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
PS – An update can be found here (01/05/2010)
Comments are Closed
Pondering Pastor 
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 š
Is this really a church or what
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.
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.
Yes, we have been recieveing thier mail, until today we found that it’s a scam.Thank God that we did not sent money’ we have told here where we are from,to the church’s that we know. this people are sick an Develish.
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
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
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!
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?
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.
THE LORD WILL SAY IN THE LAST DAYS, DEPART FROM ME YOU WHOSE HEART IS FAR FROM ME AND FAR FROM HELPING HIS PEOPLE.
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!!!
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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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.
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
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
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!!
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..
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..
how do i make them stop sending me the letters? should i just write to them??
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.
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!
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.
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.
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;)
Yes, who ever receive any thing throw it away those letters come with a spirit, a bad one when I finally got the message I kept seeing ghosts, spirits so I called my aunt we prayed and it went away, people need to build there own relationship with God, on their own. Pray about it before you send or join any thing. Be bless!!!!
Today I got one of those time to pray booklet from them. They will anwer to God for using his word and being greedy. I pray for them.
Just received one of the mailings and considered sending a prayer request. I think the path they tread is the reason a church I went to stopped tv broadcasts. They couldn’t afford to keep broadcasting and, after praying about it, didn’t feel soliciting donations from viewers was right. A church is a gathering of people. We should be praying for that group that they would truly follow divine guidance. Those who sent to them should not be bitter but find a home church for tithes and be wary of who you support with gifts. Whatever their true intentions the letter came at the right time to give me encouragement. God will use everything to his glory and alone will be the judge of us all.
Yes God will be the judge of all of us. I sent money to them for a long time and I went to my own home church, yes their letters came at the right time for encouragement but I started to worry on how to pay my tithes and send them something every pay day and it got heavy on me all the time it was pay day, so I prayed to God and asked him about them if I should be sending money, he showed me a vision and a dream about them in a smoky pit they wanted me to help them out but they would not repent, and in the dream I said God said to repent they did not they began to cry and black tears came out their eyes, to make the story short they need to repent. Yes Iām praying for them and asking God to spiritual cleanses them, because that is a ministry to help souls. Just to set the record straight if you get their letters look on the front envelope where the stamp is there is a THREE SIXES CODED IN THE ARROWS AND THE NUMBER IS 666. I know it is God that showed me this. God bless!!!!
They told me if I send money that God would bless me. I gave a number of times. They said,”it is time. You have sown your seed.” That was 6 months ago. Nothing has happened. They say God needs people to help people. Then they said, “your seed blessing will not come by human agency.” If they are liars may Satan take their spirits. Whatever it takes. these worthless saviors As I ecieved so I return with interest to these Liars. Satan Take Them.
only you stupid jesus freaks fall for this garbage.
why would people send in money? God does not require money.
I can’t believe people send in money to anything religious. If you want to donate money, dontate it to charity or a local youth group. Sending it out in an envelope to something you got in the mail is just dumb.
Thank you all so much for your comment, I just receiving their letter to day. with nice words on back of envelope, saying they want to help me, they want to send a golden cross, I read every thing the words sounds to good to be true, and then I say to myself let me google them first,that is how I finds you all man that is bad if they do that hiding in the word of God,except Jesus is going to punish them , I was wondering how they got my adress, thanks all so much I read your messages God and Jesus bless you all
I just received one today, I truly felt blessed because just the night before I had started talking to my mom about how I’m wanting to get closer with god and choose a career to serve him. I was talking to her so that she be with me all the way and support me, because I know I will make mistakes on the way. Then I got this…..And it is really depressing to find out that it is just a fake, I mean….how am I supposed to take this. Its just so cruel.
ACT 2:17-21
17″ ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.
To the souls that need answers, God is real and he knows every thing. I can personally explain what I experienced in a very down stage, time in my life they came along, and yes the letters where comforting to me its was like I could hear Godās true voice through the letters and thatās what help me along my way on to getting saved, so for the ones that think its stupid for sending money, your not stupid. God knows your heart better then you will ever know. God has plans just when the devil is scamming, God will take soming like this and turn it around to defeat the devil in his own lies. Iām one of them, and I no the truth now. Every one has down pits in their life time. We as beings on this earth canāt relate to others, different sins or failure in life, so know ones stupid or dumb. God is looking for a relationship with us and when you get to learn how to know him, he will pour out his spirit, and you will know them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:16: āYe shall know them (false prophets) by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?ā
So be bless, its ok to Love God
I was just checking in to this I just sent the flyer in hoping to get a free cross… I wanted to try something new see if this whole faith thing breaks me of my depression that no one seems to see but now now, I hope they dont message me I really looked forward to my faith cross ;( well thanks for the info maybe other churches give crosses…i’m tight on money and stuff what a lame church and should be taken to court and shut down…. ;( i’m actually sad enough to cry now well best of luck for you and my new years resolution 2010 which isnt going well now
How sad we all are! Those of you who gave, God bless you. The lord will bless you even if you gave to the wrong person’s. We should not be looking at what they choose to do with GOD’s money. You gave because the lord told you too. I think everyone is getting to wrapped up in what they do with the money. If you are a christian YOU know he’s going to deal with them when it’s their time. So chill out everyone. Do what the lord tells you to do. If he want’s you to give to them…. then give. If you don’t feel right go find a church and give to them.
Thatās the same cross I paid for. God is in control, you are blessed you donāt need a cross to know that.
Matthew 6:25-34
Do Not Worry
25″Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
28″And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Listen to the Lord with prayer I will be praying for you.
Matthew 10:16 (King James Version)
16Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
God knows about them do not send them money!!! and do not open the letters they come with spirits throw them away. Pray to God about what ministry to trust. God bless you, Jesus loves you!!!
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” Matthew 7:15
I this case the wolves use the US mail system and feast on your money.
It is not OK to give to the wrong people for the sake of giving. You are only feeding the wolves and they are growing stronger.
Give personally and locally to people and groups where you can see them receive your blessing. The feeling you get will eclipse anything you get from writing a check to this organization. Try it once and see.
They do their part when they send you the information. You have to do your part also. Don’t blame this church on your spiritual failure. In order for this to work you have to remember that you personally have to have 100% faith. That is a minimum requirement for success to these letters – if you can muster more than 100% faith, so much the better. Life is a spiritual battlefield and the devil is out gunning for you, ready to steal any and all your blessings. So remember, they open the door, but ultimately, you have to have and possess all the right faith moves at all the right time. These people have changed my soul, my life and my very existence and have made me a master in the art of prayer. God bless this church!
As I read scripture, I find no real justification for “100% faith” in order for something to be accomplished by God. In fact, God works in spite of doubt all the time. (By the way, there can never be more than 100% faith!) Life does involve spiritual battles. I’m glad it is Christ who battles for me, and it is not up to me. You’ve left God completely out of the picture in your scheme of “works righteousness”. That’s too bad, because that means you miss God’s grace.
Pondering Pastor
Veronica ,I too received a mailing from St Matthews but I am skeptical after reading all these posts. I wish you could share more about the blessings and miracles you have received as it may help me decide. If not I understand dear.
To Pondering Pastor – You don’t leave Christ out of things with 100% faith, you work as partners. The reason all of these people failed to obtain what this Church provided to me so liberally, which is Christ’s blessings overwhelming, is that Christ and I worked together.
St Matthews performed miracles for me – why did all of these others get nothing? Try my idea, it is only through God’s grace, his bible promises, the Cross and blood of Christ together with your faith, assisted with the wonderful faith partner which works.
Too bad there are too many people like you who could even utter that they don’t have 100% in God. In life, there is no room for any doubt or any excuse.
Your lack of a religious life pastor!
Spoken from a life long Christian of 40 years, the grandaughter of a Christian minister, and one who has Jewish rabbinical blood flowing through her veins.
We will STAND, STAND for what God loves Truth.
Matthew 7:15-20 (New International Version)
A Tree and Its Fruit
15″Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Too bad you can not take criticism Pastor.
Perhaps it is you who is under the influence of demons and the force of evil. You can’t answer my questions? Don’t have the words to say why you don’t have 100% but rather pounce on an innocent God fearing productive group?
God have mercy on your soul!
Wow! Because I don’t respond immediately you know my intent and my relationship with Christ? You indeed must be gifted prophetically … if only it were true. You completely missed the mark here. I had not approved your last posting because it warranted a thoughtful response rather than an attack. Perhaps your attack signifies that you would “rather pounce on an innocent God-fearing” pastor.
WARNING: Future posts like this will not be approved. This is my blog.
Pondering Pastor
To VERONICA you stated to the Pondering Pastor (St Matthews performed miracles for me) these are your words, this does not sound like God doing the miracles. Its them through the devil, yes itās the devil he knows he been founded out, God woke me up when they sent me the Jesus holy cloth with the face and his eyes close, well its suppose to be the face of Jesus, it was so secret that if you follow these steps his eyes will open, thatās ridiculous. You can pray to Jesus and have a better encounter then that. You can open your bible and see the red word in writing, thatās Jesus talking in the red writing. Have you pray about this Ministry first??? I was once in denial to believing in them and not trusting God on my own until I went to my home church family, Holy Ghost filled and God confirmed it one Sunday about it through the pastor, preaching the true word of God. Gods words through him where, do not trust a ministry that ask for money all the time, when your down and need real physical help, will they come to your home and check on you? Bring food to your door and move you out your house when you have move. Take care of you or baby sit. Will they go see you in the hospital ECT?????? Unless you wealthy and can afford it then great!! God reminded me about the dream I had about them. One day I was praying to God about spiritual healing he healed me, after I got off the phone praying with my prayer partner, the mail just had came it was a letter from them, two of the same with different addresses, I could hear God so clear and I went to goggled them āwhat you knowā scam showed up, later that day I was hurt and I prayed about it more, God told me you āfinally woke upā, and to pray for them. Later that day I started seeing things and my computer came flying off the desk no one was there, so got my the holy oil and prayed in the house, called my aunt we prayed, it never happen again.
Ephesians 6:12 (New International Version)
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
They are not a 100% innocent God fearing productive group ,not when your using satanic tactics rituals on people secretly behind the seen. NO NO, GOD HAVE MERCY ON THEM.
More important than this being a bait for money donations, it’s more of an amazement to me that in 2010 this many people still talk to “God” and wait for a dead man from 2,000 years ago to return and save them. Christianity is a mental disorder and hopefully sooner than later it will be declared as one.
I have been recieving letters from Saint Matthews for about 7 years now and I was so hurt to know that these people are playing with peoples Faith. “Every dog has it’s day and I’d love to be standing there on judgement day when they have to stand before God for their stupidity”. These people, whoever they are, are going to pay a dear price for this. I have given a lot in that last 7 years and never thought a thing about it until now. When you give your supposed to take no thought of it again. Now after all i have found out, I’m going to start donating my gifts to a local Church and ask them for prayer. Remember this, we don’t have to buy Gods’ love, it is free and if we live for him and do good to others he will Bless us. All it cost us is to pray, seek His Kingdom. Sincerely Betty D. Brown Harlan County ,Kentucky
They were sending me stuff too, but when I didn’t respond by sending them money, they quit.
I was rather uncomfortable with the items that you were supposed to put in your shoes, under your pillow, etc…it just seems like these things are ‘good luck charms’. “Do this and you’ll be blessed with wealth untold!” Do that and you’re wife’s mother’s friend’s husband will be healed of his ingrown toenail!”
I don’t think God operates that way. Not normally anyway. He doesn’t need money or special rituals, or amulets to bless or answer prayer.
I’m glad I found this site. I will not send them a dime.I have my own relaionship with our Lord.I don’t need a letter to tell me what to do, just lisen an you will hear him, pick up a rock and he is there..
Wikipedia says:
St. Matthew’s Churches
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
St. Matthew’s Churches, formally St. Matthew Publishing Inc.[1], is an evangelical Christian ministry. It is primarily a mail-based ministry with an address in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with churches in New York and Houston.[2] In 1999 St. Matthew Publishing Inc. reported $26.8 million in revenue.[1] In 2007, it reportedly earned $6 million a month.[2]
Contents [hide]
1 Origins
2 Operations and fundraising
3 References
4 External links
[edit]Origins
The ministry is led by its founder James Eugene “Gene” Ewing, a former tent minister, who, according to the Trinity Foundation, lives in Beverly Hills, California.[2][3] Ewing, a native of Kaufman, Texas, was born in 1933 and has written fundraising letters for other evangelists, including Oral Roberts[4] as well as Don Stewart, WV Grant, and Rex Humbard.[5]
Ewing operates Church by Mail Inc., which had a several decade long struggle with the IRS before being denied tax-exemption in 1992, which was appealed.[1] Ewing was a revivalist in the 1960s with revenue at $2 million.[1] He then began writing fundraising letters for Oral Roberts. By 1971 Ewing renamed organization Church of Compassion as a “mail-order church with half a million ‘members'” with income exceeding $3 million.[1] In 1979 he started for-profit advertising and printing “to provide printing and mailing services to nonprofit religious groups.”[1] Then in 1980 his business Church by Mail applied for tax-exemption.[1] However, by the 1990s his businesses owed back taxes to state and federal agencies.[1] Nonetheless, in 1993 he bought a $2.2 million, 6,400-square-foot home above Beverly Hills. Subsequently, a year later the U.S. Tax Court ruled Church by Mail Inc. is “operated for private rather than public interests” and “is not a church” within the meaning of federal tax laws.[1]
[edit]Operations and fundraising
The ministry has been accused of preying on the very low income and the elderly by using census records to target their mailings. Initial mailings often only speak of the “power of prayer”; once a recipient responds and is placed on the church mailing list, they are targeted with letters saying that monetary donations are required for their prayers to be answered[6].
Although for several years the ministry operated without a church building and conducted its direct mail donation operation through the Tulsa address, a physical location to hold services ā a then-78-year-old Baptist church in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood[4] ā was purchased in Houston in 2004. St. Matthew’s Churches’ lawyer says weekly services draw about 1,000 people.[4] According to the Trinity Foundation, an evangelical watchdog group, the physical churches are only associated with the mail-based ministry as a cover that allows the lucrative operation to retain tax-exempt church status.[7] The status was granted by the Internal Revenue Service in 2000 after a 17-year court battle.[2]
One of their mailings consisted of a paper “prayer rug”, on which recipients were encouraged to kneel and pray. This mailing, along with others, have been mentioned by the Attorney General of the State of Arkansas, among others, as not providing information about their financial and fundraising practices.[8] The South Carolina Fraud Alert Task Force identifies the ministry as a possible mail fraud.[9] While the ministry does hold tax exemption status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, it has been the subject of numerous complaints to the Better Business Bureau, whose evaluation conclusion was that the organization did not meet two standards for Charity Accountability.[10]
Dear Saint Matthew’s Churches
Iread your book AND iknew all the scriptures that tou used in your book. I tried for a Government Grant for $200,000.00 Dollars in which they said that I have been approved, IF I would send them $249.95 for a processing fee. I do not have that amount of money to send them So when Ireceived your book which I read the entire articles through. I am very much in need of some finances before I consider other means to get me out of my finanicial situations.
Then I went to the internet and it tells me that this is a SCAM. I was in the process of sending a SEED offering, but I did not. I am still wondering what to do. Please Advise me. I need help as quick as possible.
I am a WWII veteran, 87 years of age, a retired Minister.
Sincerely Endorsed
Clyde
Hey I would like to say a few words here, I do receive those letters and something in me was asking to check those letters out, so I ended here, but what I like to say to all people out there who was believing in those letters and the charity behind than, don’t feel bad about what you did, GOD knows that you did in his name and in good faith, trust in GOD and he will take care of your prayer anyways, if you are like me and always feel good helping others, looking for real charity like RED CROSS, GOODWILL, UNICEF and many others, but remember to look deep into a matter before doing charity. GOD BLESS YOU ALL
I always weight down their envelopes with cut up empty beer boxes. I figure the US post office is hurting and I feel good about draining money from any type of religion to support it.
I thank you for this information.
I’ve received at least six to eight mailings from them in the last four or so months! I’ve sent several requests to them to remove me from their mailing lists (about three of them back to them through their prepaid envelope by way of USPS, and twice by Telephone.) They actually state on a couple websites that they will remove anyone who requests that they stop their mailings, but they clearly haven’t done that in my case. This is outright becoming harassment!
ten years i have put my faith in these sinners,now i pray for them. It will not get my money back, or heal my saddened heart, but knowing i am not alone in being so trusting helps some. GOD BLESS!!
hello,please i need to know what proof is there to show this people are scams, I have been believing that they are from God, but of recent the word scam kept coming as a picture and i have not recieved thier mail for two weeks now.please i need all the info i can get if they are scam and proof of it…thanks jackie
im really shocked that someone can do such a thing ive also been sending n write letters i knew something was wrong when i couldnt find them online
The reason I just decided to stop supporting this church is because they sent me a letter saying they wanted to know when I was born and what my mother and dad’s names were. This is what got me to thinking with all the identity theft going on. With certain information they can figure out security questions the bank uses so now one but yourself can get acces to your bank account. They said they did not know why but God was leading them in getting this information. I will no longer support them for this information they are seeking to get. God knows when I was born and He knows all about my mom and dad, so why would He want them to get this personal information from me. This should make people rethink their support to this ministry. In the end only God knows the motives and intents of the hearts and this is what God looks at.
I, too, received mailings from them when I moved into an apartment. They seem to target that demographic. Here is an article with some more information about them: http://www.trinityfi.org/press/tulsaworld01.html
A tax return from 1999 showed they make millions of dollars per year, spending most of it not on charity — but on postage expenses, which they claim as deductions. Most of the rest goes to compensation of their executives and employees. Here is the tax return: http://images.bimedia.net/documents/StMatthews_1999TaxReturn.PDF
It’s more difficult to find more recent information, since in 2002 the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, a charity watchdog group, reported that Saint Matthew’s Churches refused to provide current information about its finances, programs or governance.
This means it is most likely not doing anything but lining peoples’ pockets! Please, people, if you want to sew the seeds of faith and charitable contributions, choose a legitimate organization that actually exists to help people!
Apparently the founder, James Eugene Ewing, passed away earlier this year: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=James-Ewing&lc=4493&pid=156217848&mid=5017163
I just hope the mailings stop!
St Matthews has been sending me literature for the last two years, promising me that if I have faith and send them money, that god will send me a huge financial reward and good health, etc. They never speak of their humanitarian good works, or even of ethics in this world, or even of how we should be acting in order to be trying to get into heaven. Are they scammers? Of course they are!!! Just use their prepaid envelopes to send back whatever you want to, they will constantly send you more. But never send them money!! I send them I.O.U. s, to god, but I still get three or four letters from them a month. I wonder if they actually read what I write to them, probably not, but they pay the postage each way, and I really get a kick out of hearing from them all the time.