(By J. Lee Grady) Faith preacher Jesse Duplantis told the world last month that God wants him to own a $54 million Falcon 7X private jet. And he’s challenging donors to help him buy it. “Some people believe preachers shouldn’t have jets,” Duplantis said in a video he posted online on May 21. “I really believe that if Jesus was physically on the earth today He wouldn’t be riding a donkey. … He’d be in an airplane preaching the gospel all over the world.”
The popular Louisiana minister, who is 68, is known for his folksy Cajun accent and downhome humor. But he was not cracking a joke when he announced his need for the pricey three-engine plane, which can fly up to 592 miles per hour. He was dead serious. Duplantis’ request didn’t go over well when his video went viral. Secular news reporters called him a charlatan. Some Christians condemned him as a con artist. In a social media post, gospel singer Kirk Franklin accused Duplantis of exploiting poor people. READ MORE
