Reported by Nigel Boys
After it was reported in The Christian Post last week that Creflo Dollar Ministries is asking 200,000 of their supporters to donate $300 or more (a piece) so that their leader and his team could buy a private plane to travel the world, the story drew many negative comments.
Dollar, who is the founder of World Changers Church International, explained on the church’s website campaign that he needed $65 million to buy a Gulfstream G650 airplane because his current jet, which was purchased in 1999, was now grounded. He further explained that the reason he needed the luxury aircraft, which has been described as the “holy grail of private jets” in a Bloomberg report, was because his previous plane experienced engine failure in London on a recent trip to Australia.
Defending Dollar’s apparent need to purchase this extravagant form of traveling instead of hopping on a commercial flight, Juda Engelmayer, who represents Dollar’s Ministries, said the significant cargo they carried with them made the aircraft a must. The 5W Public Relations representative continued that when Dollar flies around the globe, he takes with him a team of 10 to 15 people and they carry with them thousands of pounds of food and provisions.
Engelmayer went on to say, “If he’s coming to the New York church, he’ll hop on a Delta flight; if he’s taking 12 people plus 100,000 pounds of food, it’s not that simple.” He continued, “The work they do is important. It’s feeding, clothing, educating people, as well as passing on the word of God.”
However, when David Graham, Global Express aircraft captain with Advanced Air Management, heard about Dollar’s reasons for wanting his followers to purchase a G650, he rubbished their excuse, stating that their reasoning didn’t add up. Others also expressed dismay as to why Dollar, who lives in a million dollar home, needed such an expensive aircraft, which is usually bought by billionaires.
In an email to the Christian Post on Friday, Graham stated, “The G650 max ramp weight is 99,600. Then add 4,000 for the G650ER … It cannot carry 12 people and 100,000 of food and supplies like the commenter says!!! Creflo is a crook and scamming his church in the name of the Lord!!!”
The irritated Graham mentioned his expertise in aircraft on his LinkedIn profile: “I have an extensive knowledge of the Corporate Aviation Industry. My experience ranges from Chief Pilot to Line Captain with Worldwide Operations.”
The manufacturer of the Gulfstream G650 appears to confirm Graham’s claims on their website. It states that the aircraft holds about 18 seated passengers and can take off with a maximum weight of 99,600 pounds. It also lists a pre-owned G650 for $67,950,000 which had 1,616 hours of flying time and 625 landings.
The appeal page has apparently been removed from the World Changers website, with a message stating that the link “could have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.” However, contributions for “Project G650” are still being accepted on a donation page.
Dollar is now flying commercial airlines while the campaign is being reassessed, according to spokespersons for the organization. Engelmayer added, almost grudgingly, that the pastor’s ministry was being continued with “whatever he has to use to travel, you know, commercial transportation.”
