Newsline
Some Preachers Generating Millions Through Royalties
has done that with every book
he has written.”
EP News—Joel Osteen is in book royalties since 2005. take a different approach. Chuck Randy Alcorn, whose best-
fond of telling reporters that he Rick Warren’s book has sold Colson, founder of Prison Fellow- sellers include Heaven and The
hasn’t accepted a salary from more than 30 million copies ship Ministries, takes no royalties Treasure Principle, not only gives
the church he pastors—Hous- since its publication in 2002. from his half-dozen or more the money to Eternal Perspec-
ton’s mammoth Lakewood Publishing industry insiders esti- best-sellers. His philosophy: The tive Ministries, but EPM in turn
Church—since 2005. When mate that Warren gets at least 20 ministry, including his nation- gives much of it to ministries
Pastor Rick Warren’s s The PurposeThe Purpose percpercent of the wholesale price ofen ally syndicated Breakpoint radio over which Alcorn has no control
Driven Life made tthe book. All of this means program, drives book sales. Why or influence. In 2008, EPM gave
best-seller lists, he tthat Warren’s royalties from should he profit personally from almost $600,000 to other Chris-
went on Larry King TThe Purpose Driven Life and a market that donors to the tian ministries involved in pro-life
Live to tell America iits spin-offs, some of which ministry created and paid for? A and poverty work. Since 1990,
that he has reim- hhave been certified gold spokesman for Colson said, “He EPM has given away about $5.5
bursed all the salaryy aand platinum themselves, turns over all royalties from his million, most of that money
he had ever taken llikely approaches $100ikely appr books to Prison Fellowship. He from Alcorn’s royalty income.
from Saddleback million. Evenm
Church, and he accounting for hisa
and his wife, Kay, are noware now well-publicizedw Georgia Church Celebrates Centennial
“reverse tithing”—they keepp “reverse tithe,”“
DAHLONEGA, Ga.—The God for guidance. He closed
10 percent of their income Warren likelyW
Dahlonega Church of God cel- the message by having the
and give away 90 percent. pockets well inp
ebrated its 100th anniversary entire congregation come
Given the realities of the excess of $1 mil-e
and homecoming on Septem- forward to pray for their newly
book publishing industry, lion a year.l
ber 13, 2009. Garvin Sellers, a appointed pastor, Larry Henry,
these pastors’ salaries had These are
former pastor, shared memo- and his wife, Jackie.
likely become incidental partsts huge numbers, but is therehuge numbers
ries of the early days. A video Over 150 people attended,
of their income. Osteen’s first anything wrong with that? The
history of the church was also including members of the
book, 2005’s Your Best Life Now, Evangelical Council for Financial
presented. Dahlonega City Council. Pic-
has sold an estimated 10 mil- Accountability has a complicated
Former pastor Hulet Smith tures and other memorabilia
lion copies—enough to get a formula that determines whether
challenged the congregation were on display from each
$13 million advance from his ministry “insiders” may keep
to look to the future, trusting year—1909 through 2009.
publisher for his second book, royalties from their books. The
Become a Better You. Osteen’s bottom line: In most cases, they
new book, It’s Your Time, will can—so long as the book is not
likely yield another eight-figure being used by the ministry for a
payday. So even without his sal- fund-raising premium.
ary from Lakewood, Osteen has Nonetheless, a minority of
likely earned at least $25 million well-known Christian leaders
By the
Do Americans support or oppose “civil unions” between
homosexual couples?
Numbers
2003 2005 2008 2009
Support 45% 53% 54% 57%
Source: The Pew Forum on
Religion and Public Life
Oppose 47% 40% 40% 37%

30 EVANGEL • FEB 2010
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