Kingdom's Con Men

"Banned by 1000 Churches!"
And yes, Kingdom's Con Men would indeed be banned if some people had their way. But it's nothing to be afraid of, confused about, angry or offended over. Kingdom's Con Men strives to be thought-provoking, that's all. Beyond being a mere crime novel, it takes its time to explore why its two scammers--one an Atheist, the other an ordained minister--decide to take to the road to conduct their cons, specifically targeting corrupt megachurch ministers. In the process, it offers a satirical overview of the current evangelical landscape.

Folks familiar with the nuances of the book's insular brand of church life will appreciate Kingdom's Con Men's authenticity and familiarity. Those new to it will enjoy an initiation into a world that's equally odd and intriguing. It's that rare read that manages to captivate both believers and nonbelievers alike.

As cunning teens, Roland Wade and Nicholas Johansen thrive by swindling the naïve residents of their Bible Belt-like town, Kingdom, OH. When a failed scam lands Roland in juvie, he discovers and embraces-truly embraces-religion. He becomes a minister, earnest and gifted at spreading the gospel. By age 30, however, after routinely being taken advantage of by other ministers, and seeing them prosper despite their hypocrisy and promotion of the "prosperity gospel" he despises, he becomes disgruntled.

As far as Nicholas is concerned, religion ruins everything. In infancy, as per a shyster pastor's suggestion, his blindly devoted parents abandon him as not to hinder their ministry duties. At his workplace-Kingdom's sole house of ill repute--he's surrounded by reverends who revel in living recklessly, while prospering and preaching to the contrary on Sundays.

After over a decade of being apart, fate brings Roland and Nicholas together again. Though they share a sense of loneliness, lack of direction, and little else, Nicholas somehow convinces Roland to join him in reembracing the deceptive qualities that made them exceptional scammers as youth, to again run cons-this time, only on the people they both most despise: immoral megachurch ministers. They thrive in their efforts, then the duo disbands, separately seeking honest living in Chicago. A reckless attempt at one last con reunites them. It puts both men's lives at risk.

Kingdom's Con Men is irreverently funny, informative, and challenging throughout, and it resonates with the depth and fervor of a spiritual hymn that touches the very soul-whether one believes in a soul or not.

EXCERPTS:
"If it takes three or four collections in a single service, rest assured, by the time I leave that pulpit every ounce of available cash'll be collected, be it from belts, boots, bras, you name it." Pastor C. T. Lathaniel

"It's why I despised prosperity gospel and developed a strong distaste for the ministers who preached it. I hated how they manipulated believers in their quest for wealth instead of souls. If allowed to, they would've flipped folks upside down, in the name of Jesus, and claimed every penny plummeting from their threadbare pockets... To earnest but beguiled believers, their pastors' prosperity was proof of the promise of their own. But they failed to grasp prosperity gospel's greatest hidden irony: believers' sacrificial giving ensured their pastors were the only ones, regardless of faith or sacrifice, guaranteed to prosper." Roland Wade

"l know you're for real, Roland. But what about the preachers who aren't? They're the real scammers, right? Taking advantage of people. Poor people. Vulnerable people. Hell, taking advantage of you. They deserve the same treatment. They're the ones we should hit... Hell, Roll, let's just try it. Pick a few of those crooked pastors you mentioned-the cheats and liars-and hit 'em." Nic