Some unscrupulous churches could actually use their displays of wealth as a mean to get the poor and uneducated to “join” in their memberships.
I’ve read that often times these third world countries can have explosive missionary sucesses with proselyting because the citizens believe it will “fast-track” them into America. When that doesn’t happen, the third world citizens go back to their old way of life with only discouragement.
I pray that Christian ministers understand the futility of trying to impress the natives with their wealth and stature, and will go minister to the needs of the hungry and weak through loving service, and in humility.
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/portoalegre/
He emphasized the need to sacrifice for temple building and shared how members in Argentina found ways to donate during the construction of the São Paulo Brazil Temple. They gave the gold from their dental work to help pay for the temple. He said that he had purchased some of the gold fillings for more than the market price to share with congregations the nature of the sacrifice made by these members (Church News, 9 May 1998).