text: A controversial US pastor has defended trying to buy a $65million private jet with worshippers' donations and responded to critics by claiming 'the devil is trying to discredit' him. Reverend Creflo Dollar, 53, launched an appeal last month for 200,000 people to each donate '$300 or more' so that he could purchase a Gulfstream G650 to replace his current damaged aircraft. The wealthy televangelist, who is known to own two Rolls Royces and multi-million dollar homes, came under heavy criticism for the appeal but has insisted he needs the plane for preaching work. Scroll down for video . Defends private jet appeal: Reverend Creflo Dollar has defended trying to buy a $65million Gulfstream G650 with worshippers' donations by claiming 'the devil is trying to discredit' him . The appeal: This notice was posted on the church's website, pleading for donations so that Dollar could 'continue reaching a lost and dying world for the Lord Jesus Christ'. It has since been taken down . Dollar, who is one of the most prominent African-American preachers in the United States, launched the private jet appeal via a five-minute video on his website. Shortly afterwards, he shut the website down but worshippers could still donate to the cause via the World Changers donation site which remains open. In a newly posted five-minute clip on YouTube, the Atlanta-based pastor responded to his critics saying: '(The devil thinks) I got to discredit that man before he starts showing people Jesus! 'I'm on my sabbatical, and the enemy's trying to discredit me. I never one time came to you and asked you for a dime for this airplane, did I? Damaged: Dollar says the church's current plane, bought in 1999, is broken and needs to be replaced, or he will be unable to continue working around the world . 'The (critics) don't know what we do. That's why they asked the question, what does a preacher need with an airplane? If you knew what we did, then you wouldn't ask that question. 'Just because the world doesn't have it, doesn't mean that you can't.' Dollar is the head of the World Changers Church International, a Christian ministry centered around the prosperity gospel, which preaches that God wants to bless the faithful with earthly riches. His original appeal for the Gulfstream G650 - which claims to be the fastest plane ever built in civilian aviation - was so that 'World Changers Church International can continue to blanket the globe with the Gospel of grace'. A Gulfstream G650 can fly 18 passengers and four crew members, according to gulfstream.com. The jet comes with two Rolls-Royce engines, high-speed Internet and two multichannel satellites and allows for a four-and-a-half-hour commute from New York to Los Angeles. 'The G650 is the biggest, fastest, most luxurious, longest range and most technologically advanced jet -- by far,' according to the site. Among the billionaires who own a Gulfstream G650 are Steve Jobs' wife Lauren Powell Jobs, Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn add Nike co-founder Phil Knight. There is a long waiting list for the aircraft, with the next round of planes not due until 2017. Couple: Dollar and his wife, Taffi (pictured together) were married in 1985 and have five children . Wealthy: Dollar and his family primarily live in this multi-million dollar in Fayettville, Georgia, south of Atlanta . According to the Creflo Dollar Ministry's website: 'The ministry's current airplane, was built in 1984, purchased by the ministry in 1999 and has since logged four million miles. 'Recently on an overseas trip to a global conference, one of the engines failed. 'By the grace of God, the expert pilot, who's flown with Creflo for almost 20 years, landed the plane safely without injury or harm to any passengers.' The Christian Post first reported that Dollar insisted that he needs the jet to continue sharing the word of Jesus. He preaches all over the world, but primarily works out of a 8,500-seat amphitheater in Atlanta called the 'World Dome', sending the sermons to churches all over the country via satellite. The website pledge continued: 'Believe it or not, there are still millions of people on this planet who have never heard of Jesus Christ and know nothing of His greatness.' Arrested: The Reverend was charged in 2012 for allegedly attacking his teenage daughter . 'Our hearts desire to see precious lives changed and snatched out of darkness and thrust into His marvelous light! 'We need your help to continue reaching a lost and dying world for the Lord Jesus Christ," the appeal continued before asking supporters of the ministry to sow a $300 seed into the airplane fund, billed Project G650.' According to Financial Juneteenth, a Report of the Senate Finance Committee, Minority Staff Review of WCCI, found that Dollar's current jet had also been used for a variety of vacation flights, including stops in Las Vegas, Nevada, Miami, Florida and Hawaii, citing Federal Aviation Administration figures. Dollar has refused over the years to disclose his salary, but has an estimated net worth of $27 million. He has five children to his wife, Taffi, who he married in 1985. In June 2012, his 15-year-old daughter called 911, saying her father repeatedly punched and choked her at their Atlanta home. The teenager also said it wasn't the first time something like that had happened and that she felt threatened living in the house. Dollar was arrested and charged with family brutality and juvenile cruelty. The charges were later dropped, but he was required to complete a three-month anger management program. At his next sermon, two days following the arrest, Dollar spent several minutes addressing the incident, starting with: 'I will say this emphatically: I should have never been arrested.' Dollar has strenuously denied the accusations, saying it was a family argument with 'heightened emotions'. The goal: Dollar wants a $65million Gulfstream G650 business jet, a plane favored by billionaires that bills itself as the fastest plane built in civil aviation . Influential: Dollar is the head of the World Changers Church International, a Christian ministry centered around the prosperity gospel, which preaches that God wants to bless the faithful with earthly riches . Dollar's wife Taffi has been known to introduce her husband at his sermons. During her address, she claims Dollar comes 'face to face with God, like Moses'. She also includes an admonition saying that 'every tongue that rises up against' (Dollar) 'will be struck down', Financial Juneteenth reported. The World Changers Church International (WCCI) has about 30,000 constituents.
target: In March Atlanta-based Reverend Creflo Dollar launched private jet appeal .
  He asked 200,000 people for $300 to fund $65million Gulfstream G650 .
  Defending action, recently told a congregation 'devil' was discrediting him .
  Also claimed critics don't understand preacher's work or need for a plane .