There’s nothing quite like a Black church experience. Anyone who has ever attended knows the pastor is gonna be lively and say some strange stuff from time to time. They’ll also talk about the importance of tithes. That’s par for the course, sure, but it’s not every Sunday you get hit with If you broke, then say that in the midst of a sermon and collection plate rotation.
The above scenario played out earlier this month, when Pastor Carlton Funderburke (that is a name, right there) of Kansas City, Missouri, called his congregation “poor, broke, busted, and disgusted” due to its failure to purchase him a Movado watch. The bizarre case of saying the quiet part out loud was captured on video and shared to Tik Tok, where it has since gone viral.
“I’m not worth your McDonald’s money?” asks the self-proclaimed prophet of his congregation. “I’m not worth your Red Lobster money?” The video is full of ridiculous quotes, like when he shouts, “Let me kick down the door and talk to my cheap sons and daughters.”
@kansascitydefender Kansas City Pastor GOES OFF on congregation calling them "poor, broke busted and disgusted" because they didn't give him enough money to buy a new watch he's been wanting. It's pastors like these that give the church a bad name smh an also why a lot of our generation left the church. What y'all think? 🤔
♬ original sound - kcdefender
The most ridiculous part of this truly zany ordeal, however, is a call-and-response portion in which Prophet Funderburke shouts, “You can buy a Movado watch in Sam’s,” and a congregant replies, “Yes, you can!”
Funderburke is just another scammer-ass snake oil salesman pastor in the vein of Bishop Lamor Miller-Whitehead and Creflo Dollar (who is at least trying to repent and atone for his sins these days).
To Funderburke’s credit, he did release a video apologizing for berating his congregants and their assumed financial situations. (The sermon “does not reflect my heart or my sentiment toward God’s people,” he said.) The ability to leave comments is restricted, though. Don’t you think he should just let go and let God?