Joyce Meyer says God has made her rich. Everything she has came from Him: the $10 million corporate jet, her husband’s $107,000 silver-gray Mercedes sedan, her $2 million home and houses worth another $2 million for her four children – all blessings, she says, straight from the hand of God. It’s been an amazing run, nothing short of a miracle, says Meyer, a one-time bookkeeper who heads one of the world’s largest television ministries. Her Life in the Wordorganization expects to take in $95 million this year.
Just look around, she told reporters last month from behind her desk on the third floor of the ministry’s corporate offices in Jefferson County.
he ministry’s headquarters is a three-story jewel of red brick and emerald-color glass that, from the outside, has the look and feel of a luxury resort hotel. Built two years ago for $20 million, the building and grounds are postcard perfect, from manicured flower beds and walkways to a five-story lighted cross.
The driveway to the office complex is lined on both sides with the flags of dozens of nations reached by the ministry. A large bronze sculpture of the Earth sits atop an open Bible near the parking lot. Just outside the main entrance, a sculpture of an American eagle landing on a tree branch stands near a man-made waterfall. A message in gold letters greets employees and visitors over the front entryway: “Look what the Lord Has Done.”
The building is decorated with religious paintings and sculptures, and quality furniture. Much of it, Meyer says, she selected herself.
A Jefferson County assessor’s list offers a glimpse into the value of many of the items: a $19,000 pair of Dresden vases, six French crystal vases bought for $18,500, an $8,000 Dresden porcelain depicting the Nativity, two $5,800 curio cabinets, a $5,700 porcelain of the Crucifixion, a pair of German porcelain vases bought for $5,200.
The decor includes a $30,000 malachite round table, a $23,000 marble-topped antique commode, a $14,000 custom office bookcase, a $7,000 Stations of the Cross in Dresden porcelain, a $6,300 eagle sculpture on a pedestal, another eagle made of silver bought for $5,000, and numerous paintings purchased for $1,000 to $4,000 each.
Inside Meyer’s private office suite sit a conference table and 18 chairs bought for $49,000. The woodwork in the offices of Meyer and her husband cost the ministry $44,000.
In all, assessor’s records of the ministry’s personal property show that nearly $5.7 million worth of furniture, artwork, glassware, and the latest equipment and machinery fill the 158,000-square-foot building.
As of this summer, the ministry also owned a fleet of vehicles with an estimated value of $440,000. The Jefferson County assessor has been trying to get the complex and its contents added to the tax rolls but has failed.
Stylish sports cars and a plane
Meyer drives the ministry’s 2002 Lexus SC sports car with a retractable top, valued at $53,000. Her son Dan, 25, drives the ministry’s 2001 Lexus sedan, with a value of $46,000. Meyer’s husband drives his Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG sedan. “My husband just likes cars,” Meyer said.
The Meyers keep the ministry’s Canadair CL-600 Challenger jet, which Joyce Meyer says is worth $10 million, at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield. The ministry employs two full-time pilots to fly the Meyers to conferences around the world.
Meyer calls the plane a “lifesaver” for her and her family. “It enabled us, at our age, to travel literally all over the world and preach the gospel” with better security than that offered on commercial flights, she said.
Security is important to Meyer, who says she has received death threats. She has a division of the ministry dedicated to her safety. Her officers wear pistols; they guard the headquarters’ front gate, keeping out anyone but employees and invited guests. The ministry bought a $145,000 house where the security chief lives rent-free to keep him close to the ministry’s headquarters.
The family compound
The ministry has also bought homes for other key employees.
Since 1999, the ministry has spent at least $4 million on five homes for Meyer and her four children near Interstate 270 and Gravois Road, St. Louis County records show.
Meyer’s house, the largest of the five, is a 10,000-square-foot Cape Cod style estate home with a guest house and a garage that can be independently heated and cooled and can hold up to eight cars. The three-acre property has a large fountain, a gazebo, a private putting green, a pool and a poolhouse where the ministry recently added a $10,000 bathroom.
The ministry pays for utilities, maintenance and landscaping costs at all five homes. It also pays for renovations. The Meyers ordered major rehab work at the ministry’s expense right after the ministry bought three of the homes. For example, the ministry bought one home, leveled it and then built a new home on the site to the specifications of Meyer’s daughter Sandra and her husband, county records show.
Even the property taxes, $15, 629 this year, are paid by the ministry.
Meyer called the homes a “good investment” for the ministry and said the ministry bears the cost of upkeep and maintenance because the family is too busy to take care of such tasks. “It’s just too hard to keep up with something like that when you travel as much as we do,” Meyer said.
She said that federal tax law allows ministries to buy parsonages for their employees, so the arrangement does not violate any prohibitions against personal benefit. Meyer also said the decision to cluster the families together was a way to build a buffer to better ensure privacy and security.
“We put good people all around us,” she said. “Obviously, if I was trying to hide anything or thought I was doing anything wrong, I wouldn’t live on the corner of Gravois and 270.”
The irrevocable trust
Meyer says she expects the best, from where she lives to how she looks. Much of her clothing is custom-tailored at an upscale West County dress shop. At her conferences, she usually wears flashy jewelry. She sports an impressive diamond ring that she said she got from one of her followers. Meyer has a private hairdresser. And, a few years ago, Meyer told her employees she was getting a face-lift.
Not everything is paid directly by the ministry.
Last year, the Meyers bought a $500,000 atrium ranch lakefront home in Porto Cima, a private-quarters club at Lake of the Ozarks. A few weeks later, they bought two watercrafts similar to Jet Skis and a $105,000 Crownline boat painted red, white and blue that they named the Patriot.
In 2000, the Meyers also bought her parents a $130,000 home just a few minutes from where the Meyers live.
The Meyers have put the Mercedes, the lake house, the boat and her parents’ home into an irrevocable trust, an arrangement that tax experts say would help protect them from any financial problems at the minisry.
Meyer says she should not have to defend how she spends the ministry’s money. “We teach and preach and believe biblically that God wants to bless people who serve Him,” Meyer said. “So there’s no need for us to apologize for being blessed.”
Meyer’s “trusted” board
For the most part, Meyer can spend the ministry’s money any way she sees fit because her board of directors is handpicked. It consists of Meyer, her husband and all four of her children — all paid workers — as well as six of Meyer’s closest friends. (Ministry officials said that daughter Laura Holtzmann has now resigned; state records still list her on the board.) “Our family is a huge help to us,” Meyer said. “We couldn’t do this if we didn’t have somebody we trusted.”
Board members Roxane and Paul Schermann are such close friends that for more than a decade they lived in the Meyers’ home. The ministry employed both of them as high-level managers and in 2001 bought them a $334,000 home. Roxane Schermann no longer works at the ministry; her husband continues as a paid division manager. The Schermanns bought the house at the same price from the ministry in January. Delanie Trusty, the ministry’s certified public accountant, also serves as the ministry board’s secretary.
The board decides how the ministry’s money is spent. The salaries of Meyer and her family are set by those board members who are not family members and are not employed by the ministry, Meyer’s lawyer said. The arrangement meets IRS regulations, the lawyer said.
“We certainly wouldn’t have enemies and people we don’t know” on the board, Meyer said. “That wouldn’t make any sense. Anybody who has a board is going to have people in favor of you.”
Meyer and her ministry refuse to tell how much the ministry pays Meyer, her husband, her children and her children’s spouses. “I don’t make any more than I’m worth,” Meyer said. “We’re definitely within IRS guidelines.”
Such an overlap between top administrators and board members concerns the IRS because “the opportunity to manipulate and control the organization is easier to accomplish,” said Bruce Philipson of St. Paul, Minn., the IRS group manager of tax-exempt organizations for this region. (Carolyn Tuft and Bill Smith St. Louis Post-Dispatch 11/15/2003)
“And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.” Luke 17:23
Joyce Meyer is one dynamic speaker/motivator. The problem with Mrs. Meyers is that her doctrine is not Biblical. She does teach some good things but she also teaches way to many things that are not Biblically correct. Like the rest of the Word Faith, Seed Faith, Name It And Claim it crowd, Mrs. Meyers lives an extravagant lifestyle. She has all her clothes tailor made for her and lives in a multi-million dollar home, her husband drives a $100,000 automobile, her and their children all drive expensive vehicles, paid for by the Ministry and she fly’s around the country in her Multi-million dollar jet plane when she isn’t taking time to vacation at her home in the Ozarks, paid for by the Ministry. I truly believe these millions of dollars could have been used more efficiently on other causes other than to give her and her family a rich lifestyle. I do not think they should live as dirt poor persons but I certainly do not recognize any sacrifice on their parts. There are millions of people who need the basics in life just to live let alone have any extra. With all this extravagance, she is not showing the true spirit of Jesus. – RW
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Joyce Meyers Message On Being Born Again
Quotes, Teachings, Doctrines, Beliefs Concerning Salvation
Purpose
What are the beliefs, teachings & doctrines of Joyce Meyers concerning being “Born Again”? What does Joyce Meyer believe on what a person must believe to be saved? What does Joyce Meyer teach concerning Jesus on the cross and spiritual death, and salvation? Below will be various quotes from Joyce Meyer teachings from one of her booklets called “The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make“, and the purpose for this information is not to be contentious or divisive, but rather to give an exposition of what Joyce Meyer teaches concerning being born again. Within the Christian Church there are many people who listen to Joyce Meyer whether on the radio, television, or by reading her books. However, many do not realize that her teachings are not in accordance with the Word of God. It is true that there are things she teaches which do line up Biblically, but the same is said of the Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Mormons.
What does Joyce Meyer teach that is so bad? Is Joyce Meyer a false teacher? Is Joyce Meyer a Christian? Why should anyone be concerned? Joyce Meyers does not have all the same false teachings as those in the Faith Movement, but she does have some teachings that are the same with various Faith teachers. Examine this information for yourself and line up the Biblical gospel to the gospel that Joyce Meyer teaches. For more information on the Faith Movement teachings go to our Faith Movement section.
In a book called “The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make” Joyce Meyer teaches what it means to be born again and what Christ had to do for people to be saved. Read the following comments:
“Although your physical body will die someday, your spirit will continue to live for an eternity. Whether your spirit lives in heaven or hell depends on the choices you have made. In this book, best selling author Joyce Meyer outlines God’s plan of salvation so that you can make a quality decision.” (Back of the book, 1996-Edition)
“The spiritual part of you can be thought of as the part of you that cannot be seen with the natural eye. This part of you will live forever. And where the spiritual you lives depends on the decision you make as you read this book.” (Page 8, 1996-Edition)
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Warning, Danger Ahead!
Joyce Meyer teaches that Jesus did not pay for sin upon the cross, but actually went to the torments of hell and made atonement there. The following quote is from Joyce Meyer’s 1991 booklet on being born again which is worded differently in the 1996-updated edition.
“During that time He entered hell, where you and I deserved to go (legally) because of our sin…He paid the price there.…no plan was too extreme…Jesus paid on the cross and in hell….God rose up from His throne and said to demon powers tormenting the sinless Son of God, “Let Him go.” Then the resurrection power of Almighty God went through hell and filled Jesus…He was resurrected from the dead 3Ú4 the first born-again man” (The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make: A Complete And Thorough Understanding Of What It Means To Be Born Again, 1991, pages 35-36, Joyce Meyer) This quote was found from the Christian Research Institute’s article on Joyce Meyer which can be found by “Clicking Here”.
In her 1996 edition of “The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make” Joyce Meyer states the same things but with different wording.
“Believe that Jesus did what the Bible says. Believe He is indeed the Son of God, born of a virgin. He took man’s sin on the cross. He did not stay dead. He was in the grave three days. During that time, He entered hell, where you and I deserved to go (legally) because of our sin.” (Page 41, 1996-Edition) Notice the similar wording in this quote compared to the other quote.
“Whatever it took to get God’s people back, free again, is what they would do. Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and went to hell in our place.” (Page 41, 1996-Edition) Whatever it took means that Jesus had to go to hell, suffer and be tormented by demons in our place.
“When Jesus hung on the cross, He took our sin upon Himself. God cannot stay in the presence of sin. As Jesus took our sin, He was separated from the presence of the Father…Jesus was taking your sins and those of everyone else upon Him as He felt this absence of His Father’s presence. He said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [Matt. 27:46, author's paraphrase] Jesus knew it would happen, but the horror of separation from the bright presence of the Father was worse than He could of imagined, and it caused Him to cry out…and His spirit went to hell because that is where we deserved to go.” (Page 42, 1996-Edition) This is a common teaching among the Faith Movement whereas they teach Jesus died spiritually and became literally the nature of sin. Thus, the Father turned away from Jesus while He was on the cross and Jesus died alone. Check out our article “Was Jesus Separated From The Father On The Cross?” for further information on Jesus being separated from the Father and becoming spiritually dead.
“There is no hope of anyone going to heaven unless they believe this truth. You cannot go to heaven unless you believe with all your heart that Jesus took your place. He became your substitute and took all the punishment you deserve. He bore all your sins. He paid the dept you owe…Jesus went to hell for you. He died for you. He paid for your sins.” (Page 43, 1996-Edition)
Concerning being born again and what is required to be saved we see Joyce Meyer teaching:
1. “Believe…what the Bible says.”
2. That when Jesus was on the cross He did not stay dead but went to hell.
3. That Jesus went to hell in our place because that is where we deserved to go.
4. That God would do whatever it took to free His people.
5. That there is no hope of anyone going to heaven unless they believe this truth, meaning what Jesus did to make atonement for sins.
6. That a person must believe in their heart that Jesus took their place on the cross, He died spiritually, (implied) was separated from the Father, tormented by demons in hell, (1991-Edition) Jesus is the first born again man. (1991-Edition)
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What is the Gospel?
The Scriptures are clear on what the Gospel message is.
“1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NASB) The apostle Paul taught that Jesus died and rose again for our sins according to the Scriptures. Paul taught the death that Jesus died was His physical death and His shed blood. Nowhere do we find anything from Paul or any other apostle/prophet for that matter state Jesus died spiritually for our sins according to the Scriptures.
What the apostles taught concerning what Jesus did to make atonement and reconciliation for our sins:
“19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (Colossians 1:19-22, NASB)
“18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:18-19, NASB)
What Jesus taught:
“27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:27, NASB)
“44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:44-47, NASB)
“Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30, NASB)
Jesus taught that His death and shed blood was sufficient for the atonement of our sins. When Jesus said “It is finished” He was teaching an absolute truth that the payment for sin was paid in full. The Greek of “It is finished” is “tetelestai” which was a common way of saying dept paid in full, it is done.
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What Does Born Again Mean?
Simply put being born again means becoming a new creation in Christ. Jesus taught Nicodemus what born again meant in John 3:1-21 and the message was simple. A person either accepts or rejects that Jesus came to this world to save anyone of their sins. What does it mean to accept Jesus? Jesus came first to the Jews, then after His death and resurrection the message was for the apostles to go to all people. To accept Jesus means you acknowledge you are in need of being saved, (John 3:14-18) that you believe Jesus was the Messiah and God come in the flesh, (John 8:24) that Jesus had the same authority and equality as the Father, (John 5:18-23 & John 10:30) that Jesus was the only way to the Father and for salvation, (John 14:6) that Jesus taught the Father, the Holy Spirit and Himself were three distinct personages from one another. (John 14-16)
John the apostle teaches what born again means:
“4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”…”10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”…”20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” ( 1 John 5, NASB)
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What Will You Do?
It is clear that Joyce Meyer teaches another gospel message concerning what born again means and what is required to believe in order to be saved. This information shows Biblically that Joyce Meyer is not teaching the Biblical Gospel message and those who listen to her should be concerned. We believe she is teaching false doctrines of the message of hope and eternal life, and anyone who is serious about wanting to know truth needs to be open to examining this further. This is not an attack on Joyce Meyer in any way, but rather as said before an exposition on what she teaches concerning being born again.
We are warned in the Scriptures to be careful of those who claim to be of God but are in fact wolves in sheep’s clothing. There are false prophets & apostles, and false Christ’s:
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15, NASB)
“For false Christ’s and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect..” (Matthew 24:24, NASB)
“28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” (Acts 20:28-31, NASB)
“13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, NASB)
We are instructed to examine all people and doctrines for truth, and reject false teachers and doctrines:
“10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:10-11, NASB)
“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, NASB)
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, NASB)
“2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4, NASB)
“10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.” (Titus 3:10-11, NASB)
What will you do with this information? If any of you are wondering if we have attempted to contact Joyce Meyer’s, the answer is yes. We have attempted contacting Joyce Meyer’s through emails and by phone, yet no reply. Our conclusion is she does not want to discuss this and we urge you to share this vital information with those who listen to Joyce Meyer’s. If you have any questions concerning what we have shared we would encourage you to contact us.
