An American televangelist is appealing for donations to fund the purchase of a $54 million business jet, saying that if Jesus was still preaching he "wouldn't be riding a donkey."

Jesse Duplantis, 68, whose Christian ministry is based in Louisiana, made the appeal for a Dassault Falcon 7X jet in a video for his followers.

Jesse Duplantis Ministries has already gone through three private planes, "burning them up for the Lord Jesus Christ," he said.

"Now some people believe that preachers shouldn't have jets," he said in the video. "I really believe that preachers oughta have and go on every available voice, every available outlet to get this gospel preached to the world."

Duplantis said he needs the jet "so we can go anywhere in the world one stop" and he recounted a conversation he said he had with God about needing the plane.