He And besides, Jeff was told he would make the money back with all the new business opportunities that would surely follow. And, while there are qualifications available, anyone can claim to be a life coach - thousands do. People are dying. Jeff asked for a refund, and the group responded by saying it would be "stepping up" investigations into Jeff and his girlfriend Dawn. Hillsong Church NYC. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Allegations by Pastors Fiakojo, Duncan, and Rev Edward, that they used their own monies to build LCI churches was vehemently denied by the LCI, which contended that it built those churches without their direct or indirect financial involvement. Paul Waugh had no county court judgements against him. 2. Logic is gone.". The LCI said, contrary to the claim that the Plaintiff worked for the Church and the church failed to pay his SSNIT contributions from 2005 to July 2008, it paid SSNIT contributions from August 2008, when he was employed to March 2017, since between the periods of 2005 to July 2008, he (Mr Laryea) was a volunteer pastor and he signed the missionary acceptance form in July 2005 with the consent of his guardian. Not all Christian leaders have supported the presidents plans. LCI further indicated that for the most part his employment period, LCI without obligation gave Bishop Oko Mensah official cars to use. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Nine years into their marriage, the pastor reportedly spoke about difficulties in their relationship in an interview. Built by former President Flix Houphout-Boigny, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace cost $200m to $300m and has the capacity to seat 18,000 worshippers. The cost of living is high in the West African state with inflation hitting a record 54 percent in December, the highest in 21 years. He gave His life for us," reads the first of two messages. She joined after a divorce, hoping to kick-start a new career - and at first it seemed like a decent way to do it. R. C. Sproul-- Heretic and Blasphemer LCI has counterclaimed against the former pastors as follows: 1. Former mentees say they were encouraged to borrow money to pay for courses. In the past few years, Lighthouse - formally known as Lighthouse International Group and based in the Midlands in England - has received hundreds of thousands of pounds from mentees. "I was able to walk away, but I don't think a lot of people in there have anything to walk to," says Jeff. Again, the church argued that it provided free accommodation for the Bishop Mensah throughout the 16 years of employment contrary to his claim that he was most often deprived of the basic logistics required for their work such as a car and accommodation to facilitate his work. LCI further claims that while Bishop Larry was in Madagascar, he illegally sold a Toyota Land Cruiser which was an official vehicle belonging to LCI-Madagascar and that LCI Madagascar has given LCI-Ghana a power of attorney to recover the proceeds of the sale from him. "It was brilliant at first," Jeff says of these early sessions. And those who are familiar with the pastor and his work are asking, what happened to Keion Hendersons wife? Michelle Williams Believes God Chose Her for Infamous Fall During DC3 Performance? On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pastor Henderson, founder of the ten thousand member Lighthouse Church in Houston, TX talks about the cathartic process of writing his new book The Shift, about the unexpected shifts and interruptions in our life. Deloitte has yet to submit its audit report. But before long, it drifts into endless introspection about troubled backgrounds and awkward families - who mentees are encouraged to think of as "toxic" influences to avoid. WebThe Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT) is a New Age religious organization founded in the United States in 1975 by Elizabeth Clare Prophet. "It was a master stroke" replied one of his followers. b. b. The series of controversies has caused two members of the board of trustees popular Christian leaders Mensa Otabil and Dag Heward-Mills to resign. She added, You are my soundboard, youve taught me so much thus far, and you love me and my children unconditionally. "I realised the level of control he had over these people.". Joe first joined Lighthouse in 2000, eventually becoming the Director of Student Ministries in 2002. The company also did not appear to pay tax or any ordinary business expenses, such as rent or utilities. Akufo-Addo is serving the second of his two constitutionally allowed four-year terms, which expire in 2024. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! Bishop Larry claims he was employed by LCI-Ghana from 2001 to 2020. For the recovery of possession of the official vehicle i.e. They are praying the court to compel the church to pay their SSNIT contributions as well as other rights they say the church violated since they went into ministry there, some immediately after leaving the university,. Dag Heward-Mills speaks amid controversy about unpaid SSNIT for Church Is climate change killing Australian wine? Lighthouse also pushes the idea that the greatest obstacle to climbing the levels is often a person's family and friends. WebSix former pastors have sued the church claiming they were exploited and their SSNIT contributions werent paid during their active working years. Although Lighthouse International Group Holdings is now in receivership, there is little to stop the people behind it carrying on its work. Seven of these experts told us they believe Lighthouse is a cult. Your email address will not be published. Besides being active in the church community, Felecia was part of the online talk show seriesCloset Chats in 2019. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. According to court filings presented by government investigators, Lighthouse was not keeping proper records and was not co-operating with their investigation - which meant it was impossible to determine the "true nature" of the business. ONeal and Henderson have known each other for years stemming from the BBW alum attending his church dating as far back as 2019. I made a pledge to almighty God that He was gracious enough to grant my party, the NPP, and I victory in the 2016 elections after two unsuccessful attempts, so I will help build a cathedral to his glory and honour, President Nana Akufo-Addo said at the sod-cutting ceremony in 2020. These religious leaders who fell from grace shocked the world when their crimes and scandals became public. Pastor Keion Henderson chose the latter. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. (Paul has since said a handful of other Lighthouse "seniors" have finally reached level four after more than a decade with the group). One woman who rented a six-bedroom house to Paul Waugh, said she ended up with eight Lighthouse team members living there. Joshua Mauney, former national director of church planting for the Association of Related Churches (ARC), is being accused in a By this system, the church has thousands of volunteers who help the church work while they maintain their secular engagements, either as workers or students. List of megachurches in the United States - Wikipedia These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The plaintiffs are seeking the following reliefs against the church: The Church in its defence argued that it had paid in full all SSNIT contributions owed Bishop Oko Mensah for his 16 years as an employee of the church, contrary to his claim that the church owed him over 14 years of unpaid SSNIT contributions. Among them are five people with PhDs, two winners of the Margaret Singer Award for cultic studies and three accredited therapists with extensive experience working with ex-cult members. WebOctober 18, 2021. In addition, the cathedral would have a music school, an art gallery, shops and a national crypt for state burials. Counterclaims Against Bishop Oko Mensah: I. 22 Comments. Its unknown what Felecia is doing currently. "It's just crazy," Karina says. After investigating it since June 2022, the business secretary argued the company was working against the public interest. Keion has spoken about his fears and moving on from the tough times in interviews and in his book, The Shift. Paul Waugh said on one call to her. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. While pastoring in Paga, he was running a school in Paga to earn a living. It wont be a white elephant. In this channel, you'll find exclusive content, Jeff became something called a "Lighthouse Associate Elect". But construction of the presidents pet project, due to cover 3.5 hectares (9 acres) of prime Accra real estate, has stalled since June due to lack of funds. "The love of Jesus is greater love because He sacrificed Himself for us. Read about our approach to external linking. Pretty soon the pair spoke daily, sometime for hours at a time. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. And for many of them, Paul Waugh's promised high life remains out of reach. Scandals Look at how bad our economy is now.. It meant he could tap into Lighthouse's network of brilliant entrepreneurs - sitting in on their daily meetings and even training to be a mentor himself. LCI says that Bishop Larry Odonkor was a volunteer pastor from 2001to 2005 and he signed the missionary acceptance form with the written consent of his mother Cecilia Mensah on 21st August 2001. First Light Church Vandalia JOIN US FOR WORSHIP ON SUNDAY MORNINGS LOCATION Main Building 140 Elva Court Vandalia, OH 45377 GATHERING TIMES Sundays Worship online (www.firstlight.church) or in person. Its quite strange that we are putting religion ahead of development, he told Al Jazeera. Funding for the national cathedral has been shrouded in secrecy, but last year, the secretariat in charge of the project said the cost, initially estimated at $100m, has now quadrupled due to inflation. Lighthouse He also, with the written consent of his biological father, Mr Christopher Yaw Amankwah, signed the Missionary Consent form on 13th October 2007. Most of the developed countries had museums years back, but today, they are fetching them a lot of money., I doubt a time will come that well say the cost of living is now better for us to do what we want to do, Kwadwo Opoku Onyinah, chairman of the cathedral projects board of trustees, told Al Jazeera. An order compelling LCI to pay their unpaid SSNIT contributions. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. www.Lighthouseormond.com WebSt Ann's in Coppell, Texas, would be near the top, with almost 30,000 registered parishioners in 2013. Their former president also dreamt just like our president to build a basilica, so if the Ivorian cathedral didnt live up to expectation, why will a Ghanaian cathedral be different?, Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. Hillsong megachurch has responded to its most recent sex scandal. They were dangerous. But he knew Lighthouse could be ruthless with dissenters. The turning point for Jeff was when he took time off to visit his dad in the US. Now, I feel like it's time for a shifting of focus to impacting our community in other ways than just pulpit ministry. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". It was found that between March 2018 and July 2022 about 1.2m was paid to Paul Waugh himself - roughly half the firm's income. The Ex-pastors are Bishop Larry Odonkor, Bishop Oko Mensah, Rev. I think it is important that we do it.. Ransford Gyampo, professor political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, agrees. WebHenderson, who has been a part of the ministry for over 25 years and founded Lighthouse Church and Ministries in 2009, was previously married to Felecia Henderson. Influenced by Theosophy and I AM, the Church originated as The Summit Lighthouse, When Anthony began querying whether Lighthouse was helping him, Jai said he was being paranoid as a result of withdrawal symptoms from his medication. Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. In 2006, he began working at Orchard Valley Christian Church in Sunnyvale, CA for 7 years. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. It wasn't about the South Pole at all - it was about her. "I thought, is that where I'm going?" Jeff no longer seemed himself. It accused the BBC of being part of a smear campaign, and went on to target online people who it suspected we had interviewed, including Jeff and Dawn. "An investment in herself", the group called it. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. The couple has three children together. Evangelist Dag Heward-Mills, founder of Lighthouse Chapel International has broken his silence days after six former pastors of his church accused him of violating their rights. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Like Akufo-Addo, two-thirds of Ghanas estimated 30 million people are Christians even though it is an officially secular nation. Who said God lives in cathedrals?, Our public hospitals are without dialysis machines for kidney patients, Gyampo said. "I'd even physically throw up.". (Photo by Leon Bennett/FilmMagic). February 10, 2023. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. An order to compute and pay balance of salary due them. Pastor Edem Kofi Amankwah was a volunteer pastor from October 2007 to 2018, when he resigned as a volunteer pastor without due notice to the church. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Felecia Marcel married Keion Henderson on August 7, 2010. (NAME) freely and willingly volunteer for missionary work with the Lighthouse Missionary Society. Some point next door to neighbouring Ivory Coast for a cautionary tale. LCI churches worldwide share a common vision of propagating the gospel worldwide and training leaders and pastors to take the gospel to the four corners of the world. LCI has reported him to the police and he has been charged with trespass and fraudulent breach of trust. At the end of that weekend, Pugh will celebrate his 50th Birthday Gala at the Renaissance Potomac View Hotel with an A-list guest list of friends and celebrities. Paul Waugh failed to attend at least five scheduled interviews, and even told investigators he was not going to help them. Gospel singer Earnest Pugh Leaves mega-church and starting a new initiative, 2016. "He said it would be the best opportunity for me to succeed," says Jeff. He also, with the written consent of his biological father called Joseph Anti Duncan, signed the Missionary Consent form on 21st November 2008. There is nothing wrong with building a national cathedral, but the timing is not right. He would also get guidance from Lighthouse boss Paul Waugh. Erin now believes it was to free up more money, which she could then invest in Lighthouse. Last years lineups included Needtobreathe, Danny Gokey, for King & Country, Sanctus Real, and Kirk The Bible loves a good redemption story, but forgiveness only goes so far. WebFounded in 2009, The Lighthouse Church encompasses five campuses and 30 ministries, as one of the fastest growing churches in the nation with over 15,000 members and climbing, Attacking critics seems to be part of the group's modus operandi. Cults want families to get angry and complain, so the family needs to avoid criticism, stay in touch and be available, Stein advises. 6:04 pm CDT. The erstwhile Felecia Marcel is a mom of three girls. Or listen to the podcast through BBC Sounds. Erin says she got a credit card at Jai's suggestion. The schedule, often running from 05:00 to 22:00, was relentless with little time off. Accra, Ghana About 700 metres (765 yards) from Ghanas Parliament sits one of the worlds most controversial craters, a hole surrounded by weeds into which $58m has already been sunk for the building of an interdenominational national cathedral. She has not commented on her exs alleged relationship with the reality star, but that hasnt dimmed the attention on her. Church He continued that the senior clergymen found the demand so outrageous that they abandoned any hope of settling the matter. She Looks Just Like Her Mama But Plays Like Her Father: A Video of Shaquille ONeals and Shaunie Hendersons 6-Foot-3 Daughter Has Fans Doing a Double Take, Your Classmates Was Gonna Figure it Out: Shaquille ONeals 6-Foot-10 Son Shareef Says He Hid His Fathers Identity Until He Was Outed at a Basketball Game, Fans Are In Disbelief, I Thought It Was Gonna be Really Boring: Shaunie Henderson Says She Didnt Think Her Husbands Christian Lifestyle Would Allow Him to be Fun. With his latest hit, "Trade It All," continuing to climb the Nielsen BDS Gospel Recurrent chart and currently ranked at No. She says for people with loved ones inside a cult, "it's like a living death" - partly because attempts to criticise the group often backfire, leaving them unsure how to act. WebCelebrated gospel singer Earnest Pugh is leaving his position as Pastor of Worship at Houstons Lighthouse Church. 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Everyone we spoke to with family members involved in Lighthouse think the same. Jesus did not give us money, houses, or cars as some do; He laid down His life! But the experts say cults are opportunistic, latching on to new trends, even if that is self-help for entrepreneurs. This vehicle is the subject matter of a counterclaim and criminal action by LCI. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. All his salaries and allowances were paid by LCI-South Africa and LCI-Madagascar during this period.