Televangelist Peter Popoff’s ministry has reimbursed a Nanaimo woman after she went public with concerns about the fundraising techniques used by the California-based church.
The first story about the Popoff rip off and Josie Gurney appeared in the Nanaimo paper May 12th and was drawn to the attention of the Popoff headquarters in the US by a Canadian Word for the World (Popoff employee), who sent the original article to the California headquaters.
Her faith started turning to suspicion when she compared notes with her sister, and realized the letters were word-for-word the same. Then she saw a television documentary debunking the faith healer.
In the 1980s, Popoff was widely known for accurately guessing audience members’ home addresses and their illnesses, fueling belief he truly enjoyed divine revelation.
But in 1987 skeptic James Randy followed the evangelist across the U.S., eventually learning his assistants gleaned information from audience members before the show, then fed it to Popoff using FM radios transmissions to a receiver fitted in Popoff’s ear.
His ministry collapsed and went bankrupt within months of the news being revealed on the Johnny Carson Show.
Popoff is now back, and today he sells his message on late-night television.
Gurney was shocked when she learned the truth.
“I just feel awful, I feel stupid,” she said.
Hello Petey - the original Jame Randi exposure.
Peter Popoff disappeared after being found out and resurfaced again in 2007. He is on Canada’s Vision Channel, several US stations and is picking up air time all over the world.
Charity Navigator: Popoff is raking it in again. Breakdown of revenue growth, salaries, assets etc.
Popoff Canadian listings
Popoff UK, Australia listings
via: Religion News Blog
Published 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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You don’t know how many times I have seen this guy on late night TV when there is nothing else on. It gets me pretty worked up. When my wife hears anything similar to a TV evangelist coming from the living room she usually asks me what I’m doing and why I’m watching it because she knows I’ll just start getting frustrated.
My biggest issue with people like Popoff is not even all the trinkets and “anointed” tokens that he sells…I mean, gives away for a nice donation. He is no different than any other person running a business or TV marketer. I have a big problem with it no doubt. Christianity has nothing to do with those things or with peddling “holy” handkerchiefs or waters. My biggest problem with these men and women is the fact that they are leading people astray. They are leading people away from the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are leading people away from the cross. They are leading people away from the reality of the resurrection. They are leading people away from the truth of those events and the gospel message. People see a quick a fix to their problems and they get sucked right in. People like Popoff need to knock it off. You want to make money? Fine, go be a legitimate businessman. Here’s the problem…the church today is big business. Why work on Wall St. when there is more money to be made in the church? Frustrating…absolutely frustrating. I feel sorry for this lady.
I see James Robison and his wife selling a vitamin something or other a lot on late night TV here.
I don’t watch The Miracle Channel, Vision TV or CTS unless I’m doing research.
It took courage for this woman to admit she was conned when she was vulnerable and to warn others. Shame is the default response when we are taken in. Speaking out does a lot to get past that.
I agree. If people like her don’t speak up, guys like Popoff will never exposed or confronted.
That poor lady. Good for her for going after that scammer.
“Even the very elect will be deceived….” Well - she did the right thing and probably got another jewel in her crown.