Prosperity Gospel teachers abound in Christian communities, and a Bronx pastor appears to have mastered the gospel of "conning" people.

On Friday, Pastor Creflo Dollar asked his congregation, the World Changers Church International, for donations so he could purchase a brand new private jet worth US$65 million. He claimed that God has spoken to him and wants him to have the pricey aircraft, reports the Daily Beast.

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He made the appeal through his through a six-minute video which was later posted on his website where he rolled out ProjectG650.  The video includes endorsements from his followers, a pilot, a project manager and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, reports CNN.

Dollar actually owns an older model plane, also paid by the congregation, but he wants an upgrade.

Dollar explains that the current plane was built in 1984 which the ministry presumably bought second-hand in 1999 and since then logged four million miles. The aircraft engine, while on a recent overseas trip in which he was aboard to attend a global conference, failed. However, it didn't crash. The veteran pilot managed to land the old plane safely. No passenger was injured.

The jet-setting pastor said the US$65 million would be used to buy a Gulfstream G650, so that Dollar and his wife, Taffi, and the ministry could "safely and swiftly share the Good News of the Gospel worldwide."

The website reads: "We are believing for 200,000 people to give contributions of 300 US dollar or more to turn this dream into a reality - and allow us to retire the aircraft that served us well for many years."

Citing Gulfstream's website, CNN points out that the jet could seat only 14, uses two Rolls-Royce engines, has high-speed internet and two multi-channel satellite. It can fly from New York to Los Angeles in two and a half hours. The website describes the jet that Dollar wants as "the biggest, fastest, most luxurious, long range and most technologically advanced jet - by far."

However, on Friday afternoon, the appeal for donations was removed from the website.

Dollar hosts the TV program "Changing Your World," which preaches Prosperity Gospel. And the Bronx preacher has the lifestyle as proof of what he preaches - two Rolls-Royces and several multimillion dollar homes.

Daily Beast notes that when a 2007 investigation of six televangelists was made, Dollar did not cooperate. But the New York Times estimates his New York congregation earns US$4 million yearly, while the annual operating budget of his Atlanta operation is US$80 million.

While his finances appears blessed, his family is not since in 2012, Dollar was arrested for hitting his 15-year-old daughter. He was charged with battery and cruelty to children. As expected, the pastor denied the claim and the charges were later dropped.

Both CNN and the Daily Beast attempted to contact Dollar for comment but were unsuccessful.

Tagscreflo dollar, prosperity gospel