Complaint Review: St. Matthews Church

I am not an atheist, but I am the daughter of 2 ministers who would never take money for prayers. While my father was still living he told me about this scam. (He passed 6 years ago) and he told me about the prayer for money scam when I was about 12 years old. (I'm 30 now, just to give you an indication about how long this prayer for money scam has been going on.)

All I have to say to this "church" (and i really do not like calling it that.) is didn't Jesus clean the Temple (with a whip.) because people were selling sacrifices for the highest amount?

I do feel sorry for you that these scam artists used your faith to rip you off. That's a despicable thing to do. :(

As you're unemployed, you need that money to provide for yourself. Money is a material object used to obtain material things. Donations for church upkeep and community service activities are ONE thing, but money for prayer is wrong.

Wouldn't God be more invested in his creations rather than a bunch of dirty silver and paper circulating about? Wouldn't he want to see that you're taking care of yourself and being strong - if not for yourself, for Him? "Selling" prayer is like telling you that God will only help you if you pay him. What does God need with money?

Maybe I don't understand because I'm an atheist/agnostic, but don't think of yourself as destitute. Don't be so hard on yourself. I believe that all humans have it within themselves to improve the situation they're in, even if it's just a little bit. Whenever you think positive, you give off positive energy; karma if you will. Positive energy always comes back to you, although I KNOW how easy it is to feel hopeless. If He is out there, I'm sure he'd look down on you and be pleased not only with your courage, ingenuity and perseverance(gifts He gave you), but also the fact that you're generating the very same positive energy that keeps this crazy ball of rock a worthy place to live in.

I'm sorry if I came across as cheesy or patronizing; it wasn't intentional. :)

I'm not sure what you do for a living, but perhaps you could consider temping. It got me through college, and it's now paying my bills and rent until I get the job I want.

Good luck in your journey. Have faith in yourself, and everything else will fall into place somehow.

I doubt that the people who commented to defend St. Matthew's "church" are for real. The comments are too vague, and sound too much like the letter I got from this outfit.

I would like to know for sure that these folks really are genuine. They may be fronts for the con artist behind this scam. Until I know for sure, I will have my doubts.

Think of it: over one hundred complaints and only a smattering of defenses? If you were fooled once by them, I ask you to not be fooled again! If they are for real, then there's a word for what they experienced: coincidence. That's all it is. Not an answer to bought prayers, but pure chance.

If you want people to pray for you, go to a real church in your own community. If you don't find one that you feel okay with, keep trying different church denominations until you find one that feels like home to you.

Real people in a real church is what gives us support through hard times. You need prayers from helpful people, not anonymous mailers who won't even write your name on the reply form. The one I got did not have my name on it--basically, if it says 'resident" you know it's a scam.

Don't go unchurched. Real pastors/priests will not take your money and leave you dry. Read John 10 to find out about real shepherds and "thie[ves] and robbers." Get a real Bible and read what a real church is all about through God's word, not through a bogus "prayer rug" with a graven image on it.

I doubt that the people who commented to defend St. Matthew's "church" are for real. The comments are too vague, and sound too much like the letter I got from this outfit.

I would like to know for sure that these folks really are genuine. They may be fronts for the con artist behind this scam. Until I know for sure, I will have my doubts.

Think of it: over one hundred complaints and only a smattering of defenses? If you were fooled once by them, I ask you to not be fooled again! If they are for real, then there's a word for what they experienced: coincidence. That's all it is. Not an answer to bought prayers, but pure chance.

If you want people to pray for you, go to a real church in your own community. If you don't find one that you feel okay with, keep trying different church denominations until you find one that feels like home to you.

Real people in a real church is what gives us support through hard times. You need prayers from helpful people, not anonymous mailers who won't even write your name on the reply form. The one I got did not have my name on it--basically, if it says 'resident" you know it's a scam.

Don't go unchurched. Real pastors/priests will not take your money and leave you dry. Read John 10 to find out about real shepherds and "thie[ves] and robbers." Get a real Bible and read what a real church is all about through God's word, not through a bogus "prayer rug" with a graven image on it.

I doubt that the people who commented to defend St. Matthew's "church" are for real. The comments are too vague, and sound too much like the letter I got from this outfit.

I would like to know for sure that these folks really are genuine. They may be fronts for the con artist behind this scam. Until I know for sure, I will have my doubts.

Think of it: over one hundred complaints and only a smattering of defenses? If you were fooled once by them, I ask you to not be fooled again! If they are for real, then there's a word for what they experienced: coincidence. That's all it is. Not an answer to bought prayers, but pure chance.

If you want people to pray for you, go to a real church in your own community. If you don't find one that you feel okay with, keep trying different church denominations until you find one that feels like home to you.

Real people in a real church is what gives us support through hard times. You need prayers from helpful people, not anonymous mailers who won't even write your name on the reply form. The one I got did not have my name on it--basically, if it says 'resident" you know it's a scam.

Don't go unchurched. Real pastors/priests will not take your money and leave you dry. Read John 10 to find out about real shepherds and "thie[ves] and robbers." Get a real Bible and read what a real church is all about through God's word, not through a bogus "prayer rug" with a graven image on it.

I personally did /not/ send a donation. Just the card asking for prayer. When I sent it I believed completely that regardless of whom the letter was going to, God does answer prayer. And yes, my prayer has been answerer. time and again.

Do not be so quick to write off this church or organization. The answer to prayer does not lie in them, rather in your own faith. People sending their money need to have complete faith. Not look at this as if I send this it might work. If not then they are crooks. That is not faith.

I have sent contributions and have not been let down. Perhaps it has not worked for you because you do not really beleive. After all prayer only works if you have 100% faith. Try faith then send money see if it doesn't work. We are not supposed to be rich, Christ himself was not rich, so why should you think we should be above HIM? I may not have won the jackpot but I get what I need. Think about it.

I received an envelope from St. Matthews Church
and I read it and it sounded so convincing because
they have the actual Bible scriptures to back up every word that they said.

I am a single mother of two and am on the verge of changing my life for the better and want to allow Christ into my home and heart. This letter came at a time when I felt that prayers were needed for myself and my family and others and this technique would be a way to draw closer to God.

But then I prayed about this letter and even wondered if it might be a chain letter. And God lead me in this direction to look up this churches background on the internet. And to my surprise I found that they are a fraud and thanks to the people who have written before me I was saved. Thank you!!

Don't be fooled. People who are wicked always hide behind God and His Works. But whoever is fooled by this letter shall be blessed anyway. Remember God knows your heart. Don't feel ripped
off. If you gave money believing it to do good
it will do good. You reap what you sow. These
people need to be stopped because it's wrong to
deceive others in this way. Continue to pray
and everything will be okay for each and every one of you. May God bless you and I hope this organization changes its ways.

I received an envelope from St. Matthews Church
and I read it and it sounded so convincing because
they have the actual Bible scriptures to back up every word that they said.

I am a single mother of two and am on the verge of changing my life for the better and want to allow Christ into my home and heart. This letter came at a time when I felt that prayers were needed for myself and my family and others and this technique would be a way to draw closer to God.

But then I prayed about this letter and even wondered if it might be a chain letter. And God lead me in this direction to look up this churches background on the internet. And to my surprise I found that they are a fraud and thanks to the people who have written before me I was saved. Thank you!!

Don't be fooled. People who are wicked always hide behind God and His Works. But whoever is fooled by this letter shall be blessed anyway. Remember God knows your heart. Don't feel ripped
off. If you gave money believing it to do good
it will do good. You reap what you sow. These
people need to be stopped because it's wrong to
deceive others in this way. Continue to pray
and everything will be okay for each and every one of you. May God bless you and I hope this organization changes its ways.

I received an envelope from St. Matthews Church
and I read it and it sounded so convincing because
they have the actual Bible scriptures to back up every word that they said.

I am a single mother of two and am on the verge of changing my life for the better and want to allow Christ into my home and heart. This letter came at a time when I felt that prayers were needed for myself and my family and others and this technique would be a way to draw closer to God.

But then I prayed about this letter and even wondered if it might be a chain letter. And God lead me in this direction to look up this churches background on the internet. And to my surprise I found that they are a fraud and thanks to the people who have written before me I was saved. Thank you!!

Don't be fooled. People who are wicked always hide behind God and His Works. But whoever is fooled by this letter shall be blessed anyway. Remember God knows your heart. Don't feel ripped
off. If you gave money believing it to do good
it will do good. You reap what you sow. These
people need to be stopped because it's wrong to
deceive others in this way. Continue to pray
and everything will be okay for each and every one of you. May God bless you and I hope this organization changes its ways.

I received an envelope from St. Matthews Church
and I read it and it sounded so convincing because
they have the actual Bible scriptures to back up every word that they said.

I am a single mother of two and am on the verge of changing my life for the better and want to allow Christ into my home and heart. This letter came at a time when I felt that prayers were needed for myself and my family and others and this technique would be a way to draw closer to God.

But then I prayed about this letter and even wondered if it might be a chain letter. And God lead me in this direction to look up this churches background on the internet. And to my surprise I found that they are a fraud and thanks to the people who have written before me I was saved. Thank you!!

Don't be fooled. People who are wicked always hide behind God and His Works. But whoever is fooled by this letter shall be blessed anyway. Remember God knows your heart. Don't feel ripped
off. If you gave money believing it to do good
it will do good. You reap what you sow. These
people need to be stopped because it's wrong to
deceive others in this way. Continue to pray
and everything will be okay for each and every one of you. May God bless you and I hope this organization changes its ways.