I suspect most of the six challenged ministries will prove that they
are in compliance with the law.  This, in my view, does NOT excuse
excess on the part of these ministries' leaders.  To buy a $23,000
commode is excess.  To pay $l0,000 for a hotel room--is that excess?

In the latter case, I am not sure of the circumstances.  I suspect that
the hotel room was not merely one room, but an entire floor.

I used to go to the Hinn meetings.  My husband and I went a LOT to Hinn
meetings, and were in hotels where his conferences were held, observed
him leaving venues by the back door with ten or more body guards
surrounding him, saw his security forces patrolling hotel halls, and so
forth.

Benny Hinn said forthrightly that he HAD to have large numbers of rooms
for his security forces and co-ministers.
Since he was threatened a lot, this seemed reasonable to me.

A $3,000,000 house is not unusual in Dana Point, CA.  I expect that
Hinn entertains visiting people there overnight, and has a number of
live-in security officers and servants to keep up the place.  Is this
sin?  I doubt if this is in itself sin.  His danger is real.

I no longer go to the Hinn meetings nor contribute to his cause, as I
feel there are better places to put my attention.
If I still had money to give to ministries, I would concentrate on the
Salvation Army, local charities which serve the poor, the widow, and
the needy, as Jesus suggested.

Yes, Joyce Meyer does give a lot to the worldwide poor, and that's
good!  All power to her for that.

I would be more inclined, however, to give to the "poor and lowly"
ministers, if I could do so now.  Those who do it without TV fanfare,
or who do it, even on TV, in a more modest way.

There are TV ministries which do not use ostentation in any way....need
I name them?  You must have your favorites.
I could name a few:  Van Impe, J.R. Church, God's Learning
Channel--just to cite a few.  Rexella Van Impe wears nice clothes on
camera, and her husband Jack wears a tie matching her outfit, but there
is no lavish ostentation in production--just God's word and how it
applies to today's world.  Similarly with Tommie and Al Cooper of God's
Learning Channel--nice clothes but no ostentation, no big "sets", and
no big production budgets (although just to keep those satellites going
needs lots of money!)  I think these ministries set an example of how
TV evangelists should conduct themselves.  God bless them in every way.

Mariel