“..Destiny Church has been attacked by former members who say it is nothing more than a money-making venture.
Dozens of ex-Destiny members contacted the Herald after yesterday’s story about dissension in the Brisbane branch.
More than half the Destiny Church in Brisbane – including its pastor, Andrew Stock – walked out of the service on Sunday, saying they believed the church was no longer following the Gospel.
Those who contacted the Herald supported the walkout, saying the church was a money-making cult.
“This incident is the closest we have come to getting a genuine ‘tell it like it is’ picture of the Destiny corporation,” a former member said.
Pastor Stock, his wife Helen and more than half the just over 100-member Brisbane congregation walked out on the church over several issues, including money and a new covenant which they said went against the Gospel.
That covenant included buying a $300 signet ring and encouraging churchgoers to stop buying coffee and give up Sky TV so they could give more money to the church.
It also said up to $1.3 million would be put aside to fund Bishop Brian Tamaki – who founded the church in Auckland in 1998 – appearing on his own television programme every weekday.
Former Destiny church-goer Agnes Granada said she left Auckland’s Mt Wellington branch because “I started getting uncomfortable”.
Ms Granada, who attended services for five years, said moves such as making the $300 signet ring a compulsory purchase for each member led her to believe Destiny was not a church, but a money-making cult.
“It doesn’t reconcile with what Jesus preached – it’s going out of context. I myself was uncomfortable with buying a ring for $300,” she said.
“God is spiritual and [Bishop Tamaki] seems to be doing things materialistically – $300 is two weeks groceries for the average family.”
Another member said she had to “walk away from it all and repent” after realising she was attending a cult and not a church.
“Tamaki is moving away from the true faith and is setting up his business empire,” she said..”
go to source/story>>It’s a cash cult, say Destiny’s walk-outs – National – NZ Herald News
