Jesse Duplantis, a well-known televangelist, made headlines across the USA last week when he told followers he is seeking donations for a private jet that costs $54 million (about Shs 204 billion.)
In a video clip he posted on Twitter, Pastor Duplantis said, “I really believe that if Jesus was physically on the Earth today he wouldn’t be riding a donkey. Think about that for a minute. He’d be in an airplane preaching the gospel all over the world.”
He also said that God told him, “I didn’t ask you to pay for it. I asked you to believe for it.”
Duplantis explained his 40-year-old ministry has owned three private jets in the past.
“You know I’ve owned three different jets in my life and used them and used them and just burning them up for the Lord,” he said in the video.
Watch “this Week with Jesse” as Jesse shows the importance of using aviation as an amazing tool for evangelizing the world! Tune in each Monday at https://t.co/hnG6BhPAvH or on our JDM App. Click to watch https://t.co/PLfSYt2A3U pic.twitter.com/sAvKskmokO
— Jesse Duplantis (@jesse_duplantis) May 21, 2018
Duplantis explained his reasoning for wanting to purchase the new jet.
He said he could fly cheaper because he has his own fuel farm and he can avoid refueling stops. By flying in the new plane, Duplantis says it will save money and not pay for “those exorbitant prices with jet fuel all over the world.”
The latest, gospel music legend Kirk Franklin is sounding off on the controversy. In an Instagram post, he explained why it’s so important that ministry leaders be held accountable for dangerous teachings.
He wrote this message next to an image of Duplantis:
“This is Jessie Duplantis. A televangelist who has four planes, and is now telling us that “Jesus” wants us to buy him another one. I’m posting this because now that we see popular culture stand up to the injustices in mainstream society, I believe the church should do the same for its own as well,”
“We should take the lead when there is an abuse of power that affects our message to the masses; our silence can be as loud as the bigotry and racism we see in the public square. Many of these “ministries” built their wealth on the backs of poor rural minorities that put their trust in the hands of “god’s shepherds” only to see the prosperity benefit those doing the preaching.
“Again, there are great Christian leaders, and there is nothing wrong with having a plane… but if the burden falls on the less fortunate and greed is the check written by those drowning in socio-economic rivers of systemic disparities, GOD is not flying that plane,” Franklin wrote.
By UG Christian News Correspondent.
