Step Over Jim Bakker: Religious Scams Are On The Rise
Randall W. Harding's "Just the Lord" ministry stole $50 million
From the AP
Randall W. Harding sang in the choir at Crossroads Christian Church in Corona, Calif., and donated part of his conspicuous wealth to its ministries. In his business dealings, he underscored his faith by naming his investment firm JTL, or "Just the Lord." Pastors and churchgoers alike entrusted their money to him.By the time Harding was unmasked as a fraud, he and his partners had stolen more than $50 million from their clients, and Crossroads became yet another cautionary tale in what investigators say is a worsening problem plaguing the nation's churches...
Between 1984 and 1989, about $450 million was stolen in religion-related scams, the association says. In its latest count—from 1998 to 2001—the toll had risen to $2 billion. Rip-offs have only become more common since.
Bill McCartney
