The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. And when she did eventually leave, Paul made good on his threats in a YouTube video, where he named Erin. Paul Waugh had no county court judgements against him. For further info visit our website. But now we use the motorway more than anybody else, and it comes with economic benefits., Its all about perspective, Michel said. Ghana, a major cocoa producer and leading exporter of gold, is facing its worst economic crisis in decades and has racked up a debt of $45bn by the end of November. Paul Waugh - borrowing ideas of a famous American psychiatrist called M Scott Peck - says everyone falls into one of four levels of spiritual development. And yet, Keion has made the proverbial lemonade out of lemons. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. We, therefore, resolve: that in the spirit and cause of transparency and accountability to the Ghanaian people, the current board of trustees of the national cathedral shall appoint an independent, nationally recognised accounting firm to audit all public funds contributed to and spent by the national cathedral.. The turning point for Jeff was when he took time off to visit his dad in the US. Akufo-Addo is serving the second of his two constitutionally allowed four-year terms, which expire in 2024. Return to homepage. According to the LCI, it operates a very extensive lay system. Her two eldest daughters are from a previous relationship. People join a mentoring group, usually looking for a career change or new direction. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. When he left and sent other Lighthouse mentees information about cults, Jai threatened to call the police. READ ALSO: Akuapem Poloo Has Dramatically Lost Weight and Grown Slim and Pale After 7 Days in Jail. Often, they were told they would make their money back quickly through networking opportunities, new business ideas or by becoming mentors themselves. LCI-Burkina Faso claims that while he was heading the LCI-Burkina Faso between 2018 and 2019, he misappropriated to himself the sum of $57,403.21 and that LCI Burkina Faso has given LCI-Ghana a power of attorney to recover the sum from him. says Jeff. Cant we channel the same energy we are putting into raising funds for the cathedral into attracting investors to this country? In fact, only one person in Lighthouse was a level four - and that was Paul Waugh himself. The house became "absolutely filthy" and every bedroom had been converted into a bedsit. The Ex-pastors are Bishop Larry Odonkor, Bishop Oko Mensah, Rev. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Jeff was delighted, even if it did cost him 25,000. Since then, Heward-Mills has been called out with many alleging that he is not what he portrays to be in the public eye. WebIn January of 1941, the church was completed, and an article appeared in The Dallas Morning News soon after with the grabber of a headline, Lighthouse Church Warns Oak Cliff of These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Their marriage The firm has been asked to determine whether the state is fully funding the construction or if there is any misappropriation of funds. 2021 All Rights Reserved Citi Newsroom. There are an estimated 10,000 churches nationwide, and open-air preaching is commonplace on public transport, at bus terminals and at road intersections. "Why aren't you taking it out on them?" Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. "Find them in your journal or find them in your personal mentoring.". Read the full report on The Fourth Estate. WebA former bishop of Lighthouse Chapel International, Larry Odonkor, is uneasy about his birthday, which falls on July 9. WebWelcome to KEION HENDERSON TV! 5, the singer said he and his pastor of many years agree that his season of serving in the church is over. Their former president also dreamt just like our president to build a basilica, so if the Ivorian cathedral didnt live up to expectation, why will a Ghanaian cathedral be different?, Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. "He was interested in the same ideas I was interested in.". These days, an estimated $1.3m is used for its annual maintenance even though an average of fewer than 1,000 people attend regular services. Join YEN.com.gh's Telegram channel! She was previously known as the first lady of the Lighthouse Church in Houston, Texas, where Keion Henderson is the lead pastor. Required fields are marked *. Paul reminded her they had recordings of her disclosures about the abuse she'd suffered as a child. WebLighthouse, a Pontiac-based nonprofit dedicated to building equitable communities that alleviate poverty, is pursuing plans to redevelop its headquarters at 46156 Woodward Ave. in Pontiac. a. Jeff was told he needed weeks of work to get there and achieve his goals. May 18, 2021 3:32 pm. Among them are five people with PhDs, two winners of the Margaret Singer Award for cultic studies and three accredited therapists with extensive experience working with ex-cult members. She remained in Ghana and continued in her employment with SSNIT throughout the time the Plaintiff was in Benin and Burkina Faso. To us, it is the most reckless decision any president has taken ever in the history of this country, Ablakwa told Al Jazeera. Jeff says he was looking for inspiration from someone successful and Jai - a former property developer in his late 30s with a calm and engaging manner - seemed to be just the man. On 3rd August 2021, which was the last adjourned date of the trial, the presiding Judge Justice Frank Aboagye Rockson repeated an earlier suggestion he had made to the parties to settle the matter amicably. 2. The church, run by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, also failed to consistently pay their Social Security (SNNIT) contributions throughout the years they laboured for the church, leaving them facing financial ruin as they edge closer to retirement. I am determined, come what may, Akufo-Addo said. After a while, Jai encouraged Anthony to reduce his medication, even coaching him on what to tell his doctors to convince them his mental health had improved. Hillsong megachurch has responded to its most recent sex scandal. WebLighthouse Christian Church - Leadership Joe Castillo Lead Pastor MIke Park Executive Pastor Nancy Sugikawa PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP Paul Hwang PASTOR OF STUDENTs & YOUNG ADULTs Patti Yonemura DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S MINISTRY Janet Yip Nursery & Preschool coordinator Ben Higashi DIGITAL MEDIA coordinator Learn more about our staff The Basketball Wives stars recent post wishing megachurch pastor Keion Henderson a happy birthday has many speculating if they are dating. When Anthony began querying whether Lighthouse was helping him, Jai said he was being paranoid as a result of withdrawal symptoms from his medication. WebUnder a new name, The Lighthouse Church of All Nations. Gospel Singer Earnest Pugh Exits Megachurch Ministry to Pursue New Veteran Non-Profit. But they were all told their "investment" bought them pioneering Lighthouse mentoring which would transform their lives. He has refused to return either the books or the money. Some point next door to neighbouring Ivory Coast for a cautionary tale. The cost of living is high in the West African state with inflation hitting a record 54 percent in December, the highest in 21 years. Hillsong Church NYC. Bishop Oko was, on Monday 16th August 2021 charged with stealing the car and will soon be arraigned before the court to be prosecuted. Members of Lighthouse Chapel have come out to defend Dag Heward-Mills amidst the controversy he currently finds himself in. Doesn't seem genuine," reacted Ajoa Tamakloe. Most of the $58m spent so far has come from the national coffers, Ofori-Atta himself told parliament when it summoned him in November for a censure hearing. Even at the foundation stage, people are still coming from outside to visit the site.. That he stole monies he should have used to pay his own SSNIT contributions and taxes. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. Despite the claims of pioneering research, they could "only identify significant amounts of money passing to Paul Waugh as its prime mover". This ministry was inspired when he met a female veteran living in a Houston shelter. WebAnd yet, Keion has made the proverbial lemonade out of lemons. (Photo by Leon Bennett/FilmMagic). All his salaries and allowances were paid by LCI-South Africa and LCI-Madagascar during this period. Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Recordings of calls handed to the BBC reveal Jai telling Anthony that medication "is not a long-term solution because it doesn't encourage the person to consciously make decisions to command and reprogramme the subconscious mind". A month later, parliament blocked a budget allocation of $6.3m that the government had wanted to continue the project even as Ghana struggles to restructure its debt to qualify for a $3bn loan from the International Monetary Fund. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, our podcast series is titled A Very British Cult, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, Explosion derails train in Russian border region. (Paul has since said a handful of other Lighthouse "seniors" have finally reached level four after more than a decade with the group). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". And when another former mentee, a teacher in her 50s named Jo, discussed her experience on an online forum, a senior Lighthouse member contacted her school and said she was a danger to children. Its quite strange that we are putting religion ahead of development, he told Al Jazeera. She has not commented on her exs alleged relationship with the reality star, but that hasnt dimmed the attention on her. Paul Waugh said: "What qualifies us is experience. When we put our allegations to Paul Waugh and Lighthouse, the group claimed data protection rules prevented them from responding properly. One charity which helps people break free from abusive groups, Catalyst, says it now receives more calls about Lighthouse than any other UK organisation, with "over thirty" people asking for help. Erin, meanwhile, was berated as a "cynical old witch" when she asked where her money had gone. He never became an employee of LCI-Ghana. God will not be happy with us. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. In addition, the cathedral would have a music school, an art gallery, shops and a national crypt for state burials. But these calls weren't what Jeff had signed up for. Gospel singer Earnest Pugh Leaves mega-church and starting a new initiative, 2016. Those who became part of Lighthouse were told slightly different things about what the money they had paid was for. 9:30am and 11:00am Children's programming available during both services for children birth through 6th grade. They recorded something quite different. Jeff doesn't expect those still involved will think any differently after the court case. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. With his latest hit, "Trade It All," continuing to climb the Nielsen BDS Gospel Recurrent chart and currently ranked at No. While presenting the 2019 budget to parliament, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta promised the cathedral would not put undue financial burdens on the state. c. Compensation to cover: some investments plaintiffs made in schools and churches of the LCI, for rental of cars while in the service of LCI and for monies they spent on accommodation while in the employment of LCI. More than 40 people who have left Lighthouse, or have loved ones in the group, or have been close to its leader, spoke to the BBC for this story. His new non-profit, Vet Rocks, will set out to assist women combat veterans. "I realised the level of control he had over these people.". The tour will take the "Rain On Us" and "I Need Your Glory" singer around the globe. Keion has spoken about his fears and moving on from the tough times in interviews and in his book, The Shift. Former mentees say they were encouraged to borrow money to pay for courses. In January, he made a personal donation of $8,000 towards the construction costs, saying nothing will stop him from fulfilling his pledge to God. Unlike many therapists or counsellors, who are trained to help people come to terms with difficult or traumatic pasts, coaches say they focus more on clients' futures. WebPugh recently announced that he was leaving his position as worship pastor at Houston's Lighthouse Church. LCI-Ghana denies this and says the church employed him from July 2005 to June 2010 . LCI says it has reported the matter to the CID for investigations and he was compelled to return the car to the CID headquarters. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, an opposition member of parliament and a critic of the project, has accused the board of diverting $206,658 to a private company of one of its members. After two years, doubts started to creep in for Jeff. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. His past. She says for people with loved ones inside a cult, "it's like a living death" - partly because attempts to criticise the group often backfire, leaving them unsure how to act. One of gospel music's leading performers, Earnest Pugh, stepped down from his megachurch position to pursue a new philanthropic initiative. I am ready to put my hands to the plow and make a global impact. Counterclaims Against Bishop Larry Odonkor: I. He added that most of our allegations "were absolute nonsense". Counterclaims Against Faith Makafui Fiakojo: I. LCI claims he illegally took over the LCI church building in Fumbisi after he resigned and the church has sued for recovery of possession. Read about our approach to external linking. She is a track-and-field athlete in school. The organization has partnered with sponsors to give away vouchers to 250 veterans and their families to purchase Thanksgiving dinners. He Details are emerging as to how the six former pastors of Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) allegedly demanded a whopping $12 Million as a settlement from the church. These, if heeded, would have made our project more achievable. LCI further claims that while Bishop Larry was in Madagascar, he illegally sold a Toyota Land Cruiser which was an official vehicle belonging to LCI-Madagascar and that LCI Madagascar has given LCI-Ghana a power of attorney to recover the proceeds of the sale from him. Felecia Annette Henderson was born on April 23, 1980, and is based in Texas. Everyone else was stuck at level one. According to court filings presented by government investigators, Lighthouse was not keeping proper records and was not co-operating with their investigation - which meant it was impossible to determine the "true nature" of the business. But last year, when Karina wrote about her concerns about Lighthouse online, Kris reported her to the police for being an internet troll. "I'd even physically throw up.". Jeff became something called a "Lighthouse Associate Elect". The initiative will commence in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 21, with a string of Thanksgiving festivities that week, including an "Oh Give Thanks" concert featuring an impressive bill of national recording artists. After investigating it since June 2022, the business secretary argued the company was working against the public interest. The Men of God, a bishop, 3 Reverend Ministers and a pastor include Larry Odonkor, Emmanuel Oko Mensah, Edem Kofi Amankwa, Seth Sarpong Duncan, Edward Laryea, and Faith Fiakojo. Moody pastored many years ago), Lutzer would lead many astray because "Women are the most underserved population of U.S. veterans," Pugh, who was an active-duty Army soldier for 15 years, said. But yours I will cherish., He reiterated those similar sentiments after reposting the mother of fives initial Instagram upload on his respective page. He was a volunteer pastor from 2008 to 2018, till he abandoned post as a volunteer pastor without due notice in 2018. Last week, YEN.com.gh reported that six former pastors of the church now known as United Denominations, originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches accused its leadership of violating their rights. She accepts it can be extremely challenging. The spiritual coach and commentator revealed that Keion had filed for divorce and the ensuing child custody battle was a bitter one. The current economic climate in Ghana presents obstacles to the timely construction and completion of the national cathedral, they said in a joint memo. ., Henderson appreciated the romantic gesture by writing underneath her comments section that he will cherish ONeals birthday wish the most of the countless congratulatory messages he received. This further means that a pastor who leaves the country to a different country is considered not to be in employment of LCI Ghana. - Dag Heward-Mills has broken his silence following an allegation of unpaid SSNIT contributions leveled against him, - Six former pastors of the church formerly known as Lighthouse Chapel International say their rights have been violated, - Heward-Mills posted a message on Twitter which is interpreted as a response to the controversy, Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in. Jeff Leigh-Jones had only been part of Lighthouse for a few months when his girlfriend Dawn noticed something strange was going on. The final expert said they would rather not comment. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. The Ex WebPastor Keion Henderson of the Lighthouse Church of Houston, Texas, has been married to his wife, Taffi, for over 20 years. The president saw the cathedral as a way to unite these believers, but instead, it has split them into two major groups: those who want to see the church built to upgrade Ghanas state infrastructure and those who see it as a waste of state resources, given the countrys economic state. The key to success, explained Paul in his calls, was to get to level four. They are praying the court to compel the church to pay their SSNIT contributions as well as other rights they say the church violated since they went into ministry there, some immediately after leaving the university,. 22 Comments. Meanwhile, members of Lighthouse Chapel International are defending Dag Heward-Mills amidst the controversy he currently finds himself in. "I've been working tirelessly for years so I'm going to lay low for a minute and focus on this next season in my life," he concluded. February 10, 2023. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. He was once married to Felecia A. Henderson (not to be confused with the popular television producer), until their marriage ended a couple of years ago. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Deloitte has yet to submit its audit report. Look at the compensations we need to pay and the rebuilding of some of these structures. They even staged a coup against him. Lighthouse told him to wait two years for any return on his money and warned him that creating controversy could jeopardise his investment. Bungalows occupied by senior judges were removed along with a training school belonging to the judiciary, the countrys main passport issuing office, a scholarship secretariat, a diplomats residence, a luxury apartment and a host of private businesses. 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Hyundai Elantra that he refused to return to LCI-Ghana upon his resignation. He gave His life for us," reads the first of two messages. God looks at the heart, and so lets get our priorities right.. LCI has reported him to the police and he is being investigated for fraudulent breach of trust. Government investigators told the court that it was "wholly unclear" what Lighthouse actually does. But "you can only ever go so far". For churches, we have many. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In addition to this we are an active place of worship, meeting needs through Gods love. A vlogger by the name of Larry Reid reportedly secured copies of the court documents and released them on Patreon. 1,575 were here. His book and words are for anyone whos felt sidelined or hurt by lifes left turns and unexpected challenges. The government argues the cathedral will bring enormous long-term economic benefits while transforming Ghana into a religious hub, creating jobs and accruing more revenue for the state. I'd so love to have him back". Jeff handed over the money, and Lighthouse began to take over his life. But she is seemingly no longer involved with the Lighthouse Church. We should be building hospitals and schools, actor and activist Yvonne Nelson told Al Jazeera. Today I celebrate you because as our friendship has blossomed, youve become my safe place where I can authentically grow without judgement. Henderson, who has been a part of the ministry for over 25 years and founded Lighthouse Church and Ministries in 2009, was previously married toFelecia Henderson. A post shared by Deitrick TV (@deitricktv). It was a lot of money, but Jai had warned the price would soon go up further if he delayed this decision. Together, they say they worked for years for the church, most at times as pastors heading different branches accross Ghana and other parts of Africa without having been formally employed by the church. When Jeff found the group via an online book club run by a Lighthouse devotee called Jai Singh, he thought it could help him too. Erin now believes it was to free up more money, which she could then invest in Lighthouse. WebEvangelist Dag Heward-Mills, founder of Lighthouse Chapel International has broken his silence days after six former pastors of his church accused him of violating their rights. LCI says that Bishop Larry Odonkor was a volunteer pastor from 2001to 2005 and he signed the missionary acceptance form with the written consent of his mother Cecilia Mensah on 21st August 2001. We have pressing issues, such as lack of funding for the national school feeding programme involving schoolchildren, and our priority as a country is to build a cathedral for God. One of the affected private firms is in court demanding compensation. The gospel singer will be keeping busy with his other responsibilities, including host a radio program, be a music business university professor and lead worship at various conferences and churches. Volunteer pastors who are going on missions willingly sign a Missionary Consent Form with their parent/guardian, who also consent in writing to the decision by the volunteer to do missionary work. II. They didn't want to let their loved ones go and they would sabotage mentees' potential, Jeff was told. The six former employees Sitting on day-long mentoring phone calls seems a far cry from the popular image of a cult - where depictions tend to be about mysticism and new religions. "I was able to walk away, but I don't think a lot of people in there have anything to walk to," says Jeff. WebThey have resigned from Lighthouse and have sued the church for violating their rights Kofi Bentil, who is the lawyer for the six former employees of the church, told The Fourth Estate In February this year, the UK government made an application for the firm behind Lighthouse - Lighthouse International Group Holdings Trading LLP - to be closed down. Some of his critics have called for the project to be scaled down over fears that it could be abandoned after his exit from office. "The love of Jesus is greater love because He sacrificed Himself for us. She added, You are my soundboard, youve taught me so much thus far, and you love me and my children unconditionally. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! Or listen to the podcast through BBC Sounds. It wont be a white elephant. I will accept the many congratulatory messages. The honor is mines. He was never an employee of LCI. Pastor Edem Kofi Amankwah was a volunteer pastor from October 2007 to 2018, when he resigned as a volunteer pastor without due notice to the church. Relationship troubles. A post shared by Felecia A. Henderson (@statementsbyh). Another ex-landlord told us he had received about 150 letters from debt collection agencies addressed to people involved in Lighthouse. Again from June 2018 to December 2019 he was employed by LCI Madagascar. Jeff Leigh-Jones joined Lighthouse to find direction in life, but the group tried to separate him from his family, By Catrin Nye, Natalie Truswell and Jamie Bartlett, Worried about Lighthouse's effect on her boyfriend, Dawn contacted the BBC, Jeff hit it off with his Lighthouse mentor Jai, who persuaded him to pay 25,000 for closer involvement with the group, Lighthouse founder Paul Waugh expected followers to transcribe his every word on hours-long calls, Lighthouse encouraged Anthony Church to reduce the medication he took for depression and anxiety, When a teacher criticised Lighthouse, a senior member wrote to her school to make accusations against her, "There is a cult in your neighbourhood," says Dr Alexandra Stein, a cult expert, BBC reporter Catrin Nye challenged Paul Waugh outside the Royal Courts of Justice, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. The beauty of a gracious and merciful God is that He will use our mistakes as an opportunity to help us unlearn some bad behaviors, gain some new insights, and shift us into our destiny. Hendersons mentor is the well known Bishop T.D. In theory at least, they try to help people work out what they really want and how to get there. In the past few years, Lighthouse - formally known as Lighthouse International Group and based in the Midlands in England - has received hundreds of thousands of pounds from mentees. WebCelebrated gospel singer Earnest Pugh is leaving his position as Pastor of Worship at Houstons Lighthouse Church. Nearly all those who've been part of Lighthouse have told us they think Lighthouse is a cult. LCI has reported him to the police and he has been charged with trespass and fraudulent breach of trust. It wasn't about the South Pole at all - it was about her. Attacking critics seems to be part of the group's modus operandi. Charles Stanley's grandson reveals powerful last words he spoke to him, Most adults in 17 countries say belief in God not necessary to be moral, have good values: study, Country artist Mickey Guyton on the role faith, family played shaping journey to stardom: 'Huge part of my life', Pure Flix's 'Sun Moon' tackles heartbreak, loss with a message of God's faithfulness, actress says, Christian comedian Chonda Pierce reveals she may be ending comedy tours, talks new film, Whoopi Goldberg appeals to Bible while defending sex change surgeries for minors, From 'Real Housewives' to Bible teacher: Lydia McLaughlin talks surrendering to God's calling on her life. Erin, who became a Lighthouse Associate Elect at the same time as Jeff, tells a similar story. This was not an illegal payment but rather a refund of a short-term, interest-free loan made by JNS to top up the payments to the contractors of the national cathedral, the secretariat said in a statement dated January 16. By this system, the church has thousands of volunteers who help the church work while they maintain their secular engagements, either as workers or students.
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