Biblical Bling
Posted on August 6th, 2008 by The Reformer into the Christian Pop Culture categoryHere's a book excerpt "Biblical Bling" from Forbes.com. For those of you who want the cliff notes, it is basically about the history of fund-raising in mainstream American churches, pioneered by Jerry Falwell back in the 1970s. It examines the book "Falwell Inc.: Inside a Religious, Political, Educational and Business Empire." Some highlights:
"Hundreds of millions of dollars poured into the ministries of Bible Belt televangelists in the 1970s-80s. But these fortunes would never have materialized without a secular weapon from the North–a Massachusetts marketing outfit begun by a group of twenty-something Harvard business school grads called Epsilon Data Management. Falwell began using the company in 1976; he was the first televangelist to sign up. When his contributions exploded, other preachers like Pat Robertson, Jim Bakker, Oral Roberts and Rex Humbard contracted with Epsilon and made a pile, too.
One of the boldest campaigns Epsilon conducted for Falwell was the attempt to raise $5 million by "Miracle Day"–September 24, 1978…Epsilon's direct mailings went into overdrive, offering a new premium: 'Faith Deeds.' These were personalized certificates resembling land deeds sent to donors who contributed $100 or more to 'purchase' a piece of the mountain. Falwell could not print them fast enough. By Sept. 24 the campaign had produced not $5 million, but $7 million. Falwell was astounded–it was more money than he had raised from contributors during the entire previous year.
Besides Epsilon, Falwell had the formidable talent of Jerry Huntsinger. A former minister who [took] advertising concepts from the for-profit world and [applied] them to nonprofit religious ventures. He considered every fund-raising letter a short story…a problem that seems insurmountable, a sympathetic character that is a victim of the problem, complications and obstacles, [and] a resolution. He encouraged Falwell to focus on wedge issues in his mailings, excoriating the feminist movement and attacking homosexual rights, often equating both with the dangers of communism. As one letter stated: 'Dear Friend: Homosexuals are on the march in this country. Homosexuals do not reproduce, they recruit, and many of them are after my children and your children….This is one major reason why we must keep "The Old Time Gospel Hour" alive…So don't delay. Let me hear from you immediately. I will be anxiously awaiting your reply."
No matter what you think of this man, it's pretty amazing how he was able to manipulate so many people into giving their money. To me its ironic that the same people who preach so strongly against worldly ties, are the first in line to partake of its influences when it comes to money. With the amount of idiots out there willing to write checks in the name of stopping gays and abortion we here at CBC have a very high mountain to climb. Maybe it's time for us to start fund-raising too? I wonder what our marketing campaign should be?
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August 6th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Illiminate the guess work out of seed faith giving! For a monthly fee of X amount we will show you where, or more importantly, where not to put your money!
August 6th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Suggestion: You could say, in your fund-raising letter, that many folks in Ameria believe that the End is near, that Jesus said (in Luke17) that one of two big Endtime “signs” that His return is near is the sign of Lot (that is, the idealogical ancestors of GBLT persons). So you could add that since it is so near, GBLT persons have little time left and therefore should give to their fund-raising goals while they still can! Pretty good idea, huh? Flossie
August 6th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
When I worked for BT Publishing in the late ’80’s, my boss told me that churches get into trouble when they choose to utilize leaders who were more businessmen than Shepherding/Pastoral types. It wasn’t too long after this that FD took over the church and eventually hired a marketing guru as his right-hand man and all the wonderful pastors we had started leaving left & right…
It’s sad to see whats happened at BT/CBC but it’s nothing compared to the absolute greed of Falwell, Baker, and the like…Makes me sick thinking about all that.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:03 am
It’s sad to see whats happened at BT/CBC but it’s nothing compared to the absolute greed of Falwell, Baker, and the like…Makes me sick thinking about all that.
How do you know that it is nothing compared to the greed of Falwell, Baker, and the like? They are all probably just skimming a percentage off the top for themselves. Some just have more to skim than others.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I’m sorry, I may be a little behind here, but I must’ve missed the part in the gospel that talked about advertising campaigns and raising as much money as possible to resist what again..? Oh, right, feminists and homosexuals.
What about money to help the poor?
Just skimming a percentage off the top? How much does one man need?
August 7th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I guess the point I was trying to make is that those ministries mentioned above probably are giving to the poor and contributing a large portion of their ministries to help those in need.
I know that the percentages they are skimming off the top are ridiculous. I agree with all of that.
I think they get away with it because they think they ARE doing so much for the poor that they somehow justify what they take for themselves. By saying they don’t help the poor AT All and take EVERYTHING for themselves seems to destroy the credibility to what is being said.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Here’s a post about Victoria Osteen, wife of Joel Osteen being sued for attacking a flight attendant. The flight attendant is suing for damages, which includes a loss of faith.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/07/osteen.wife.trial.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
August 8th, 2008 at 7:34 am
According to court documents, Brown says that she suffers from anxiety and hemorrhoids because of the incident involving Victoria Osteen
That was a pretty amazing article. If Victoria Olsteen is guilty she should take responsibility and ask forgiveness for what she has done.
They might have a hard time proving the hemorrhoids were caused from her attack though! ha ha. I might have left that part out and just stuck to the anxiety.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Then again there might be another side to the story. Who knows?
August 8th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Nina said:
August 8th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Then again there might be another side to the story. Who knows?
There are always two sides to every story. Believing every word the media has to stay is another problem.
The story does remind me of the time my sister got married and a local MFI celebrity pastor was officiating. My son was ushering and was standing near a door redirecting people to use another one because the wedding party was going to be coming in that one. When the pastor and his wife approached the door and my son redirected them to the other one the pastors wife said, ” I don’t go in the back door for anyone!” and pushed her way through.
August 9th, 2008 at 6:25 am
Please tell me you are joking. I’ve heard and seen a lot of bad stuff (as well as good) in my years at as MFI-related church, but never anything this blatantly egotistical, elitist and sick as this.
August 9th, 2008 at 8:13 am
When the pastor and his wife approached the door and my son redirected them to the other one the pastors wife said, ” I don’t go in the back door for anyone!” and pushed her way through.
Please tell me you are joking. I’ve heard and seen a lot of bad stuff (as well as good) in my years at as MFI-related church, but never anything this blatantly egotistical, elitist and sick as this.
I’m not joking. True Story.