Celebrity pastors en route to New Zealand
AN evangelical adviser to Donald Trump and a pastor with links to the Kardashians are among a delegation of celebrity pastors from American megachurches coming to New Zealand.
The Life conference 2018’s lineup of speakers includes pastor Jentezen Franklin, a member of the evangelical advisory council, which has direct access to the White House and was formed during Trump’s presidential campaign.
Franklin has publicly criticised the president during his time on the board, including when Trump reportedly called nations like Haiti and El Salvador ‘‘s...hole countries’’.
Another keynote speaker at the conference is Miami-based pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr, who was the celebrant at the 2014 wedding of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.
Life Church spokesman Phil Irons said up to 5,000 people were expected to attend the conference at the Vodafone Events Centre from April 24 to 27.
Tickets to the conference were $195 for an adult, or $400 for a family pass. The event’s website said it would be centred around the theme of ‘‘overcoming’’.
‘‘Our prayer is that each individual, couple and family that attend will be ministered to and equipped to live an overcoming life, empowered to achieve what God has called them to.’’
Life Church (originally Christian Life Centre) was founded by Kiwi pastors Paul and Maree de Jong almost 30 years ago. It has sites in south Auckland, Albany and Melbourne, and is building a new church on Normanby Rd, Mt Eden, after completing a land swap with council when their old premises on Mt Eden Rd fell in the path of the City Rail Link project.