I don’t mean to knock religion, but it’s tough to look around at some of what’s going on in the world today without a head shake.

Here in South Africa we have Angus Buchan spreading the gospel (and homophobia and misogyny), but he’s playing in the minor leagues when compared to some of the televangelists in America.

Take for example poor ‘ol Jesse Duplantis, just trying to travel the world and do the Lord’s work. He’s now reaching out to his followers to donate and help him buy a new private jet, a Falcon 7X, which costs the small matter of $54 million (R675 million).

He uploaded the video to his YouTube channel earlier in the week, but after some serious backlash he deleted it.

Some news networks still have that footage, and you can see his logic in action here:

Oh, we forgot to mention that he already has three other planes. If he lands that fourth he equals the fleet size of Donald Trump, and given that he often sings the president’s praises he’s chomping at the bit.

Look at this Falcon 7X, sitting on this runway looking perfect for travelling the world and saving lost souls:

Farcical, isn’t it? Let’s find out more about Jesse with the help of the Washington Post:

Duplantis is the founder of Jesse Duplantis Ministries, which includes a weekly television program that reaches 106 million U.S. households, according to his Amazon author biography. In 1997, he and his wife founded Covenant Church in Destrehan, La., just outside New Orleans.

“It is his mission to reach every soul of the 7 billion people that now inhabit the earth, making sure that each one has an opportunity to know the real Jesus — approachable, personable, compassionate, and full of joy-the way that he knows Jesus,” the biography says.

He preaches the prosperity gospel, which says God shows favor [sic] by rewarding the faithful with earthly riches. Giving money to pastors and their ministries, leaders say, is a sort of investment.

Yep, give Jesse your hard-earned money so he can buy jets, and you will be rewarded on earth and in the afterlife.

You’re welcome to send us money, too, if you like, but we can’t promise either of those.

Somebody out there is probably thinking this all sounds rather familiar, and a pat on the back because that somebody would be right:

In 2015, televangelist Creflo Dollar was widely mocked for starting “Project G650,” a means of getting a state-of-the-art Gulfstream G650 plane of his own, financed by his 200,000 followers. According to The Post’s Abby Ohlheiser, Dollar said he “needs one of the most luxurious private jets made today in order to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

That jet cost $65 million, by the way.

Hold my beer, Creflo, because here comes Kenneth Copeland:

…Copeland, another prosperity gospel adherent who has appeared on-screen with Duplantis, announced his ministry had purchased a Gulfstream V jet that probably cost millions. The announcement on Copeland’s website showed him wearing a bomber jacket in front of a gleaming white plane.

“Glory to God! It’s Ours!” the website said. “The Gulfstream V is in our hands!”

But the ministry needed more, it told followers. The plane was “an exceptional value” but needed another $2.5 million in upgrades. The ministry also needed to build a new hangar, buy special maintenance equipment and  lengthen its runway to accommodate the new plane.

The best is still to come, because now is the time to enjoy the video where Jesse and Kenneth defend their pleas for money:

How can you not take the piss out of that? How?

You make your own mind up, and if you didn’t catch this Last Week Tonight show from back in 2015 you’re in for a treat.

[source:washpost]