End Times Prophetic, Prophecy, Visions, Dreams, Revelation, Christian Blog

Christian prophecy for the church and for the nations from a servant of God called to speak God's word

The Inspiration Network: Morris and David Cerullo, Mike Murdock and Larry Huch

Many thanks to ‘Susan’ for directing me to this article.

Article By DAVE WAGNER, NewsChannel 36 from here, November 27, 2008 

“CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A warning for donors to stop giving to a Christian television network headquartered here in Charlotte.

It’s a network that preaches if you sow your financial seed, God can make you debt free, even a millionaire.

The I-Team explores the Inspiration Network and its so-called “gospel of prosperity.”

“Tonight is the poorest you’ll ever be,” evangelist Mike Murdock said on Inspiration Network.

It is a pitch for prosperity…  

“Tomorrow, somebody’s gonna drive a Mercedes,” said evangelist Larry Huch on Inspiration Network.

That some call the gospel…

“If you can’t trust God for $58 you’ll never be debt free,” Murdock said on Inspiration Network.

And others call greed.

“They’re preying on the emotionalism, the tough times of the moment,” said Warren Smith with Wall Watchers.

 From their studios in Charlotte, North Carolina…

“You got to act tonight. Now! In Jesus name,” said evangelist Morris Cerullo on Inspiration Network.

To a self-proclaimed audience of 18 million homes…

“Jesus was not poor,” said Huch on Inspiration Network.

The Inspiration Network is attracting millions in donations…

“According to this book, I can give my way into the future,” Murdock said on Inspiration Network.

And the scrutiny of a ministry watchdog group.

“We would warn donors about the Inspiration Network,” Smith said.

Critics call them “televangelist gunslingers.”

“If you’ve ever decided to obey the Holy Spirit, go to the phone right now,” Murdock said on Inspiration Network.

Pastors flown in to raise money for the Inspiration Network.

“I’m asking for 1,179 people,” Cerullo said on Inspiration Network.

Each promising a gift from God for a limited number of callers.

“There are 300 people I want to pray for that will set aside a $58 seed for the next 12 months,” Murdock said on Inspiration Network.

Mike Murdock is part pastor, part P.T. Barnum… theology and theatrics.

“You have a Jehovah gyro in your life,” he said on Inspiration Network

His “prosperity” pitch filled with drama and the promise of divine miracles.

“They did a geological report and when it came back they found gold on her 27 acres of ground. This happened after a $58 seed,” Murdock said on Inspiration Network.

In 2006,  the Inspiration Network paid Murdock $100,000.

And with a $696 donation to the Inspiration Network, Mike Murdock claims it can happen to you.

“My goal is for 300 people to hear the wisdom that God gives my heart for them to become millionaires for the sake of the Kingdom of God,” Murdock said on Inspiration Network.

“I think there are some donors who are very vulnerable to that message,” Smith said. “Especially in tough economic times, you’ll find that there are a couple of growth industries. One is the lottery and the other is prosperity preachers.” 

“Tomorrow, somebody is miraculously gonna have their debts cancelled,” Huch said on Inspiration Network.

“It instead treats Jesus or God as a ‘cosmic bellhop,’” Smith said.

Smith is with Wall Watchers, a Christian ministry watchdog group based in Matthews, N.C.

These are files on 500 of the largest ministries in America. Their financial statements are reviewed by staff, including a certified fraud examiner.

“Our primary concern is that even if you agree with their theology, they have a moral and legal responsibility to be open and transparent,” Smith said.

Wall Watcher’s website, www.ministrywatch.com, analyzes and grades the ministries according to financial transparency or openness.

“I believe that financial integrity and accountability is extremely important,” said Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Ministry Watch gives the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association an “A” for financial transparency.

“My father for years, long before it was ever suggested, he told his board, ‘I want to be audited by an outside auditing firm. I want to make that audit public and we’ll let the world know how we’ve used the money,’” Franklin Graham said.

There’s a lot of money coming in to the Inspiration Network — $56 million in 2006. In a four-year period, $39 million in profit.

“Our concern is their donors don’t know where their money is going,” Smith said.

The gospel of prosperity has been a goldmine for Inspiration CEO David Cerullo. His salary in 2006 was $1.6 million.

“It’s certainly out of bounds of what we see as best practice within the ministry world,” Smith said.

Cerullo and his wife, Barbara, live in a gated neighborhood in south Charlotte. Their 8,200-square-foot home, with a pool and elevator, can be seen from the air, valued at more than $1.6 million.

In some of the network pitches, viewers are told to send their donations directly to Cerullo himself.

“Send your check or money order to David Cerullo…”

While there’s no evidence donations are being misappropriated, it’s another red flag for Wall Watchers.

“If checks are literally made out to him personally, as opposed to the network itself, there’s no way to know for sure where that money ends up,” Smith said.

Three years ago, the Inspiration Network’s articles of incorporation were rewritten to require just three board members, two of whom are David and Barbara Cerullo.

“So it’s hard to understand how the board of the Inspiration Network could be truly independent and fulfill their legal fiduciary responsibilities of independence,” Smith said. “We would counsel that donors not give money to the organization.”

Despite being on TV every day of the week, David Cerullo declined our request for an on-camera interview. Instead, a spokesman released this statement:

“Our policy is not to engage in public discourse regarding accusations against our ministry. We are audited annually by an independent accounting firm.  Every year we file Form 990 with the IRS which provides complete transparency about our income and expenses. Inspiration Ministries is in good standing with both the IRS and the North Carolina Secretary of State. Never in our 18 year history have we had a formal complaint from any regulatory agency.”

Even if you’ve never phoned in a dime, you could be helping to pay for the Inspiration Network’s new headquarters.

The so-called “City of Light” is just across the border in Indian Land, S.C.

And the I-Team discovered the state of South Carolina handed the tax-exempt Inspiration Network a $1.2 million economic development grant to pay for road, water and sewer construction.

“In effect, whether we choose to be a donor to that organization or not, we are, in fact, a donor to that organization if we pay taxes,” Smith said.

“How many would like to have some prosperity in your life. I’m not against prosperity. I’m for it,” Huch said on Inspiration Network.

As the prayers and pitches for prosperity continue on the airwaves, some critics question who’s really getting rich.

“Money is a weapon. Money is a bridge. Money’s a tool,” Murdock said on Inspiration Network.

“Any donor ought to look really before they gave money to the Inspiration Networks,” Smith said.

“Money’s an instrument. The Bible says money answereth all things,” Murdock said on Inspiration Network.

Again, we want to emphasize there’s no evidence donations are being misappropriated. The I-Team asked the Inspiration Network for more details on where those donations are going and we were denied.

MinistryWatch.com was founded by a devout Christian and their website acknowledges ministries who are good stewards of your donations.

At this point, Ministry Watch has not yet given the Inspiration Network a grade for financial transparency.”

December 27, 2008 - Posted by endtimespropheticwords | Barbara Cerullo, David Cerullo, False Prophets and Teachers, Franklin Graham, Larry Huch, Mike Murdock, Morris Cerullo, News, Prosperity Gospel/Seed Faith, Pulpit Pimps, Word of Faith | , , , | 18 Comments

18 Comments »

  1. Maybe it’s time we become Christian activists and write to all the news media and TV stations such as WCNC and compliment them for doing a good job exposing wolves in sheep’s clothing. We should encourage them to do more of what is done on this site?

    We should tell them that Miriam Franklin of End Times Visions and Christian prophecy at http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/ has done many exposes of Rick Joyner, IHOP, Todd Bentley and they must check out her latest postings about

    • Rick Joyner Revelation of His True Colors http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/12/23/rick-joyner-revelation-of-his-true-colors/,
    • Mike Bickle & IHOP Cult-like Tendancies http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/mike-bickle-ihop-cult-like-tendancies/#comment-29021
    • Todd Bentley: The Bottom Line – http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/todd-bentley-the-bottom-line/
    • John Arnott, Che Ahn and Bill Johnson of Revival Alliance Mislead Public Re Todd Bentley Restoration http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/todd-bentley-the-bottom-line/

    We can tell the News Media they will find a wealth of information exposing all these false ones who live off the proceeds of unsuspecting dumb sheep.

    David Wagner’s email is DWagner@WCNC.com. We can write to NBC at nbc6storyideas@nbc.com, ABC at Contribute@abcnews.go.com, PBS at newshour@pbs.org, etc

    Comment by SUSAN | December 27, 2008

  2. Giving to any ministry comes from the heart, and is directed by the Holy Spirit to where you should be giving. I stopped watching many TV Christians ministries due to their approaches on how to give..by ’seeding’ into their ministries and then expecting God to make you rich”..turned me off.

    Comment by Lela | December 27, 2008

  3. A couple of years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and chose to watch the God channel. Mike Murdock was on the show begging for money for the God channel. He was saying things like… God told him some people should donate $1,000 and they would be given $xxxxx back in return, and in 3 days time they would know clearly what there purpose in life was (this was the part that got to me). I always wanted to do something special for God, I picked up the phone and pledged $1,000. This was taken out of my account over 10 months. Trust me, I was conned. I felt so bitter and almost took the God channel to court to get my money back, but for the grace of God. I am a lone parent of 2 young kids with debts and bills to pay. I know better now and hope people will just stop allowing themselves to be swindled. These men are no different from con artists.

    Comment by BeautyForAshes | December 27, 2008

  4. David Cerrulo hangs around Murdock because Mikey can get the suckers to light up the phones baby. Another Richard “pervert” Roberts, Mr. Seed and miracle man. A chip off the old mans block and then some. It is all 100% covetousness teaching and is sin. All of it.

    Mike Murdock lives in a castle and actually has his own zoo. I am not kidding. He talks about it all the time on his audio tapes. He is loaded way beyond his dreams.

    I love his teaching on wisdom but his teaching on prosperity is so stinkin perverse I can’t listen to him at all anymore.

    Stop giving to TV ministers and put your money in your own community and missions at your church where an accounting can be varified.

    Comment by David | January 3, 2009

  5. Despite asking some important questions, WCNC does a disservice to their viewers and their own credibility by not revealing Mr. Smith’s former financial relationships with The Inspiration Networks. He was editor of a Christian newspaper in Charlotte that took advertising from them – and he even had a television program on one of their channels a few years ago.

    See = http://www.worldviewtimes.com/bio.php/authorid-95

    WCNC presents Mr. Smith as an objective expert but what are his true motives?

    Comment by Alonso | January 7, 2009

  6. Nepotism, pilfering and looting of Pentecostal “Family run and owned” ministries by the senior anointed Pastor or Evangelist is more common than people realize. And some of looting is of great magnitude such as displayed by the Assembly of God Senior Pastor Karl Strader who stole “First Assembly of God” after the dissidents rebellion failed and turned it into Carpenter’s Home Church Incorporated with Karl Strader president for life. (See Not Innocent” http://www.a2zbookdepot.com/xxcrxxoxxoks.pdf )

    Pilfering and looting was the cause of the downfall of Evangelist Rex Humbard. From its modest $65 beginning, the Rex Humbard Ministry was now worth millions. And was all paid for by private contributions. Still, like those of many of his fellow television colleagues, Rex’s ministry appeared ever on the brink of bankruptcy. On his April 13, 1980, broadcast he made an impassioned plea for immediate cash contributions needed to stave off disaster. The program was $2.5 million behind in its obligations, and Humbard was running an average of four months behind in payments to stations for TV time.

    Humbard’s appeals brought in $4 million and wiped out the debt. About the same time, a Cleveland Press writer discovered that Rex and two of his sons, who work with him on the television ministry, had purchased a home and condominiums in Florida valued at $650,000 with down payments of $177,500 in cash.

    A lot of people have long believed that preachers, especially the evangelical variety, have their hands in the offering plate. In light of this belief, the timing of Humbard’s corporate debt and personal investment certainly didn’t make him look very good. And he didn’t help his own cause any when he told the prying Press reporter, “My people don’t give a hoot what I spend that money for.”

    But people do give a hoot how much money their favorite minister steals and that is why ministers especially prominent ones hide their salaries. As a result of Rex Humbard’s thievery his ministry folded because people and even God does not like crooks in the House of God.

    Evangelist Benny Hinn, who is a personal friend of Rex Humbard, Richard Roberts, Karl Strader and other Pentecostal pilferers, stated that his salary is a personal and private matter when the salary and income of the President of United States is not! But salaries of anybody who owns or is involved in a nonprofit corporation or ministry is not a private matter because it’s tax exemption status comes from the public, not God. As a result they are also answerable and accountable to the public for what goes on in their so called ministry or nonprofit corporation especially concerning expenditure of funds and the salaries of the leader, his family and special friends!

    Pilferers such as senior pastors or TV Evangelists use various techniques to shield themselves from scrutiny by their own supporters including clichés such as “Touch not my anointed,” “Judge Not!,” “Preachers are accountable only to God, “Evil is he who sees evil, “For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity, ” “The Devil is behind all the news reports,” etc..

    Pilferers and looters also ensure the composure of their board of directors including family, friends and staff and the instant removal of any dissidents. The news media reported about President Richard Roberts remark “I have the deck stacked—I am elected to three year terms and if a Regent appears to give me trouble, I remove him. I stack the deck… .

    Yes, stacking the board is also a very common practice in many Pentecostal “family run and owned” ministries including Carpenter’s Home Church, Victory International church of Hamilton, Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, Inspiration Network, etc.

    There’s a lot of money coming in to the Inspiration Network — $56 million in 2006. In a four-year period, $39 million in profit.
    “Our concern is their donors don’t know where their money is going,” Smith said.

    The gospel of prosperity has been a goldmine for Inspiration CEO David Cerullo. His salary in 2006 was $1.6 million.
    “It’s certainly out of bounds of what we see as best practice within the ministry world,” Smith said.

    Cerullo and his wife, Barbara, live in a gated neighborhood in south Charlotte. Their 8,200-square-foot home, with a pool and elevator, can be seen from the air, valued at more than $1.6 million.

    In some of the network pitches, viewers are told to send their donations directly to Cerullo himself.
    “Send your check or money order to David Cerullo…”
    While there’s no evidence donations are being misappropriated, it’s another red flag for Wall Watchers.

    “If checks are literally made out to him personally, as opposed to the network itself, there’s no way to know for sure where that money ends up,” Smith said.

    Three years ago, the Inspiration Network’s articles of incorporation were rewritten to require just three board members, two of whom are David and Barbara Cerullo.
    http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-112608-mw-inspiration_network.63a23b6.html

    Yes you can find wolves in sheep’s clothing in all the places where there is supposed to be revival but not integrity!

    Comment by walter | January 10, 2009

  7. It is really quite simple.All these preachers are crooks and their followers are people that are unable to think for themselves, idiots in other words.

    Comment by Dean | March 29, 2009

  8. just got the latest copeland magazine. gloria featured as christian woman of the year. amazing how they lust for fame and recognition.

    gloria writes that God wants Christians to be rich so the unbelievers will be jealous.

    jesse duplantis writes that Jesus was rich, not poor. the proof: the soldiers gambled for his cloak, proving it must have been worth a lot of money.

    it occurs to me that this cloak was in the transfiguration, and perhaps the light is what attracted these soldiers.

    at any rate, the prosperity ministers are basically Jews at heart: seeking worldly riches, fame and fortune, and censoring out of their NT any statement of Jesus to the contrary.

    and as Jesus said: Woe to you who are rich, you have had your reward…

    Comment by MIchael Korn | April 14, 2009

  9. It is quite obvious that David Cerullo/(Dr.?)Mike Murdock are reaping a fortune on the “Inspiration Ministry Campmeeting” Program that airs continously (i.e., the same “show”) on ION Network in New Orleans, LA between 1-3 A.M. Monday Thru Thursday. Each morning they entice different audiences to make the monetary pledge! In my opinion all seed-faith peddlers are false prophets! How many are there: Tilton, Paula White (Twice Divorced), LeSEA Broadcasting which validates this erroneous money making fraudulent activity by using them to raise money in there various campaigns, et al! Christians should give to their churches to support its mission and pay expenses without expecting God’s renumeration in any aspect because everything is his already!

    Comment by Ted Carroll Mc Neel Sr. | April 16, 2009

  10. Shame on the Inspiration Network and our local station here in Atlanta for airing the disgusting “Campmeeting” every single night and every single Sunday! The same re-run over and over again with Mike “All I Ever Talk About Is Money” Murdock. Been airing this again and again for over a year! Truly incredible but obviously, as the last post stated, they are reaping a fortune by airing this garbage. Unfortunately there is no shortage of fools willing to send these crooks their cash.

    Comment by George | May 4, 2009

  11. If only david cerullo himself could answer these questions instead of his “other people” then we would get some stright answers instead of hiding all the time .

    Comment by shay | May 28, 2009

  12. Why would I give to INSP? (I used to)..supposedly it’s to keep “the gospel” on the air 24/7….the only thing that is ever on INSP is Camp Meeting reruns that are 3, 4 and 5 years old…in those hour segments…not once does Murdock, Stone, Jacobs or any of the other hired guns EVER tell the viewing audience that there is a Savior, Jesus Christ who longs to have a relationship with them and who loves them UNCONDITIONALLY (no cash required) and invite them to accept Him as thier Savior…there is no gospel message…and when it’s no a Camp Meeting….it’s an infomercial for exercise equipment or vitamins….shame on INSP and all the Cerullos.

    Comment by Gregg | May 30, 2009

  13. Agreed. Time to go off air. Turns us all away from the true message. (Re comment previous)

    Comment by inquirer | May 31, 2009

  14. It is an interesting discussion…

    I decided to TRY GOD and see if this was HIS way of blessing, when I awakened in the middle of the night and heard Mike Murdock speaking. One thing I know for sure, my Bible says “According to your faith, be it unto you.” As I listened, Mike Murdock said “you need a Jehovah Jireh” (not gyro) “in your life!” (It probably would help if one understood Jireh vs gyro. Jehovah Jireh is the Lord my Provider. I NEED Him to be that for me. If you don’t believe He can bless you beyond your level of giving so that you can have more to give, then you probably would not receive the blessing mentioned.

    Since the day I awakened in the middle of the night and heard a request for $$ for the cause of God, Feed the Children, etc, I have been blessed. The first program I listened to said, you don’t have to sow into this ministry. sow where God is working. You choose where you want to sow. I decided to pray about where God wanted HIS $$ to go and Feed the Children came on. I felt impressed to sow into that ministry because of the work I do for children who need homes and food and care. Abandoned Babies Center in Nairobi Kenya received my $$. I needed a house and vehicle for the babies I have taken in and am raising. In 2005, I was blessed with a new-er minivan, in 2007 an even newer one and in 2007 I also purchased my first home with space for the children I’m raising to roam. The question is, does David Cerullo teach men and women about a saving relationship with Christ? I believe the $ blessings come from a God who does provide for His kids. I know that when I committed to $1000 over a 3-month period, I gave $50 and within about 2 weeks I was notified that I would be getting $500 that I knew nothing about. Mike Murdock prayed that someone would enter “your” life who would be able to bless you with abundance. Well, such a person (whom I did not know had any $$ connections) called me and said she wanted to provide a huge blessing in my life to accomplish a goal I had. TODAY, June 2, 2009, she called me to confirm a Western Union money order to do what she said she would. But the, maybe I am just being blessed because I chose to believe that Jehovah IS my Provider, and that He chooses to provide through whomever. And yes, the rest of that $1000 — if He wants it in that ministry, He will provide it because I am not using any of the income I receive from other sources. It is totally money that comes from places I know nothing about. That is what I told God when I decided to test Him and see if this was His way of providing for His children.

    I needed a special protection for my son while serving in Iraq. I pledged to a ministry that was building churches in Mozambique, $25 each payday. Not only did I have the $25 each payday. I had one friend who pledged the same $25 each of his paydays, two others gave lump sums. With and beyond my income God provided the money for that project–nearly $2500. Why? I don’t know. I had a new house and someone in that ministry challenged me to let God furnish the house. But, that’s my faith. And to this day, my faith has never been unrewarded. (BTW, the $$ is at Western Union for me to pick up…I just checked. He IS my Provider.

    Comment by Alethea | June 2, 2009

  15. please pray for the presence of God to dwell with my family and the restoration of my marriage

    Comment by naana | June 20, 2009

  16. I read very few words & was very upset for people who do not believe in Jesus . this is all abt him who has created you and me in this beutiful world . I have tried giving $58 only for 5 months and no body will believe that god has done in my life I canot believe myself though I have experience all of them How this can happen , this is real you talk abt money and greed cos of devil is working in u you give for god’s work as they do to bring every one to Jesus this world is nothing but Jesus is everything seek him believe in him this is what they tell you so give for his work and it will turn ur life upside down with his blessings . do it I tell you and see it works I was away from god by sinning He punished me and in that pain I cried to Jesus and gave me wisdom and understanding to live this life in his way & i have experienced wonderfull things that I have lost in past 20 years He returned me in 5 months I gave him in faith in Jesus & my life is all new today . I tell you do not be entangled in this worldly thing and talk in evil way do things in god’s way and god will take care of other things . believe me I have given and seen it happening . it works it works . this is not abt people but abt Jesus . so change your thinking

    Comment by Tara Raju | October 9, 2009

  17. “Did you know that from the beginning of time the whole purpose of God was to reproduce himself? And when we stand up here, brother, you’re not looking at Morris Cerullo; you’re looking at God. You’re looking at Jesus.”

    The End Time Manifestation of the Sons of God. Morris Cerullo World Evangelism tape 1

    http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c47.html

    No, when you stand up there, I and anyone else aren’t looking at God/Jesus. We see you, Morris. We see just a man.

    And we might see you begging for money, too.

    Comment by Ray | October 10, 2009

  18. BTW, Jesus could multiply bread and fish.

    Why can’t Morris multiply a few gold and silver bars into the realm of billions of dollars? I mean, we are supposedly looking at God, right? We are supoposedly looking at Jesus, right?

    LOL.

    Comment by Ray | October 10, 2009


Leave a comment

« Previous | Next »