Duggar family news: Jill and Derick Dillard criticized for enjoying date night

Jill and Derick Dillard were criticized for enjoying date night after they asked for funds to support their ministry work.(PHOTO: Instagram/Derick Dillard)

"Counting On" star Jill Duggar and her husband Derick Dillard enjoyed date night recently at the family-favorite restaurant, the MarketPlace Grill in Springdale, Arkansas, together with their son, Samuel.

Dillard posted a photo of their date on his Instagram account (@derickdillard) and shared a snap of their dessert, the restaurant's trademark Chocolate Mess. "Enjoying date night with my BFF @jillmdillard #datenight #bestfriends#chocolatemess #marketplace#jalapeñofritters," he wrote as its caption.

It was intended to be a sweet post showing how much he enjoys spending quality time with his wife, but the Dillards were unfortunately swamped with a lot of criticisms due to their family ministry in Central America.

Some even accused the Dillards of pocketing donations from fans and using it for their own benefit.

"Did y'all pay for that with your GoFundMe money?" one netizen commented, referring to Dillard's online fund-raising efforts. "They are deceiving people but fans are too blind to notice," another added.

"It's a full time job trying to fool everyone with their fake mission trip. It's really sad that he can't get a real job. Instead, he sets up a GoFundMe account for all you fans to donate towards," one person wrote.

Dillard's GoFundMe campaign, which is called CCSM-Missions, has already received $6,074 of its intended $10,000 goal. It is intended "for various missions opportunities" that will take place in Northwest Arkansas, North America, and other parts of the globe.

"The Cross Church School of Ministry is a one-year, ministry, residency experience that I believe will be a key asset in not only my vocational ministry, but also in my personal development," Dillard explained. "Every donation is important and will enable me to be present and help others in need. Anything raised beyond my goal will go to help other students in the Cross Church School of Ministry program."