lighthouse church scandal

Gospel Singer Earnest Pugh Exits Megachurch Ministry to Pursue New Veteran Non-Profit. Every morning at five, Jeff would prepare for a daily call where Lighthouse business would be discussed. WebCathedral of scandals: How a presidential promise divided Ghana The $400m state-funded church has become hugely controversial in Ghana even as the country pursues an IMF loan The cathedral will be a tourist attraction. LCI has vehemently denied all the allegations and mounted their defense to the suit. Enjoy reading our stories? Happiest Birthday to the man that has made me The Happiest Girl In The World! When Anthony began querying whether Lighthouse was helping him, Jai said he was being paranoid as a result of withdrawal symptoms from his medication. Read More . Gradually conversation drifted into Jeff's personal life. Our home church refused because they found it shady. It is therefore a palpable lie for Oko Mensah to say his wife followed him to Burkina Faso and Benin and therefore lost her job; unless Oko Mensah is talking about another wife he had that went with him on the mission. WebPugh recently announced that he was leaving his position as worship pastor at Houston's Lighthouse Church. He gave His life for us," reads the first of two messages. "It was brilliant at first," Jeff says of these early sessions. People join a mentoring group, usually looking for a career change or new direction. She remained in Ghana and continued in her employment with SSNIT throughout the time the Plaintiff was in Benin and Burkina Faso. Lighthouse also pushes the idea that the greatest obstacle to climbing the levels is often a person's family and friends. Their marriage He added that most of our allegations "were absolute nonsense". According to the LCI, it operates a very extensive lay system. Level one is a "chaotic, childlike" state - while level four is a conscious and present person, free of constraints and fear. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. Most of the great cathedrals are situated near the epicentres of power, particularly parliament because thats where the formal religious rites take place, like the swearing-in ceremonies of presidents, Opoku-Mensah told Al Jazeera. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Mentoring isn't a qualification, it's an experiential thing.". "Why aren't you trying to get justice there?". WebThe Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT) is a New Age religious organization founded in the United States in 1975 by Elizabeth Clare Prophet. Nearly all those who've been part of Lighthouse have told us they think Lighthouse is a cult. Today, the Ivorian cathedral has become a white elephant, Ablakwa said. According to their report, the six [pastors] have resigned from the church for various reasons and dragged the Lighthouse Chapel International, which used to be the epicentre of their spiritual and social lives, to court. Despite the claims of pioneering research, they could "only identify significant amounts of money passing to Paul Waugh as its prime mover". Most of the $58m spent so far has come from the national coffers, Ofori-Atta himself told parliament when it summoned him in November for a censure hearing. WebAccording to their report, the six [pastors] have resigned from the church for various reasons and dragged the Lighthouse Chapel International, which used to be the epicentre She is a track-and-field athlete in school. The schedule, often running from 05:00 to 22:00, was relentless with little time off. One charity which helps people break free from abusive groups, Catalyst, says it now receives more calls about Lighthouse than any other UK organisation, with "over thirty" people asking for help. 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. Set up in 2012 by businessman Paul Waugh, it claims to be different from most life coaching groups. WebA former bishop of Lighthouse Chapel International, Larry Odonkor, is uneasy about his birthday, which falls on July 9. READ ALSO: Video Of Rev Owusu Bempah Accepting Sika Gari From Agradaa In His Church Causes Stir. Suffice it to say it has ended in tears. The honesty seemed to help Jeff focus. Jeff shut himself in a room deep in concentration, eyes locked on his laptop - following a peculiar ritual of transcribing Paul Waugh's thoughts and ideas. When Jeff returned and announced he was quitting, Paul Waugh bombarded him with messages, some friendly, some hostile, to try to get him to stay. At one point, the senior mentor dropped to his knees to tie Paul's undone shoelace. He recalled playing golf with Paul Waugh and watching a senior mentor scurrying after him carrying his equipment. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. "It was a master stroke" replied one of his followers. The president saw the cathedral as a way to unite these believers, but instead, it has split them into two major groups: those who want to see the church built to upgrade Ghanas state infrastructure and those who see it as a waste of state resources, given the countrys economic state. WebLighthouse Christian Church - Meet our Staff Joe Castillo LEAD PASTOR Joe was born in the Philippines and grew up in Los Angeles and Chicago. Erin now believes it was to free up more money, which she could then invest in Lighthouse. And the main reason for that, the Lighthouse founder said, was the negative influences around them. An order to compute and pay balance of salary due them. A month later, parliament blocked a budget allocation of $6.3m that the government had wanted to continue the project even as Ghana struggles to restructure its debt to qualify for a $3bn loan from the International Monetary Fund. Heward-Mills expressed his frustration about how the project and the board were being run in his August resignation letter addressed to Akufo-Addo and the board. Despite ONeals Instagram announcement, it is unclear how long the pair has been an item. Its website says it now trades as "Lighthouse Global", which promises to share "our 18 year journey from personal development into Christ and the persecution we have suffered along the way". If it werent for the cranes and artistic impressions of the project surrounding the construction zone, it could pass for an abandoned illegal mining site. Today many will celebrate you for the impact that you have made in their lives, the love youve shown to perfect strangers, and the comfort youve provided sharing the word of God. 1,575 were here. Before he joined Lighthouse, 30-year-old Anthony Church had struggled with anxiety and depression, suffered a breakdown and attempted suicide. WebFelecia Marcel married Keion Henderson on August 7, 2010. LCI employed him again from January 2020 till April 2020 when he resigned without due notice to the church. (NAME) freely and willingly volunteer for missionary work with the Lighthouse Missionary Society. Another criticism of the project is the demolition that the government carried out to make way for the cathedral. She joined after a divorce, hoping to kick-start a new career - and at first it seemed like a decent way to do it. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He also added: Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16. Another disturbing aspect of the report is that most of these men left their education, some with degrees which could have landed them highly lucrative jobs, to follow their papa. The turning point for Jeff was when he took time off to visit his dad in the US. 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. Rents, fuel and transport prices have risen, and about a quarter of the population live below the poverty line, according to the United Nations Development Programme and the Ghana Statistical Service. The honor is mines. To devote himself full-time to Lighthouse, Jeff stopped working and sold his house - ultimately investing 131,000 in the group. Lighthouse isn't an ordinary life coaching organisation, Dawn explained. To God be the glory for the wonderful things He has done, is doing and will do to advance the Kingdom through our lives and ministries.". Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. One of the most mind-boggling averments in Bishop Okos statement of claim is in These days, an estimated $1.3m is used for its annual maintenance even though an average of fewer than 1,000 people attend regular services. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". These are not the tools of success, and many times become an arsenal of anger. The Fourth Estate, the new media house which recently hired Manasseh Azure, broke the story. Pugh is also embarking on a 50-city tour as part of his journey to 50 years of life and over 20 years in the gospel music industry. WebSt Ann's in Coppell, Texas, would be near the top, with almost 30,000 registered parishioners in 2013. That LCI upon discovering this after he resigned paid the SSNIT contribution and taxes with penalties thereon. Counterclaims Against Faith Makafui Fiakojo: I. LCI claims he illegally took over the LCI church building in Fumbisi after he resigned and the church has sued for recovery of possession. Jeff doesn't expect those still involved will think any differently after the court case. Caroline Jesper, head of professional standards at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, listened to hours of calls between Anthony and Jai and said if any of her members behaved in this way, the association would investigate under its professional conduct procedure. The lay system has been in operation since the church was founded in 1988 and has continued till date. Jeff handed over the money, and Lighthouse began to take over his life. She added, You are my soundboard, youve taught me so much thus far, and you love me and my children unconditionally. An order compelling LCI to pay their unpaid SSNIT contributions. Erin, meanwhile, was berated as a "cynical old witch" when she asked where her money had gone. Lighthouse told him to wait two years for any return on his money and warned him that creating controversy could jeopardise his investment. Such upfront massive investments bring in revenue to create employment, and weve integrated the elements that will drive traffic [and revenue] to Ghana.. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Church Workdays 2nd and 4th Saturdays 8 am till noon. One woman who rented a six-bedroom house to Paul Waugh, said she ended up with eight Lighthouse team members living there. Recordings of calls handed to the BBC reveal Jai telling Anthony that medication "is not a long-term solution because it doesn't encourage the person to consciously make decisions to command and reprogramme the subconscious mind". 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. Hendersonwrote, I will accept all congratulatory messages but yours, @shaunieoneal5 will I cherish forever. Relationship troubles. The Ex "It's just crazy," Karina says. A similar pattern has emerged. 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Yet there are still dozens of people who remain part of Lighthouse today. Catrin Nye investigates a life coaching company that takes over your life. And when she did eventually leave, Paul made good on his threats in a YouTube video, where he named Erin. It also says people who have given money were investing in themselves and are not entitled to refunds. Is climate change killing Australian wine? 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. "I've been working tirelessly for years so I'm going to lay low for a minute and focus on this next season in my life," he concluded. "The love of Jesus is greater love because He sacrificed Himself for us. Paul Waugh failed to attend at least five scheduled interviews, and even told investigators he was not going to help them. He was never an employee of LCI. But talk of business opportunities turned into revisiting her difficult past. It wasn't about the South Pole at all - it was about her. This vehicle is the subject matter of a counterclaim and criminal action by LCI. The couple has three children together. Cant we channel the same energy we are putting into raising funds for the cathedral into attracting investors to this country? Pastor Keion Henderson chose the latter. To us, it is the most reckless decision any president has taken ever in the history of this country, Ablakwa told Al Jazeera. FACT CHECK: Dave Ramsey Made a Statement About America Online, FACT CHECK: CIA Director Gina Haspel Found Dead, FACT CHECK: Kwik Trip Launches Kwik Strip Gentlemens Clubs, Meet Lukas Van Ness Girlfriend and Cole Kmets Sister, Frankie Kmet, Meet Seattle Kraken LW Tye Kartyes Girlfriend, Monik Pigeau, Meet Commanders DE Chase Youngs Girlfriend, Sophie Piteo, Meet Sacramento Kings SF Harrison Barnes Wife, Brittany Barnes, Meet St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher Ryan Helsleys Wife, Alex Helsley, Meet Boston Celtics Guard Marcus Smarts Fiance, Maisa Hallum, Tynisha Marcel (born 20th Jul 1995), Candis Clements (23rd Dec 2005), Katelyn (18th July 2012). Or listen to the podcast through BBC Sounds. CLICK HERE to subscribe to our daily up-to-date news!! But now we use the motorway more than anybody else, and it comes with economic benefits., Its all about perspective, Michel said. 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. God will not be happy with us. Seven Lighthouse-related accounts were shut down by Twitter for hateful conduct shortly after we first got in touch with Paul Waugh, including one named "Parents Against Trolls". "We've had private investigator reports into Lighthouse," she says. The Basketball Wives executive producer shared the upload filled with photos and videos of their time together alongside a lengthy caption. Samuel Rodriguez Has More Than A Few Words About Pew Survey on the Changing Faith Landscape of Latinos and Hispanics, Rev. Bishop Larry claims he was employed by LCI-Ghana from 2001 to 2020. While pastoring in Paga, he was running a school in Paga to earn a living. Government investigators told the court that it was "wholly unclear" what Lighthouse actually does. More News. 6:04 pm CDT. 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. Pretty soon the pair spoke daily, sometime for hours at a time. Beyond the president, the project has a number of high-profile defenders. They spoke to the pastors to get details of their predicaments. "How is the sacrifice legit if he knew he will wake up. For further info visit our website. Jai said it was "part of the process". ", For more information, visit: www.earnestpugh.com. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. He was not an employee according to the churchs records. But weeks became months, and months became a year. The pastor himself announced it in an interview with BlessedBeatz Media. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. His past. Veteran Anchor John Stofflet to Retire from NBC15 Madison, Meteorologist Bri Eggers Is Leaving KTVB-TV in Boise, Idaho, News4Jax Anchor Mary Baer Is Leaving WJXT-TV, By: Caroline John - Published: July 7, 2021 at 7:13 am, Keion Henderson at the 34th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards at the Orleans Arena on March 29, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, an opposition member of parliament and a critic of the project, has accused the board of diverting $206,658 to a private company of one of its members. He was a volunteer pastor from 2008 to 2018, till he abandoned post as a volunteer pastor without due notice in 2018. Often, they were told they would make their money back quickly through networking opportunities, new business ideas or by becoming mentors themselves. 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. b. b. Erin, whose name we have changed, told her mentor that when she was about 13 she had been sexually abused by someone known to her family. Are you affected by issues covered in this story? "All families have difficulties and Lighthouse would find them," says Jeff. He also, with the written consent of his biological father, Mr Christopher Yaw Amankwah, signed the Missionary Consent form on 13th October 2007. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2019. The beauty of a gracious and merciful God is that He will use our mistakes as an opportunity to help us unlearn some bad behaviors, gain some new insights, and shift us into our destiny. Hendersons mentor is the well known Bishop T.D. 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. I think it is important that we do it.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Joe first joined Lighthouse in 2000, eventually becoming the Director of Student Ministries in 2002. Some are however vehemently defending him saying that there is a ploy to bring him down. By this, that pastor (if employed by the church) is paid by the LCI of the country he moves to and not LCI Ghana. Read the full report on The Fourth Estate. According to the Africa Oxford Initiative, Accra alone has about 10 churches per square kilometre. Return to homepage. Moody pastored many years ago), Lutzer would lead many astray because "They've committed too much.". Things start off well - and happy mentees invest more money. CitiNewsroom.com is Ghana's leading news website that delivers high quality innovative, alternative news that challenges the status quo. "Pastor Keion Henderson and I mutually agreed that seasons have changed," said Pugh in a statement shared with The Christian Post. Thank You for accepting my friendship first and trusting me as your safe place where we both can grow without judgement. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Bible loves a good redemption story, but forgiveness only goes so far. 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Counsel for the ex-pastors, Kofi Bentil initially stood up to deny that his clients made such a demand but later added that even if they did demand the $12 Million USD it did not matter. This has led to criticism from a Former mentees say they were encouraged to borrow money to pay for courses. WebIn January of 1995, the neo-evangelical host of the John Ankerberg Show announced a 2/8/95 seminar to be held at Catholic-sympathizer D. James Kennedy's church (Coral Ridge 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. Shaunie ONealintroduced her new boyfriend,Pastor Keion Henderson, in a big way on Tuesday, July 6, by penning him a special message in honor of his 40th birthday. "I thought he was smart," recalls Jeff. This ministry was inspired when he met a female veteran living in a Houston shelter. The fallen pastors and leaders include famous men like Ted Haggard, one of many anti-gay activitists caught being gay, and Tony Alamo, who was WebThey have resigned from Lighthouse and have sued the church for violating their rights Kofi Bentil, who is the lawyer for the six former employees of the church, told The Fourth Estate WebLighthouse Christian Church - Leadership Joe Castillo Lead Pastor MIke Park Executive Pastor Nancy Sugikawa PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP Paul Hwang PASTOR OF STUDENTs & YOUNG ADULTs Patti Yonemura DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S MINISTRY Janet Yip Nursery & Preschool coordinator Ben Higashi DIGITAL MEDIA coordinator Learn more about our staff We should be building hospitals and schools, actor and activist Yvonne Nelson told Al Jazeera. A post shared by Deitrick TV (@deitricktv). 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. Jeff had joined the pioneering life coaching and mentoring group to help him find more direction. That he stole monies he should have used to pay his own SSNIT contributions and taxes. This includes a Hyundai Elantra with registration number: GN8591-12 and that Bishop Oko Mensah refused to return the Hyundai Elantra when he resigned. Sitting on day-long mentoring phone calls seems a far cry from the popular image of a cult - where depictions tend to be about mysticism and new religions. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. When Jeff got frustrated on one call, Jai told him to up his efforts and stop being emotionally "lazy". a. In 2006, he began working at Orchard Valley Christian Church in Sunnyvale, CA for 7 years. Lighthouse wanted her to take her parents to court and "make them pay for not taking better care of her". In response, the board chairman said Deloitte would conduct the audit. He had been planning a solo hike to the South Pole, and thought a coach could help him get more disciplined. Felecia has not spoken much about their separation and has had limited activity on social media. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. 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. Jeff no longer seemed himself. The series of controversies has caused two members of the board of trustees popular Christian leaders Mensa Otabil and Dag Heward-Mills to resign. We complain about schools. One day, Dawn overheard one of Jeff's many supposedly motivational daily calls. Seven of these experts told us they believe Lighthouse is a cult. She was previously known as the first lady of the Lighthouse Church in Houston, Texas, where Keion Henderson is the lead pastor. Nine years into their marriage, the pastor reportedly spoke about difficulties in their relationship in an interview. WebCelebrated gospel singer Earnest Pugh is leaving his position as Pastor of Worship at Houstons Lighthouse Church. Thank you for making my 40th Birthday one I will never forget! Cults want families to get angry and complain, so the family needs to avoid criticism, stay in touch and be available, Stein advises. "I was motivated. Erin says she got a credit card at Jai's suggestion. WebLighthouse, a Pontiac-based nonprofit dedicated to building equitable communities that alleviate poverty, is pursuing plans to redevelop its headquarters at 46156 Woodward Ave. in Pontiac. We've now spoken to 20 people who've left Lighthouse. Lighthouse argues it has helped lots of people overcome obstacles to their potential through mentoring, life-coaching, counselling and community support. Required fields are marked *. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The Basketball Wives stars recent post wishing megachurch pastor Keion Henderson a happy birthday has many speculating if they are dating. A vlogger by the name of Larry Reid reportedly secured copies of the court documents and released them on Patreon. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, our podcast series is titled A Very British Cult, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, Explosion derails train in Russian border region. Pugh recently announced that he was leaving his position as worship pastor at Houston's Lighthouse Church. But critics and the opposition accuse the government of using the project to milk state coffers in the name of religion, and some see the state-backed construction as a misplaced priority. The Memphis, Tennessee, native has said that one of his dreams is to launch a non-profit organization for veterans. Who said God lives in cathedrals?, Our public hospitals are without dialysis machines for kidney patients, Gyampo said. Attacking critics seems to be part of the group's modus operandi. The BBC searched public records and found 17 county court judgements against nine current members of Lighthouse. Felecia and Earlenes husbands, Pastor Henderson and millionaire coach Holton Buggs, appeared in a special relationship-themed episode. She was born on July 18, 2012. "He was interested in the same ideas I was interested in.". We spoke to 10 different cult experts from the UK, US and Canada.

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