I was initially not going to post this article since we had reason to believe that the next fundraiser would be noticeably different from the way in which TMC usually went about soliciting donations, and so, with bated breath, we waited. However, upon watching several segments of "The Power of Partnership" fundraising broadcast, aired April 1 - 5, 2008, our hopes were dashed. Aside from some staff interviews, most of the broadcast revolved around the same message, "Partner with the Miracle Channel and you are partnering with God who will bless you in return." Try as they may, it seems TMC cannot restrain nor purge itself of it's morally repugnant, unbiblical and unconventional means of soliciting operational funding from public viewers. Adding more "stuff" to the broadcast doesn't make the egregious statements of the hosts go away. Producers need to pay attention to what is being said by the hosts!!

Before getting into the specifics of all the problematic statements and tactics used to reap donations during the "Fresh Oil New Wine" broadcast, I have to iterate that the very idea of asking for money to get the Gospel into the homes of both saved and lost alike is unbiblical. Put simply, fundraising for the preaching of the Gospel is not part of the Gospel. It's man's idea not God's. Unlike the way God commanded His people to support the Levitical priesthood and Temple, never did the preaching the New Testament Gospel ask, let alone require, saints to financially support it. There is not a shred of evidence within the New Testament in support of this carnal practice, though it's proponents would have you believe it is endorsed by God Himself. Nowhere do we read that money was collected from followers of Christ except when offerings were taken for the impoverished Christians in Jerusalem. The true purpose of New Testament giving WAS and still IS to promote economic equality among the saints. Apparently today this is no longer a priority within churchianity as there are as many varying economic castes within Christendom as there are within the secular world. As long as there are rich Christians and poor Christians (especially those who are dying needlessly everyday of malnutrition or easily curable disease), how can anyone justify collecting money for the purpose of "taking it to the next level" (whatever that means) when the church here in Canada is already fat and overflowing? Do you honestly think that God is going to bless you with even more wealth and power when you haven't been faithful to care for the least of these? DO YOU? Besides, what good is a television signal going into an impoverished nation where the majority can't even afford food or housing, let alone a television to watch "Christian" programming?

Furthermore, after getting the Pharisees to admit that it was not God's face or inscription on the coin, Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's", indicating that man-made currency doesn't even belong to God, but to the reigning "King" or government from whence it came! So how is it even possible to "give money unto God" or to "partner" with God by giving some "ministry" your money? It is not, and nowhere in any of the New Testament teaching or instruction is there even a hint of the concept of "giving to build the church" or "giving to get the Gospel preached" or giving to enlarge His Kingdom. That's an idea instigated by an apostate clergy A LONG TIME AGO. Anyone have the address of The Bank of God?

Mankind, in it's own wisdom, has always tried to go about the Father's business, but the absurd tenets and opinions of corporate Christianity in this day have reached a pinnacle, giving skeptics more reason than ever to question the validity and even the sanity of the Christian faith. While believers continue to exercise blind faith in their leaders apart from God, unbelievers point out the hypocrisy of modern Christianity and it's inconsistency with the very scriptures it is founded upon. Faith and worship, holiness and sanctification have been abandoned for the showbiz entertainment style or the felt needs movement via the great marketing machine. (Contrary to Jesus' teachings, the modern concept of the "great harvest of souls" stresses QUANTITY rather than QUALITY to fill the Kingdom of God. The more the merrier, right? Not according to the Gospels!) But, if the New Testament is the blueprint for how we are to live, then it is plausible to conclude that building up mega ministries, whether they be television stations, houses of worship or healing centers that have been built by fundraising or even tithing, amounts to nothing in God's eyes. Like man-made currency, they have been built by man. They might as well be towers of Babel - the work of man within a loose definition of Christianity, not commissioned by God; a pile of rubble in the end. Seems we haven't learned a thing since Babel.

Many Christians are unable to comprehend how the will of God can actually be done on earth without the church asking for money. Many even go as far as to believe that the forces of evil in the spiritual realm will only be conquered once the church has dominion in the physical realm on earth. But Jesus never said that every church would be "His" church. Somehow the whole concept of the sovereignty of God has been lost and the heavenly power that sustains His Kingdom, abandoned for earthly power. Money makes the world go 'round, but let me ask, is money indispensable in the Kingdom of God also? If so, then the god of the church must be a weak god because he is just as dependent on the stuff as the rest of the world is! It is sad to think that somewhere along the line we have given up on allowing God to demonstrate His power and instead try to demonstrate it for Him. Our recourse has been to appeal to other mere mortals instead of God Himself for provision. But then again, whose kingdom is being built by all of this fundraising anyway? Ask yourself this and maybe even do a bible study on it: "Does God provide the building materials for something that He is not the architect of in the first place?" Consider the children of Israel under Pharoah's rule, where God actually removed the building material in order to make it that much harder for them to accomplish the task at hand. You'd think that based on today's preaching about a "loving" God, it would have been the opposite. Today's preachers would have you believe that God will supply the bricks already made for use just to make it easier on His children! Let's hear the hosts of the fundraiser explain this one away!

One more thing I must state is that all the problems with TMC's fundraising, theologically and ethically, will likely only be apparent to those who haven't been seduced by the eloquent speech of self appointed men and women who overlook certain biblical injunctions while twisting others shamelessly in order to convince the people that they have been commissioned by God to do His will in the earth. As these charlatans continue to milk Christianity for all it's worth, ironically they are really telling the world that their god, their Jesus, needs money to get the job done just like every other institution on earth. These same ones tell others to take the leap of faith while they remain firmly seated IN the boat. But so many followers cannot see the forest for the trees. Since coming to Christ, most get immersed in the doctrine that best suits their comfort zone, or by accident of birth inherit the doctrines of their parents and that's all they've known. They just believe it is so because the holy anointed men and women tell them it is so and they never dare question what they have been taught to see if it is true. I'll bet that most who call themselves Christian are ignorant of 90% of what is contained in the bible. Most simply rely on a few key passages to live by and even the meaning of those are taken out of context, thanks to our learned men of God.

Now on with the show - the motivation speeches, the pep rally and the cheerleaders, where if I didn't know better myself, I would be inclined to SOW A BIG SEED to get all the stuff they were saying I could get for my "faithful" donation to the God-endorsed television station! Here's what viewers were told they would receive for partnering at different levels (amounts of money).Throughout the week different numbers or amounts for donations were announced, supposedly by the leading of the Holy Spirit, each correlating with a different type of divine anointing that people could connect with or tap into when they called in to pledge a particular amount.

Take note that time and time again it was emphasized throughout the broadcast that the gift you give is a gift to "God" and always a "step of faith" pleasing to Him!

Contrary to the Miracle Channel's own Internal Fundraising Policy, which states, "iv) Fund raising appeals must not create unrealistic donor expectations of what a donor's gift will actually accomplish within the limits of the organization's ministry. In addition, fund raising appeals must be in accordance with the religious teachings of scripture* and as such may not predict divine consequences of not responding, nor exaggerate positive results to an appeal for funds. While the Miracle Channel recognizes the scriptual basis for giving and receiving, and teaches this as a religious principle, it will require on-air hosts and guests to refrain from speaking of the specific tangible benefits a donor can receive." and "xi) Statements given to encourage donations should not link the size of the donation to the size of the blessing or benefit.", according to the hosts, the wild ox, young wild ox and honor anointings that will rest upon viewers who pledge, are no longer exclusively "spiritual". Apparently, say the hosts, these anointings are going to change the landscape in a tangible way that will be observed by all. In stating this, the hosts have outright admitted that the divine blessings partners receive when they give to TMC are not spiritual in nature only and the size of the donation is directly proportionate to the specific tangible benefits a donor can expect to receive.

Oh, but wait, there is a disclaimer that I heard once or twice during the week long broadcast - you can't actually buy these anointings with your donation, you can only connect with it or attach yourself to it by exercising your faith and calling in to give money. That's how they try to get off the hook. But even though they have denied selling blessings or making merchandise out of people, there is obviously a monetary transaction which is promoted as follows: Giving to the Miracle Channel = Giving to God = God's anointing, blessing and favor. So what they are saying is that "godliness IS a means of gain" (1Tim 6:5)!

Giving $921 got you tapped into or attached to a real "wild ox" anointing that came with all this and more: (only if you pay it all within one year):
- instantly terminated enemies
- weapons, arms
- release from oppression, your muzzle will be removed,
- breakthroughs in your church, a tangible difference, you will get "everything", you will have your own "herd",
- God's attention
- ability to break free
- the position to receive
- power
- deliverance from bankruptcy
- life transformation
- burdens lifted
- promotion tomorrow
- got you into the right kind of relationships that will help you along.
- giving $921 X 2 got you a double portion of the above.
By the way, according to Fred Bennett, "you need this anointing" and you "just need to trust the Holy Spirit". Somehow it seems you can never exercise "trust" in the Holy Spirit without having it cost you something financially...hmmm.

Getting in on the wild ox anointing was presented with such importance and urgency that Val Bennett implored those who could not afford it, but wanted to get in on this, to sell some of their assets. (I felt inspired to sell my television.) What could be so important about giving to the station that a host would attempt to motivate viewers with little disposable cash, to sell their possessions? People who do not have money to give just plain should not give! So why would TMC want to put a burden on the poor? What's in it for the poor? Ahhh....the urgency is not to help keep the station operating, but to receive the "WILD OX ANOINTING" when they step out in faith with their offering! Of course! Just like all those people in Brisbain, Australia recently gave Benny Hinn their gold watches and wedding rings when they had nothing else to give so they could get healed or set free or receive the anointing that is on Benny! (By the way, Benny left Australia with a cool $800, 000 for a day's work. Not bad for a white collar criminal who jets from place to place in the lap of luxury just so he can continue robbing the desperate to load his pockets.)

After 134 - $921 pledges later, Faisal decided that he would liquidate the "wild ox" anointing at a blowout sale price of $296! (I wonder if any of those $921 donors considered changing their pledges to the bargain price of $296 after the "young wild ox" anointing was announced?)

A $480 offering to the "God of promotion" got you:
- (you guessed it) promotion tomorrow or this year

$718 is what to give if you wanted to "honor" God or someone else. How absurd. According to Faisal, without giving honor, there's no promotion. Karl Lewis said that honor is a condition of promotion. When you honor someone, God will deal with them and God will honor you. A $718 gift would allow you to "get in on this" honor/promotion thing. Incidentally, according to our hosts, "this is no longer a promise, this is a guarantee!" But wait! If you acted immediately the honor anointing also included:
-pushing back poverty
-reconciliation
-women releasing their husbands into the hand of God
-husbands will be saved
-broken curses
-guaranteed promotion with honor
-prosperity and blessing
-people will envy you
-destiny will be fulfilled
-released healing
-unlock, redig and bring "wells" back to life
-unlock generational wealth
-partake in joy
-new wine
-life
-open heavens
-by doubling your pledge of $718, you received "double honor".

I'm not sure about you, but when I truly honor someone, I don't associate it with giving money to some ministry. Does that seem a little twisted to you? I honor my parents by speaking well of them, visiting them, respecting them, upholding them, forgiving them, etc. These are acts that can only come from the heart. It is so perverted to take something beautiful and pollute it by assigning a monetary value to it in any way. How foolish for disciples of Jesus to talk this way. Children of God must honor Him with their hearts and everything they do should be a reflection of that, including being wise with who they're giving they're money to!


Furthermore, giving any gift is giving to the Lord and will get you:
-set free
-unlocking something
-every step will be a step of increase - so get ready
-unlimited supply

For $837 you could have the "Drunken Warrior" anointing which includes:
-being more than a conquerer.
-intoxication of God's love

Here's a better idea for all you true givers: if you like the station's programs, just give them your money for that simple reason. Or, if you want to earn brownie points with God, then skip the middle man (TMC), and if you can find a way, give your cheque or credit card directly to God. But here's my (and, incidentally, Jesus') best advice yet - share what you have with those who do not have. What a novel idea! Imagine if every church and ministry in the world, in one accord, would sell off it's assets (as the people did in Acts) and give it to the needy in the world to relieve the suffering and desperation. And then instead of tithing to a church each week and paying some guy to tell them what they want to hear or giving their money to the televangelists, they would give all that money to the starving. Imagine....what a testimony of Jesus to the world! What an expression of LOVE!... Now snap out of it! Corporate Christianity, run by vestment clad businessmen, is way too wealthy and way too dependent on that wealth to just give it away for Heaven's sake! As Kenneth Copeland stated concerning an investigation into his ministry's handling of finances, "Over my dead body!" (see "Over my dead body" clip located here: http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/copelandclips )

As well during the broadcasts, there was a lot of confusion regarding hearing God's voice for what or even if to give money during the Miracle Channel broadcast. Many times throughout the broadcast hosts would say things like, "God is speaking to you through us," "God is telling you these things," "God will never tell you to do something that will hurt you," "Don't talk yourself out of it," "God is telling you to double your giving," "If you give during the time of the fundraising broadcast, which is His time, you are obeying the Lord". But after four whole days of promising great increase for peoples' "investments", on the fifth day (Friday) it was as if Faisal Malick had an epiphany. He went into a big spiel about people needing to hear God for themselves instead of being manipulated by men, and how he shouldn't even have to be on the set trying to raise money for Christian TV. He talked about not giving out of necessity and not to expect your whole world to change just because you gave one gift. He stated that if Kingdom media doesn't change anything, it's all over, implying that if it fails to elicit societal change, then it's dead and lifeless and of no use to God. He actually started to make some sense here and I sensed he wanted to say more to the "bless me club" of Christians. So it seems that Faisal HAS SOME TRUTH and he may be struggling within his own conscience about what he has to do to keep his job and more importantly, the station, afloat. But I may be completely wrong and he may be completely deluded. I just found it very confusing that viewers were told that the hosts are God's conduit or facilitator to get His message and anointing to the people as they gave and then in the next breath viewers were told they needed to hear God's voice for themselves and not be manipulated or coerced by what they hear man say about whether to give money and if so, how much.

But what happened next is best described using this biblical illustration - "the dog returns to it's vomit." Val Bennett pipes up as though to intentionally cancel out all of Faisal's "let's get real and honest about what we've become" stuff and declares, "You need to sow a BIG seed! Get on the phone now! I promise, watch God open the heavens!" Well, after all, they're not getting paid to call people to repentance (no money in that) - they're getting paid the big bucks to ring those phones! An' a back to the begging we go!

It would be remiss of me not to mention the "Drunken Warrior" anointing the hosts insensitively flaunted for potential donors to connect with. It was total disregard for what had happened on a First Nations reservation earlier that week, when two small children froze to death because of their father's alchoholic intoxication. After TMC received my letter asking them to stop, there was no on air apology for those who had been offended by the "drunken warrior" episode. Rather, Faisal placed the blame on those who may have misinterpreted what they meant by "drunken warrior". He quickly forgot his words admonishing pastors and leaders to be humble and admit when they are wrong, for he could not practice what he preached on air before thousands of viewers, and invalidated his own prior words. But I suppose that to admit they were wrong to do this, would be admitting that they really were not hearing from the Holy Spirit in calling saints to become drunken warriors, which may cause many to potentially question if any of what they said was of God. (Frankly, I don't think most people stop to think that much.) From then on they used the term, "holy" drunken warrior, as though somehow the 'holy' made it all better. Anyway, the whole "drunken warrior" thing was truly distasteful and shameful to anything Christian. Perhaps if these ministers, instead of wooing and courting ("ministering" to) the people who do have money, identified with the struggles of the common people more, you know, the ones whose lives are less than desirable, they might actually have some credibility.

Speaking of which, doesn't it seem strange how, during a fundraiser when they are prophesying and speaking into so many people's lives, they never give a word of direct rebuke to anyone like the apostles did? Instead, the potential givers are always given "honor". The hosts give lots of holy encouragement directly to individuals who are watching with words of knowledge or some revelation, but never rebuking words of knowledge. All they ever tell people is how God wants them to have more, to have breakthroughs, to be happier and prosperous, to be involved in what God is doing in this day. Why do you suppose, if they are speaking words from the Holy Spirit, no one ever gets a rebuke or tongue lashing as many openly did in the New Testament? The reason true prophets of God are despised is because they do not necessarily say what the people want to hear. They say what the people NEED to hear, regardless of the consequences! Since God chastens those He loves, is TMC sending the message that all the partners are holy and righteous just the way they are? Is everyone watching, sanctified and free from sin and iniquity? I really have to question if these hosts are truly speaking words from God or if they're just making this stuff up in their heads. Maybe they've been doing this charade for so long, they really do believe the Holy Spirit is giving them prophetic words! But believing something doesn't make it real. Their behavior is so far off track from what the book says. God is not a God of indiscriminate "niceness". He is a God of mercy, grace and kindness, but He is also a God of wrath and judgment. "...fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt 10:28)

The Truth must be spoken in love, but that doesn't mean the Truth will always sound pleasant to those who need to hear it. For the follower of Christ, the ultimate purpose of Truth is to crucify the flesh, not sustain it. If these partner week hosts were truly ministering by the power of the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that took out Ananias and Sapphira, there would be a lot more "tough love". Words that carry power, as opposed to words that carry "niceness", pierce the hearts of those listening and expose the truth about the sin that God wants them to deal with. If God WERE on the set, there'd be a whole lot'a shakin' goin' on! The God I read about in the bible is serious and confrontational about the condition of the heart. He is holy and expects nothing less of His children out there in TV land. (Especially the ones who have been "born again" church-goers for decades and rather than struggle with, are quite comfortable in their repetitious sin.) Being an overcomer doesn't mean overcoming the trials and tribulations in this life. Even unbelievers have to and are able to do that. It is overcoming the attributes of the Adamic nature within your heart that can only happen by the power of the Cross. That is what Christians should be running the race to attain! Isn't this precisely what John spoke of when he stated, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin" (1John 3:9)? Isn't THAT the GOOD NEWS? That there's power in the Blood of Jesus to become holy like Him?

But then open rebuke and exposing the wickedness of the hearts of viewers wouldn't bring in a lot of dollars, would it? Every marketer knows you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar! Televangelism is no different. Not everyone would respond with credit card in hand because not everyone that names the Name of Jesus and believes that the bible is the holy word of God wants to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Not many want to go through the painful process of sanctification. The gate is narrow and few go through for good reason. There's just too much self denial, too much heart wrenching self sacrifice in being conformable to His death and in knowing the fellowship of his sufferings, stuff! Talking this way, could potentially weed out alot of donors (carnal Christians) and that wouldn't be good for a week long broadcast in which the main goal is to RAISE MONEY, after all. So rather than challenge believers and true seekers to grow in the character and nature of Christ, TMC makes it easier for them by saying in effect, "just give to us,God's earthly agent, your money and you can skip all that tough deny yourself, forsake all stuff, and fast-track to become holy and perfect like the Father!" Again, fast tracking salvation does not produce saints but merely church goers, ergo the more churchgoers, viewers, partners or what have you, the greater the financial support base.

My point - RAISING MONEY AND REAL MINISTRY DON'T MIX! EVER!! You can raise a lot of money by buttering people up and giving them false hope. Yes it does work! Many spiritually hungry or desperate people will throw money at anything if they believe it will help them touch the Divine hem. But that' s just plain exploitation of people's misfortune, their greed or their faith in God! Pretending to minister during a partner week, when all your doing is blowing kisses has nothing to do with imparting Christ to the saints and has everything to do with keeping the people in their old stinkin' condition! Your not doing anyone any favors. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Proverbs 27:6. Whose side is TMC on any way?They send the message that you, dearest Christian, can remain the same, take your wickedness to the grave and still be okay in God's eyes on judgment day. No pressure, no inner challenge to attain what Paul himself stated to the Philippians in Chapter 3 that even he admitted he had not yet attained. Read Chapter 3. And you think that because you go to church twice a week, give faithfully during collection time, do the odd good diddy, work or volunteer for The Miracle Channel Association, throw money to the Miracle Channel or Kenneth Copeland, you are following the example of Paul? You think your entitled to a divine inheritance? To use Keith Green' s analogy, "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to MacDonald's makes you a hamburger!"

In the end, no one really benefits but the Miracle Channel Association. Eventually every drug addict comes down from their high and has to go back to the dealer to get more narcotics. That's what the dealer counts on. And like the drug dealer, figuratively speaking, the Miracle Channel counts on people to come back every few months to get their fix during partner week. WHOSE fundraiser is it when the partners are led to believe THEY are the direct benefactors of their giving? (In the previous broadcasts, a caption to the effect of "Individual results may very" indicated that what your gift to the station will accomplish in your own life may vary. Huh?) Are people truly motivated to give in order to bless the station or to bless themselves by what they will get back from God for giving to the station? The hosts are excellent at pushing the right buttons to elicit the response they need from viewers. It seems the Miracle Channel has ordained itself as some kind of lucky charm that has the power to grant you your heart's desire when you simply link up with it by giving a donation during fundraising week.

And finally of course, the favorite line had to come out again, and that is that this year (like every year) is a different year, a new beginning, a new season for what God is doing! EVERY fundraiser broadcast heralds in a NEW SEASON! What a crock. Do people really think that God is continually changing, strategizing, adapting and using fresh new ways of doing things to keep up with the times and to keep us from getting bored with Him? Wake up people. It's the masterminds of capitalist, power hungry Christianity who think up the latest Holy Spirit trend in the boardroom and then convince the credulous masses of what God's doing. It's no different than the latest secular fad that gets marketed to the hilt and before you know it, everyone wants it. Even in the church, once an idea takes hold and gains popularity and acceptance, it is impervious to scrutiny. Everyone is doing it, everyone has it. Everyone believes it, so it can't be wrong!... Right? (How long do you think it will take for the "Prayer of Jabez" or "The Purpose Driven" series to be regurgitated and marketed under a new label again?)

Stay tuned for highlights from the latest fundraiser, "The Power of Partnership." I think the title of the program says it all.