A religious broadcaster is building a $4 million home in a gated, lakefront community in the Upstate at the same time that the ministry has cut jobs and reset thermostats in its new headquarters.
Inspiration Networks' CEO David Cerullo is building the 9,000-square-foot home on a lot that overlooks Lake Keowee, The Charlotte Observer reported Monday.
Inspiration Networks has drawn scrutiny for up to $26 million in incentives it won from South Carolina to move from Charlotte to Indian Land, S.C., in Lancaster County. The network's revenues are expected to approach $100 million, largely donations from people who are told God favors those who donate.
Cerullo has said 80 cents of each dollar that is donated is spent to spread the Gospel.
In addition to laying off workers, the newspaper reported, the ministry froze wages and stopped making contributions to 401(k) retirement accounts. The thermostat on the network's new building was cut to 65 degrees during the winter.
A network spokesman did not respond to calls and e-mails requesting comment on the house. Cerullo defended his $1.5 million in compensation in a March interview and said he rejected recommendations that he be paid more.
"If they've got these kinds of assets, does the state really need to offer ... tax breaks?" asked Don Weaver, president of the S.C. Association of Taxpayers.
Employees told the newspaper the ministry began laying off some workers late last year.
Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, is investigating the finances of six other televangelists and told the newspaper that leaders of religious nonprofits should be careful not to use viewers' donations to adopt extravagant lifestyles.
IRS rules bar nonprofits from paying "unreasonable compensation" to officials.
"Some nonprofit organizations provide compensation usually available only to the top rung of the employee ladder in corporate America," Grassley said in a written statement. "This suggests major flaws in the test for ensuring that executive compensation paid to officers and directors is fair and reasonable."
Pennsylvania resident Gregg Hill donated $5,000 to the network before he was disenchanted with its fundraising. He questions why Cerullo and his wife, who now live in a 12,000-square-foot house in south Charlotte, need such a house.
"He doesn't need to be living in a $4 million house," said Hill. "There are people who could be helped with that money."
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June 30, 2009
9:05 a.m.Report inappropriate content
How wonderful! Proof that "prosperity gospel" really works.
June 30, 2009
10:38 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Yes, yes, yes! Can you imagine the money the state would bring in if we started taxing these mega churches?? A lot of them are bigger and nice than our schools.
June 30, 2009
11:18 a.m.Report inappropriate content
David Cerullo should hide under a rock, he should be so ashamed. Look at all the homeless people, and people who go to bed hungry every night, because of lack of funds. Just think how many livable houses $4000000.00 could put the homeless in, or how much food it could put in hungry bellies. People who donate their money to churches like that, have more money than they do sense. If he wants to spend $4000000.00 ( I have to stop and count my 0's ) He should help the people who have lost their jobs, or are families on the street, sleeping in cardboard boxes. All I can say is shame on him, using the name of the Lord, to sucker people in with all intentions of becoming rich. What a shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 30, 2009
1:38 p.m.Report inappropriate content
I'm reminded of James 2:14-17: "Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if a certain one says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? 15 If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, 16 yet a certain one of YOU says to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,” but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it? 17 Thus, too, faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself."
June 30, 2009
2:04 p.m.Report inappropriate content
I say AMEN Neotech. You hit the nail on the head.
June 30, 2009
2:43 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Agree with carolyndobson....greed is what makes people do such as this. Surely he has not even thought about helping anyone but himself. This should be against the law for someone to profit such a this in the name of religion. Yes....he should crawl under a rock and never come out. People also need to wise up when they see this type of thing happening.
July 1, 2009
1:31 a.m.Report inappropriate content
This happens all the time, even in little churches, but it is on such a small scale that no one notices. Yes it is people like Mr. Cerullo that have made me leave the church. I cannot stand greed in any form, but I really hate it when the greedy ones are the ones doing the preaching about not being greedy!! "rejected recommendations that he be paid more" Oh puulleeasse!!!
July 1, 2009
8:05 a.m.Report inappropriate content
It did not cost me a dime. Shame on the people who donated. Find a differant church .Do not blame him for having the money.Blame the lunnies who do not know better.
July 1, 2009
9:44 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Don't be so quick to judge. David Cerullo may be an evangelist, but he is also a well educated business man with real estate investments etc... We don't know where the money for this home came from, nor do we know how many he has helped. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
July 1, 2009
10:52 a.m.Report inappropriate content
The lord giveth and the lord taketh away
July 1, 2009
10:54 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Lots of BITTER people in this thread. I don't care how big his house is, if he is paying his tithe and giving offering. None of us know his heart.
July 1, 2009
11:12 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Yes Clemsonjosh you can easily tell who are having job difficulties and afraid of loosing everything. Yes gregvrichards the lord does take away...jobs, homes, you know the usual. Mr. Cerulla is a "minister" and is supposed to be humble. Why would anyone NEED a home that big?! Is he planning on using it to house homeless people or run a children's home? Some how I doubt he would allow those lower forms of humans on his property, and certainly not in his house. If you want to begin quoting scripture didn't Jesus say to sell all of your possessions and give the money to the poor? I don't know of any "ministers" around here that are making a 6 figure income (and yes there are several) that would do that!
SmileyFace you should run for office!
July 1, 2009
1:31 p.m.Report inappropriate content
amen and pass the plate
July 2, 2009
10:33 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Where does this overwhelming sense of entitlement come from? Why do so many people feel that one who is successful is obligated to give to those who are not. It's a novel idea but should not be viewed as a manditory entitlement of those less fortunate. If you're traveling a tough road, put you're head down and continue to push. Many of us are having a tough time, losing earnings, losing retirements, losing jobs, houses, vehicles, etc. The only thing you can and should depend on is yourself.
I can understand the annimosity that alot of folks feel over this topic but you would be better served at directing your anger where it belongs...with the government. This "minister" accepted donations from willing individuals and is paid for services he performs. No one can find fault with that.
The banks and businesses that were given OUR MONEY, against our wishes, and the multi billion dollar pet projects that were funded by OUR MONEY is what angers me and should anger you as well.
Do not allow your anger to be misplaced. Do not allow your circumstances to cause jealousy over another's good fortune. Direct your anger and frustration toward those who are responsible for it and work toward fixing the problem from now until the next election cycle and beyond.
July 2, 2009
12:16 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Where was all this passion and noble consideration for the less fortunate in our community when Seneca Baptist accepted over $4 million to build their shrine on South Oak street in Seneca.
They abandondoned the old church on South Fairplay street. They disregaded the wishes and concerns of the local community by rezoning the church to "commercial property". Under a lot of oppostition from the local comunity they City Council voted in favor of the church's wishes, disregarding the ethics of their decision since several of the council members and the Mayor of Seneca are members of Seneca Baptist Church.
The cost estimate of repairs needed at the old Seneca Baptist Church was roughly $1 million. That would have left roughly $3 million to help with local projects and assistance for any number of the community's needs.
If you want to find hypocricy, corruption and poor ethics you need look no further than your own City Council and local church.
If you donated to the church that provides this minister a salary that affords him to build a $4 million dollar house then you have every right to question how your donations are being spent. If his position in the church is directly affecting your community by infiltrating the local political system and strong-arming them to do his will, then you are justified in your disappointment.
Otherwise, if you have no involvement or are not directly affected by this man and his lifestyle, direct your grievances where you are actually affected...your local church and government.
July 2, 2009
3:29 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Well I'll just say this about this evangelist or whatever you want to call him. And my statement goes to anyone in his category, local or not, if they are a Preacher of the Lord's work or a bible thumper (not using that term negatively). I just hope they enjoy their ONE or MANY mansions on earth...'cause I gotta feeling they won't be getting one in heaven.
July 3, 2009
10:17 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Hey Smileyface:
Go get an education, be willing to move where the jobs are, put in 60+ hours a week for 30 years, defer purchasing a home, starting a family, and maybe you too can afford a house on the lake.
July 4, 2009
7:45 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Smileyface:
Sorry to hear that an MFA did not provide you with the chances at success you hoped for. I guess what makes me a little sick and tired is the whining of a few (but not all) of the locals, who seem to assume that those of us on the lake had it handed to us. My wife and I gave up a lot to allow us to be successful, we both got marketable graduate degrees..without help from a "rich uncle", we moved repeatedly for the sake of our careers, saved every extra dime, invested it wisely, in short we sacrificed. I am sympathetic for those whom life has dealt a losing hand, but I have no time for people who won't take the time and effort to better themselves.
Sorry for the rant.
July 5, 2009
3:12 p.m.Report inappropriate content
just a few questions smileyface...you say the community needs to come together. does that include the hispanics in the community? if not, how is it a community? we need to support each other, you say...does that include supporting people who aren't like you? and then you suggest that we pray together...to what God? To the God that Cerullo claims to represent? to Allah? to Buddha? because, remember, this is a free country and we are free to worship whoever/whatever/whenever or never if we so please. cerullo is a thief living off of the trust of good people but he is free to do so, because this is the land of the free.
unfortunately, since no one wants to pay more taxes to go to education, it is clearly, very quickly becoming the land of the stupid.
July 6, 2009
2:56 a.m.Report inappropriate content
I've been a preacher's kid all of my life - guess what - ministers who really minister to their congregations and communities don't make enough to even have real estate investments (other than their own homes - sometimes). Nor do they have flashy cars, homes, or clothes. Therein lies the true irony of it all.......
July 6, 2009
5:50 a.m.Report inappropriate content
There are many of us on the lake who try to give back to the community.. through organizations like Habitat for Humanity, volunteering at Oconee Medical Center, or other agencies. Having said that, I am well aware that there are others on the lake for whom this is just a permanent vacation home ( in some cases only one of several they may have ).
July 6, 2009
11:08 p.m.Report inappropriate content
smiley, you say, "I am not saying that the Mexicans that have come into this area are bad", and then you say,"I look at them, their cars, their clothes, I hear their expensive car stereos pumping Mexican music in parking lots and at stop lights and it makes me angry.They have come here in droves and have taken our jobs and they don’t give back to the community they are just sucking us dry". smiley, you don't have a clue if the people beside you pumping Mexican music are legal or not, and I don't believe you know enough about their community to know if they are giving back or not. Seems to me that they are very supportive of their community and families. I see alot more hispanic men playing with their children and helping their wives than white home boys around here. Furthermore, the only person who is responsible for anyone working is the person who is doing the hiring. You have a problem with illegals, you need to go after the people giving them jobs. But before you do that, I suggest you take a good honest look at your heart, because you clearly are bigoted. You have no ability to consider that most of the people who are driving those expensive cars could be citizens of these United States. You are PREJUDGING them. That is where the word PREJUDICE comes from. And, again, they did not take your job away, the guy doing the hiring gave it away.
Nor do you have a clue what my profession is, but I guarantee you that I know a heck of alot more about educating and the educational system than you do. Positive reinforcement is effective only when a person has produced something worth reinforcing. Lying to them or falsely building them up is what got us into the educational gutter we're in, and has not been proven in any study to create confidence,curiosity or a love of learning.
I wil not debate that a mass of positive energy makes a difference, because I believe that it does. I will posit, however, that the Great Spirit has every chance of being a "she" as a "he".
And lastly, this is the United States of America, not The Sovereign State of South Carolina, thus Mr Cerullo has every right to build what ever he wants and wherever he wants whether we like it or not. But remember that it has always been greed at this magnitude that has toppled the liars calling themselves Christians, so history will repeat itself. He will not last.
July 7, 2009
9:52 p.m.Report inappropriate content
smiley, say you have a friend who is overweight. they sit on the couch all day eating potato chips. they know they're fat, you know they're fat, but they aren't getting off of the couch and they aren't changing their habits. they continue to be fat. do you say, "way to go, friend! good job!" do you offer them positive reinforcement? students who do not perform will not perform better if you offer them false praise. you would only know that if you were a teacher, which you are not.
i don't know why that has become the topic, though. i think the topic is that this guy is building a big house on the lake with money that he got by lying to people and avoiding taxation.
i will say that my life has been influenced by many changes and i have been blessed by every one of my challenges. i don't take the victim mentality and blame the other guy for my problems, though. and i still don't understand why you continue to blame the hispanic population. if the jobs weren't here, they wouldn't be here either, so if you have a problem with it, the people to blame are the people giving them the jobs. i think they have been a great addition to our community, though. this old tired county needed some shaking up and some spice and diversity. keeps you on your toes. the most biodiverse communities are the healthiest ones, and we were becoming a stand of hybrid yellow pines.
life is change, smiley. that's a fact. you can't insulate yourself in a myth of Mayberry RFD, cause it never was that way. back when they were building the stumphouse tunnel you had german lutherans and irish catholics. before them were the cherokee and the creek and the charleston gentry. it's never been a bunch of white southern baptists, and thank God it never will be.
i must NOT be a feminist or any other label you need to put on me. i am an open minded educated seeker of truth and knowledge, and if that threatens you, then i'll pray to Mrs Potato Chip in the sky for you if that helps. but your "let's everyone get together and think positive thoughts and sing khumbayah...but only if you are white and NOT A LIBERAL OR A FEMINIST OR A SUPPORTER OF OBAMA...OR ANYTHING ELSE SCARY!" is just plain sad and so blatantly...uh, sorry, STUPID. If you can't love 'em all, you ain't a lover, you are a selective hater. and that ain't somethin to be smiley about cause it is so dang NEGATIVE.
July 8, 2009
9:36 a.m.Report inappropriate content
That big house proves that David Cerullo just praised Jesus more than the rest of us. God is going to fill that 9,000 square feet with all kinds of blessings! That is what the prosperity gospel tells us, isn't it?
Lot's of (odd) talk about Mexicans but not one bit of outrage that the State gave $23 million of taxpayer money to a religious non-profit? You know, the kind that doesn't pay property taxes. No one finds that asinine?
July 8, 2009
3:09 p.m.Report inappropriate content
enforcer , u can take your pest-mystic attitude and and go else were at least smiley was trying, u just keep tearing apart with out cause , or maybe u are looking for your sequential truth . Well i got news for ya its ppl like you that obviously cant handle the truth. if nothing else smiley was only trying to say the Mexicans aren't the problem but that the people with money need to support the legal ppl and stop supporting the illegal you are wanting to wait till and illegal has a baby and then its a free ticket to stay,and more jobs gone? Its like anyone or animal that would protect their own hunting ground as to were we would call it a job,or food or a better life for our children so you can take all your thoughtless comments and your fat pocketbook (or u obviously would be speak-in in such a way ) and go back to were ever ya came from cuz i know your not from here. The ppl i know from here are great ppl and are always willing to share this land with ppl that respect it,but when u act like another law maker don't be surprised when u get a cold shoulder! (if ya cant understand plain English,then all that schoolin ain't done ya no good )
July 8, 2009
5:08 p.m.Report inappropriate content
I predict that its only a matter of time before we read that Cerullo has been caught in some scam, and goes the way of Jim and Tammy Faye Baker, Jimmy Swaggert, that jerk in Denver, and the whole rotten bunch of frauds who pretend to be holy men. It truly makes me sick..reminds of when I went to Rome and saw the Vatican, and realized it was built from the gold stolen from the Indians of the americas. When will people wake up and realize that you don't need an intermediary to speak to God, particularly if that intermediary charges you for the service.
July 10, 2009
9:04 a.m.(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
July 10, 2009
7:07 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Apparently, I am one of the few who is happy that $4 million dollars is going to be pumped into our local economy. The contractor and all the sub-contractors who will build his house will certainly be pleased. The local businesses that will sell the supplies will be pleased. Why then are so many other folks unhappy about this?
Jesus said all sins are equal. Maybe some of the folks who are so wound up over this should ponder that thought. Jealousy is just as wrong as greed.
While this minister is indeed living a lavish lifestyle he is also giving back by spending $4 million in our local economy.
Also, I don't think anyone should feel sorry for any of the folks who donated to his organization. A gift or donation given under the pretense of a "good return" is not a gift out of love for God. That classifies as an investment. Any individual who takes the time to understand the teachings of the bible should know that you can't buy God's favor or blessings.
Two particular teachings come to mind that seem fitting.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
July 11, 2009
4:21 p.m.Report inappropriate content
For all those preaching here, envy is a sin. Sounds like a lot of jealous people here.
July 18, 2009
8:53 a.m.Report inappropriate content
taxman, i think i understand you but because you chose to write unintelligently, you leave yourself open for misunderstanding. i do understand that you think i ain't from around here and that i have a lot of money, and both assumptions are wrong. but unlike many of our neighbors, i am not afraid of things, people and experiences different from us, and i have travelled and sought education. and i found out that it's a really great world out there,i found out that communities that close their minds and borders to things different are doomed because they can't evolve or change,(and the ability to adapt to change is a constant in the natural world for survival), and that a lot of what they taught me in school here ain't 'xactly right. then i came back, because my mama and daddy still lived here and i wanted to be with them in their last years. lotsa money? my cabin has a wood stove, i don't have a TV, and my car is 20 years old. but even if i had so much money that i could buy this county, i still have a right to my opinions and poor poor taxman is one of the many pathetic souls who thinks that if you don't think like him, you gotta leave. sorry, taxman, i'm bringing all my gay, artistic, atheist, hispanic, black, feminist, democrat AMERICAN friends here to live and take over the place, and you and your type, who cannot keep up with change will be in a shrinking sick minority. and it's already started. maybe it's time for you to leave and go find a commune where you lock everyone out who ain't like you. but as far as i'm concerned, you can stay because...guess what else i discovered?...it's a FREE COUNTY AND YOU CAN GO AND LIVE AND DO AND SAY WHATEVER YOU DANG WELL PLEASE AS LONG AS YOU OBEY THE LAW. AND DISCRIMINATION IS AGAINST THE LAW. AND YOU ARE A DISCRIMINATOR! thus, you are ANTI AMERICAN!!!! you're an extremist, just like the TALIBAN. BOOOO!!!