US probes two Nigerian pastors

Two of Nigeria’s  most popular televangelists are among six high profile preachers under investigation by American authorities for making false miracle claims and allegedly spending  church funds  without approval.

The probe is headed by Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, over whether the pastors  complied with IRS rules for nonprofit’s. The tax exempt  non - profits are not allowed to spend  funds  for non - religious purposes but  Grassely  has accused the pastors of dipping their hands in church funds to  maintain lavish life styles, including  luxury private jets and summer homes.

The Nigerian pastor  include  a prosperity preacher  whose members  include some serving and former heads of state and  another  with  high profile government officials as members. He recently bought  a personal jet. Senate sources said the probe was launched when  members of their American  branches petitioned  the authorities over the use of church funds by the men of God.

The  investigation  may have claimed its first victim as the wife of televangelist Benny Hinn filed for divorce from the high-profile pastor, whose reputation as an advocate of prosperity gospel has attracted millions of followers and criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups over his lavish lifestyle. Suzanne Hinn filed the papers in Orange County Florida  Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage.

The papers noted the two separated on January 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County. “Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news without any previous notice,” Benny Hinn Ministries said  in a statement. “Although Pastor Hinn has faithfully endeavored to bring healing to their relationship, those efforts failed and were met with the petition for divorce that was filed without notice,”  the statement said.

Hinn is one of the best known advocates of the prosperity gospel, which teaches that Christians who are right with God will be rewarded with wealth and health in this lifetime. His TV broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcast Network, a Pentecostal broadcasting juggernaut, and other TV networks are seen by millions of people around the world nearly everyday. He travels the globe in his ministry’s plane, named Dove One, holding events he calls “Miracle Crusades” that include spiritual healings.

Hinn has never fully publicly disclosed how he spends the money he raises, but his vast ministry is believed to be a multimillion-dollar operation. There was no mention of finances in the court filing, which listed three recent Southern California addresses for the family. Over the years, Hinn has been the target of intense criticism from fellow Christians and watchdog groups who call his teachings false and accuse him of raising money only to enrich himself.