Hillsong - Reap what you Sow

'Fraudster' blames Hillsong

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22303984-5013404,00.html


Anthony Klan | August 25, 2007
ROBERT Orehek admits he did the wrong thing but claims it was the materialistic ethos of the pentecostal Hillsong Church that made him do it.
The 45-year-old former property developer is the man known for "fleecing" $25million from investors -- predominantly members of the Hillsong congregation -- to fund a property empire that failed spectacularly in 2003.
Mr Orehek faced the NSW District Court yesterday on four counts of fraud -- to which he has pleaded guilty -- but his trial has placed the spotlight on the "greed is good" mantra of the Hillsong empire, which preaches that material wealth is a badge of God's favour.
Mr Orehek strenuously denies the portrayals of him as an evil property developer intent on embezzling investor funds.
And he has an unlikely ally. Consumer advocate and real estate novelist Neil Jenman -- who has built a reputation for fighting unscrupulous property spruikers -- yesterday took to the witness box in defence of Mr Orehek.
Mr Orehek, Mr Jenman said, was a "dreadfully inept businessman" and "not particularly intelligent" but not someone who had set out to deceive investors.
In 1998, Mr Orehek was a small-time property developer, building single houses and "dual-occupancy" apartments. He had been worshiping at Hillsong twice a week for five years but had made "very few friends".
That changed in 1998 when parishioners discovered Mr Orehek was a "property developer". Suddenly he was contacted by "more than 100" members of the congregation seeking to invest in his developments.
Among those church members to invest were Hillsong pastor David Crafts and executive pastor Joel A'Bell, who poured in a combined $540,000.
The churchgoers were chasing returns of 25 per cent on their investments that Mr Orehek said he could deliver because he intended making 100 per cent on all equity invested, and "didn't want to be too greedy and keep all the profits myself".
Mr Orehek's workload of two small-scale developments suddenly grew to more than 10 major projects. The group unsurprisingly fell into liquidation in 2003.
But before the crash Mr Orehek, who believed he was "blessed to make money", started spending big, moving into a multi-million-dollar apartment and buying a Porsche and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Following the collapse, a suicidal and "deeply remorseful" Mr Orehek was banned from worshipping at Hillsong.
On behalf of Hillsong management, elder Kevin Brett wrote to Mr Orehek in February 2004 threatening to call the police if hereturned.
"I was in shock. I thought it was a public place, I didn't think they could stop you going to public places," Mr Orehek said.
Hillsong refused repeated requests for an interview, but in a written statement the group's founder Brian Houston -- who had been a neighbour of Mr Orehek in the late 1990s -- defended the move to ban the failed developer.
"We maintain our right to ask anyone displaying predatory behaviour to cease attending our church, and it was our leadership's belief that there was a good reason to do so in this situation," Mr Houston said.
In court yesterday judge James Bennett said Mr Orehek's actions as his company crumbled reflected someone who believed "perhaps with a little of trust in God it will all work out at the end of the month".
Mr Orehek has been charged with four counts of fraud over the use of investor funds for different property development projects to which they were prescribed. He is also accused of using $150,000 of investor funds to pay a deposit on an apartment in Sydney's exclusive Balmoral.
He is expected to be sentenced on September 5

Other reports can be found at:
http://www.rickross.com/groups/hillsong.html

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Hillsong
• Church
• fraud
• greed
• brian
• houston

[TrueShalom]

HillSong Church just give a really bad name to true Christianity.

[outbackcafe]

unplug the electric power cord and the rock n roll freak show will end, this church is not just about money, it is filled with music worship, worship music. music lovers. hillsong church is giving christianity a bad name agree with True Shalom

[Em1LYxoxo]

dw my mum was kicked out of the church for divorcing her abusive husband. when she asked for advice they said she couldnt come back. we attended this church for many years, the place is a disgrace to me now.

[excitesm]

Wow, you people are ridiculous. Lets just believe everyone who puts a video on youtube. Everything you read on the internet must be right, there cant be another side to this right? Ridiculous. By the way, lose only has one "o".

I think its funny that ya'll are bashing Hillsong about unforgiveness. Even if this is true, TRY FORGIVENESS YOURSELF! No wonder the world only see's hypocrisy in the church.

[MustaffaCuppa]

@heathpete As to WHY He came to earth in human form – it was to die on the cross in each of our places to pay the price for our sin. The Bible (God’s Word) tells us that we have ALL sinned, therefore none of us are worthy to enter God’s Holy Heaven in our own right - but if we accept that Jesus died in our place, God will accept us. He died for you too you know…

Jesus is called “Saviour” because only He can “save ya” from Hell that’s been made for the devil & his followers.

[MustaffaCuppa]

@heathpete Actually Jesus (God’s only begotten Son) is not a “poor” ANYTHING but is alive & well, not rotting in a grave somewhere. Did you not know that He ROSE FROM THE DEAD on the third day & spent many days seen by many (documented by many), before ascending to Heaven where He now lives at the right hand of God the Father?

[WTU208]

Brian Houston trying to be Rockefeller? Matthew 6 verse 24 springs to mind.

[juoodls]

@TrueShalom The question must be asked then what do you perceive as "true" Christianity. I formally attended Hillson. I had no money to offer them in fact I am on the Disability Support pension. Now I have not been going along to that church for some time because I moved away but they still ring to see how I am. So please do not critize what you do not know.

[psandoval318]

If you like posting against the Lord's anointed, refer to "the annoying mexican" @psandoval318 on youtube

[outbackcafe]

@froggerchanovsky Let me just sum it all up for you, Yes Jesus sang hymns, Yes the apostles sang hymns, Yes the new testament church endorsed hymns. Hymns are for everyone whereas hillsongs rock n roll freak show is not for everyone. Drums were around in biblical times but never used by the church. Your internet example is a weak analogy, you have got to come up with something better than that! Bring the hillsong church into to this debate i would love to be proven wrong

[froggerchanovsky]

@outbackcafe Once again missing the point entirely. I never once said anything that could be misconstrued by a clear thinking person as "Jesus didn't sing hymns". Every definition you've given so far for a hymn can be applied to most of Hillsong's music. Sure, Jesus didn't sing it in Hillsong's style, possibly because our contemporary rock music wasn't around at the time. Is it also unholy to use the internet for conversation because Jesus always spoke to people in person?