The Georgia megachurch of a renowned minister and evangelist is seeking donations to purchase a luxury jet with a price tag over $65 million. The website of Creflo Dollar Ministries asked for donations "of any mount" to help the ministry purchase a Gulfstream G650 luxury jet on Friday.
The G650 flies at over "92 percent" of the speed of sound. It usually holds approximately 18 seated passengers, and its takeoff can be performed with up to 99,600 pounds.
The megachurch's website states that the function of the new plane will be to allow Creflo and Taffi to fly worldwide to share the "Gospel of grace." The church claims that it needs a plane that is fuel-efficient, fast, and spacious.
Based on several online reports that quoted the megachurch's website, it would need 200,000 donors to contribute at least $300 USD. However, by Friday afternoon that calculation was replaced by a request for a "love gift" of any amount.
Dollar and Taffi, his wife, are co-pastors of the World Changers International Church located in College Park, Georgia. The megachurch is located a little south of Atlanta.
Dollar has become one of the most famous African-American evangelists in the Atlanta area who has used "prosperity gospel" as a foundation of his ministry. In this type of approach pastors often showcase their personal wealth to prove that their teachings are valid.
The first service of Dollar's church had eight attendees and took place in 1986, in the cafeteria of an elementary school. The ministry transferred to its present 8,500-seat sanctuary in December 1995, according to Yahoo.
Dollar stated in a 2007 AP interview that he had renounced his church paycheck and receives his income exclusively from his own investments. He can earn as much as $100,000 for speaking engagements.
The ministry's current airplane that it purchased in 1999, was constructed in 1984, according to ABC News.Since then the plane has racked up over 4 million miles and is now unsafe to fly, said a spokesperson of Dollar's church.
In fact, one of the airplane's engines failed during a trip abroad. However, the pilot landed the plane safely and there were no injuries.