I'd be happy for them to publish the "richest pastors" list in my denomination, The Wesleyan Church, but not because it would expose anything embarrassing. I'm sure it would reveal that even the "richest" ones are living lives of service and giving.

So lets just check I've got this right. US evangelicals are annoyed by these Brazilian pastors and are petitioning the White House?

You people are nothing, but blind.

Its amazing. These news have nothing better to report.

Why not a petition to end abortion? Protect marriage? Bring the Bible and prayers back to all American public schools? Stop pervertef liberalism? They should go after the oil rich musliim, the brotherhood .

If we believe evangelicals in Brazil are competent to live their lives before God, then this isn't for us American evangelicals to resolve. And it certainly isn't an issue for the White House. On the other hand, if we believe that believers in other countries aren't as mature/wise/biblical as we are, then sure, let's tell the Brazilian believers what to do...or the White House what to do about Brazilian believers. Good grief!

I'm assuming that much of this relates to one of our most prized exports to the Christian Global South........The Health and Wealth Gospel.

This is seriously shameful and embarrassing for Christians. What's up with these prosperity theology people? Don't they have any sense of what's appropriate?

Quite frankly, I think superstition is a problem within evangelicalism. Christianity has been turned into magic; the billionaires are the best magicians, of course.

I'm not sure if a White House petition is going to solve anything, but I can understand the frustration of those calling for it.

What can we do? How about stop going to churches which are made up of one strata, one class? (As for me, I just need to start going to any church, period!) We need to mix; perhaps the more educated are self-segregating themselves leaving people who don't have education vulnerable to spin and lies from hucksters.

I don't know.

Just spoke to another Christian about this; she mentioned that perhaps that's why independent Christian churches are not such a good thing--no accountability at all.

I do think that the pastor-centered church should fade away. We need people-centered churches; make the pastor a facilitator who doesn't soak up all the limelight. I can't stand the grandstanding and how all the arrows of attention point to one guy.

Dear Sir/Madam,

With both humble and broken heart,i come to you in Jesus Name.My name is Michael Anafo from Republic of Ghana,a disabled young man of 30yrs.

This age-long deformity which occurred 13 years ago when i was playing with my fellow kids in my village and eventually fell from a tree and sustained a severe injury on my left arm which was not properly treated by my parents.I was initially treated locally with herbs and roots and was not sent to appropriate hospital due to the poor financial position of my parents and the level of their understanding.Unfortunately,the situation deteriorated which compelled my parents to take me to a hospital by then it was already late and i had no other option than to be amputated.Thereby making me permanently disabled.

Consequently,my educational zeal and entire life took a twist when eventually,i lost my parents at that tender age.Living at the mercy of well meaning individuals and by the Grace of Almighty God.Furthermore,i have been treated as a nuisance because this condition which compelled me to seek for your financial help to enable me start a business for myself than to completely rely on people.Worse still,i have experienced untold hardship,rejection and discrimination even when i try to get any job,i think i can do.

Nonetheless,i have a firm believe in God and also be the strong conviction that disability is not inability.

I anticipate positive response to this humble request.

Yours Faithfully,

Michael Anafo
+233508032958