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
Update: Some time ago a 30 minute documentary was made on the Randi exposure of Popoff. A clip from it can be seen on YouTube. The film was made by Aron Ranen.
Update: A website has been set up to document Popoff’s scams, history, finances, companies, direct mailing operation (former Kelly Media employee talks about her employment with the Popoff’s family company), expensive homes etc. Parts of his website People United for Christ has now been blocked in Canada because of ongoing exposure and past investigation.
There are things Canadians can do, A few Global stations, Vision, and CHEX carry his informercial/services. A polite letter writing campaign will help get this fraud of Canadian airwaves and prevent him from conning more vulnerable Canadians.
His web on demand site in the US is no longer operational. ABC’s 2007 report and the Better Business Bureau information is also available on Peter Popoff: Pwn and Owned.
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.
Hey, I want to share a great idea that I have been using. I intentionally called and signed up with Peter Popoff. Yup, I asked them to send me stuff in the mail! Why you ask? Well, because every time they send me mail, each envelope contains at least one and most often two postage paid envelopes in which i am supposed to put a donation. I then reuse the envelopes by just putting my own label over their address and now I don’t have to pay for postage.
Yup, Petter Fuck-off is paying for my postage whenever I have to pay bills or send anyone anything. I prayed for god to help me with money problems and he sent me a solution to a small but meaningful problem. Thanks Peter.
I would appreciate it if you could help me. I would like to know the home address of Peter Popoff, where I could send him a letter demanding money to be returned.
I thank you in advance for your help
Chris
Christy:
He has an post office box in Canada
PO Box 5700
Vancouver B.C. V6B 4B5
his headquarters are in Upland California.
Hes writing me to and I seen a letter online that was the same as mine. Thats not right he should be stopped!!!
Popoff is an example of someone who has been exposed – by the church and by media.
He popped right back up.
The only way the Popoff’s in life go out of business is if people stop supporting them.
We are responsible for our own salvation, to be wise and exercise common sense. We can suggest others get learn what they are being asked to support.
The solicitation gets treated the same as I’d treat a credit card company – it get’s shredded and tossed, or the delete key gets hit.
I too bought into all the hype. I lost a lot because of it too. The same letters that have been posted online were sent to me VERBATIM. Wow! I feel like a big sucker that has been half sucked and lost under a piece of furniture to collect junk and never relive the former glory of the joy I was intended to bring. I sent my last dime at times… literally! I am so frusterated that I was so foolish and ruined a lot of things every aspect of my life.
It makes it hard to trust preachers now, but I thank God for it happening because now I look more to Him and less to man for the answers. I have also found a church that is not neglectful of new Christians. I hope that everyone he has decieved can find hope and trust and peace again. I appreciate the courage of those before me and pray that more come forth to a new lost dying generation that was too young to recall. God wants us to be knowledgable and wise. Thank you for speaking out!!!!!!!!
I woul like to know any ligitimate ministry and whether they have called peter popoff to accountability. ?
Thank you W.P
That’s a very good question.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Popoff
To the best of my knowledge he is an independent pentecostal Word of Faith flim flam artist and I see no affiliations he can be held accountable to.
While numerous apologetic sites and financial transparency sites have also exposed him, I haven’t found any denomination he is answerable to.
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/popoffback.html
I posted my first comment BEFORE watching the video.
After watching the video I sat here a minute in disbelief. Stunned.
In my view, Popoff is the worse kind of sociopath. I think it’s generally accepted in psychiatric circles that at least 1 out of 30 or so human beings are sociopaths. Many are productive members of society that don’t do things like Popoff does.
How can he and his wife look each other in the eyes?
Popoff is just one of many. They can’t all be right. But, they can all be wrong. And they are. Anyone who buys into ANY preacher’s message is buying into crap. Religion is a legacy of humankind’s childhood. Time to either grow up or you get what you deserve. Don’t pick only on Popoff … all you need to do is look at the church down the street. Same message. Same techniques.
I called the hotline. I was besides myself. I was begging for help!! I was just a mess and out of no where this t,v show comwes on and my believing in faith…..watched. A few days later i recieved the letter with the magic manna bread and like a fool I took it like it read. I never sent any money. I opened the second envelope as it said in a week and all the things sounded like it was really about me…..but reallly I guess the things about what was coming my way could apply to anyone. I feel sooo stupid. I cried and cried and begged God for help and it was the devil instead……NEVER AGAIN.
a.montez:
I am sorry. While people all over saw Popoff exposed by James Randi he has come back to con a generation who didn’t see that.
I get emails from desperate people falling for his pleas – all I can do is beg them to read up on his past history and trust God, don’t give to Popoff and seek help for groceries etc at local churches and food banks.
And read stories like yours. I’m so glad you learned, but what a sad and difficult lesson, my heart goes out to you.
If people can’t hear you, they aren’t going to listen, are they?
Oh, my God,I cannot believe,No way.I trust him I called him MY BROTHER.I was sending him my last money.Sometimes I didn’t have money to pay my bills but he was saying PUT GOD IN THE FIRST PLACE and I did .I was prooving to GOD by sending my last money.I cannot believe.God ,how I was stupid.He gave me a hope but now I don’t know how to live.
Rufina:
There are plenty of resources available online to help you understand what guys like Popoff do. It’s called The Prosperity Gospel/Word Faith.
The Apologetics Index
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/139-prosperity-teaching
Popoff should be arrested, trialed, and jailed if found guilty of fraud!!
By whom Frans?
Freedom of speech, freedom of religion permit con artists, shysters and theives full reign, and it is a price we all pay for those freedoms.
Popoff and his buddies are not answerable to a denominational governing body, and as long as he files his tax returns who is going to stop him from hurting people who fall for his scams?
We are looking at a new generation of people who never heard of James Randi’s investigation, don’t know the history of Word/Faith.
It’s literally buyer beware, and that is what is so tragic.
While the loss of income is tragic, the spiritual damage is stunning.
Commercialized religion is as old as history, and vulnerable people (could be any one of us) believe because someone is on TV or out on the speaking circuit using God’s name that someone has theologically vetted them. People believe religious TV or radio network executives are looking out for them and don’t understand or want to believe they are operating to make money and will put the Popoffs on the air as long as they pay their bill.
Popoff (and by extention Word/Faith) haven’t been exposed as a con artist for nothing.
It’s important people who have been conned step forward (the shame of a religious con is difficult to overcome) and keep sounding the alarm.
I have a deep disgust for most TV preachers. Not much difference between Popoff, Copeland, Leroy Jenkins, Robert Tilton, Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Bishop Jordan, “Cashflow” Dollar, etc, etc, etc, ad nauseum, and of course we don’t want to forget Mike “Money” Murdock, the TV preachers’ lst choice to bring on their show to raise more cash to live their opulant lifestyles. They are all criminals. But, notice that the Senator Grassley investigation into some of these crooks has gone nowhere. Never even hear about it anymore. Unfortunately the problem is there is no shortage of people foolish enough to send their hard earned money to these rotton tv preachers. It’s very sad that so many people are so desperate that they turn to these con artists.
The only way to stop these greedy preachers is to stop sending them money and that will never happen.
After being caught so publicly by James Randi, you’d think that Popoff would go away and never come back. But, due to the use of direct mail marketing by Kelly Media Group and having Black Entertainment Television selling him so much airtime, he’s managed to come back, though not as strong as before.
I started a blog on Popoff, listing the media contacts for all TV station in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia that air his shows. If you find a listing for your State or Province, there is contact information for you to complain.
I, too, have been scammed. I feel that this man makes people wary of any kind of religion, where there are so many b.s.ers, who do you believe? People like this SHOULD be punished, just as you would a drug dealer selling to kids, this man is “preying” on those that are unfortunate and looking for something, not to deplete their meager savings, but trusting in something.
He gives those that are truly doing God’s work a bad name as well as any kind of religion!!
I do believe in the power of God and I think this ministry is trying to do good, but I’ll share what bothers me about it, which is the only thing, but it’s quite annoying to me. The part when he says in his letters that I need to send in money for him to rebuke the enemy. As a Christian, I know that if you ever think the enemy is bothering a brother or a sister in Christ that you pray right then for them, you don’t wait two or three weeks until they write a letter with an offering and only ‘then’ will they pray for you. It’s like being led on about deliverance and it turns my stomach. I’m a pretty strong Christian though and I have seen through this sort of thing, but it can play with my mind if I allow it too. I have asked them to remove me from their mailing list, which I’m sure they don’t like to “let go” of anyone, but if I just shred anymore letters from them and ignore them I believe that eventually they’ll quit sending them. There’s an old saying to “withdraw in peace” and it’ll go well with you, and I think that also applies to requesting to be removed from their mailing list. I don’t believe in being nasty and unkind, just letting go and letting God deal with the person. All things are possible and I really believe that that minister means well and everybody makes mistakes, no matter how big or small.
P. S. I just wanted to clarify about my post, I just posted… I didn’t mean that what I said is the ‘only’ thing that bothers me about the minister, but it’s something that bothers me alot ‘personally’ is how I should have worded that. I can’t speak for anybody else’s experience, just my own.
Thanks disappointed, there is a great deal of information about Popoff and his scams online.
It’s too bad he’s back scamming a new generation, given his previous exposure and fall.
You’re quite welcome. Sometimes the letters that ministry sends have some very positive things that really give people a boost in hope, which is good because everyone needs that now and then, but then in the same letter it would say something very negative and gloomy and it’d say (or insinuate very strongly) that if I didn’t answer it quickly that something very bad could happen. I’d think, “wow, who needs to hear this kind of thing?” But for a while I did get wrapped up in answering the letters and I used to answer the letters and give money to sort of ‘to ward off the enemy’ so to speak, and I didn’t realize it but I was actually giving money out of fear of what the minister would say could happen if I didn’t give. That’s certainly how I see the letters and of course you don’t show others since that may be embarrassing that I ‘was’ that insecure, but you know I’m just very honest and I always try to believe the very best of people. Anyway, I do feel a relief that I won’t be giving to that ministry anymore and I won’t be manipulated like that again. I honestly don’t know if that minister really realizes he manipulates people, I think he may be trying to just build their faith, but to me it felt like control and manipulation. I wrote this to hopefully help others if they went through this also, but not to put down anyone. Hope this helps.
Anything or anybody who tries to add to or take away from the Word of God is something people should avoid. Christians know that the enemy, or devil, is the one who is the father of lies, so anyhing that takes from your life, whether it be money, hope, fulfillment, your mortgage!, a false prophet, a slanderous person, poverty, your money not stretching enough or whatever of the devil. People who don’t know the Lord don’t recognize these things of course since they don’t have the hope that Christians are supposed to have and they will have if they don’t go looking for anything that deturs them from all of the wonderful promises of the Bible, which is really ALL that we need to have everything in life that’s good. Give to the ministries that make you feel truly blessed, not the ones that seem to take from your life or emotions, because if you get caught up in giving to the ones that make you feel manipulated then it won’t bring you happiness. But if you give to your church or a ministry that truly blesses you and you give in joy, because the Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver, then you will always be blessed and happy.
My name is Jamie and I am 17 years old. I am so in awe of what God can do in people’s lives and I want to be someone who will lead people to God on a daily basis.
I saw this man (Peter Poppoff) trying to sell a ‘miracle spring packet’ I really almost cried. I now know what God meant by false prophets. This man is turning people from God by making them think they’re already with him. I prayed right then and there that God would not allow people to buy into it. Unfortunately:
“And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” 2 Peter 2:2
I’m so sad right now. I’ve never felt so helpless. What can we, as Christians, do to stop this? It’s obvious that some1 has tried. I pray that this will not go far, and I know that he will one day pay for leading so many astray.
JAMIE- APOSTLE PAUL TOLD US WHAT TO DO WITH FALSE PROPHETS AND DECEIVERS IN EPHESIANS TO EXPOSE THEM USING ALL AND ANY MEANS:
5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
5:12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
5:13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
5:14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Hi Jamie – I totally agree with you, it is awful to see the things that are going on in what is supposed to be God’s house in these last days – I thank God for His sovereignty, that He is completely in control of the situation and that He knew about all these things long before they began to happen – He has foretold it all in His word. I believe our mighty God is so far ahead of the devil and man that He has already made plans and provision far in advance to turn every evil under the sun to further His ultimate purposes… the poor devil can’t help but play into God’s hands in spite of himself. “…And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc” (Isaiah 54:16)….to test and try and refine the hearts of men.
There are many in these days who are leading many astray…what we must do is keep close to God through prayer, obedience and the study of His word – it is a bulwark against deception. There is a cross for every believer to carry at some point so that we can crucify our flesh nature and go on to maturity. There is a lot we don’t understand, but we can trust that God does, and that He knows exactly what He is doing – as we keep seeking the Lord and grow in Him, He begins to give more understanding. I can’t stress enough the importance of the Word of God and seeking Him for revelation, and the disciple’s cross. May God bless and increase you – I believe He has already given you a measure of discernment and will increase it as you continue on the narrow way. “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance…” (Matt. 13:12)
The vast majority of these TV “ministers” (and I’m afraid, church pastors) have not taken the time to deal with their carnality and wrong motives before undertaking to “work” for the Lord. They have not taken to heart the story told about Mary and Martha – Martha busy and concerned about “doing” for Jesus, when the ONE THING NEEDED was to forgo all that fleshly activity which only feeds the flesh (Martha’s activity was likely centred around cooking and meal preparation, if you can see the parable in that) and just sit at the feet of Jesus to learn and be transormed by Him. If Jesus said this is the ONE THING NEEDED then why don’t we just believe Him? He who created the universe can surely be trusted to raise up the workers when they are ready. Moses, an intelligent, educated urban yuppy of the elite class, who had just recently awakened to his true identity in God, had to spend 40 years of testing in the backside of a desert herding sheep, yoked to a pagan wife, before he was ready for “ministry”, before he was qualified to lead others out of slavery to flesh and the world, before he was ready to lead them through the very same wilderness of crucifying the flesh that he had lived through.
I think the crux of the problem here is that most are not trusting in grace, but are trusting in their works – they are anxious that if they are not “working” they are not saved, not worthy. This does not bode well for the church at large when most who are preaching the gospel are themselves still under Law – they cannot lead others to grace when they themselves do not possess it. But I believe we are living in the days of the tares being bound…
Walter – Amen to “exposing the works of darkness”! I had forgotten that scripture. It’s good to have solid ground to walk on!
i am cry cry cry i cant belive you all are talk about this manspopoff this man did this to me help i am going crazzy ihave been going throught icant belive this help
what happen what going to be did with him i put my all into him i cant belive him
Betty – Don’t despair, praise God, He is able to teach us through our mistakes and we carry on towards the upward call. I used to believe just about anything that stood in a pulpit, but sister, do not put your trust in any man, trust only in Jesus Christ and what He himself teaches you from His word.
“Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.” John 2:23-25
i equally asked for this miracle water, thank God, i didnt send any money,he asked for £20,i got a letter today in which he said i should send gold…….im really upset about all this.this people are taking out God’s word and replacing it with seed faith and the likes…they keep saying youve got to sow this and that before receiving but God’s word talks about faith and taking God at His word…..please beware of this false preachers and hold on to God and his word….God is real and his word is true,
well i have got the same letter from peter popoff and i have sent money.because i believe in god and thought he was true he told me i would recieve money miracles in dec. but it never happened he still tells me to send money but after finding out this im gonna stop sending anything but what can i do about this cause im 18 and have a lil girl and he took money from me and my lil girl thinking we was going to see a miracle. this guy should be stopped…i still got all the letters to prove he said i would recieve money and everything that he said.
Pamela, I realize there’s little consolation that can be offered in your circumstance but depending whether you sent your money to the Canadian or US office, something possibly can be done. I recommend filing complaints with Canada Revenue Agency, Charities Directorate as Popoff was at one time a registered charity in Canada. Secondly, file a complaint with your local consumer protection branch and finally, file a complaint with the CRTC. With every complaint, state how you were receiving the solicitations and wherever possible, provide written documentation, which would include copies of all communications you have received or sent. The CRTC states that the broadcasters are responsible for the programs aired and any solicitations made through those programs, both over the air and in print. You will find this in the Religious Broadcasting Policy.
Another thing that could be considered is a class action law suit. Criminals like this should be made an example of and perhaps it would also have the effect of reducing the unethical fundraising that is happening in Canada as well.
If people are interested in putting together a class action, let me know and I will see what I can do from my end to find legal counsel that may be willing to take on the class.
I hope things improve for you. Just surround yourself with some good trustworthy people and they will help to carry you through this tough time.
The letters sent by rev peter popoff,in some ways are the same,Gods word is the same,takes us all on the same jurney,into His word,His ways.Rev peter popoff does the same.God showed me this today,cause i have a gentleman recieving the same,but if you will look closely at the letters,theres a saying in there for each person,thats personal,a little differant then the rest,just ment for you.We are all on the same jurney towards Jesus Christ,same narrow road,Gods word never changes,so Hes telling us all the ame thing around the world.Though because our ways,our desicions are differant,in our lives God deals with us personally in differant ways,is no respector of persons,we all eather decide to go our ways,or His.God has never changed only,our world tecnoledgy,mans ways have changed,what we see,hear,in hysical,Gods ways have never changed,what He sees,hears,So if we decide to go our own way,not His way,wich never changed,we will not succceed,unless we trust,obey Him.Rev peter popoff,is representing God,by doing the same,tuching peoples lives,around the world,with through the same patren God does,through His word.Since ive known rev popoff,ive seen this.A little differance in each letter just ment for us,as In our own personal lives God,speaks to us,in personal according to our needs.His word dirrection never changes,for all nations,rev popoff does the same,dirrects us to God,with the same letters,dirrection,words from Gods word,each,one as we go takes us on a jurney,towards God,if we didnot do exactly this,we get it agin,untill we get it right,then second,letter,third.God works on us the same,if we dont get what hes teaching us ,first time,He takes us on our way again,untill we do,then we grow,go to next level,in the Lord,become stronger ,grow even more,become what God desires us to be,{example}{,if you do a test at school,fail,do ya have to do that test again/Yes.Untill you pass,then can go on.}A good teacher,doesnt give up on his studants,also ministers of God,or God Himself.There persistant,cause they care,love us.Its us that give up.desire it our way,think its to ruff,im not getting what i was told i would recieve as a result.In school if you dont do the work,give up,you will not pass,be blessedor graduate.If you dont trust,obey ,believe,work your salvation out,with fear in the Lord,dont follow His instrution inHis word you will not recieve His blessings,as He promised,as a result,or grow,become as He desires you to be.A father ,mother doesnt,if there true parents,they dont reward children,if they dont obey,do whats right,they take rewards away.Rev popoff does the same.People have said,rev popoff is a fraud,we didnt get what he said we would.Are you depending on Him,or God,rev peter popoff,desires to streach your faith,belief,trust,obey God,grow,God uses him,to help you do this,as a teacher sent by God.He never ounce said ill give it to you,the promises God said He would give you,God will,if you do the work he means.The things prophecied are from God,through him.The pins,or books,revelation words,phone no,promiseed ,if you think about it have been given to you,in many ways,not just through the mail but througout your jurney.{Take a look around you,for a minute,what do you have,that links to what rev popoff has said,then come to a conclusion.}Are they things you didnt have at the start of your jurney?Or more?Are you doing the work set before you?If your not then why would you exspect a reward.Are you giving to the ministry to recieve,or to give,by faith,love?Have you done exactly that wich has been asked of you,or are you slacking off,not taking it seriously?If you gave to recieve,not ut of love,faith,you didnot do the work,trut or obey,you didnot reach the goal,disobeyed,you shouldnt desire a reward.If you did it out of lack of widom,then ask God for more wisdom,to open your eyes,ears,to His truths,What He desires for You.The people exspressing thereselves,accross the world,persicuting,rev peter popoff,saying we didnt get what hes said we would,talking down about him,judging,testing him,are only proving him true,that you only did it for what you could get,not out of belief,love,trust,obedience to God.You did it ut of se,fish desires.That makes him,true,and asspecially God in everyway,all praise ,glory honour,power,victories to God,Gods truths shall prevail,deciet,lies,persicution,judgements,lack of love,belief,trust,obedients,from man shall not prevail and only prove God true,His obedient ones true in everyway.Think about it,are you doing this?Or are you doing it out of love towards others,God,regardless of the reward?Or for what you can get?Or destroy lives,lands,as a result,or do you restore lives,lands as a result?Rev peter popoff,trying to get what you think you should from him,or doing it regardless,out of love for others ,God,in order to restore,lives,lands,or destroy?Wich is it?All i see you doing is desiring your way,what you didnt get,and destroying his life,hurting yourself,God.Think about it,then only then will you recieve what God desires for you.IN JESUS NAME AMEN.Rev peter popoff is a representor of God,shaking represants,Gods word saying He will shake the nations.A ring represants Gods covenant with us.His ;etters represent His word,persistance love,what you will recieve if you do the work,trust,obey,God blessings,promises unfold in your life as a result.Cloths,represent Gods word,He works through these things,for the unbelievers to see,in the word Jesus Christ used mud,to heal a man who was blind.Its not the mud that healed,him,its was through the holyspirit realm of God,this was Gods way of contact to shw the unbelievers,so they could see,what the truth was,in a better way of contact,to God.Jesus Christ,a great example of this.God,spirit,then flesh,more contact,for mankind,for those who didnot believe.He was spirit,noone saw Him,or believed He was,so Came in flesh,as a better way,for those who needed to see He was.Jesus christ said blessed are they that dont see,and believe.Believe what you dont see,walk by faith,work out your salvation,and fear God.Trust,obey Him,His teachers sent by Him.Jesus Christ died,rose,now spirit,using us,to represant His will,in order to be with Him at the end,have all He promised us,at the end,eternal life.Hes coming again,in flesh,will you do His will believe,trust,obey,Do as those sent by God,ask you to do,in order to see Jesus Christ,His promises,regardless of what you can get,out of faith,love?Or Not?
That’s quite the word salad Nina.
Take care of yourself.
i have just had the same letter ,i am ashamed that i did not see the falseness and lies ,i call on all Gods people to pray for victems such as myself and many others .and rebuke satans trickery
Stop it all of you.Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.God said.When you put people down or judge people,persicute,make them look bad,your doing it to Jesus Christ.He said,if you do this to least of my breathren,you do it to me.Our brothers and sisters are,people all over the world,God is no respector of persons.He loves us all,unconditionaly.All fall short of His glory.We are all sinners,noone is better than anyone.Noone has a right to cause another person harm.People of God,dont do that.You are by putting rev peter popoff ministries down,your doing it to Jesus Christ.Im going to write you a story online.
Hi Nina:
Please do. Peter Popoff has a long history to draw from and you will not lack for material.
When you do write about him, let me know, I’m curious as to how much he is making from his current sales.
When I recieved his letters I called a real evangelist and asked her about this man Petter Ripe Off, Because I know what she has been preaching about . He is all about money. I recieved the same letter everyone else has recieved. In the Bible it tells us about the end of time that therfalse Prophets.Well look who is a false Prophet,Rev. Petter Popoff. And look at all the people that went astray. Thank God for my Prophet. If she wouldn’t have taught me about the false Prophets that it talks about in the Bible. I would have sent Mr. Rip off money.
Having read the previous comments, I now wonder have I fallen for a similar satan trap?
I planted a seed for 12 months, with a tv network, and was not expecting a financial harvest, but thought I was showing my trust in the Lord.
As each month has gone by, requests for money come every month, which I have not responded to, but now becoming sceptical to what I have done!
Are any of the religious channels genuine?
I am a relative new born again Christian, finding my way.
Hi Angelm:
The question may not be “are any of the religious channels genuine” as much as “is the teaching orthodox and in line with God’s Word?”
The channels are there to make money, tv is a business and tv is a medium of emotion.
On the basis of that criteria the shows are geniune.
Televangelists will swear on stacks of bibles they are ‘evangelizing’. Uh huh.
Who is their real demographic?
Maybe you can ask yourself different questions.
What are you learning? What draws you to a show? Have you been fed God’s Word to hide in your heart or just been entertained?
Is scripture in context?
Seed faith is aberrant teaching, it makes good tv and it fosters a lot of insecurity, fear and anxiety in practitioners, I don’t see it much different than gambling to be honest.
Waiting for the lotto from the sky and tuning in to get a fix of ‘encouragement.’
Who does a televangelist answer to? What are their core doctrines?
Why are 99% of televangelists unaffiliated or practicing neo-pentecostalism?
What do you really know about who you are watching?
Is God being glorified or is the viewer being encouraged to be dependent on the show and the host?
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/227-seed-faith
God isn’t interested in testing your faith through the boob tube.
Good on you for asking questions, for skepticism, for seeking, may He both precede and follow you and place His hand of blessing on your head.
Hello Angelm
As someone who got saved through watching Christian TV, I get tell you that it certainly has it’s place (for those who cannot physically attend church for whatever reason) and can reach a larger audience than a local church ever could, plus there is no way I would know as much about the Bible today had it not been for the countless Bible lessons (on countless subjects) I learned via tv preachers over the years, so I’m not knocking Christian TV altogther. I’m just saying be careful and discerning, PARTICULARLY when it comes to sending anyone money and especially if they’re putting pressure on you to send it.
One clue is to Google them and find out whether they’re living a lavish or modest lifestyle. Seems like the more famous they become, the bigger their egos and bank accounts get.
Nowadays, many websites provide ariel views of their manions, luxury cars, private jets, etc. (Joyce Meyer for example, lives in her own kingdom remnicant of Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch and Benny Hinn lives in a 10 million dollar palace overlooking the Pacific ocean—that’s a small clue).
Would Jesus live like that? Of course not. In fact, Jesus was so poor he didn’t even have a home to call his own. The Bible says that “He had no place to lay his head.” So he was in effect homeless. Imagine…The King of Kings homeless. Now compare that type of modesty to what you will discover by Googling, You Tubing and Google Video–ing some famous name evangelists and see the contrast.
Unfortunately, over the past 25 years or so, most of the major Christian networks (TBN springs to mind) have become obsessed with money (talking and preaching about it daily or weekly) and doesn’t the Bible tell us about the love of money being the root of all evil. Here again is another clue that something just isn’t right. Too much talk about money is NOT a good thing.
The ”seed faith” gospel is blatant heresy. The idea of receiving a 100 fold blessing if only you will plant your ‘seed’ (ie. money) into their ministry is quackery. They never mention the countless millions who sent in their ‘seed’ for years on end and ended up homeless or at least, with no miracle (either financial or physical) to show for it.
Did you know that you can make the Bible say anything you want if you take a verse here and another one there and string them togther?
Moreover, many tv evangelists today are nothing more than heretical, apostate teachers and preachers with fake doctorates (ie. from diploma mills or else ”honorary” as opposed to EARNED) and little if any formal preaching credentials (such as an EARNED masters degree from a seminary somewhere).
So what you very often have is a highschool or college drop out with little or no Bible knowledge whatsoever, forming his/her own church (such as Joel Osteen, Todd Bentley, Benny Hinn, ad nauseum) and peddling a different Jesus and a different gospel than the one found in Scripture. This is why it’s so important to research their credentials BEFORE sending them money.
The moral of the story? Read and study the Bible for yourself so that no one can deceive you and Google apologetic websites (like Cutting Edge) to see about their credentials.
I would highly recommend ordering Justin Peters 2 DVD’s entitled ”A Call For Discernment” (see his website at Justin Peters. org) as he explains over the course of 4 hours what I cannot do in this blog. His DVD’s feature countless video clips of well known televangelists (Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Hagin. Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, Jesse Duplantis, TBN, etc) and why their various teachings are apostate and heretical.
A wise suggestion is to purchase the King James Bible on CD (available at any Christian bookstore) and listen to it for 1-2 hours before bedtime each night, so the Word of God saturates your body, mind, soul and even your sleep.
(By the way, the KJV 1611 Bible is the ONLY accurate translation. All other Bible versions are counterfeit and should be discarded because they have added and subtracted from the original King James manuscript and the Bible gives stern warnings against that.)
Remember that to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
If you were hoodwinked by a tv preacher, don’t let it stop you from continuing in the faith. As they say…keep your eyes on the prize.
God bless
P.S. Please also visit Dr. Scott Johnson’s website at Contending For The Truth. Com and key in whatever subject you wish. Chances are, he’s got a teaching on it. His exposes on Joel Osteen and Todd Bentley were especially enlightening.
Thank you for your replies.
They have given me a lot to think about.
Angelm
I just wanted to also suggest listening to Ole Anthony’s interview on the Daniel Ott show via Google Video. He’s an expert on televangelist con artists and speaks about how so many homeless people he has personally worked with, became homeless as a direct result of sending endless amounts of money to tv evangelists in search of the ”100 fold blessing” and instead of receiving financial or physical miracles, they ended up broke and destitute as a result, which indicates that the ”name it and claim it” game DOESN’T work. He names countless well known evangelists, so prepare to be shocked, enlightened and educated.
Jesus didn’t have a lot of good things to say about rich people but by contrast, had many kind things to say about poor people (for example that poor people are made rich in faith).
In fact, Jesus stated that it is easier for a poor person to enter heaven than a rich person (no doubt because rich people are very often full of pride and used to being their own boss, whereas poor people don’t have that mindset because they are busy serving others).
The next time you hear tv evangelists talk about seed faith garbage, get out your Bible concordance or Google what the Bible has to say about being rich and you will find that it says the direct opposite of what the tv preachers teach.
Remember what I said about many of these tv evangelists not even having proper teaching and preaching credentials. I personally would not want to attend a University and be taught by a ”professer” with no formal teaching credentials or be operated on by a doctor who felt ”led” to be a doctor but never attended medical school.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t give to God’s work but be careful and discerning with whom you give your money to, lest it be squandered by a snake oil huckster (akin to throwing your money down the drain).
I personally would feel more comfortable giving or tithing to a local church where you can actually see the type of car the pastor drives and the type of house he lives in and know first hand how your donation money is being spent (such as for missions work).
I was just flipping channels a few days ago and stumbled upon Gloria Copeland teaching about how it’s God’s will for people to always be healed, yet the whole time she was speaking, she was wearing a pair of glasses. So the obvious question is—why didn’t God heal her vision if it’s His will to heal people all the time and all you had to do was claim it? How curious that she never once addressed this point.
Please Google Video ”Kenneth Hagin and the Spirit of the Serpent” and ”Benny Hinn–Possessed by Devils?” by Joseph Chambers. Please also You Tube or Google Video ”False Spirits Invade the Church” by Andrew Strom. These documentaries are most enlightening, even to seasoned Christians. (There is also a shocking You Tube clip of Kenneth Copeland and Rodney Howard Browne appearing to be telling jokes back and forth in foreign tongues.)
The bottom line is that not everything that quacks is a duck and not everyone who claims to be saved is saved, even if they have a world famous tv ministry and can slay people by the multitudes. You need to test their fruit first before confiding in or donating money to their cause.
You learn more about a person by what they DO instead of what they SAY (because talk is cheap). To put it another way, actions speak louder than words. If they are preaching one thing and living another way behind closed doors, don’t give them money. If they are living like a king or queen in a palace, own a fleet of luxury cars, yachts, private jets, designer clothes, wasting thousands on cosmetic surgery, DON’T send them money. These should be red flags that something is not right. Would Jesus waste money on cosmetic surgery and material possessions? Of course not. He’d live in a tent and drive a camel.
Please understand that we cannot BUY a miracle from God contrary to what many tv evangelists preach or strongly imply. Nor can we order Him (or for that matter angels) around like a puppet to do our bidding. God said that He would supply our needs, not our greeds. God CAN heal but sometimes the most godly saints DON’T get healed (such as the Apostle Paul who had a thorn in his flesh) and neither do many born again children become wealthy, whereas most tv preachers I’ve listened to strongly imply that there are no exceptions to these rules. We are ALL supposed to become healthy and rich, so if you’re not prospering in these avenues then there must be something wrong with your walk with the Lord. This gets back to lack of formal credentials and wolves in sheeps clothing amongst the brethren.
Hope some of this has helped you or someone else out there.
Blessings