A little bit of internet research yields much about St Matthews Churches. Let’s start with their website. It looks innocent enough. But digging through the contact information results in an interesting fact.
“Mr. JC Joyce, Esq., advised Saint Matthews Churches to have the churchs (sic) mail and seed faith offerings sent to a post office box in Tulsa, and to have the mail and seed faith offerings delivered to a secular firm, completely independent of Saint Matthews Churches. In accordance with that advice, St Matthews Churches did hire a secular company to open each church letter and seed faith offering under video security cameras. Following the highest caliber recording and accounting procedures, the secular and independent company deposits every seed faith donation into a bank, and records of the checks with which Saint Matthews Churches pays church bills are kept impeccably. Not a single member of Saint Matthews Churches clergy is ever near the church tithes or seed faith offerings. There is not now, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be a Saint Matthew’s Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.”
The ministry is based in California, not Oklahoma. They specifically address those like me who call their ministry a “scam”.
Some estimate that as much as $6,000,000 flows into the “ministry” each month.
This series of articles from The Tulsa World is a good summary of Saint Matthews Churches.
If you get these kinds of letters, please, throw them away.
Pondering Pastor
31 responses so far ↓
-kf // October 15, 2007 at 12:10 pm |
I received one of these once. I sent them a scathing reply and sent it back to them in the postage paid envelope they provided
Jason // February 5, 2008 at 9:37 pm |
I actually got suckered into this. I thought that I was sending money to a good charity. I wish I would have done some research, but at the time I fit into the demographic. I was living in a cheap apartment. If there is a lawsuit against this man, I would like to know about it. I would like to get my money back to give to a good charity.
Jason // February 5, 2008 at 10:10 pm |
Does anyone know if there is a good flyer that we could put out to warn people of this scam? I will keep looking, but it would be helpful. Preferably with the man’s face on it and a curse to put on him.
rostar // August 4, 2008 at 4:42 pm |
please if theres any more information on the right address because i been getting these letter almost every two weeks i really feel better when i read their letters,i pray to God that this is not true.The envolope had a stamp with a picture of a man named JAMES A MICHNER . BALTIMORE MD 212 , 01 AUG 2008 PN 8 l stamp on. next business reply mail first class po box 21056 tulsa ok 74121-9901
ponderingpastor // August 4, 2008 at 6:28 pm |
This is a scam! This is not a legitimate ministry. Just because you feel good after reading their letters doesn’t make it true. The whole point of this “ministry” is to enrich the leaders. Stay away from it! Find a local church. You will be blessed by that beyond belief!
Pondering Pastor
rostar // August 27, 2008 at 3:23 pm |
Im glad God woke me up and I pray that others do the same. Im still getting letters, they are going in the trash each time. So God Bless you for your caring heart and true spirit in the Lord. My pray that the Lord God remove anything thats not like him in me.I ask that you pray for me and I will do the same for you THANK YOU!
Alisa // September 16, 2008 at 7:28 pm |
How exactly is this a scam? A friend of mine gets the fliers and they always have beautiful messages, and artwork. There’s no bill attached, the letters are unsolicited, but their messages do IN FACT contain “the WORD”. Anyone throwing them away is missing out. How is enriching the senders of this stuff any different than enriching a church? The giving person has no say in how the money is spent either way. Please get off your high horses, and just be thankful that the Word is getting spread. Who are you to judge how?
Clarity // October 7, 2008 at 2:54 pm |
I have received these letters for a while and just started throwing them away. I too beleived in it until I start noticing that they were not saying they received my offerings, I believe this ministry is of satan and they have got bitt by the evil spirit of greed. I advise anyone receiving mail from them to throw it in the garbage. They are using the gospel to deceive people, and they dont even use jesus name often. I have not really sent them to much money. Every time one of their letters would come I would get a unresful feeling in my spirit. I believe they are psycics instead of prophets of God. In the bible in Matthew it says in 7:21,22,23. Many will say to me in that day; Lord have we not profeseised in your name? cast out demons in your name and done many wonders in your name? depart from me; you who practice lawlessness! Matt 22. Their day is coming.
Clarity // October 7, 2008 at 2:57 pm |
THE LORD WILL SAY IN THE LAST DAYS, DEPART FROM ME YOU WHOSE HEART IS FAR FROM ME AND FAR FROM HELPING HIS PEOPLE.
Rmuztihx // October 10, 2008 at 7:54 pm |
I’m only 15, and i’ve been getting their letters for about a year now and, i’m a very religious person. This is actually very emberassing. I’m gonna try to help USEFUL and REAL charities in the best way i can, and in the meanwhile, i’m gonna live like a 15 year old, and pray that God releases us from this horrible act. No, he’s not a fool, I’am…especially for falling for this. Every letter from now on will go in the trash. No need to file a threatning letter, they Won’t listen!!!!! But, i move like every year, so they soooooo wont find me!!!
Evelyn // December 7, 2008 at 10:15 am |
Yes, I have been receiving the same letters for several years now. I have also beleived in their literature and actually felt as I were being blessed! From reading all these letters from everyone, I myself feel cheated and suckered if this is for real. It’s hard to believe they can do such a thing and get by with it. The devil is so hard at work! Amen…………………Also, to answer your question when you relocate? Yes, I just recently moved again and they always find me some form or fashion! So, good luck to us fools, huh?
Jesus Lover // December 10, 2008 at 4:01 pm |
It is definitely a SCAM! Don’t ever send them money! If you choose to read their letters, fine.
They began sending me letters when I was 17 and I thought I was doing right by sending them my money. I followed their directions and expected miracles to happen. They sent me items to put under my pillow, in my shoes, different oils, etc. One day I decided to write them to get a personal response (letter or phone call) and they never answered. However, they did continue to ask for money. So I wrote them several letters, still no answer. When I stopped sending money, they stopped mailing me.
My mother also used to send them money. She doesn’t anymore, but they still send her letters frequently.
They aren’t the only ones scamming people. I’ve gotten letters from other “churches” who’ve claimed to tell me how to get miracles after I send specific amounts of money to them. Peter Popoff is one of those scammers.
You have to be cautious when sowing your seeds. You have to know what you’re supporting. You should have a church home where you attend services and tithe.
Just because someone uses lines from the bible doesn’t mean they’re a Christian. DON’T BE DECEIVED! There are people who will do anything for money. Just watch the news and realize the world we live in. They’re women who force their young daughters into prostitution, people murdering for money, selling drugs to kids…the list goes on.
Read the bible for yourself. Spend time in prayer. You have to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Stop being misled by the enemy’s tricks!
whitney // January 2, 2009 at 8:35 pm |
I have been receiving these letters for 2 years, i can not believe this. For 2 years i have sent them my money that i did n’t have to send in the first place..how do we get our money back? Not only that, but the hope i was led to believe was coming to me for believing.
amy // January 7, 2009 at 5:54 pm |
I cann’t believe this. I’ve been getting letters from this so-called “ministry” for years now. I thought I was donating our hard-working money to go towards the Kingdom of God. I decided to “google” them and this is what I find. This just hurts. We have been deceived – that’s for sure. Now, my husband is having a hard time looking for work and here we “thought” we were giving back to our Lord. I feel so bad. I’m asking for forgiveness from our Lord right now. If anyone finds out if these people get found out about, I’d like to know. We need to pray for these peope associated with the phony St. Matthew’s Churches immediately.
Jessica // January 20, 2009 at 2:12 pm |
Wow. I feel down right stupid. I’m 17 and have been getting letters from theses guys for several months. I’ve sent them money and when I didn’t have money, I sent them other things that I had, like jewlery because I felt like since I didn’t have money I had to have SOMETHING that I could give to the work of God. I’m just in shock. I thought it was an actual, God loving ministry. Thanks for showing me otherwise.
Brenda // January 20, 2009 at 6:36 pm |
I have been getting letters from this place for years i to was stupid enough to send money when i first got the letters then for some reason i started filling something inside of me telling me to check this thing out something was talking to my spirit telling me to throw these letters away but you know when its something about God you always think its the devil talking to you and trying to stop your blessing well i finely decided to google it and i couldn’t believe what i found and I’m really glad that i did but you know the good part about this whole thing as long as we were giving for the right reasons we will still be blessed and God will deal with these deceivers in his way he said i will fight your battles for you glory to God i think we need to band together and pray a special prayer for these people and ask God to deal with them one can put a thousand to flight two can put ten thousand to flight what can all of us joined together do thank about that. don’t miss out on your blessing by being upset at these people let God do his job.
Bobbi // January 25, 2009 at 10:15 pm |
Thanks for this article–I just saw a full-page ad of theirs in February’s “Woman’s Day.” I was about to send in the postcard but won’t, now that I know what the organization’s really about.
Bobbi
Maxwell Hammer // January 28, 2009 at 9:22 pm |
I recieve these letters. God told me it wasn’t a scam. They still send you stuff if you don’t send them money. Sometimes I just send them little pictures my daughter draws of rabbits and thing. They still pray for me.
Matter of Faith » A Prosperity Cross just for me // January 29, 2009 at 3:07 pm |
[...] to scam people by playing with their emotions. And I’m not the first to blog about it, see here. So, be warned, if you get this in the mail, rip it up and toss [...]
Terri Sovine // February 15, 2009 at 12:48 pm |
Not a Scam. Selfish Expectation giving will always be unrewarding. This Church contacting me by mail in 1998 saved my life. I asked them to pray for me and have been now recovering from addiction since 1999. Again in 2005 I contacted them and my prays with love and no expectations were answered. (to the tune of $85,000.00) Thank you St. Matthews.
Milton // February 20, 2009 at 1:20 pm |
just yesterday i received that cross not knowing what would happen, i should have done my research.knowing all this now, i’m not going to send anything to them, and ignore everything they send me. good thing i found this before i got sucked in to it more deeper. thanks
brenda // June 14, 2009 at 6:44 pm |
i glad i seen this website because i donot have much and i really was believing in this ministry i really needed a finacially blessing for me and my two kids thanks for letting me see this scam
Shawtaka Wilkerson // March 19, 2009 at 1:16 pm |
I began receiving these letters last year in October and I have been sending money. When I first read the comments I was hurt and extremely confused as I love God and I believe in giving unto the Lord. I felt like an idiot because I know believe I was scamed. However, I am not angered. Those letters came to me at a time when I was vulnerable at a cross road in my life. Regardless of their intentions, my faith was in the God that I serve and I believe my true lesson learned is even when man is coming against me God is still blessing me!! I don’t regret sending the money and nor do I regret receiving those letters. I know God meant for me to arrive at this moment of clarity in my life because before I received that letter I was ready to walk away from all that I knew spiritually. I was going through a series of storms and it looked like there was no end. As the bible says, the Lord works in mysterious ways. I thank him for bringing the “Saint Mathews Scam” into my life. It let me see that God will and forever have me in the palm of his hand. So if you feel bad, angry or foolish just know that God is still the head of your life and no good deed goes un noticed. Saint Mathews may not be able to pay you back but our Father which sets up high and looks down low WILL supply your needs according to your FAITH in him. Keep your eyes on the promises of the God. There is a greater reason why that letter came to you!!
Ahh man // March 21, 2009 at 7:50 am |
Man i had a feeling it was a scam but it was to late but i was giving money for the right reason but life is full of surprises anyways i decided to ditch the letters before i knew about the scam because when i started to go back to church i ask myself: Why answer a letter to talk to god and pray to god when i could talk to him anytime.And i asked myself why every!! letter asked me for money.. :/
anna // April 3, 2009 at 6:55 am |
Hi, everyone I just received also this letter who claims to be from St. Matthews Churches. When I received the first letter,I was really in need of prayer. i received a cross, that I carry with me everyday. In a way, it helped me increase my faith. I begin praying hard,and my prayers where granted. I really believed that these organization was for rea,but when the next letter came, that is where doubt starts to play in my mind, because they are already askiing money. In the first letter,they said that they do it for free, that they are not asking money. But on the second letter, that’s where they started asking money.But I leave it up all to the Lord. If this is his way of increasing my faith,by reading about his word,then so be it. The Lord will be the one to judge whoever those people that started this,either if this is a scam or not. He alone can judge them. There’s too much evil in the world today. let’s pray for one another..
ruth // April 3, 2009 at 4:46 pm |
how do i make them stop sending me the letters? should i just write to them??
ponderingpastor // April 3, 2009 at 5:31 pm |
Ignore the letters. Throw them away. Do not respond. Those who send in something get more back, even if it is a complaint. It is junk mail.
kid in nh // May 27, 2009 at 2:23 pm |
Postage is mainly what these people pay for with that money. I bet if everybody would just pitch in and keep recieving these letters without canceling them or sending money, they would be out of “business” fairly soon!
PS: don’t forget to send them something heavy!
Gwendoly // June 3, 2009 at 10:40 pm |
I’ve gotten their letters but I did notice when they started asking for money and saying they were sending me a book about making money through our Lord, that it was a lie. I did get a cute little cross though but I wish I would have knew sooner, thank God I never sent any money, haha! They won’t get a thing from me.
Stacey // September 8, 2009 at 7:43 pm |
Wow, I was wondering if this was a scam too. I noticed that some of the letters were stamped postage from different places. I loved the prayer connection with God’s Word, but I only sent a dolar here and there. Once I sent a little money I started to recieve the envelopes more often, each one urging for more money. So tonight i logged on here to see if I could verify the money went to the right place a nd a good cause. I’m glad I checked. So to God I pray that all the prayer requests people write in to them will be heard, and I hope nobody loses anymore money.
Theresa // October 1, 2009 at 6:25 pm |
Yes, I too sent money i didnt have. Remember all Of our hearts were in the right place. We have been mislead, but we won’t be again. Find a home church and tithe. This information was brought to your attention for a reason. The power of prayer. Wisdom. strength. courage. God Bless;)