American televangelist and leader of World Changers Church International Creflo Dollar is calling for supporters to help him buy a $65 million plane for his evangelistic world travel.
His ministry has launched an appeal called Project G650, the name of the high-specification plane he is hoping to buy. The appeal website suggests that 200,000 people could commit to giving $300 or more to fund the project.
The pastor's current plane, which was acquired in 1999, was built in 1984 and was in service for 31 years. After a number of concerning mechanical failures during flights, the ministry has had to take it out of service.
The appeal said: "We believe it is time to replace this aircraft so that our Pastors and staff can continue to safely and swiftly share the Good News of the Gospel worldwide. Believe it or not, there are still millions of people on this planet who have never heard of Jesus Christ and know nothing of His greatness. Our hearts desire to see precious lives changed and snatched out of darkness and thrust into His marvelous light! We need your help to continue reaching a lost and dying world for the Lord Jesus Christ."
But he's got expensive taste. The plane he's looking to upgrade to, the Gulfstream G650, is much sought-after by the world's billionaires, possibly because it's the fastest plane ever built in civilian aviation. Demand is so high that there's a three-year waiting list, Bloomberg reports.
Bernard Ecclestone, head of Formula One racing, was among the first to own the aircraft, and sold it on for a $10 million profit, according to The Richest. Oprah Winfrey was last year reported to be on the waiting list for one.
Creflo and his wife Tafi rely on the churches they visit to help fund their fuel costs, according to the Christian Post.
World Changers Church representative Kayla Dollar told the Christian Post in an interview last year that although the ministry doesn't set a specific honorarium, they do ask for half the cost of the fuel.
She added that the fuel bill for travelling to New York City, for example, was $9,500.
The ministry said on the website that they are "believing for 200,000 people to give contributions of 300 US dollars or more to turn this dream into a reality", and so that they can "blanket the globe with the gospel of grace".
