Formerly known as Christian City Church International, C3 is a progressive denomination that promotes the prosperity gospel. The conglomerate boasts more than 500 churches in 64 countries. The original founder, Phil Pringle, started out as a garbage collector. Like LRH, he discovered that religion is more lucrative than trash. He now enjoys yachting (photo), owns a luxury car, and lives in a palatial clifftop mansion valued at $4 million.
The C3 message of salvation leans heavily on donating to the church. A minimum of 10% pre-tax is expected, even if you’re in debt. “Go make millions and give it to the House of God … Amen!” Phil Pringle preaches at one conference, recorded and published online. Another C3 leader preaches, “God is brilliant with ledgers. God is the most perfect accountant, he knows everything you give and he makes sure it comes back to you with interest.”
I could find zero mention of the need for repentance, confession, or conversion in the church’s statements of belief. “We believe that faith alone in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord frees us from sin, and its consequences of death and eternal separation.” However, there is repeated emphasis on working out your own salvation by participating in a specific church. While I don’t disagree with that … I too believe we are called to actively participate in a specific faith community, this church’s emphasis combined with the pressure to tithe is very problematic. E.g., a former member reports, “They call it a free will gift or free will giving, that simply isn’t true. You’re brainwashed into giving this kind of money. There were nights in our house when my children did not have food. And I never got any assistance whatsoever from anybody.”
Leaked internal documents from another C3 pastor reveals what Pastor Sam Picken of C3 Church in Toronto expects from his staff. First and foremost, they need to understand that they are not there to serve God. They are there to serve Sam Picken.
I watched part of a sermon by a guest C3 pastor from Fort Worth. He spent an inordinate amount of time fan-boying Sam, including how awesome he looks in Crocs. It reminded me a whole lot of Tom Cruz’ embarrassing worship of David Miscavige, so I turned it off.
Also, about “Jess. No one is more important. If you make her life hard, you make my life hard. Therefore making your life hard.”
Instagram writer “C3churchwatch” writes about the Toronto User Manual, “This is a great document for show as this is some of the real expectation for staff and leaders at many C3 churches, but Sam doesn’t bother coating his words in bullshit like other pastors do. When you attend or work for C3, you follow random dudes and their fragile/egotistical whims, nothing more. You get promoted by how many people you bring in who give them money. I found it funny that being likeable is a factor in how you move up given how entire Toronto communities *really* don’t like Sam. I wonder what spurred this document. Sounds like he’s lost control of something. Can’t imagine why 👀 #toronto needs to pass on this place and let it die. The wounds of former members are too deep here. #c3toronto”
- https://notthebee.com/article/pastor-provides-user-manual-for-interacting-with-him-in-case-you-want-to-climb-the-corporate-megachurch-ladder
- https://www.instagram.com/p/CwbE_wTOCYo/?img_index=1
- https://www.9news.com.au/national/a-current-affair-c3-church-prosperity-preaching-phil-pringle/4833bfb6-970a-47b7-8d20-a1a205758533
- https://c3churchglobal.com/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C3_Church_Global
- https://www.c3toronto.com/
- https://www.c3tricities.com/beliefs/
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