US Televangelist Says God Told Him He Needs A New $54 Million Private Jet

A US televangelist is pleading with his flock to chip in and help buy him his fourth private jet

According to Jesse Duplantis, a preacher from Louisiana with followers across the globe, God told him he needs the new plane to help spread the gospel.  Duplantis says, if Jesus was alive today, he “wouldn’t be riding a donkey.”

God was apparently quite specific and told Duplantis he needed a Dassault Falcon 7X, a three-engine private jet capable of carrying 12 to 16 passengers at speeds up to 700 miles per hour.

RT reports: According to Duplantis, whose wealth is valued at least $40 million, he hesitated about the purchase, until he remembered a tip God gave him back in 1978, “I didn’t ask you to pay for it. I asked you to believe for it.” Duplantis took the divine message to mean ‘ask your flock to fork out for it.’

The evangelical preacher explained the need for a fourth private jet on his ‘This week with Jesse’ show, in which he stood next to framed pictures of his fleet of jets before pointing out that the aircraft he bought 12 years ago required refuelling, meaning he had to pay “exorbitant” refuelling costs.

The answer, according to Duplantis, is to get his followers to instead cover the exorbitant cost of purchasing a jet – specifically, a Dassault Falcon 7X, which costs about $54 million.

“Now, some people believe that preachers shouldn’t have jets,” Duplantis explained in a video on his website. “I really believe that preachers ought to go on every available voice, every available outlet, to get this Gospel preached to the world.” Clearly that doesn’t extend to flying economy to spread the Lord’s word.

While the televangelist may claim divine inspiration was behind the jet idea, it appears more likely he may have coveted his neighbor’s possession, as fellow televangelist Kenneth Copeland bought himself a Gulfstream V jet in January.

The pair previously defended their need to fly privately, claiming commercial planes are simply filled with “a bunch of demons,” that will inconvenience them with prayer requests.

Duplantis won’t personally own the plane, he explained. It will be owned by Jesse Duplantis Ministries and when he dies, his successor will use it. While televangelists basking in great wealth gifted by loyal followers is nothing new, Duplantis’ request has invited particular disgust and mockery online.

This is so gross. https://t.co/sBMvN4FiPL

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) 30 May 2018

(💡 Moment) Sell the THREE JETS U ALREADY OWN to buy the jet U claim GOD wants U to have w/o abusing ppl’s God-Trust. #InGreedWeTrust exposed your deep & blatant misuse & exploitation of faith.

— ETHOLOGY (@1Ethology) 31 May 2018

Sad thing is, people in his flock will probably actually donate😠😠

— roger (@RogerIceman) 31 May 2018