$35,000 motorcycle awarded to TV evangelist Tamaki

**Bob** · 14th December 2004, 01:27

Televangelist and Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has been given a customised motorcycle, understood to be worth at least $35,000, as payment for speaking at an American church.

The gift comes after Tamaki and his wife Hannah were sent on a luxury South Pacific cruise as a wedding anniversary present from New Zealand's 20 Destiny Churches. Tamaki's sister and her new husband also went.

Tamaki collects a six-figure salary - details of which he refuses to divulge - and lives in a million-dollar clifftop home in Auckland, drives an $80,000 Ford Explorer and received a $35,000 Harley Davidson for his birthday. He also recently bought a new boat worth more than $100,000.

Destiny Church spokeswoman Janine Cardno confirmed Tamaki received another motorbike as an "honourarium" for speaking at the Spirit and Truth conference run by New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta in September.

All I can say is... nice work if you can get it...

**Storm** · 14th December 2004, 05:51

Amen to that

**avgas** · 14th December 2004, 05:57

what good is the shepard if you can sell all the sheeps wool

**Rainbow Wizard** · 14th December 2004, 06:11

That's disgusting and typical of the US style of his "destiny". You don't see many leaders of churches exploiting a situation like that, the real ones give to the poor and disadvantaged. They wouldn't behave in such a selfish manner as to keep the bike. Well, maybe for a month or two.....
I don't think he's selling the wool, I think he's pulling it over the congregation's eyes, ot at least helping them keep themselves in the dark over what truly is spiritual maturity. Bleating in unison at an Americanised sect sure ain't my cuppa tea but I am a Christian and contribute to my own church in a variety of ways. But if our vicar was an extravagant rocker like Mr Brian "Elvis" Tamaki I wouldn't be there. I hope the IRD get to hear of it and tax him to the gills.

**riffer** · 14th December 2004, 06:20

Just remember fellers -

the lord giveth, and the lord taketh away.

He'll get what's his in the long run.

**Blackbird** · 14th December 2004, 06:20

I'm not sure that Destiny Church is anything to do with being a Christian, more like a straight out business using the gullible to finance it. When I spent some time working in the States, I was staggered just how big "fundamentalism" of this kind is, particularly down south. It's on every tv channnel and every street corner and the presenters all look the same - big teeth, big hair and expensive trinkets. "Send money or you will face eternal damnation" seems to be the common line.

Big business? Certainly. Christianity? Errr..... perhaps not.

**James Deuce** · 14th December 2004, 06:23

Christian fundamentalists won Bush the election too, so it is a political movement, not just a financial one. I reckon that is Mr Tamaki's ultimate aim.

**Hitcher** · 14th December 2004, 07:56

Power and money. There's always an angle and it usually involves power and money.

**MikeL** · 14th December 2004, 08:16

The nexus between religion, power and money is quite interesting. So interesting that it really deserves a thread of its own. We could call it "Religious Ravings"...

**NordieBoy** · 14th December 2004, 08:25

Originally Posted by MikeL

The nexus between religion, power and money is quite interesting. So interesting that it really deserves a thread of its own. We could call it "Religious Ravings"...

Or "The Raving Religious".

"The Raving".

"Rave On".

Hmmm...

**Coyote** · 14th December 2004, 08:56

All I can say is... Huzzah!

Not only is the government a money making conglomerate,

But so is religion!!!

I love this world we live in! Now 'scuse me as I drink a glass of carrot juice and jump off a cliff

**Blakamin** · 14th December 2004, 09:05

With any luck, the wanker will fall off it and bust a few body parts.....

**vifferman** · 14th December 2004, 09:15

Originally Posted by alarumba

Not only is the government a money making conglomerate,

But so is religion!!!

Has been for eons, Alarumba. The Catholic and Anglican churches in NZ have been big property owners for a long time (probably less so now though).
But the gubmint divested themselves of many of their quangos and other businesses in the 70s and 80s, so they're not as big a conglomerate as used to be the case.

**James Deuce** · 14th December 2004, 09:18

Originally Posted by Blakamin

With any luck, the wanker will fall off it and bust a few body parts.....

He's been a long term biker. His brothers run a HD touring company.

While I understand the sentiment, I wouldn't wish that particular fate on anyone, you stroppy Aussie