Onstage before thousands of believers weighed down by debt and economic insecurity, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and their all-star lineup of \u201cprosperity gospel\u201d\u009d preachers delighted the crowd with anecdotes about the luxurious lives they had attained by following the Word of God.<\/p>\n
Private airplanes and boats. A motorcycle sent by an anonymous supporter. Vacations in Hawaii and cruises in Alaska. Designer handbags. A ring of emeralds and diamonds.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod knows where the money is, and he knows how to get the money to you,\u201d\u009d preached Mrs. Copeland, dressed in a crisp pants ensemble like those worn by C.E.O.\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Even in an economic downturn, preachers in the \u201cprosperity gospel\u201d\u009d movement are drawing sizable, adoring audiences. Their message \u201d\u201d that if you have sufficient faith in God and the Bible and donate generously, God will multiply your offerings a hundredfold \u201d\u201d is reassuring to many in hard times.<\/p>\n