Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Pastor Says His $1.7M Home "Comes from God;" Steven Furtick Being Investigated for Rel. Fraud

Pastor Steven Furtick apologized to his congregation Sunday (October 27) for any uncomfortable conversations they may have had regarding his 16,000-square-foot home and questions about his salary -- but he did not apologize for building such an expensive and extravagant home -- the Charisma News website reports today (October 29, 2013).

"My wife and I made a decision, and we built a house," the founder and pastor of the 12,000-member Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C. said at a service in Blakeney, N.C. He added, "It's a big house, and it's a beautiful house, and we thank God for it... We understand everything we have comes from God."

Furtick was open about the house, which he described as 8,400 square feet of heated living area, with the rest consisting of basement, attic, garage, and porch space. Critics say the $1.7 million home does not reflect the heart of a true servant.

"The pastor should be the servant of his people. He should be the one that is most transparent," said Ole Anthony of the Trinity Foundation -- a nonprofit organization that monitors and investigates religious fraud -- in an investigative report from NBC Charlotte. Anthony added, "It saddens me to see what the church is becoming."

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