One believer is bitter that the money she donated to several prominent ministries didn't bring about the material blessings the preachers had assured would come.
"I wanted to believe that God wanted to do something great with me like he was doing with them," said Cindy Fleenor, a 53-year-old accountant from Tampa, Florida, according to The Associated Press. "I'm angry and bitter about it. Right now, I don't watch anyone on TV hardly."
Fleenor wrote cheques to Benny Hinn and Paula White - two popular televangelists - and pledged $500 a year to Joyce Meyer, another prominent evangelist. But Fleenor has yet to be showered with the riches that the preachers said would come when donors give.
The three preachers preach what critics call the "prosperity gospel", a highly criticised theology that teaches wealth is a sign of God's blessing. They encourage believers to donate and instil hope that they will experience prosperity. Whilst they do not exclusively teach that God's riches mean money in people's wallets, it's still a key part of their sermons.
The "gospel of wealth" is denounced in many Christian circles. Still, many are flocking to the multi-million-dollar churches built by prosperity preachers to hear the positive messages and are faithfully giving in hopes of being blessed.
"More and more people are desperate and grasping at straws and want something that will alleviate their pain or financial crisis," said Michael Palmer, dean of the divinity school at Regent University, according to AP. "It's a growing problem."
Emerging church leader and author Brian McLaren says one of the prosperity teaching's attractions is that it doesn't dwell on traditional Christian themes of heaven and hell but on answering pressing concerns of the here and now, reports AP.
Richard Young, author of The Rise of Lakewood Church and Joel Osteen, has said that society today is overstressed and already believes they are living in hell daily and thus is eager to embrace the messages that prosperity preachers like Osteen deliver.
But the teachings put too much emphasis on individual success and happiness, McLaren said.
