A bishop was robbed at gunpoint of more than $1 million in jewelry while in the middle of giving a live streamed sermon at a church in New York City on Sunday, police said.
The bishop, Lamor Miller-Whitehead, was speaking at his Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministry on Ramsen Avenue in Brooklyn when three people barged and demanded jewelry from him and his 38-year-old wife, a spokesperson for the NYPD confirmed to UPI.
“The individuals removed more than $1 million worth of jewelry from the two victims,” the spokesperson said.
“The individuals then fled the location on foot, entered a white Mercedes Benz and were last seen traveling eastbound on Avenue D. The victims were not injured. The investigation is ongoing.”
Video footage from the live stream of the service was obtained by WABC-TV and shows three masked and armed suspects enter the church as Miller-Whitehead, dressed in maroon with gold trim, put his arms up before lying on the floor as one stands over him to search his pockets.
Miller-Whitehead, known for his expensive tastes, himself has served five years in prison for a $2 million identity theft scam and was released in 2013. He founded the church after his release and was ordained as a bishop in 2016.
“I just want to give you a quick synopsis of how the devil moves,” he said in a video on his Instagram after the robbery.
“Sometimes when you are a known bishop, it is a gift and a curse. When you have a celebrity status, it is a gift and a curse. You become the talk of the town.”
Miller-Whitehead, 44, then walked his supporters through his recollection of the robbery and said he saw the armed men “come into the sanctuary with their guns.”
“I told everyone to just get out. I didn’t know if they wanted to shoot the church up or were just coming in for a robbery,” Miller-Whitehead said.
“They were all black men. They had masks but I could see their face. They came in and they took all my wife’s jewelry and they took all my jewelry and they left.”
Miller-Whitehead defended his taste in expensive jewelry but said he “was born without jewelry,” adding that the suspects had ripped his collar off when snagging his necklace.
“It’s not about me being flashy. It’s about me purchasing what I want to purchase. It’s my prerogative to purchase what I want to purchase,” he said.
The bishop said the men pointed a gun at his eight-month-old child and noted that his congregation was left “traumatized” by the incident.
“I ain’t never scared, and I’m not up here being boastful or talking bad about nobody, but you have these women and children crying still,” Miller-Whitehead said.
“That’s not gangster. That’s a layup, like, ‘Oh, I robbed a church.’ You don’t get no points for that.”
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Not all who claim to be Christians and not all churches are Churches of God.
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
* Miller-Whitehead, known for his expensive tastes, himself has served five years in prison for a $2 million identity theft scam and was released in 2013. He founded the church after his release and was ordained as a bishop in 2016.
* A bishop was robbed at gunpoint of more than $1 million in jewelry while in the middle of giving a live streamed sermon at a church in New York City on Sunday,
* Joel Osteen net worth is estimated to be around $110 million.
* Joel likes to spend his income on a luxury lifestyle. He drives a Ferrari and lives in a mansion worth$10.5 million in River Oaks. He is also said to have several other properties across Houston and River Oaks.
* As of 2022, his annual income is $5 million. The primary source of his income is by being a celebrity pastor who preaches a sermon in various churches and his own Lakewood Church. His church has an annual income of $70 million.
I Love and worship God and his son Jesus Christ and I think a man of God should get paid.
I just don’t trust millionaire preachers.
To me it is just a business and not serving God and helping people find God..
Mark 10:21
“Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.”
Fake Christians like Whitehead and Biden and Pelosi
“Go Sell all you have (Like our strategic oil, to save the elections), give the money to my campaign or the church of the living Self-god, and you will have riches in Laundered Foreign cash, or fleeced phony fellowships of faith.”
“Oh what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive” as one puss filled whitehead gets Biden Crime style Corn-popped by people of his own kind. God always takes back the money when immorally gained. Same applies to stolen elections.
You’re always right on. I wonder if these guys smell smoke when they preach…
USN 63-66 WestPac.
This “bishop”and his “church” are as phony as a $3 bill. Anyone else smell a rat in this so called “robbery”? I wonder how much insurance money this guy and the “robbers” are going to split.
adamico12,
Don’t forget the “proceeds” from selling the stuff. The deal most likely includes that the “bishop” receive back the jewelry so he can “dispose” of it for mucho $$$$
I was thinking that initially.. Rather telling that the robbers, knew JUST WHEN TO Break in and steal stuff..
I’m In The Wrong Business!
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
James 3:13-16 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,
there you find disorder and every evil practice.
What, in God’s name, is he doing with $1 million in jewelry—certainly not appealing to the poor.
My god!!! I had no idea that people working for god made that kind of money. Can you imagine what his mansion looks like? He
right up there with Tammy and Jim Baker before the fall
Wow, what a good-paying job he has. Can you just imagine the size of his mansion? I wonder if he has his own plane? If he and his wife can wear a mill $$ on their person you all know he must have killer man toys, a plane, a summer house, maybe a yacht or two. Doesn’t this seem like Tammy and jim Baker reincarnated. Glory hallelujah can I get a AMEN
Makes you wonder, HOW they amassed such a fortune, after HE WENT TO JAIL for Fraud, and has been out just over 5 years..