The Religion Business update: In November we reported on filmmaker Nathan Apffel’s arrest at televangelist Ed Young Jr.’s Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, for trespassing. Apffel was standing on church property with a poster asking the question, “Ed, what’s your housing allowance today?” On February 25th, Apffel pled guilty and received a 90-day probation. The charge will be expunged from his record if Apffel doesn’t visit the church during the probation period.
Apffel’s seven-part documentary The Religion Business is expected to premiere online at Easter or soon after.
2025 NRB Convention: Televangelists, religious broadcasters and Christian journalists gathered at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention held in Grapevine, Texas during the last days of February.
NRB would have been the ideal institution to call for massive reform in religious broadcasting but instead it has given a platform for corrupt religious leaders.
The NRB Code of Conduct says nothing about the prosperity gospel or abuse but does address “refraining from unnecessary criticism.”
This year three YouTubers confronted Daystar Television Network employees which have been accused of covering up sexual abuse and defending the network’s corrupt practices.
On February 25th, in what appears to be a blatant act of racism, NRB security evicted Black YouTuber and host of The Unction, Ray Curry Jr., from the convention. On the following day Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson was removed from the convention. On both occasions, NRB security acted on complaints from Daystar employees based on very mild criticisms.
Now for the irony, on the same day Curry was silenced by NRB, it held a forum on Understanding the Censorship Industrial Complex.
Trinity Foundation also helped YouTuber Everett Gagnon explore the large property holdings of televangelists for a video that should be posted in March. Trinity Foundation employees Pete Evans and Barry Bowen attended the convention and obtained more information for their investigations.
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