W.Va. Pastors Mull Over Powerball Funds (Possible Windfall From Powerball Winner's Fortune )

Three West Virginia Pastors Prepare for Possible Windfall From Powerball Winner's Fortune

CHARLESTON, W.Va. Dec. 28 — One of the Church of God's basic tenets is the tithe the donation of 10 percent of one's earnings to the parish. In Summers County, where the median income is $21,147, that doesn't necessarily add up to big bucks.

On Saturday, two days after Powerball mega-jackpot winner Andrew "Jack" Whittaker announced plans to donate $17 million to three pastors, two of the likely recipients said they're excited, and nervous, and wondering about the details. How will the donation work? Can they use the money for their own parishes or will it be a fund they simply administer?

And most fundamentally: Did Whittaker who mentioned the places where his donations would go but not the pastors really mean them?

"We'll just have to wait and see what happens," said Bishop Cecil Welch, the pastor of the parish in Hinton, where Whittaker grew up.

Said C.T. Mathews, senior pastor at the parish in nearby Hurricane where Whittaker now attends: "The whole world's looking at West Virginia."

Hinton is a rail-stop town of about 3,000 in Summers County near the Virginia border. Welch said all of his 50 members tithe to the church, including Whittaker, whom he has known for 19 years.

Whittaker hasn't contacted Welch since winning Wednesday's $314.9 million pre-tax jackpot the largest single lottery ticket in history and Welch declined to speculate in depth. But he said the parish needs a new gym and an after-school center for its youth.

Founded in 1886, the Church of God claims 6 million members in 150 countries. Among its principles are evangelism and an individual experience of God, which can include speaking in tongues.

Though Whittaker still donates to the Hinton church, he and his family attend a Church of God in Hurricane, where Mathews is senior pastor. Whittaker and his family now live in Scott Depot.

Mathews said Whittaker hasn't contacted him either. But he said Whittaker, a millionaire contractor even before the lottery hit, has already been generous in helping the church.

"We know him real well real good people," Mathews said. He said Whittaker's wife, Jewell, teaches at a "children's church" on Wednesday nights.

Mathews said he wants to create a youth worship center and Christian school for his church, as well as a day care center and drug counseling program for teens. He said any donation would be welcome.

"Oh, it'd help," he said. "If we could get this off the ground, we'd just be blessed."

The third pastor with ties to Whittaker is Gerald Abreu, for 12 years a pastor in Hurricane and now in Torrance, Calif. Abreu couldn't be reached for comment Saturday.

Whether the pastors Whittaker eventually names even get to decide what to do with the money isn't yet clear.

On Thursday, Whittaker said he intended to give 10 percent of his $170 million gross winnings to three Church of God pastors one in Hurricane; another at a parish near Jumping Branch, Whittaker's hometown; and a third in California to administer a fund to help the poor. He didn't give details.

John Auge, who is acting as Whittaker's spokesman, said details wouldn't begin to be worked out until Monday.

He said after jetting to New York for media appearances, Whittaker is back home in West Virginia resting and "prayerfully" contemplating his next move.

This is a holiness denomination I believe that teaches against drinking,gambling etc..I do not know how these Pastors can accept that money without a compromise of their doctrine..it show all things are for sale..

This is from their church

GAMBLING
1997

WHEREAS gambling is a vice which is growing in popularity, having been legalized by almost every state and becoming one of Americans largest industries, with an annual income of 500 billion dollars; and
WHEREAS cities, states and native American reservations are turning to gambling as a profitable source of public income; and
WHEREAS gambling is the most regressive and unfair form of taxation, since research has shown that a disproportionate number of gamblers are poor and uneducated, who can least afford to suffer the losses; and
WHEREAS the odds of winning are heavily stacked against the gambler, in favor of "the house," assuring always that the vast majority of participants will lose; and
WHEREAS gambling is a violation of the golden rule, resting on a scheme that the few winners will receive their profits from losses suffered by the many losers (Exodus 20:15; Matthew 7:12; Philippians 2:3, 4; Romans 12:10; 13:10; 1 Corinthians 10:31-33; Galatians 6:2; James 2:8); and
WHEREAS Scripture commands love for God and our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-33), teaching us to do all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), and friendship (John 15:13) to seek our neighbors' good (Romans 14:19-21); 1 Thessalonians 5:15), while gambling seeks personal profit at the expense of others; and
WHEREAS Scripture emphasizes the sovereignty of God (1 Chronicles 29:11-13; Matthew 10:29, 30; Philippians 4:19) while gambling encourages reliance on luck and chance; and
WHEREAS Scripture emphasizes the virtues of work (Exodus 20:9; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12; Genesis 3:19; 1 Timothy 5:8), thrift and saving (Proverbs 6:6-11), contentment and virtue (Philippians 4:11) and peace (1 Corinthians 14:33), while gambling encourages risk-taking and a something-for-nothing attitude; and
WHEREAS Scripture teaches Christian stewardship of resources, which holds that all things belong to God and that we are to use all earthly possessions as His agents in accordance with His will (Psalms 24:1; 50:10-12; Luke 12:42-48; 1 Corinthians 10:26; 2 Corinthians 8:5) while gambling encourages selfishness and reckless abandon; and
WHEREAS proper use of money does not include gambling, but instead provides basic needs (2 Thessalonians 3:10); supports the family (1 Timothy 5:8); contributes to God's work (1 Corinthians 16:1-3); meets human needs and gives to the poor (Ephesians 4:28; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15); and pays taxes (Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:7); and
WHEREAS Scripture condemns greed, covetousness and materialism (Exodus 20:17; Matthew 6:24-34; Philippians 3:18, 19; Colossians 3:5, 6), while gambling encourages these sins of the flesh, lusting after unearned and undeserved prize money in clear violation of God's law (1 Timothy 6:10; Luke 12:15); and
WHEREAS Scripture teaches us to avoid all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and to hate what is evil (Romans 12:9), while gambling is a major source of income for organized crime, attracting criminal elements and encouraging participation in other vices and illegal activities; and
WHEREAS Scripture encourages saving with the hope of secure return (Matthew 25:27) and invites us to lay up our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), which is very different from risking them for almost certain loss in gambling; and
WHEREAS Scripture condemns the exploitation of employees (James 5:1-4) and emphasizes their right to earned wages (Luke 10:7); and
WHEREAS gambling is a threat to the economy, to legitimate industries and businesses, and to positive forms of entertainment and recreation; and
WHEREAS gambling produces an increase in unpaid bills, embezzlement, bankruptcy, and job absenteeism; and
WHEREAS gambling produces nothing and adds nothing to the economy; and
WHEREAS gambling is an addictive behavior which enslaves its victims robbing them of their personal dignity and financial well-being (1 Corinthians 8:13; 2 Corinthians 6:3); and
WHEREAS gambling is injurious to its addicts, to their families, to other innocent persons and to society (Romans 14:19-21); and
WHEREAS gambling is personally selfish, morally irresponsible and socially destructive; and
WHEREAS gambling interests often corrupt police and government officials, undermining the welfare of society and their respect for law enforcement;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Church of God strongly affirms its opposition to gambling in every form as a violation of God's perfect will for His people; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that our preachers and Bible teachers should urge our people to practice the virtues of labor, thrift and saving as God's chosen means of supplying their material needs and bestowing His financial blessings upon them; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge our member to express their opposition to any government proposals that promote and/or legalize any form of gambling in their states and communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we widely proclaim the power of the gospel to deliver believers from the grip and guilt of all vices and addictions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we will refuse to seek personal profit at the expense of other persons and families; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we do encourage our ministers and churches to inform themselves concerning existing gambling laws and the state of law enforcement in their states and communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we support laws, lawmakers and law enforcement officials who oppose gambling; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we will work within civic, community and business organizations to prevent their sponsorship of gambling in the community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we actively oppose any government efforts to expand and/or promote the legalization of gambling; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we commend legislators and government officials who oppose the legalization of gambling and support them in the defense of morality.
Adopted by the Executive Council of the Church of God, April 1997.

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