The Copelands refused an interview request, but one of their daughters,
Kellie Copeland Swisher, and her husband, Steve Swisher, who both work in
the ministry, spoke for them.

Mrs. Swisher said the ministry gave away "a minimum of 10 percent of what
comes in" to other charities. Her father's current favorite, she said, is a
Roman Catholic orphanage in Mexico.

The ministry has resisted providing the Senate investigation with all the
documents requested, she said, because the Copelands did not want to
publicly reveal the names of the "partners." The investigation, which could
result in new laws, is continuing, a committee spokeswoman said. Among those
being investigated is Creflo Dollar, one of the ministers at the Copelands'
convention.

Mr. Swisher said that even in the economic downturn, the ministry's income
going into the convention was up 3 percent over last year. Asked if they had
adjusted the message for the economy, Mrs. Swisher patted the worn Bible in
her lap and said: "The message they preach is the Word of God. The Word
doesn't change."

At the convention, the preachers -- who also included Jesse Duplantis and
Jerry Savelle -- sprinkled their sermons with put-downs of the government,
an overhaul of health care, public schools, the news media and other
churches, many of which condemn prosperity preaching.

But mostly the preachers were working mightily to remind the crowd that they
are God's elect. "While everybody else is having a famine," said Mr.
Savelle, a Texas televangelist, "his covenant people will be having the best
of times."

"Any time a worried thought about money pops up in your mind," Mr. Savelle
continued, "the next thing you do is sow": drop money, like
seeds, in "good
ground" like the preachers' ministries. "Stop worrying, start
sowing," he
added, his voice rising. "That's God's stimulus package for you."

At that, hundreds streamed down the aisles to the stage, laying envelopes,
cash and coins on the carpeted steps.


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