What happens to the money?

December 2000
Written by a former member of over 17 years

What happens to the money?

This is a very good question.

First of all, money is never asked for from the pulpit, ever. There is no collection plate. Contrarily, it is stressed over and over that, "We don't beg for money!" This, of course, labels all those groups that do mention financial needs as beggars.

However, every Sunday morning it is announced that:

"Part of our worship is our offering to The Lord. There is a box on the back table for that purpose. All the money is used for the work of The Lord here and abroad."

The wording of the above is almost identical across the country. So, needs are never mentioned in specific terms, but it is quite clear that tithes are accepted. This practice is really rather refreshing when compared to tele-evangelists and others who belong to the church of the open wallet. The Geftakys member proudly says that, "God's work, done God's way never lacks God's supply." In other words, if God wants it done, you won't have to beg for money to do it, if you do it His way. It follows that, "If we don't beg for money then we are doing God's work." This is rather nice, but it is not scriptural, and definitely creates an air of elitism in the group. The Apostle Paul was very clear in asking the Corinthians for money. Furthermore, he told them where it was going and what it would be used for. Certainly, begging for money is unbecoming, but putting down those that mention financial needs in prayer requests is rude and divisive.

All giving of any kind is done in cash only, no checks, and certainly no credit cards. Members are not able to write off their contributions, because no receipts or accounting is given. The rationale for this is as follows:

The Church is a heavenly organism, not an organization. It is the body of Christ, not a business. How can a heavenly organism apply for tax exempt status without compromising the very nature and truth of the Body of Christ? Therefore, it follows that churches that are "registered" with the government for "tax reasons" are compromised. George Geftakys will not compromise! As usual, things are taken to an extreme.

So, members give after-tax dollars to the ministry. Uncle Sam gets his and God gets His. This is logical given the idea of the church being an organism, not an organization. What is not said, however, is that George; his sons and 3 other men get all their money totally tax-free. The "worldly" churches don't pay taxes, and their members can deduct their contributions. In the Geftakys' group, the full-time workers don't pay taxes--the members pay them! In fact, the members pay the tax that the leaders should be paying if we follow George's logic. George insists that he is not paid a salary. "We don't believe in a paid clergy here in this place," and "You can't fire me because you didn't hire me!" No, he does not get a salary, but "his needs are met in the work of the Lord." The difference is that he does not have to pay any tax, but his flock does. How this proves that the church is an organism, rather than an organization is beyond me.

Most people would also be alarmed to know that there is no accounting whatsoever with the money once it leaves the local assemblies and is sent to George and Betty in Fullerton, California. The expenses at the local level are minuscule, because the group meets so simply. Often, needs such as food for fellowships, outreach supplies and the like are paid for by the members personally, and not from the tithes. Local expenses rarely exceed $1,500.00 per month in small assemblies, and are frequently much less because the meetings are held in homes.

Most members are college graduates with decent salaries. Assuming 400 tithing members nationwide, which is a conservative estimate, and assuming an average take home pay of about $45,000.00 per year, leaves us with a very conservative $1,800,000.00 in gross revenues per year.

We may conservatively assume the following:

• From about $1,800,000.00 in gross tithes received annually

• $200,000.00 goes to local expenses

• $60,000.00 goes to salaries for each son and 3 other full timers (total $300,000.00)

• $200,000.00 goes to aid to foreign assemblies

• $100,000.00 goes for George's travel expenses yearly

• $100,000.00 goes for George's yearly salary

About $900,000.00 is likely to be leftover after expenses each year.

Please keep in mind that there are probably far more than 400 tithing members in this ministry. Also keep in mind that many people give large amounts of cash to the ministry, beyond tithes, in the form of inheritance, stock gains, and prosperity. Also, keep in mind that this is all tax-free currency.

All of the paid workers, at one time or another, live with several people who pay rent, reducing the expenses of these workers dramatically. George has from 2 to 6 people living in his home at any given time, greatly lowering his expenses. Indeed, he is not at home for 6 months out of the year. His wife travels the country and stays in saints' homes, rent-free. She may make a contribution to the food bill when she stays for a length of time.

All assembly missionary work is paid for by the people who go. They pay their own way, yet the people whose home they stay in must pay for the food. Even with fuzzy math, using safe figures, it is obvious that there is a vast amount of cash, year after year, that is simply tax-free surplus. The ministry claims to own no property. Members buy their own hymnbooks and are the sole purchasers of George's books, which are not available anywhere except on the book tables of the various assemblies. The sale of books probably results in a net loss for the ministry, but it can't be for more than 50,000 over the course of a year, probably much less. It is claimed that the books are sold "for cost". Because most people do not buy them in large quantities, except the hymnbooks, they are probably not at all a source of income.

The numbers listed above are very conservative. One former member, who was involved in much of the financial aspects of the ministry, reported that up to 4 million dollars per year went directly to George and Betty, in the form of cash and US postal money orders. This was in the late 1980's and early 1990's. No matter how you slice it, there is a large sum of money somewhere. No one knows where, and of course, no one has ever, at any time, seen any sort of accounting of where the money goes, or just what "The work of the Lord, here and abroad" is.

The leadership teaches, "What do you care where the money goes? Do you have a problem with money? Is it your money or God's money?" Of course, any good member of the Geftakys group will readily agree that it is God's money. My question is if it is God's money, what is He spending it on? Why is it that only George and Betty, and possibly their sons know what God is doing with His money? Why do God's servants not pay any taxes but instead live off "Gifts", while God's people, who earn the money, pay the taxes and never know what happens to the money after they drop it in the box?

George Geftakys teaches that the church is a great mystery, and that the church is making known God's manifold wisdom and purpose to angels. This may be so, but is church financing an even greater mystery than God's Eternal purpose in Christ Jesus? If it is given to us to know the mysteries of the Kingdom, why is the mystery of money, which the Lord says does not compare with the true riches, not yet ready to be revealed? If we are to be faithful in what is least, and faithful in money matters, why is there no accountability regarding these things in the Geftakys group? These are very good questions that should have an answer. The average member will show clear scorn for churches that release a budget to the membership. This, they say, is clear proof that these people don't have much faith. Perhaps the average Geftakys member would be surprised to know that Billy Graham, Jim Elliot, Hudson Taylor and many others all believed in full financial disclosure. Even a Geftakys member would have to agree that these men have expressed a desire to serve God and have some fundamental understanding of The Bible. Why is it that George has such a different opinion? Has George's opinion resulted in God blessing the ministry in a greater way?

In all fairness, if George does have money socked away somewhere, he does not seem to be spending much of it. He is as dedicated to his ministry as anyone you could meet and puts forth a tremendous effort. That does not prove that everything is OK, but it does say that his main motivation does not appear to be filthy lucre. I suppose it is possible that a majority of members do not tithe. If this is the case, it is an even stronger condemnation of the group as these non-tithers have guilty consciences month after month because they are "robbing God". In light of the dedication seen in other aspects of the group, I seriously doubt that members do not tithe.