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Thursday, March 13, 2014

Robbers Break Into Joel Osteen's Cash Vault

Robbers Break Into Joel Osteen's Cash Vault
tags: Timeline 2014, Attacks on Churches, Software Data Attacks, robbery

March 10, 2014 Robbers Break Into Joel Osteen's Cash Vault Joel Osteen's Lakewood megachurch announced that thieves had stolen offerings from Saturday and Sunday from its secured vault sometime after Sunday afternoon, estimated at over $600,000. The offerings were insured, and there was no data breach, but there was credit card information and members should monitor their accounts.

The robbery is a cover story for what is actually an attack on a Christian church. The internet comments which largely support the thieves and condemned Osteen and his church suggest what sort of people might be motivated to carry out such an attack.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/11/osteen-lakewood-church-theft_n_4941934.html

comments largely support the thieves and condemn the church

Michael Runyan (mfrunyan)
  • 73
If people would quit giving their money to churches, the economy would improve, employment would soar, and the federal deficit would drop.
12 MAR 6:54 AM

Porson Jebb on Mar 13, 2014 at 07:19:52

“Federal deficit? So they'd give their money to the federal government instead? You're dreaming, Runyan.”
Permalink

Candide33 on Mar 13, 2014 at 01:39:00

“I had to drive trough Louisiana and Arkansas today and the most depressing, rundown, dystopian looking places had a church on every block. Miles and miles of nothing but shacks and churches, almost no stores or gas stations for 100 miles but 30- 40 or more churches and that was just the ones you could see from the main road!!!

My son commented on the fact that if they had not spent so much on church buildings, someone could have built some sort of businesses so the people would have had a place to work and they wouldn't all live in shacks.
Bradley Wise (Bradley_Wise)
  • 20
Leaving aside the asinine idea that a poor economy and unemployment are caused by people donating their money to churches, what about the homeless shelters, food pantries, and hospitals that churches fund?
12 MAR 10:28 AM
19 PEOPLE IN THE CONVERSATION
Read Conversation →
Michelle Hummel (Louisiana_Horse_Sense)
  • 92
I sure hope Lakewood Church doesn't tie up the local police department with this. After all, those services are provided by taxpayers, and the church is above paying for those sorts of secular services. Instead, Osteen should just pray for the money to be returned!
12 MAR 7:41 AM
Jeremy R. (JKineseeds)
  • 1
So no non-profit should ever call the police when they need help? The United Way, Planned Parenthood, Union halls?
13 MAR 8:24 AM
8 PEOPLE IN THE CONVERSATION
Read Conversation →
Havana Thinks (Havana_Thinks)
  • 53
I would expect the members to think long and hard about where their money is going and how security at that 'church' could be so lax. Of course, there had to have been video surveillance throughout that place. Something is real fishy, minus the loaves!
12 MAR 5:49 AM
Jason G. (PandeiroMan)
  • 25
The first half of your sentence puts an end to your desire. "...the members to think long and hard". Not going to happen.
12 MAR 12:44 PM
6 PEOPLE IN THE CONVERSATION
Read Conversation →
Casey N. (MyTwoCentsB4Taxes)
  • 68
If a church has $600K readily available to be stolen, it shouldn't have tax-exempt status.

Ah, who am I kidding? None of them should have tax-exempt status.
12 MAR 7:52 AM
Jordan Livas (TheLizardPeople)
  • 5
Yeah actually alot of small local churches really wouldn't be able to survive without it. No reason to punish almost all churches because of a handful of super rich loophole masterminds.
12 MAR 8:55 PM
7 PEOPLE IN THE CONVERSATION
Read Conversation →
Chris K. (CSKAP)
  • 56
No problem.
They will just double the number of mailers they send out to the elderly and infirm around Social Security check time and they will fleece them into filling the coffers up quickly.

Although the loss is covered by insurance, I’d bet they will use the loss as another pitch to send more money.
That jet doesn’t fill it’s self up you know.
12 MAR 7:38 AM
Sandi O. (Nova_Kation)
  • 23
Agree. The congregation will feel 'sorry' for them and donate more. smh.
12 MAR 9:27 AM
Sherry M. (okrawimfry)
  • 7
While I'm not an Osteen follower - I don't have a problem with churches and their donors. These churches tend to run outreach programs for the communities - they have donation centers for clothing, they partner in community service programs, etc. If the church members can afford to donate that much - then that's their business.
Many believe they are still required to tithe - there was a purpose for that back in the day. There are some churches who don't believe in tithing - but may put out a donation box for those who can / want to donate. They do have to have money for building maintenance, and traveling overseers, missionaries, etc.
11 MAR 3:10 PM
William S. (KenInd)
  • 12
When people tithed, there was no income tax.
11 MAR 6:57 PM
19 PEOPLE IN THE CONVERSATION
Read Conversation →
Carole K. (CaroleK1970)
  • 43
%600,000 for just 2 days of donations? WOW. where is that money going
12 MAR 5:53 AM
Diane P. (Diane_Phillipa)
  • 18
Uganda, Nigera, Russian, NOM, Family Reseach Council into the pockets of those who run the Church not difficult to figure out really.
12 MAR 1:51 PM
Web Wzrd (webwzrd)
  • 27
The greatest con ever devised: "Give me a lifetime of obedience, servitude and MONEY, and in return, I will reward you with eternal life in paradise. AFTER you die."
12 MAR 8:55 AM
Candide Thirtythree (Candide33)
  • 4
and no one can ever come back and dispute the claim...
13 MAR 12:54 AM
Andrew A. (fdrprogressive)
  • 24
I'm curious. All the people giving millions of dollars to religious entities all over the United States...are they the same people who fight with all their might against spending for health care, infrastructure improvements, education, clean air and clean energy? You know, smaller government and no taxes except for the military.
12 MAR 9:12 AM




  1. www.nydailynews.com/.../thieves-steal-cash-credit...‎

    New York Daily News
    2 days ago - Cops say thieves broke into pastor Joel Osteen's megachurch over the... Church officials say there's no data breach and the stolen funds are  insured, though credit card information was in envelopes
  2. Investigators believe the safe was broken into between 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. Monday. Lakewood followers had been advised to monitor their accounts.

    Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/thieves-steal-cash-credit-cards-pastor-joel-osteen-megachurch-article-1.1718022#ixzz2vqzaI9Cg
  3. This is also an attack on a Christian church.

  5. comments support the thieves: 


  7. Waring
    1 day ago
    Religion: The easiest way to brainwash individuals into losing their money and not feel bad about it....Amen and pass the collection plate. 
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    John De Salvio
    2 days ago
    God took it. She doesn't approve of Joel's preaching.
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    • 6 replies
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    vine of peace
    2 days ago
    She/He must approve because Joel has turned a small store front church into a Mega Church reaching people all over the globe. He has no formal training either.
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    • 5 replies
    3

    DEJ1948
    1 day ago
    Wow, imagine that.  The list of charlatans who have done the same thing would fill the booking log at any local police station.  Too bad the thieves didn't do us a real favor and steal Joel.  In an evangelical world populated by smarmy, pseudo preachers, he's among the worst.  Just like any other accomplished con man, he takes full advantage of the weak and the ill-informed and lives the high life at their expense.     
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    • 3 replies
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    richard cummins
    20 hours ago
    Very well said.
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    JackCookeInNY
    20 hours ago
    At OUR expense too considering the "church's" tax exempt status.
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    2
    oceanevolution
    15 hours ago
    Right on. And it takes a lot of "rudderless" people to make him rich.


    Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/thieves-steal-cash-credit-cards-pastor-joel-osteen-megachurch-article-1.1718022#ixzz2vqz7obCH


  9. richard cummins
    20 hours ago
    Osteen is probably one of the most brilliant hucksters ever to fleece his flock. I saw him on a talk show once. His is a message of "hope,' and he takes NO position on gay rights or abortion because he knows that, if he did, he would lose half his followers. Very adept at ducking anything controversial.
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    2
    OldDog
    4 hours ago
    The religious wackos are the biggest suckers you can find.


    Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/thieves-steal-cash-credit-cards-pastor-joel-osteen-megachurch-article-1.1718022#ixzz2vr0JLm00
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