Why I Like Jesse Duplantis

Ministers experience enough persecution from worldly people who don’t care at all about the things of God. It’s sadder when attacks come from within the body of Christ. Three years ago, Creflo Dollar was heavily criticized for launching an aborted fundraising campaign to acquire a multi-million dollar jet. Now evangelist Jesse Duplantis is receiving similar flak for his intent on obtaining a Falcon 7X for his ministry. Previously in this blog, I addressed the issue of preachers with planes. In this article, I want to share my experiences with Jesse’s ministry.

The first time I heard of Jesse Duplantis was in late 1992. A friend encouraged me to watch Jesse as a guest speaker on Kenneth Copeland’s “Believer’s Voice of Victory” program. What I saw was a preacher I could definitely relate to. Like myself, Jesse used to work in the secular music business. I was also drawn to Jesse’s outgoing personality and sense of humor. He didn’t come across as a stuffed shirt but someone who loves Jesus and has a vibrant relationship with Him.

A few months later, I saw Jesse live for the first time when he held a series of meetings with Jerry Savelle at my home church Living Word Christian Center. I found out twenty years before, Jesse’s wife Cathy got saved while they were in the Twin Cities area. Jesse was doing a show for the Minnesota Vikings. Cathy stayed in their hotel room and ended up watching Billy Graham on TV. Jesse would later experience a similar salvation in Boston.

One weekend in March 1994, I returned to the Chicago area to retrieve personal items left behind after living there for a season. I timed my trip to see Jesse Duplantis minister at a church in Tinley Park. During the Sunday night service, the man who drove me there got healed of a back injury while sitting in his seat. When Jesse came back to Living Word a few weeks later, I got to hear him do something funny he had done in Illinois…poking fun at evolution by imitating a monkey (you have to hear this)!

Then in 1995, Jesse ministered again at Living Word during a time when I was going through personal difficulties. One night Jesse had an altar call for people struggling with suicidal thoughts. I went forward and got delivered of an oppressive spirit.

Since then, I have been to a few more of Brother Jesse’s meetings but mostly seen him through video. One of my favorite messages of his is “Close Encounters of the God Kind”, a summary of Jesse’s supernatural experiences including the time the Lord took him up to heaven. The latter testimony became more meaningful to me after both my parents passed away a few months ago.

Jesse often talks about being a blessed man and blessing others. I believe he’s bragging about the goodness of God and not himself. Those who want to label Jesse a greedy charlatan should take time to examine his website. It includes a pie chart showing how donations to his ministry are used. 16% goes toward “Missions, Ministries and the Poor.” How many of Jesse’s critics come close to giving away 16% of their income? I suspect few if any.

Contrary to false reports circulating, Jesse Duplantis Ministries does not own more than one jet. As Jesse clearly explained in a partner video that went viral, he gave away two previous jets his ministry owned to other ministers. As usual, the liberal media has spread lies by distorting the truth.

If you’re still questioning why Jesse should get a better jet, I have a simple answer: for the same reason some people upgrade their cars. Expenses for certain vehicles can add up in the long run. A Falcon 7X would help Jesse avoid making fuel stops overseas that cost much more money. His so-called appeal for donations is really him asking supporters to agree with him in prayer so he can reach more people all over the world. When I’ve seen Jesse receive actual offerings, he hasn’t pressured congregations like some preachers do. God wants us to be cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:7).

I believe the increased media coverage will work in Jesse’s favor and he will soon have a Falcon 7X. In the meantime, I will continue listening to his sermons as a challenge to pursue bigger things God wants to do in my life, which includes traveling to more places and winning more souls. Christian critics would be better off working out their own salvation instead of scrutinizing those that are doing something with their calling.

“Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” - Romans 14:4

Heavenly Homes

A few years ago, actress Jennifer Anniston purchased a one-bedroom penthouse apartment in New York City for $8 million. Around that time, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg bought a $7 million home in California. It was also reported Michael Jordan was building a home in Florida with an estimated value of $20 million. The secular media doesn’t mind celebrities and athletes owning multi-million houses. Yet they will launch an “exposé” if a preacher buys (or is given) a house for a fraction of that amount.

Even some believers are critical of brethren with nice domiciles. One time a homeless man I met in Florida complained about a local pastor having a $500,000 house. Before you pity this homeless man, it should be pointed out he was a modern-day Jonah running from the call to preach. God will bless those who will obey His will for their lives. Isaiah 1:19-20 says, “‘If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword’; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Every Christian will someday walk through pearly gates on streets of gold and have a heavenly mansion (John 14:1-2). A wall made up of twelve different kinds of precious stones surrounds the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21). God desires His people to live in beautiful places.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prayed for the Father’s will to be done “…on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Joshua 24:13 talks about the Lord giving the Israelites, “…a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.” Therefore, a Christian shouldn’t be made to feel guilty by jealous brethren for having numerous possessions including a nice home. It’s not up to any individual to dictate how much a believer should or shouldn’t have. That’s between him and the Lord.

Once I met a woman who felt led to reside with a group of homeless people in “Tent City”, a makeshift shelter in a wooded area of Mobile, Alabama. Of course, not all Christians are called to live like that. Those that are usually do so for a season to reach certain individuals. A couple times, the Lord led me to stay in a homeless shelter for the night. Despite the uncomfortable environment, it resulted in ministry opportunities.

Some missionaries like myself have traveled from city to city without a permanent home. In her book “Tramp for the Lord”, Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom wrote about living out of a suitcase for years while preaching around the world. Corrie still desired a place of her own. God eventually blessed her with one where she spent the latter years of her life.

Admittedly, there have been times I’ve considered leaving the mission field and working a regular job again to have a more “secure” lifestyle. Whenever that thought crosses my mind, I remind myself of this comment a Facebook friend posted…

“A good friend I went to college with started out in full-time ministry. He had some bad experiences and decided to become a fireman instead. I talked to him today. He is retiring with great benefits and a nice house at a young age. I told him, ‘I'm jealous of you.’ He said, ‘Don’t be, I wish I had the courage to stay with ministry. I'm jealous of you.’ Wow, kind of helped me see things in a different way.”

While still desiring my own house, I will trust God to provide one at the right time and not settle down somewhere for the sake of being comfortable. Serving the Lord occasionally requires sacrifices. However, rewards are available when a Christian is willing to give up worldly possessions and the approval of man to obey a higher calling.

“Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” - Mark 10:29-30

Dishonest Scales

Let this be a warning to read the fine print of an airline's baggage policy the next time you fly. Yesterday morning when I checked in at Tampa International Airport for my flight to Charlotte, an AirTran employee weighed my large suitcase and the scale read 54.5 pounds. I found it strange that my suitcase suddenly gained weight on my way to the airport. At the missionary house I stayed at, their scale had my suitcase at 50 pounds.

After putting on an extra jacket and my heavier pair of shoes plus moving other items into my carry-on bag, the AirTran employee measured my suitcase and told me it was “too big.” I was shocked that I suddenly had to pay a $49 “oversized bag” fee. That same suitcase had never incurred such charges on previous AirTran flights. I didn’t know a policy change regarding baggage dimensions went into effect last month. When I asked the AirTran employee to waive the fee, she refused and claimed the $49 would otherwise be taken out of her paycheck.

Fortunately, a friend who dropped me off at the airport felt led of the Lord to give me $41 beforehand. That helped offset most of this extra baggage charge. Still, I'm disgusted with airlines resorting to sneaky tactics like this to get more money out of their customers. It’s bad enough most of them now charge $15-25 for the mere privilege of checking a suitcase (normally I fly on Southwest Airlines).

Before flying out of Tampa, I emailed a complaint to AirTran pointing out the extra $49 could have been used to buy a smaller suitcase to meet their new luggage requirements. While online, I happened to read about another AirTran customer who noticed his 35-pound bag (which he weighed at home) had somehow increased to 40 pounds according to AirTran’s scale. Due to a missed connection, this man’s bag got delayed and was sent to him via FedEx two days later. The FedEx tag attached to his bag confirmed that its true weight was 35 pounds.

I will definitely be more prayerful about who I do business with in the future.

“How can I tolerate your merchants who use dishonest scales and weights?” - Micah 6:11