Luke 17:28-30 “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built” but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
The 8th Commandment clearly meant little to whoever broke into the safe at Lakewood Church and stole over $600,000 in donations Sunday night.
The Houston, Texas church, home of internationally known pastor Joel Osteen, reported Monday morning that someone had broken into their safe and taken away all the donations received during the weekend’s services.
Cash, checks and credit card information was stolen. The church says that the funds were insured, so the church will not lose revenue, but that there was no way to assure someone would not try to use the stolen account numbers for other kinds of fraud.
Donors were encouraged to check their accounts for fraudulent activity and to take steps to protect their accounts.
Church officials say $200,000 of the theft was in cash.
Houston police are investigating the theft. The police are reviewing surveillance video from inside the church but have not named any suspects.
I would hope that Pastor Osteen would always declare the churches income and expenses so the members know where their money is being used. I believe every ministry, whether a neighborhood church or a worldwide ministry is responsible for declaring to it’s members / contributors where their money is being spent. Thank goodness this money is insured! That IS a lot of money, and it is already allocated. Running a ministry isn’t cheap! You have TV / radio Airtime, world wide ministries, salaries, medical insurance, office expenses, building and grounds maintenance, etc., etc., etc. God help the thief, he/she needs help, needs to know that God is their provider. There will be a lot to answer to for it is NOT Joel’s money that was stolen, but GOD’S.
$600,000 that’s lots of $$$$$$$ I hope he is good steward with this $$$$ someone will be accountable when receiving his kind of $$. And I mean with God, never mind the people.