Statsocial:
By Leke Beecroft

THIS ARTICLE HOW NECESSARY AND COST EFFECTIVE IS OWNERSHIP OF JETS BY MEGA CHURCHES?


#1. The Efficiency Factor:

First of all, how efficient are the commercial services of the Nigerian aviation system? This answer is an obvious NO and has been so through the years. Is there anyone reading this in Nigeria, who is a regular air traveller and whose flight has never been delayed or who has never experienced some form of disappointment? In 2011, Oyedepo visited 27 countries for missionary purposes. In a particular week, I monitored his movement from sunday evening when he left Lagos for Kenya till friday evening when he arrived back in Lagos, Nigeria for a night ministration. He was in Zambia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Botswana (if my memory serves me right) in a spate of five days and was back to minister at the night session in Nigeria. This would have been absolutely impossible using commercial aviation means in Africa. No wonder Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo pointed out that as close as Liberia or Togo and other West African countries were to Nigeria, it was easier to get a commercial flight to London than to our neighbours here in Africa.

#2. The Ignorance, busy-body and Poverty Mentality Factor:

Secondly, when missionary establishments of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s flew in white missionaries on jets or helicopters, they were welcomed by the Nigerian locals and it was an acceptable sight. Why? They were whites. One of the greatest issues with missionary owned jets in Africa is the poverty mentality. Today, several billionaires in Nigeria are celebrated because they own jets. Young musicians and artistes are also celebrated for wearing large "bling blings" and "Chopping their money" on private jets...but when indigenously established missionary organizations, whose only mission is to save your soul are discovered to own these same aircraft to facilitate easy air trips, every busybody wants to have a say and criticize, sometimes very insultive....including those who have either never stepped foot in a church, never dropped a dime in offerings to God or have never even embraced the commandments of the Bible.

As much as criticism of missionary owned jets may be "religiously and politically" correct, I make bold to say they are scripturally incorrect. We are called covenant children of Abraham; what does the Bible say about Father Abraham? Genesis 13:2 "And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." Genesis 24:1 "And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things." I am also very glad that after the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, it took a wealthy man to come get his body and put him in a befitting tomb. Also before his death when Judas was grumbling about the Alabaster Box that should have been given to the poor, the Bible had this to say "Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he CARED for the poor; but because he was a THIEF, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein." John 12;4-6.

If the argument is really about giving to the poor, why not also ask all the oil moguls in the country, all businessmen, musicians and all other owners to sell their jets and give to the poor? Obviously the emphasis isn't about the poor but anger and envy that wealth seems to be moving to the church...unfortunately, it hasn't even started. The Bible is the constitution of the christian. if what is in the Bible hurts your feelings, I render no apologies....let God be true and every man be a liar. Romans 3:4.

#3. Travel Frequency, Time, Administrative and Global Reach Factor:

For record purposes, as at the last time I checked and I believe I am current, the christian organizations who presently own aircraft in Nigeria are the Redeemed Christian Church of God which has branches in over 190 countries, the Living Faith Church Worldwide with branches in over 60 countries and 'Shiloh' online presence in over 170 countries, Christ Embassy with 'Rhapsody' presence in over 180 countries and branches in at least 4 continents as well as the immediate past CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor led Word of Life Bible Church. Pastor Ayo began to broadcast to the world before any of the afore mentioned pastors, back in 1987.

I ask another question; is it true that the leaders of some of these organizations travel regularly around the world? Do you have any idea what the itinerary of the Adeboyes, Oyedepos, Oritsejafors and Oyakhilomes entail?


Again it was Pastor Adeboye that said “there are things you need. When you have to oversee churches in 160 countries, you can’t do that on a bicycle,” Bishop Mike Okonkwo in an interview seemed to be in disagreement with some pastors listed here, the press excitedly tried to instigate him the more by asking about the ownership of jets. He explained to them however how he had once travelled to the Central African Republic for a programme but had to wait idly for almost a week for a return flight to Nigeria through Cameroon...... Any serious man or organization has respect for their time. The Church is one of such. Pastor Sam Adeyemi said once that all you need to grow old on time is to be a regular commercial flier on long trips.

#4. The Maintenance Cost Factor:

"If you are rich and desire to become poor quickly, own an aircraft." Pastor Enoch A Adeboye.

[b]Very many people do not understand what it takes to maintain an aircraft, especially in a country like Nigeria where aviation is controlled almost purely at the Federal level. How many people remember the issues with payment of parking fees for the Nigerian Presidential jet in 2009/10 when President Yar' Adua was flown to Saudi Arabia? Large sums of money (probably in millions of dollars) were paid for the aircraft which sat idly at the Riyadh King Khalid International Airport. One organization which used to charter aircraft frequently for movement to her crusade venues around the globe once paid about #75,000,000 (Seventy Five Million naira) annually for parking her aircraft at Bristow helicopters in Lagos.

Those who usually tout the example of the Pope who charters and flies Alitalia do not even realise that his accumulated flight expenses along with his entourage in just 30 flights will buy a nice jet. Let me break it down. Is it better to buy a car or charter a cab so expensive that you would have spent the cost of that car in just 30 drops?[/b]

My question again is, is it better to park your aircraft idly at the airport and pay these heavy parking sums to the government from church offerings not forgetting servicing, repairs and maintenance costs or lease them to aviation companies which in turn return profit at no cost to the church? Rev Gabriel Oduyemi bought a jet for church use. I do not need to tell the story of what happened to that aircraft but remember that it was the same aircraft that Omotola Jolade Ekeinde's pilot husband bought as 'scrap". Lest I forget, the average Captain in the aviation industry earns $10,000 (N3,600,000 or N3.6m) monthly. For two captains, that will be $20,000 (N7.2m) monthly or $240,000 (N86.2m) annually, not forgetting travel and landing allowances, hotel bills for the pilots etc. Young pilots need to accumulate hours and hours of flight so they opt for commercial planes instead of private jets who do not fly that regularly. This means that owning a private jet leaves you with almost no option than to hire experienced or veteran captains. This of course means you pay well for it. Luke 16:8 "And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation WISER THAN THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT".


Fortunately, the children of light are wiser now. They lease out their jets when not in use and avoid incurring unnecesary and exorbitant costs while the aircraft remains active even when not in use. Winners’ Chapel stretched this point. Among the first generation of missionary aircraft owners, she started leasing out her aircraft to EMS Speedpost once she realised what the costs of maintenance entailed and with due notice, she would use same jet for her missionary trips eventually an oil company also leased the jet and had to pay compensation after an accident. The church decided to buy another aircraft and this time built a hangar at the airport in Lagos. The hangar has space for 6 jets at a time. Now she does not rely on "church income" to maintain the hangar but runs it as a separate concern, funding itself. This is the line Church jet owners should be towing. I will quickly add at this point that for large organizations, it is cheaper to own aircraft than to keep paying for commercial air tickets or for charter services. If leasing a missionary aircraft will save costs and preserve the life of that aircraft for longer use, then that is simply the way to go


https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1244611439016058&id=444807728996437

Statsocial:
By Leke Beecroft

THIS ARTICLE HOW NECESSARY AND COST EFFECTIVE IS OWNERSHIP OF JETS BY MEGA CHURCHES?


#1. The Efficiency Factor:

First of all, how efficient are the commercial services of the Nigerian aviation system? This answer is an obvious NO and has been so through the years. Is there anyone reading this in Nigeria, who is a regular air traveller and whose flight has never been delayed or who has never experienced some form of disappointment? In 2011, Oyedepo visited 27 countries for missionary purposes. In a particular week, I monitored his movement from sunday evening when he left Lagos for Kenya till friday evening when he arrived back in Lagos, Nigeria for a night ministration. He was in Zambia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Botswana (if my memory serves me right) in a spate of five days and was back to minister at the night session in Nigeria. This would have been absolutely impossible using commercial aviation means in Africa. No wonder Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo pointed out that as close as Liberia or Togo and other West African countries were to Nigeria, it was easier to get a commercial flight to London than to our neighbours here in Africa.

#2. The Ignorance, busy-body and Poverty Mentality Factor:

Secondly, when missionary establishments of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s flew in white missionaries on jets or helicopters, they were welcomed by the Nigerian locals and it was an acceptable sight. Why? They were whites. One of the greatest issues with missionary owned jets in Africa is the poverty mentality. Today, several billionaires in Nigeria are celebrated because they own jets. Young musicians and artistes are also celebrated for wearing large "bling blings" and "Chopping their money" on private jets...but when indigenously established missionary organizations, whose only mission is to save your soul are discovered to own these same aircraft to facilitate easy air trips, every busybody wants to have a say and criticize, sometimes very insultive....including those who have either never stepped foot in a church, never dropped a dime in offerings to God or have never even embraced the commandments of the Bible.

As much as criticism of missionary owned jets may be "religiously and politically" correct, I make bold to say they are scripturally incorrect. We are called covenant children of Abraham; what does the Bible say about Father Abraham? Genesis 13:2 "And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." Genesis 24:1 "And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things." I am also very glad that after the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, it took a wealthy man to come get his body and put him in a befitting tomb. Also before his death when Judas was grumbling about the Alabaster Box that should have been given to the poor, the Bible had this to say "Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he CARED for the poor; but because he was a THIEF, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein." John 12;4-6.

If the argument is really about giving to the poor, why not also ask all the oil moguls in the country, all businessmen, musicians and all other owners to sell their jets and give to the poor? Obviously the emphasis isn't about the poor but anger and envy that wealth seems to be moving to the church...unfortunately, it hasn't even started. The Bible is the constitution of the christian. if what is in the Bible hurts your feelings, I render no apologies....let God be true and every man be a liar. Romans 3:4.

#3. Travel Frequency, Time, Administrative and Global Reach Factor:

For record purposes, as at the last time I checked and I believe I am current, the christian organizations who presently own aircraft in Nigeria are the Redeemed Christian Church of God which has branches in over 190 countries, the Living Faith Church Worldwide with branches in over 60 countries and 'Shiloh' online presence in over 170 countries, Christ Embassy with 'Rhapsody' presence in over 180 countries and branches in at least 4 continents as well as the immediate past CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor led Word of Life Bible Church. Pastor Ayo began to broadcast to the world before any of the afore mentioned pastors, back in 1987.

I ask another question; is it true that the leaders of some of these organizations travel regularly around the world? Do you have any idea what the itinerary of the Adeboyes, Oyedepos, Oritsejafors and Oyakhilomes entail?


Again it was Pastor Adeboye that said “there are things you need. When you have to oversee churches in 160 countries, you can’t do that on a bicycle,” Bishop Mike Okonkwo in an interview seemed to be in disagreement with some pastors listed here, the press excitedly tried to instigate him the more by asking about the ownership of jets. He explained to them however how he had once travelled to the Central African Republic for a programme but had to wait idly for almost a week for a return flight to Nigeria through Cameroon...... Any serious man or organization has respect for their time. The Church is one of such. Pastor Sam Adeyemi said once that all you need to grow old on time is to be a regular commercial flier on long trips.

#4. The Maintenance Cost Factor:

"If you are rich and desire to become poor quickly, own an aircraft." Pastor Enoch A Adeboye.

[b]Very many people do not understand what it takes to maintain an aircraft, especially in a country like Nigeria where aviation is controlled almost purely at the Federal level. How many people remember the issues with payment of parking fees for the Nigerian Presidential jet in 2009/10 when President Yar' Adua was flown to Saudi Arabia? Large sums of money (probably in millions of dollars) were paid for the aircraft which sat idly at the Riyadh King Khalid International Airport. One organization which used to charter aircraft frequently for movement to her crusade venues around the globe once paid about #75,000,000 (Seventy Five Million naira) annually for parking her aircraft at Bristow helicopters in Lagos.

Those who usually tout the example of the Pope who charters and flies Alitalia do not even realise that his accumulated flight expenses along with his entourage in just 30 flights will buy a nice jet. Let me break it down. Is it better to buy a car or charter a cab so expensive that you would have spent the cost of that car in just 30 drops?[/b]

My question again is, is it better to park your aircraft idly at the airport and pay these heavy parking sums to the government from church offerings not forgetting servicing, repairs and maintenance costs or lease them to aviation companies which in turn return profit at no cost to the church? Rev Gabriel Oduyemi bought a jet for church use. I do not need to tell the story of what happened to that aircraft but remember that it was the same aircraft that Omotola Jolade Ekeinde's pilot husband bought as 'scrap". Lest I forget, the average Captain in the aviation industry earns $10,000 (N3,600,000 or N3.6m) monthly. For two captains, that will be $20,000 (N7.2m) monthly or $240,000 (N86.2m) annually, not forgetting travel and landing allowances, hotel bills for the pilots etc. Young pilots need to accumulate hours and hours of flight so they opt for commercial planes instead of private jets who do not fly that regularly. This means that owning a private jet leaves you with almost no option than to hire experienced or veteran captains. This of course means you pay well for it. Luke 16:8 "And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation WISER THAN THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT".


Fortunately, the children of light are wiser now. They lease out their jets when not in use and avoid incurring unnecesary and exorbitant costs while the aircraft remains active even when not in use. Winners’ Chapel stretched this point. Among the first generation of missionary aircraft owners, she started leasing out her aircraft to EMS Speedpost once she realised what the costs of maintenance entailed and with due notice, she would use same jet for her missionary trips eventually an oil company also leased the jet and had to pay compensation after an accident. The church decided to buy another aircraft and this time built a hangar at the airport in Lagos. The hangar has space for 6 jets at a time. Now she does not rely on "church income" to maintain the hangar but runs it as a separate concern, funding itself. This is the line Church jet owners should be towing. I will quickly add at this point that for large organizations, it is cheaper to own aircraft than to keep paying for commercial air tickets or for charter services. If leasing a missionary aircraft will save costs and preserve the life of that aircraft for longer use, then that is simply the way to go


https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1244611439016058&id=444807728996437

toptop:


You are posting this ad on someone's thread. For the records, business name registration will cost N10,500.
(1) Name reservation = N500
(2) Registration= N10,000

I just registered a business name last month.

Fear God please.

millomaniac:


My dear brother in Christ, there is no explanation that can justify a pastor owning a private jet talk less of up to 4 jets!! Air travel is not like land travel. The only reason they own these jets is because they want to satisfy their ego and the church can afford it so why the heck not. Are you saying without the Jets they can't travel the world? Before those jets were acquired were they not spreading the word and growing their churches? Are they holier than men of God with no private jets even though they can afford it. So you see its just lust after the pleasures of the earth. You see my brother the reason this jet issue is even an issue at all is because it is extremely expensive so expensive that the rich can not afford it, it is only for the super rich. Don't get me wrong they did nothing wrong in acquiring those exorbitantly expensive materialistic things, rather it's a question of morality, I think it's morally wrong. I have my reasons. Any body seen to be managing the resources of others needs to lead a certain lifestyle unless it is his personal business then he is free to do as he wishes. Secondly as a leader of a Christian church you have show humility Christ is humble their is humility in traveling with other passengers(there is nothing wrong with that in the first place) you don't submit to the whims and pleasures of the flesh. So you see don't defend them they are only human and human beings have their flaws.

danjumakolo:


Do you mean pope isn't the head of the church?

Saintmary:

Christ is the head of the Church not the pope and the pope is not Christ. do not be confused my friend

safetyInspector:
We need to go back to the Christianity of the old which centered on Love. Yes love, the greatest of all the commandment. Preaching the word is not enough, "Let the brotherly love continue". What the hungry need is food before the word. After eating comes the word, "God gives the increase". The early missionaries came with the word as well as provision of basic needs(Building schools, free education, hospitals etc). Christianity would have not taken root in Africa if the missionaries didn't approach our forefathers with gospel of love. You don't need to fly abroad to win soul when we have millions of souls perishing in this Nation on yearly basis. With the gospel of love it is a whole lot easy to win these souls for Christ.

HeyCorleone:
The OP is a Living Faith slave.. Seen several of his post.

Any sane mind would know the reason why these MOGs have Private Jets is because it satisfies their personal ego. Nothing more. All that travelling about is just bull crap. Jesus never owned any means of transport yet he travelled from region to region. The one time he was personal was on a borrowed donkey. For the rest he hitched a ride on his disciples boats.

Why's your pastor even flying round the world?! Can't he just sit one place? Or is his anointing too much that he must go distribute it?? Do you see the Archbishop of Canterbury or Pope of Vatican flying round the world now and then organising crusades and Whatnots?? Na. That's why they have priests. The priests are capable of providing for the spiritual needs of their congregation.


The Roman Catholic Church should be a yardstick for all y'all. The Pope, who's also a head of state still flies commercial. But these men of God in Nigeria with their inflated ego can't stand sharing a plane with lesser individuals.

Rexgodwin:
For me, it's arrant nonsense to believe that Oyedepo has any need to leave his church in the first place in addition to flying a jet to any of those countries mentioned. What is he going there to do? Missionary work my foot. Can he walk on the sea? Can Oyedepo raise the dead?can he make the blind to see or make the lame to walk? So what is he going to those places for if not to strengthing his business contact. Are there no such so called men of God in those countries? The main missionary work had long been completed by the real missionaries of the old and not these new generation of highly materialistic business men who are self acclaimed men of God. No wonder why they so much love the mundane things more than spiritual and heavenly things. Toady tithes and tomorrow private jets and some useless ashawos and yahoo yahoo boys who fill such churches will always jump up to defend them.

Rexgodwin:
The fellow who asked that Christ and His disciples should have used private jets if it existed during their era is an ignoramus. Has he forgotten that ships and cruise boats existed then. Why did Christ not purchase one or two for himself or why did His disciples after Him not deem it necessary to get themselves private boat one after the other. The truth is that there is no reasonable way to justify the tremendous unbridled passion of today's so called men of God for material acquisition.

majekdom2:
you are still the regular Joe that leaves his house in the morning and come backs at Night 365 days a year. If you have encountered what it is with local flights in Nigeria, you will understand the OP! Comparing the time of Jesus to now is funny. You should read about the apostles and how they managed to move during their time. They are the ones that did the work!

Saintmary:

Paul traveled to lystra without converting all of Israel,Peter preached at Pentecost first before sharing food, what about Paul's missionary journeys did those white missionaries convert all of England before travelling to africa. what exactly is the old time Christianity you're talking about

SpyAC:
seems like the thing pain u so much, let me ask u one qtn, if u have money the finance to buy a nice car, will u leav the nd be moving wt a cap? Ur poverty mentality too much. Make money nd enjy ur life okay?

millomaniac:


My dear brother in Christ, there is no explanation that can justify a pastor owning a private jet talk less of up to 4 jets!! Air travel is not like land travel. The only reason they own these jets is because they want to satisfy their ego and the church can afford it so why the heck not. Are you saying without the Jets they can't travel the world? Before those jets were acquired were they not spreading the word and growing their churches? Are they holier than men of God with no private jets even though they can afford it. So you see its just lust after the pleasures of the earth. You see my brother the reason this jet issue is even an issue at all is because it is extremely expensive so expensive that the rich can not afford it, it is only for the super rich. Don't get me wrong they did nothing wrong in acquiring those exorbitantly expensive materialistic things, rather it's a question of morality, I think it's morally wrong. I have my reasons. Any body seen to be managing the resources of others needs to lead a certain lifestyle unless it is his personal business then he is free to do as he wishes. Secondly as a leader of a Christian church you have show humility Christ is humble their is humility in traveling with other passengers(there is nothing wrong with that in the first place) you don't submit to the whims and pleasures of the flesh. So you see don't defend them they are only human and human beings have their flaws.

Joyrise:
.

May be you should read the write up again. The Pope flying commercial planes and jets isn't economical based on the guys explanation.
Don't be subjective in this matter. Is it your money

TheUbermensch:



Lol. Absolute rubbish.

The truth is these men of God are just egoistic and such persons would go to any length to justify themselves and horses like you would believe. I pity you.

majekdom2:
ignorance is a killer. Many of these folks don't even know what they debate about. Best is to ignore them.

Saintmary:

these men of God are challenging this popular mindset that following God means we have to live in poverty.if you are a Christian you must have read that we are come into the blessing of Abraham because. we. have faith.have you read first corinthians 8:9, tell. me what you think of psalm 35:27 if God wants us to be prosperous has it not occurred to you that the devil will want you to be poor and will go to any lengths to keep you from the truth? please reply my friend.

majekdom2:
you defining a man you have no relationship with as being egoistic because the church he pastors has private jet. I am sure your boss is also "egoistic" because he changes his car almost every year. How intelligent!

majekdom2:
you defining a man you have no relationship with as being egoistic because the church he pastors has private jet. I am sure your boss is also "egoistic" because he changes his car almost every year. How intelligent!

TheUbermensch:



I refuse to believe the crap the OP posted.

If you know how much it costs to purchase and maintain a Private Jet, you won't pay attention to him.

How often does the Pope travel that his flights would be more expensive then these GOs who take flights aboard their jets many times a week?

We should learn to use our brains to reason without swallowing whatever someone has posted whole.

millomaniac:


I don't want to argue, mostly in this part of the world we mostly react offensively and are unbelievably blinded and unnecessarily stubborn when it comes to religion. But I thank God for common sense.
To answer you my friend. If your truthful answer to these questions are yes then I rest my case.
1) is vanity discouraged by Christians?
2) I can buy a 2018 Toyota camry but I buy a 2018 Lamborghini when I know the funds can change people's life, is it vanity?

CecyAdrian:


Are you aware that Paul never owned a ship despite all his travels but know thee that he could have easily gotten it should he had asked for one.

What do these men use private jet for when they can not go to Syria and the other war torn nations to preach and save souls

TheUbermensch:



I am not sure you fully understand the scenario.

[b]A man of God uses Church money to buy private jets for himself. [/b]A church is not an organisation. It is a home for all. Everything done there ought to benefit all. How does his Private Jet benefit over half of his Church members.

A boss on the other hand built the company with his sweat and is only reaping his reward. So why should I berate him for spending his money.

Besides these men of God don't understand that the hallmark of working in the Lord's vineyard is simplicity. Humility. Self denial. Just living a very rich lifestyle and saying God has blessed you. If he's had everything he needs on earth, of what use is heaven to him?

majekdom2:
why is the Pope the yardstick for how other pastors should spread the gospel? Have you heard of atilia plane and vatican jets

millomaniac:


I don't want to argue, mostly in this part of the world we mostly react offensively and are unbelievably blinded and unnecessarily stubborn when it comes to religion. But I thank God for common sense.
To answer you my friend. If your truthful answer to these questions are yes then I rest my case.
1) is vanity discouraged by Christians?
2) I can buy a 2018 Toyota camry but I buy a 2018 Lamborghini when I know the funds can change people's life, is it vanity?

CecyAdrian:


Are you aware that Paul never owned a ship despite all his travels but know thee that he could have easily gotten it should he had asked for one.

What do these men use private jet for when they can not go to Syria and the other war torn nations to preach and save souls

majekdom2:
have you seen th receipts of the pruchase to see that it was in his name. Una go just dey talk wetin una no know. As the church stopped growing? There are people like you who talked this way 20 years ago. Today, they are members of the church and have become wealthy. Leave your critical mind, understand God and trade kingdom secrets!

TheUbermensch:



The OP was the one who dragged the Catholic Church into this from onset.

There are no Vatican planes. Never was. Never is. So I don't know where you got that nonsense from.

Alitalia is the National Carrier of Italy. The Pope is the head of the Vatican, which a sovereign state. So he flies with a normal, albeit reserved, Alitila plane. Its like the President of Benin flying with Nigeria's plane. Sort o[/b]f.

Well the Catholic Church is rich enough for Vatican city to have its own jet. Why don't they do that? Because [b]they made Christ their yardstick.