Pastor accused of scam says he was framed

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

A BARBADIAN pastor accused of scamming Bahamians into giving him their prized possessions in exchange for prayers and a “word from God” says he was framed in a plot that sought to ruin his reputation forever.

Bishop L L Spencer was featured on ZNS news last week after it was claimed that during a series of meetings the prophet pocketed thousands of dollars from parishioners and refused prayer if persons could not present him with an offering.

The news feature further focused on a situation between Mr Spencer and a Bahamian woman at a law office who nearly signed over several acres of land to him. She claimed that Mr Spencer told her that he needed the property.

However, Mr Spencer yesterday phoned The Tribune from Barbados in an attempt to clear his name of the allegations which he said were unfounded and completely untrue.

“She came to my wife while I was preaching,” Mr Spencer said, “and told my wife she wanted to give us five acres. I called her and told her if she was serious to come and bring the documents. She said she had 80 or so acres and wanted to give up five acres.

“I never had the opportunity (initially) to see the woman and my wife dealt with her. When I finally talked to her, I said to her give a 10th of the land.

“My wife and I told Vaughn Miller a woman wanted to give me land and I asked him if he knew a lawyer and he gave me the name of the lawyer and told the lady. She came and picked my wife up three times from the hotel and took her to the lawyer.”

The Bishop claims that during the course of the process, he gave the woman $1,400 to handle the legal fees involved in dividing the property and other money.

“In addition she told me that her (electricity) had been disconnected and to help her I gave her $250 for the (power) and money for groceries. In total I gave her $2,200.

“And then on Wednesday morning, she said she changed her mind because it was too much confusion. I then asked her why, but she didn’t tell me. When I walked outside the cameras were there.”

Mr Spencer insisted that he only pocketed around $3,000 and that he preached each night from the “joy of his heart.”

Attempts to reach Vaughn Miller up to press time were unsuccessful.

Comments

GrassRoot says...

He needs a work permit. Charge him 10,000 BSD as he is apparently the CEO of his own business.

Posted 2 April 2014, 1 p.m. Suggest removal

thereverend says...

YOU PEOPLE, stop your ignorance. No crime was committed here. Sound like this " woman " got more out the deal than the preacher....he said that he paid her light bill, plus gave her money. I think she is the culprit, she scammed the preacher. But this is a classic example of lazy Bahamian Christian. They want something for nothing. They want someone to give them a " word from THE LORD " because they are to lazy to do what is necessary to connect directly with SPIRIT. People like this will forever be scammed, the truth is they deserve to be had....dumb, blind and ignorant.
Watch, another preacher comes to town and they will be first in line. YOU PEOPLE !
I am coming to Nassau soon with my MIRACLE MANIFESTATION REVIVAL....come on down !

Posted 2 April 2014, 3:29 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

THIS CRIMINAL MASQUARADING AS A PREACHER SHOULDNOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY LIKE THAT....................... IMAGINE THE GALL

Posted 2 April 2014, 1:21 p.m. Suggest removal

Stop revealing your stupidity. No crime was committed...just the preacher's lustful greed. He should have proper legal representation and let his legal team deal with is scam artist of a woman. She got more out of this than the preacher. How dumb to give money to this woman whom you do not know, she closed you preacher with her sad light turned off story. How gullible a preacher. NEXT...

Posted 2 April 2014, 3:43 p.m. Suggest removal

Shirley says...

So how come they can't reach Minister Vaughn?

Posted 2 April 2014, 1:30 p.m. Suggest removal

WHO brought this preacher to Nassau? Birds of a feather flock together...enough said.

Posted 2 April 2014, 3:35 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Pastor Involved In Money Scandal

…// https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPDhpvH…

Posted 2 April 2014, 1:44 p.m. Suggest removal

Bahamianpride says...

watching that video, what a damn shame...

Posted 3 April 2014, 8:41 a.m. Suggest removal

Well if a non Bahamian performs in Chippendale manner, he gets arrested off the stage. Apparently as a preacher - Man of God - you can perform the shit out of people, pocket the money, and leave. Life is unfair.

Posted 2 April 2014, 1:45 p.m. Suggest removal

Cornel says...

Why do people continue to listen to these "men of God" - The ones who have relationships with young parishioners, the ones who cheat on their wife, the one who make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year so that they can fly in private jets, the ones who go to prison.

When will people learn?

Posted 2 April 2014, 3:25 p.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

This is nothing new. Pastors routinely fleece their flock daily.

Notice the Christian Counsel has NOTHING TO SAY!

Now I understand why the PLP & FNM lasted so long dealing with such STUPID people.

Posted 2 April 2014, 4:03 p.m. Suggest removal

Scam ministers and fake tv preachers.

....// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uyIt__v…

Posted 2 April 2014, 5:46 p.m. Suggest removal

Lol

Posted 2 April 2014, 6:59 p.m. Suggest removal

countryfirst says...

The Christian Council is the biggest culprits or should we just call them by their real names
PHARISSEES AND SADDUCEES.

Posted 2 April 2014, 8:28 p.m. Suggest removal

Tribune give us the name of any local who was involved in getting immigration to issue this "performer" his work permit? Comrades it's highly unlikely this man could be "performing" in Nassau Town, unless he is being facilitated by members from the local clergy and if that be the case, they should be "shamed far away from any real christian folks." Even the legal profession should be asking lots serious questions about how this old lady come so damn close to signing her land over some foreigner "performer?"

Thank you Jesus for saving this woman's land.

Amen and another Amen!

Posted 2 April 2014, 11:20 p.m. Suggest removal

PastorTroy says...

Sadly, in heavily indoctrinated, uneducated and uninformed societies, 'snake oil sellers' thrive! and this is quite common and should not really be a surprise. We sell our 'souls' and votes based on indoctrination and unfounded ideology on a regular basis! Sadly, many will "cut off the hand that feeds them" many times just because of this 'Council's' influence. IMHO, The 'Christian' Council is a racket, a sham! A MAJOR player in the back room deals and cronyism that is running rampant in our Bahamaland! Interestingly, They were invited to 'Bless' Bahamar, a place where gambling, liquor etc are all LEGAL but these are the same hypocrites who was just against Gambling/Number houses just the other day! I guess it's only 'good' when someone show them some attention and the potential to get their palms 'greased'? you know they love Vaseline! (Am just saying) This is almost like 'Religious Terrorism' and the religious agency that suppose to protect The Bahamian public was an accomplice! Biblically speaking it was not the 'sinners' who had close affiliation with the Government that called for Jesus's head on a platter, it was the 'politically connected Religious Leaders', it was the Sinner, Pilate a Political Leader at that time who said "I found no fault in this man". If EVER we need a 'Jesus' with a tam brine switch to whip these thieves out of the 'house of God' is now!

Posted 3 April 2014, 12:14 p.m. Suggest removal