They use marketing strategy of destitute individuals: the victims are not only the African individuals but others in the whole world. But it is evident that their primary victims are Africans.

Like I explained, this is only a marketing strategy that they use to guilt-trip donors by using graphic images and footages. And this is a multi-layered ethical, financial, and legal violation; not some modern-day oversight.

Furthermore, the use of poverty porn to extract money is a direct assault on the Image of God in humanity (Genesis 1:27).

Lets look at this matter at the macroeconomic level by looking at some of the data.

Secular research and economic studies—such as the landmark work highlighted in the thesis "Why Giving money to Africa Makes it Poor"—prove, without a shadow of doubt, that, large-scale, transactional charitable aid routinely worsens the very poverty it claims to fight.

Up to 80% of funds raised by large international organizations are consumed by the internal overhead, Western consultant fees, marketing, flights, and executive compensation packages before ever touching the ground.

So in other words, it has to cover them first before it can cover the recipients; so as long as all that long process and procedural systems are not appeased then all that money will not benefit the poor at all!

Just go and walk through the major cities receiving this aid, and you will be shocked (if not disgusted) when you observe that the billions in aid money finance a lavish lifestyle; parallel economy populated by NGO executives and corrupt local brokers who live in luxury compounds and drive fleets of luxury vehicles.

When a ministry hides behind the First Amendment, exploits religious tax exemptions, and uses the images of the poor to fund a luxury lifestyle, it is no longer a church!

That might sound harsh but it is the truth, now it is a den of thieves and robbers that exploits the poor and commercialize them to feed themselves. Walk through the media departments of prominent international ministries, and you will find sophisticated fundraising machines built on poverty pornography.

They even promise to feed the hungry, build infrastructure, and continue the Great Commission. Yet a massive percentage of these donations never reaches a single local project.

Instead, it funds an elite, parallel economy characterized by luxury real estate, multi-million-dollar parsonages, and private jets.

The Old Testament

The Old Testament does not play around with such greedy dogs, and definitely neither is God Almighty, Father of the fatherless, widows and the poor!

The old prophets did not merely teach against personal sin; they delivered fierce indictments against the institutional exploitation of the vulnerable.

Prophet Amos said:

This corrupt modern ministries replicate this exact systems when they commodify the images of starving children to secure monthly donor pledges.

Prophet Micah, on the other hand, uses the graphic, visceral language to describe leaders who are supposed to know justice but instead hate the Good and love the Evil:

The New Testament

In the NT, apostolic authority was fiercely protected from commercial contamination. The Apostle Peter and Paul explicitly warned that the sign of a false ministry is the transformation of the Gospel into a wealth-extraction mechanism.

Apostle Paul warns another minister, Timothy, 1 Timothy 6:3-5; about teachers who are puffed up with conceit and possess a warped mind, explicitly defining them as those who imagined that "godliness is a means of gain."

The Greek word "porismos," means a source of profit, a commercial enterprise. When a global evangelism is used as a cover up for their greedy purposes, the ministry has officially transformed from the ecclesia to a porismos.

As you have read, Apostle Peter exposes the psychological operational mechanics of these ministries: "And in their greed they will exploit you...." The word exploit in the Greek could also mean marketplace ("emporeuomai").

It simply means to trade in, to merchandise, or to turn people into a commodity.

So, when a televangelist looks at an impoverished community or a desperate donor base and sees a transaction, they are fulfillment of Peter's warning—they are merchandising the flock of Christ!

Giving is one of the greatest expressions of Christian love. It reflects God's generous heart and demonstrates our willingness to care for those who are suffering. However, the Bible also teaches believers to combine generosity with wisdom. Compassion without discernment can unintentionally support deception instead of genuine ministry.

Many people assume that every organization or individual asking for donations has honest intentions. Sadly, this is not always true. Some individuals use emotional stories, dramatic photographs, and exaggerated claims to manipulate generous hearts. Rather than helping the poor, they enrich themselves while the people they claim to serve remain trapped in poverty.

The Bible repeatedly encourages believers to exercise discernment. We are instructed to "test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Although this instruction applies broadly, it also reminds Christians not to accept every claim without careful examination. Genuine love does not require blind trust. Instead, love seeks the truth.

Jesus Himself warned His followers to beware of false prophets who appear harmless on the outside but inwardly seek to exploit others (Matthew 7:15–20). While this warning primarily concerns false teachers, the principle also reminds believers that appearances can be deceiving. Not everyone who speaks in the name of God or claims to serve the poor is trustworthy.

Before supporting a ministry, charity, or fundraising campaign, Christians should prayerfully ask several important questions:

Wise stewardship means recognizing that every resource we possess ultimately belongs to God. Whether we give money, food, clothing, or our time, we are managing what God has entrusted to us. For this reason, our giving should be intentional, prayerful, and informed.

Discernment should never harden our hearts toward those who genuinely suffer. Instead, it helps ensure that our generosity reaches the people who truly need it. There are countless faithful churches, ministries, humanitarian organizations, and local communities that use donations responsibly and transform lives through honest service.

As followers of Christ, we are called to be both compassionate and wise. By exercising biblical discernment before giving, we protect God's resources from those who seek to exploit generosity while ensuring that our gifts become a genuine blessing to the poor, the needy, and the advancement of God's kingdom.

Apostle Peter has made it clear that their judgment concerning these evil, wicked, and heartless deeds will overtake them speedily if they do not repent and stop stealing, robbing, and despitefully using the poor for their own gain, 2 Peter 2:3!

Those who build empires on the backs of the bruised and the destitute will eventually face the natural, unyielding consequence of the laws of sowing and reaping. Not only will they reap damnation but Hell itself if they die without repenting...!

The true apostolic mandate is not to reform these wolves, but to mark them, warn the flock, and build authentic, transparent, asset-based models that restore dignity to the poor rather than exploiting it!

So now it is clear that a ministry that hides behind the First Amendment, refuses financial transparency, and uses the images of the poor to fund a luxury lifestyle, it is no longer a church but simply a "Den of Thieves!"

It is a modern manifestation of the high priests in Jeremiah's days, who turned the house of God into a "den of thieves" (Jeremiah 7:11)—a safe haven where thieves run to hide their stolen goods after robbing the people...

...after all, it is not worth it to steal from the poor: God is not pleased at all, especially when you deal with the poor, widows, fatherless, motherless; or even dehumanizing His image and anyone that needs you mercy!

There are many charities, organizations, or projects that are changing lives and helping those in need and devastated! Of course, not all of them are bad, evil, or greedy. But Lets not forget that compassion without discernment can unintentionally support deception instead of genuine ministry.

We should be wise stewards of God and recognize that every resource we possess ultimately belongs to God: it may be giving money, food, clothing, or our time. Abd it is our full responsibly to a;so make sure our giving should be intentional, prayerful, and informed!

Lets do what is right and repent if we have wronged the Lord in any other way, because the warnings and leadings unto righteousness have been released unto you! The Righteous One is not delaying at all, so keep your crown lest you be a cast away, hallelujah!