Jill Duggar and Her Husband Have Their Missionary Fundraising Campaign Shut Down

Reality TV stars Jill (Duggar) and Derick Dillard have run into a snag as they attempt to raise money for their missionary work. The young couple was attempting to raise $6,500 via faith-based crowdfunding site Pure Charity. The money was intended to be used to pay for the tuition and related costs for Derick’s missionary training at Cross Church School of Ministry. As of now, the campaign has been shut down.

According to Pure Charity, the “fundraiser was removed because of violations of our Terms of Use for Registered User Conduct.” (You can read Pure Charity’s brief statement here.)

Anti-Duggar Facebook page “Duggar Family News: life is not all pickles and hairspray” is reporting that the negative comments on the fundraising page violated Pure Charity’s standards. Neither Pure Charity nor Derick or Jill have released a statement explaining the suspended/closed fundraiser. Derick did tweet that he was attempting to fix the issue.

We are trying to get this fixed so that donations can be made online as well. Thank you for your patience and for supporting our ministry! https://t.co/yKZIDTIdUO

— Derick Dillard (@derick4Him) September 3, 2017

Based out of Jill (Duggar) and Derick Dillard’s home church, the school is billed as, “a one-year residential ministry experience that prepares leaders for life, ministry, and Gospel advancement globally.” Instead of a replacement for seminary work, the Cross Church School of Ministry is designed to give young men and women the opportunity to learn through hands-on ministry. Quoting the school’s website, “The purpose of the School of Ministry is not to replace what our universities and seminaries do by way of theological education but to complement them. The School of Ministry will provide a unique opportunity for any young man or woman called to ministry and Kingdom service to gain practical ministry experience in the Cross Church setting.”

The mission statement of CCSoM fits with the recent revelation from Derick and Jill about their change of direction. According to their blog, after having spent almost two years in Central America serving with SOS Ministries, the young couple has decided that:

Through a number of circumstances, and guided by much prayer and counsel, we are discerning the Lord leading our family’s full-time ministry back to the United States for the time being. We understand very well that mission work definitely requires flexibility.  This, we have witnessed and experienced first-hand in our years of ministry.  It is, and always has been our aim, to seek the Lord above all else.  This includes walking in close relationship with Him daily, seeking His direction for our family, and doing our absolute best in everything, namely, being a Gospel witness and Kingdom worker in whatever context He places us. At this time, God has seen fit for our family to continue serving him in ministry within the context of Northwest Arkansas.

Details on our new direction in ministry here: https://t.co/FKjqazEYKW pic.twitter.com/wlsrKiNXzg

— Derick Dillard (@derickmdillard) August 9, 2017

According to reports, people were questioning Derick and Jill’s qualifications to serve as missionaries in El Salvador. Some people have gone so far as to accuse Derick Dillard of cashing in on the Duggar family name in an attempt to avoid having to work a full-time job.

Regardless of the validity of the accusations, Derick and Jill appear to have taken them to heart. Pursuing further training while ministering at their local church seems like a good use of their time. However, even if the young couple’s hearts were in the right place, they quickly ran afoul of the mob.

The latest update on the Dillard family blog does state:

Things have been super busy for us over the last month as we have moved, Derick has started Cross Church School of Ministry, and his ministry track (international student ministry at the University of Arkansas through our church’s college “C3” ministry) has gotten into full swing with all the students arriving on campus only a few weeks ago. We have all been able to be involved in ministry together in various ways. Derick has helped with a number of outreach events where we have seen several people come to know Jesus as their Savior!