girl!
Bridget wrote:
I’m pretty sure the confidentiality agreement is for people who volunteer in certain activities in the church. I have friends who got involved with the children’s ministry and they were not required to sign a confidentiality agreement. It’s not like they have a membership class and then they welcome in new members and have them sign an agreement. Their concept of membership is not typical of most churches. It’s very loosey-goosey.
@ Marge Sweigart:
So if membership is loosey-goosey, so is the accountability to the congregation. 🙁
Where are the checks and balances?
@ Marge Sweigart:
I pray their not loosey-goosey about protecting the children in their care. Hope you can’t just sign up and work without people knowing who you are or without background checks being done!
It’s convenient to not have to answer to the congregation with the finances though!
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Lisa wrote:
“Steven knows his haters…”. Is anyone who disagrees with a pastor building for himself an enormous luxury home a hater?
I have been to Elevation. I saw a man who is first a businessman and secondly, a pastor. He has a strong charismatic presence but I also saw in sermon after sermon a push for tithes (mostly offerings) week after week and month after laborious month.
I asked a friend to go with me and she was thoroughly disgusted. The people who go to Elevation give a lot of money to the church and the church gives a portion of it to worthy causes and at the beginning of most services that I went to he talked and talked about how great Elevation was, how generous Elevation was.
I have been a christian for well over 20 yrs. and I have never recalled any of my former pastors talking nearly every Sunday about how much they do for the community.
Humility goes a long way and while he may, in fact, be earnest it just looks bad to build so lavishly, to have a bodyguard and live like a rockstar.
Jesus took the humble attitude of a servant, riding on a donkey. He gave his life as a ransom for all who would receive it and I really wonder what Jesus thinks of pastors living like rockstars.
It is a stumbling block whether you acknowledge it or not and a very bad witness.
@ Lisa:
Have u ever wondered how a new church could afford 10 million in donations. What we have is the new jim and tammy show. All who believe and suppor this crook gets whats coming to them.. bet u dumbasses support the obamacare too
Francis Chan donates all his book profits and doesn’t take a salary from the church. @ Kristin:
E.G. wrote:
My sister, who has always barely kept her head above water financially and lives in rented condo type places or apartments often less than 800 – 600 sq ft, has let run-away kids (who she knows from work, who are having issues with their families) and, older friends who are in trouble, sleep on her couch in her den for days to weeks (she would let them sleep on a bed in a guest room, but she usually does not have a guest room/bed… she has had a guest room at a few places, but either didn’t have a bed, or it was too filled with clothing, etc to hold a person, and she is not a totally hoarder,just lives in tiny places).
JeffT wrote:
LOL 😆
Sadly true, but funny the way you put it
robyn wrote:
I am not impressed. If the take is about 12 million a year, 2.2 million goes to the community. The rest to the church and the pastors. 10 million is a big chunk of change. I, too, am disgusted. The talk of how much he does may be a quid pro quo. Shut up or I’ll pull the millions.
Kristin wrote:
One positive thing I can say about Osteen (at least I think it was Osteen, I might be confusing him with some other mega guy), once his book sold for big bucks, he stopped taking a salary from his church for a few years, since he made a mountain off the books.
Lisa wrote:
I am pretty certain the news video Deb and Dee linked to did mention at one point that Furtick claims to give money to local charity.
dee wrote:
But it did give us this wonderful parody video “Hey Haters – Max Holiday Dub” 🙂
@ Sharon Long:
I’m usually pretty good at figuring out if someone is doing a parody personality, or if they’re trolling, but I admit to being stumped at times by some of the people who post here and on other blogs. I can’t tell if Sharon Long is the real deal or playing around.
@ Sharon Long:
P.S. Please no snarking on Golden Corral please.
Their fried okra could use some work, true, but I like their all your eat buffet.
dee wrote:
Oh, okay.
robyn wrote:
Even when those liveried bodyguards blow long trumpets before you to announce to men how Humble(TM) you are.
Deb wrote:
Well, it’s obvious WHO the checks are going to…
@ Daisy:
Rick Warren stopped taking a salary or any other money from the church, due to the success of his books. I have not seen anything that suggests that he has gone back to taking a salary or other money. I assume he and spouse have benefits, like insurance, through the church.
@ Sharon Long:
wow….just wow. Sharon, I have to ask, how does that kool-aide taste?
There’s a word for people like little stevie: HERETIC.
robyn wrote:
He keeps gettin’ richer but he can’t get his picture on the cover of The Rolling Stone
@ Anon 1:
Yep, that’s a pretty good word to describe them.
@ Alan:
She is being funny. I promise that it is a parody.
@ JeffT: I think he lost points with the Hey Haters video. He totally lost the cool factor.
#4 on the Newyork times best selling list. @ Janey:
Anonymous wrote:
But it’s a model that more and more Evangelical churches seem to be adopting.
@ dee:
Thanks Dee. My apologies.
@ NC Now:
Sadly, what you wrote is absolutely correct.
NC Now wrote:
Ever heard the phrase “Follow the Money”?
@ Lisa:
I have read Steven Furtick’s book. It says absolutely nothing that has not been said a million times in similar books. I have attended his services which I call,performances. He is a fraud. If there is such a thing as the anti-Christ, it is this type of church.
Thank you for writing this people focus on the negative instead of what he is doing for so many.@ Lisa:
@ NC Now: Instead of doing your own math look up what it really cost. It’s 1.3 million.
AJ wrote:
That was convincing.
AJ wrote:
ROFL-we are not that stupid!
Tom wrote:
Almost like 50 Shades of Gray.
Headless Unicorn Guy wrote:
🙂
@ Daisy: My favorite.
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I guess i am entering into an already heated dispute regarding Steven Furtick and his home, but I would like to make a few points. The board is not made up of “members” so it is not biased as to what the “members” say anything should be, rates, etc. I have attended the church for over a year now and I had some concerns, none regarding finances. I also know that I had to see that I was attending a church to hear the Word of God, not see man. Steven Furtick is for the most part, based out of one specific church, and that is okay, as HE is not the reason I go. I am a senior at Liberty University and have learned a great deal about interpersonal relationships that should be established through the church and have honestly felt there was not anything like that at Elevation, but then I seen…I was there for God, not Furtick. Furtick speaks the words of truth, or so I pray he does. I know that he is doing what he can to reach as many people that are far from God so they can be introduced to God. It is not Furtick’s job or position to make life better for other people on an individual basis, as that is their job. I do not intend on feeding into anyone’s negative comments becuase, as I have mentioned earlier, I also question some things, but I will say, Steven Furtick is no different than the next man, he is no better. He is here to do a job God sent him to do, and he does well. He speaks words of encouragement and faith to help people grow in their relationship with God. He does not make demands and I have never been to a service where they push tithing. They have always sent the container around, or laid it at the door, usually in the dark, as what you are able to give is between you and God, not him or the church. Elevation has made drastic changes and affected Charlotte and the surrounding area in a massive way by giving back, teaching Jesus’ humble ways. I do want to point out that why does all the concerns and worry come about when it involves a church, any church, and the preacher? Why are we not boycotting the homes of stars football players, Bank of America leaders, in their yards, posting pics of their homes, yet when it is a man of God, we do? It is literatly just a question, I do not need a huge amount of discussion, but think about it…there are so many other people whom use their funds from tax payers and no one is hoovering over their home, using it against them..or their “members”. Just saying that things should be right one way and the other, if we make a point to stir the pot when it concerns a church, we should do the same when we sit and watch men chase a ball on a field and make loits of money. Believe it or not, some of the comments that come from people, are the same ones that have gone to Elevation, and really know what it is about. All have a great day and is it really worth disputing? I mean, a follower of Furtick, as they are being called, will continue to be that way, no matter what anyone says. I am not a follower of Furtick, although I do attend Elevation, I am a follower of God. I have only seen Furtick once and that was for a few minutes when he came into the campus. This shows me…we do not have to have him there in person because he is not the reason we are there. Thanks guys!
A side note, I am a single mom with 5 kids that would love to have the better nicer things in life, yet I work hard and educate myself in order to have those things one day. Furtick did the same thing. He was educated and wrote books, which made him money, and he started a church for people such as myself, tattooed, scarred, divorced, and so on, without anyone making judgements.
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Lisa wrote:
Name one person that goes in front of a crowd & tells them that he is a scammer & wants everyone to give their money to him so that he never has to work hard?
Name one person that stands before a congregation & states that he is there to request that the weak & gullible follow what he says.
Now, name all those people that stated they were there for the good of the people & that everyone else was the problem?
Charles Manson, Jim Jones, Obama.
You people are just as stupid as the followers of these losers that are history.
Lisa wrote:
The reporter did begin his report talking about the money that Elevation has given to charity. The sad thing is that Furtick probably pockets more than all the charities put together, based on the percentages they spend on charity (12%) vs. staff (28%). And they spend even more on “production.” Some of Furtick’s compensation is probably buried there too, as he reportedly is set up as an LLC which bills the church for every sermon, appearance, trip, etc.
Positive wrote:
Athletes and bankers are typically not trusted with the hearts and minds of others. They don’t claim the authority to speak for God, or to mediate between others and God, or to interpret what the Bible says beyond question. There are pastors and so-called spiritual leaders who do. And in the past (and even the present) too many of these “men of God” have used their authority to deceive their congregants and enrich themselves in the name of religion. The sense of betrayal caused by such a breach of trust can be devastating, and is a blot on the name of Christ.
There is good reason to be especially wary of anything that looks like inurement. A preacher can do more good — and potentially more harm — to a human heart and mind than any sports star.
Positive also wrote:
He doesn’t make such demands? Then what do you call this message, pray tell?
http://vimeo.com/54065109
Me wrote:
Citizen Robespierre, Comrade Lenin, Il Duce, Comrade Stalin, der Fuehrer, Chairman Mao, Comrade Pol Pot…
And Ayatollah Khomeini, Mullah Omar, and cult leaders du jour for direct justification by Divine Right/God’s Will…
(At least Ayn Rand made no secret that her ideology was Utter Selfishness, NOT the common good or divine fiat; but she still concluded that Others — “moochers and takers”, never herself — were the problem.)
Serving Kids in Japan wrote:
Probably “I never said the exact words ‘I make this demand’.”
Semantic word games, like “It all depends on what the meaning of ‘is’ is.”
(Which actually makes sense in a lawyer’s context — Law is a world of exact definitions.)
Or the following exchange from South Park:
KYLE: But isn’t that Fascism?
KYLE’S DAD: No it isn’t, son. Because we don’t call it ‘Fascism’. Do you understand?
KYLE: Do you?
dee wrote:
And Twilight (sparkle sparkle) before that.
And L Ron Hubbard’s stuff before that.
Daisy wrote:
That’s because in an Age of Extremes like today, as far-out and crazy as you get for parody, there’s some True Believer out there twice as far-out, twice as crazy, and DEAD SERIOUS.
How can you say this when people are losing their jobs, insurance and homes. This makes people who could possibly be saved not want to step into a church. I am a Christian attend church weekly. I would be beyond disgusted if our pastor lived this way while others can’t even afford groceries. Wake up or keep paying for his lavish lifestyle. @ Lisa:
If he’s not ashamed and God provided this house for him, why do all the purchasing and work under a name other than Steven Furtick?
Biff
Welcome to TWW . That was a great comment.
The OP title,
“Steven Furtick’s House Bigger Than Wealthiest Family in North Carolina!”
I listened to the Rosebrough podcast the other day about Furtick’s mansion (I think it was this one), and Rosebrough rattled off the names of several celebrities and the homes they lived in and the sq footage of their homes, for comparison sake. Furtick’s homes was still the largest!
The only name I remember off his list was movie actor Harrison Ford (who played Indiana Jones, Han Solo, among many other characters). I think Rosebrough said Ford’s home is like 14,000 sq ft, or 12. Whatever it was, Furtick’s is larger than Ford’s.
Though I agree with you that the house is extravagant, I disagree that it’s the largest. Why hasn’t anyone mention John Edwards?
http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=3848
@ Shato: The main house is 10,400 square feet and has two garages. Now, if you want to start on the outbuildings, it does add more square feet. But this post is talking about the main house. And that is how the Charlotte Journal judged it.
Who knows what the Furticks might add after the hoopla winds down?
@ dee: Also, they needed to have separate buildings after the scandal with Rielle. John ended up living in another building while Elizabeth stayed in the main house.
Shato
However, the more I think about it, it does appear that there are similarities between some mega church pastors and certain attorneys like John Edwards. They know how to game the system and get what they want.
I thought Furtick’s was 8000 heated sq feet and Edwards was 10K. Either way, I am with you guys….people who are gaining their money BECAUSE of their reputation as a pastor should not be building such an extravagant house. Shouldn’t a pastor be above reproach? If people are upset by it the best reaction would be to apologize and sell the darn thing. It’s hard to fathom how a Christian leader can justify that in his mind.
That would assume he can admit he was wrong to be so excessive. Not gonna happen. @ Seneca:
Sharon Long wrote:
Please do not harm the name of Pastor by calling him that. He is an parasite, plain and simple.
Positive
We are boycotting him because if an NFL player signs a contract, it’s public knowledge. With business execs, you can get this information. AND THEY PUT THE DEEDS TO THEIR HOUSES IN THEIR NAMES. But they are not representing themselves as the speaker for someone who lived with the poor and supported homeless people while collecting a nicer salary than many of the individuals in business or the NFL. The issue is that he represents himself as a man of God. A man, who according to almost the entire Bible, should not have this type of money, rather should donate almost all of it to the poor and homeless, something Jesus told the Pharisees to do.
Also, I would tell you to read Martin Luther’s 95 Theses. His issues with the Catholic church in 1521 are the same issues that people have with Furtick. He is exploiting people for his own wealth and monetary gain, but claiming it is in the name of something “good and holy.” It is not good and it is not holy. It is corrupt and deceitful. Unfortunately, even after all of this, he will continue making money because there are enough dumb people in this country that will turn a blind eye.
I know everyone is entitled to their opinion and I am probably not going to bring mass change but just for a second look at what you are saying and doing on this website 🙂 It’s exactly actions like this that are causing a decline of the church in Western culture. The world is divisive enough without current and ex-Christians pulling it down from the inside. The world can see there is no unity because we are behaving just like them so they don’t want any part of it.
If we claim to have Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we should test the word preached to us but sites like this are part of the problem not the solution. Any body can sit behind a computer and criticise, it doesn’t take much faith to tear people down. I would be sooooooooooooooo much more impressed if any of you were studying the word and sharing it the way you believe God is ministering to you, the way you obviously believe these people are lacking. Instead of complaining, be the change you believe God is calling you to be.
@ Alice: Alice wrote:
Well, I do have to say that you are rather naive in your outlook. We are not the ones who are getting rich on the church. Your pastor is the one who chose to show the world what is important to him-the biggest house in North Carolina. Just like Jesus, right? We are the change that God is calling us to be. We are telling the truth about the people who use the faith to get rich and to live excessive lifestyles. The world sees it and sees people like yourself pretending that everything is just peachy. Do you really think the world is impressed with us keeping our mouths shut while charlatans present a warped view of the faith? They laugh at us as we pretend we are soooooooooooooo much better than everyone else. We are presenting the truth here on this blog. We are Christians who say that we have screwed up pastors and churches. We point to a real faith, not a warped faith that is tied up in flashy services, gimmicky worship and rich pastors. Furtick is being laughed at by most of the world. He, and his cohorts, is the reason why people run from the faith. Have you seen the latest stats on the the view of pastors in this country? How do you know what we are doing? Have you looked at the year Bible reading plan we have, the daily Scripture tweets we send out or the weekly EChurch that brings in quite a few worshippers? In fact, let me make a suggestion to you. Why don't you study the word? You told me to do so for it is tit for tat. Go out and bring in people who have left the church due to people like Furtick. There is plenty lacking in your understanding if this comment is any indication. But, I'll let you figure out what that is. Good night!
Alice wrote:
Wrong.
It’s the wolves in sheep’s clothing that have come in an taken over churches and turn them into places of business and abuse.
This blog is just shining the light of truth on what is already destroying the western culture church.