Trinity Broadcasting Network opened its 65,000-square-foot
headquarters in Costa Mesa, CA, in May 1998. The multi-million
dollar structure houses a programming studio, a bookstore, a
theater and what has been described by the Orange County Register
as TBN founder Paul Crouch's "8000-square-foot executive
suite which occupies half of the top floor of the three-story
building" (Register, 6-2-98). The Register, which featured
a special report on TBN and its activities, noted that Crouch's
executive suite includes a wet bar, a sauna, a personal gym and
"meticulously handcrafted black walnut woodwork and ornate
velvet furniture. " The suite is off-limits to the public,
and Crouch and his staff refused to comment on it. According
to the Register report, "Like [Billy] Graham, TBN raises
about $80 million a year in contributions ... TBN's tax records
and financial statements show the ministry has accrued assets
of $227 million, vs. liabilities of $6.8 million" (Register,
5-31-98). The vast financial resources of TBN enable it to influence
millions of people throughout the world.
Millions of individuals are deceived by TBN's heretical brand
of "Christianity" which teaches that the more one gives
to TBN, the more financial and material blessings one will receive
from God. The Register described one TBN pledge drive (known
as a "Praise-A-Thon") in which R. W. Schambach pled
with viewers to send $2,000 each and promised a nine-fold blessing
to anyone who contributed. He added that if the viewer only has
$200, they should send it in, and God would supply the remaining
$1800 within 90 days and would provide a "wall of protection"
against sin and sickness. "What I'm saying is, every one
of your baby boys will never grow up to be homosexuals, and every
one of your girl babies will never grow up to be lesbians,"
Schambach promised to all who would send money to TBN (Register,
5-31-98).
Many are deceived not only by TBN's prosperity gospel emphasis
but also by the wide spectrum of religious broadcasters airing
their programs on TBN.
In addition to the prosperity gospel heralded by Paul Crouch,
John Avinzini, R. W.Schambach, Benny Hinn and others, TBN airs
and promotes a mixture of truth and error as evidenced by the
programming of individuals from different ends of the theological
spectrum. A sampling of TBN's programming schedule includes the
ministries of: Marilyn Hickey, Rod Parsley, Jack Hayford, Josh
McDowell, Kenneth Hagin, Jr., Kenneth Copeland, Robert Schuller,
Adrian Rogers, James Merritt, James Robison, James Kennedy, Jack
Van Impe and Mario Murillo, to name only a few. A more deceitful
mixture could not be found anywhere else. Vast differences exist
in both the message and the music, running the gamut from conservative
evangelicalism to wild Charismatic presentations. Anyone listening
regularly to TBN programming could not possibly escape becoming
theologically confused or doctrinally deceived. Are all the speakers
heard on TBN Charismatic, and do all endorse the modern prosperity
gospel heresies? No, but evidently their lips are sealed from
warning about these dangers. http://www.fundamentalbiblechurch.org/WTrumpet/fbcwt003.htm