Where does the money come from Joyce? An answer to a readers question

I received this comment on one of the posts recently and would like to give a few answers, Here is the comment first:
Sorry, I'm not very knowledgeable about tithing or what this Storehouse is. But what I would like to know is where all this money is coming from that enables Joyce to live so high on the hog? Rent and utilities and furnishings for a leased church suite are not cheap. She apparently has quite a luxurious home and it is not likely that the mortgage, taxes, and insurance are cheap on that either. Even if she doesn't have a car payment, she has to maintain that vehicle, buy gas for it and pay insurance on it. Not to mention clothes, food, internet, electric bills, water bills, telehone bills, cell phone bills, cable TV bills, and so forth and so on. Extremely interesting......just where is all this money coming from?

Joyce Leiphon teaches the "Money Cometh to Me Now" false gospel.   The cult like following is very real and she teaches that not only are you to give tithes (10%) of your income as well as offerings (anything above 10%) to the church, but it doesn't stop there.  You are expected to give and to give at each of the meetings.  If you miss a meeting, you are still required to give.  As I explained in my first post, money is number # 1 at Light of the World Church.  Since there is no oversight and she has complete control of the money, where that money goes is not open for discussion at "her" church.

The real income comes from the "Money Cometh to Me!" doctrine.  This is where she teaches that God will give you money if you give her money first.  It's cloaked in Christinese so it sounds like it's good thing to do.  At each meeting, I mean even at prayer meetings you were expected to give directly to her.  While I was there we were in the $100 club.  At each meeting, Monday prayer, Wed meeting, Sunday morning we would, in addtion to tithes and offerings, give Joyce Leiphon $100 personally!  Yes we did it because we thought that's what God wanted, but it was also because WE wanted something in return.  We would write on the check what we wanted from God.  Kinda like using God as an ATM machine. Simple math puts that at least $300 bucks each week from just one family.  We weren't alone in the $100 club as there was a few other families doing the same thing.   Add it up and it comes to alot money in her hands each week to do as she wills.  (What happened to God's will?)

In my first post I talked about some of the other perks Joyce Leiphon enjoys as pastor of Light of the World Church.  She even had a personal assistant emailing the church members about what gifts she wanted.  I mean does Joyce really need that $1200 Louis Vuitton purse?  A personal valet?  An offering to cover her lawn maintence? Designer dresses? Joyce Leiphon teaches this and we did all these things and more.  If you feel inclined, take a look at her church website, scroll down and see what Leroy Thompson brags about when he pulled $15 grand out of these people when he visited recently  It's the Edification sound clip.  It's all about the money!

Making money out of the Gospel of Christ is just plain wrong, yet I was deceived for 3 1/2 years doing all this crazy money game thinking I was pleasing God.  All it did was make me behind in my bills, forgo gifts to my family, and made Joyce Leiphon some money!  I had forgotten what God really wants, and it's not your money.  Do not be deceived.  Give as you are lead by God, I hope this answers your question.

Joyce Leiphon on healing, get it or it's your own fault!

I recently spoke with a Christian believer and a brother in Christ.  He called me about my blog and wanted to speak with me about a few things.  I'll call my friend Tim, as he has given me permission to write about this and to share his experience with Joyce Leiphon.

I remember Tim while my time there, he visited Light of the World Church for a few months.  He was breathing with the assistance of an oxygen tank and could tell it was difficult for him to get around.

Joyce Leiphon prides herself as a miracle worker and claims she has healed hundreds of people during the course of her ministry.  Money has always been connected to faith at this church, so if you gave more, you should expect more, and receive more.  The god of giving only gives if you give to the woman of god.  When we had "healing conventions" at Light of the World Church it would always come back to money.

At one meeting, Tim came up for prayer and Joyce went through her antics, (shouting, screaming, shaking, etc) to heal Tim and get him cured of his lung disease.  Unfortunately, as praise and worship leader I was setting the atmosphere for her god to show up and produce a miracle.  She touched a few people and they did the "falling out" thing.   When she got to Tim, nothing happened.  Tim has been a Christian for many years and believes in healing but Joyce literally pushed him down in a chair and then commanded him to prove his healing by running around the church!  After a few minutes, a very winded Tim wasn't healed and was visibly shaken after having to endure the Joyce Leiphon healing show.  Joyce said flippantly to the church, "He just doesn't get it!" and moved on.  I never gave it a thought until my recent phone call from Tim.

I continue write about what I personally saw and was a part of while at Light of the World Church.  In retrospect, I realize the lack of compassion for the people came there for help.  If you didn't get your healing or your money, you just "didn't get it".  You didn't believe enough or give enough money.  Tim never came back after that day and is currently on a lung transplant list.

Joyce Lephion on "The Midas Touch" by Kenneth Hagin Sr a message from Hell?

On one Sunday, I forgot to "sow our seed" to Joyce. This is when, we would walk up to the podium and lay our money down while she was preaching. If it was a large amount, $100 or more, she'd wave it in the air and yell out "Money Cometh to Me Now!" I got a call on Monday morning out of concern that we not miss our blessings since we were so connected to her and I was expected to show by example to give her money each meeting. I was reading a book from Word of Faith grandfather Kenneth Hagin Sr called "The Midas Touch". This was one of his last books before his passing in 2003. It was about bringing balance to the prosperity gospel. It seemed many of his followers at the time (spiritual sons?) were doing some wacky things in regard to money. He called a meeting and if you click the link you will see all the famous money preachers showed up, funny thing, Leroy Thompson was one of his spiritual sons and refused to heed the warning from his mentor. Joyce told me she was aware of this meeting and that Doc Thompson was told by God not to come. She told me to destroy that book and never read it, adding it was a book with a message from hell! She later called me and told me, that Kenneth Hagin Jr actually wrote the book out of a spirit of vindictiveness. She finally told me (ordered me) not to read that book anymore....period... talk about control issues!

If the grandfather of the word of faith movement tried to bring some sanity to the money gospel, it didnt' last long. I couldn't believe Joyce would tell me to throw the book away, plus it was a message from hell! She went as far as saying Kenneth Hagin Jr actually wrote it because he was jealous over Leroy's money making gig.....Imagine that! She used to quote Kenneth Hagin Sr many times, but I guess his book about the abuses of making money off the gospel was too much to bear for her. So the money game continues at Light of the World Church in Ft Pierce. Glad I'm outta there!

Other money making schemes and is the “Prosperity Gospel” heresy?

I remember the beginning of each year at Light of the World Church, starting at New Years Eve, everyone was required to come to church to pray the new year in. I see nothing wrong with praying as we should continue to pray without ceasing. However, when the members were trying to outdo each other by giving her money as the clock struck midnight and she would wave the cash in the air declaring "Money Cometh to Me Now!" I felt like....so this is the God we serve? The more you gave, the richer you would become in the coming year. Got it and did it for several years. I never got rich at all. There was an unspoken competition who could give her the most money. I didn't pay my bills so I could do this, passed on giving gifts to family, did without meals, all in the belief that by "giving 'till it hurts" was somehow something God wanted me to do. Interestingly, in the last year I stopped believing this lie and gave as the Holy Spirit led, I was blessed and it had nothing to do with shouting and jumping up and down yelling "money cometh to me now"

The first few months of the year was great for Joyce Leiphon as she taught us (brainwashed) us into giving what she said was "first fruit" offerings that went to her directly. So, like obedient sheeple, we gave our first weeks salary, first sales commission, she would wave it in the air then put it in her bank account. Back a few years ago when the government gave everyone a tax credit and everyone received $500-1,000 check, she told us that money belonged to her! Some members actually gave her their tax refund that year. I did my own study about "first fruit offerings" and while there is such a thing mentioned in the old testament, I believe the way it was done at Joyce Leiphon's church was just another money making deal.

I found this very interesting as it is the same gospel preached at Joyce Leiphon's church in Ft Pierce. The exception in the article is that the "Money Cometh" churches are much more in your face with the money message.

Is the “Prosperity Gospel” heresy?

The Money Cometh Man Cometh to a City Near You!

Joyce Leiphon finally got her man of "gawd" Dr Leroy Thompson to come to Ft Pierce January 12, 13, 2012

Having attended these money making conferences in the past, let me save you some time and money and let you know what to expect. There will be people there from other "Money Cometh" churches in the state. They are expected to support and travel to these conferences if they want the "Money Cometh anointing", so don't be surprised if the church is full.

Bring lots of money! For each service, you will see something strange. People will start bringing money to the platform, stage, pulpit, altar, podium etc. This is a learned behavior and part of the "Money Cometh to Me Now" money game. If you bring a large amount, make sure you put it in Leroy Thompson's hand. He'll give you recognition for your money. Don't be shy about laying your money down even while he's talking, it's ok and expected.

Be prepared to repeat "Money Cometh to Me Now!" 3 times if you want it to really work, you will have to do the "money pull" and shout as loud as you can. It is at this time, some of the cult will run up and down, jump, scream and shout! It's ok if you don't do all this, but be aware, if you don't, you won't get your money, and you will get some looks from the cult members.

Don't expect to meet the "Money Cometh Man" afterwards. He'll have some body guards with him, and will probably be escorted quickly after he gets your money. Don't be surprised to see a guy in dark glasses with a slight buldge in his coat. Yes, I hope he keeps his jacket buttoned and not let you see his Glock in his shoulder holster. Yes, it's true, and yes after all, it's Ft Pierce!

Don't bring your bible as you won't need it. What you need is your money and you will be told you can't be a blessing until you get your money!

Be prepared to see people give thousands of dollars in money they have borrowed, saved and otherwise could not afford to give to a man to build his personal kingdom. Joyce Leiphon herself will give a thousand bucks at each meeting if not more....after all, it takes $10 grand to fly your private jet here and have it parked at the airport for a few days.

Save your time and money, skip the "Money Cometh" conference. Give as Jesus gave. Help your local church, feed someone, clothe someone, love everyone.

Joyce Leiphon and the $20,000 turkey

As we embark on another Thanksgiving season, I wanted to write about what we did while I was a member of Light of the World Church each November.

It's the annual "Money Cometh to Me" conference held in Darrow, LA at Dr Leroy Thompson's church. We'd be asked to start seed sowing (MONEY) for her expenses and to sow (give till it hurts) as much for this week long love fest of material riches.

Joyce Leiphon as usual will go to this conference as she does each year to sow into her man of god. She will go and bring a money offering each day for the 5 day conference, at two meetings each day she'll have to bring some major cash with her on this trip.

I remember being asked one year what Light of the World did for the poor and needy in Ft Pierce, how many families did we help feed. Unfortunately, my answer was.....NONE! But I can tell you, when Joyce Leiphon came back from Dr Thompson's fund raising show, she did tell us she gave $20,000.00 to Dr Thompson and we should be striving to be like her. Of course that meant we were to give her the money directly.

Now that's a $20,000 turkey. How many families could that have helped in Ft Pierce? We'll never know, but one thing for sure this Thanksgiving, I'm giving thanks that I'm not part of this ponzi scheme and not part of Light of the World Church.

When your pastor encourages divorce by example, what?

I've been very blessed as today I celebrate 30 years of marriage to my wife Candy.

In my experience with Light of the World Church and it's pastor Joyce Leiphon, there exists a pastor who openly promotes divorce by example and actually preaches it from her pulpit! Of course she doesn't say the word divorce, but sometimes your actions speak louder than your words. I have heard her tell us that if your husband isn't listening to what I'm preaching, then....(stopped short of using the word divorce) stop listening to him!

When I arrived there 4 years ago I remember our meeting and how she went on to describe her 4 previous marriages. The last husband had attended REHMA Bible School. It didn't bother me as we serve a God of mercy and grace. What did bother me, was her last husband was co pastor and she said God told her to divorce him. He left the area, and she got the church! Scripture is pretty clear on grounds for divorce, but she told me she heard from God. Hey who am I to question the pastor?

Funny thing is, this was the second time God told her to divorce a husband. I have to admit, I'm no bible scholar but I thought God hates divorce. Why would God tell her to divorce two husbands? She said there was no infidelity or death involved but that God told her to divorce her husbands. Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace!

I started to look around and noticed, that out of the 15 regular devotees of the money cometh to me church, most were divorced, in the process of divorce, or been divorced. I was asked one day from someone, "How can someone who has divorced 4 times, heard from God to divorce 2 of them, , not interested in being married, belittles men and husbandry from the pulpit ever counsel anyone with marital problems?" I didn't have an answer. I have watched at least one divorce happen in this church with the pastor's blessing and encouragement.

Now I get emails and hand written letters from people who say she's actually been married 5 times! Thank you Jesus for your grace and mercy.

I'm thankful I've been married only once and for 30 years today. I'm also thankful to be out of a church that encourages divorce. When your pastor encourages divorce, what do you do? If it's not scriptural, RUN!