Reverend Ike has left us for his pie in the sky. I learned tonight of his passing. In case you don't know who Reverend Ike was, please allow me to share some basic information. His real name was Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, but to the masses he was Reverend Ike. The masses who knew him by this name, he sought to reach through a prosperity Gospel. He wanted his flock and potential flock members to know that God wanted to bless them financial prosperity and riches untold. While most of his congregation was black, he was on record saying his was not a black church, but a green church. His heyday seems to have been in the 1970s but he was still around in the late 1990s. That is when I first encountered this charismatic purveyor of a gospel like I'd never heard before.
I was a Christian then and searching. My ear was open to most any fool with Reverend, Pastor or Minister before his or her name. My cousins, Cole and Nicki, and I were spending the night with Ma'Ma' one Saturday night and flipping channels. Reverend Ike's infomercial/sermon caught our eye. He was onstage with another gentleman and they were speaking of God's blessings and a way to enjoy them via Reverend Ike's mystical prayer cloths. It was not long before he said what was important was "More money honey". Seriously, he said this. His prayer cloths would help followers get just that.
There were two prayer cloths being offered. One was red and had been offered by Reverend Ike for years. He told of a woman's whose son was impaled by a fence as he fled some bandits. He was taken off the fence by the police and taken to the hospital. The young man's momma walked into the hospital room and dropped a prayer cloth on her son. The doctor soon emerged saying nothing was wrong with the boy! Hallelujah! These scraps of cloth being offered by Reverend Ike were something else! If mystical healing powers weren't enough, Reverend Ike had another money green prayer cloth for special financial blessings. At one point he noted how he knew people that worried themselves sick over the bills they had. This made his money green prayer cloth a fabric of double blessings as one could be made physically well as financial blessings diminished the need to worry over such.
The charismatic snake oil salesman had my ear. What was I to make of this prosperity gospel that preached God was looking to see that I had plenty to enjoy and then some? Suddenly it was okay to desire the finer things of life. Most sermons I'd heard said our money was to go further God's kingdom and we were not to be greedy. This man was saying something different, or so I thought.
I thought I'd give Reverend Ike the benefit of the doubt and see on just what kind of scriptural foundation these prayer cloths were founded. I do recall Reverend Ike referencing a part of the Bible where God used Paul for "special miracles". He even had the congregation repeat "special miracles". My cousin Cole called the number on the screen and was told the prayer cloths were free. I sent a request for them.
A few days later I received a letter from Reverend Ike ministries. It stated that I needed to send in my donation to receive my prayer cloths and the blessings there within. What? I thought they were supposed to be free. I ignored the letter and decided not to pursue this prosperity gospel any further. A few days later, a scratch lottery ticket showed up in the mail from Reverend Ike. It told me to scratch it off and send it back with my donation for my blessing. Somewhere during this time I also received Reverend Ike's magazine. It was chock full of stories of those who followed Reverend Ike and the material blessings they now enjoy. One story told of how one man's decision to do so resulted in his owning several Rolls Royces. Another lady was told not to empty her late father's apartment and to keep paying rent on it, for Reverend Ike saw a large sum of money in it. Sure enough she found some stocks and bonds a few days later in that very apartment. I believe this was called a "money prophecy".
My favorite story in the magazine was Reverend Ike's instructions for giving to him. One was to do it "in secret". The Bible does say something about giving to God "in secret" and not to be seen by others and seek their praise or glorify one's self. Well, Reverend Ike was telling readers to do the same with him. They were not to tell friends and family of their gifts to his ministry, for they may create "negative static" that would prevent them from receiving their blessing. Instead they should give "in secret" and allow their blessings to grow. They'd be doing so well when friends and family found out that their "negative static" would have no impact on the blessings they would be enjoying by that time. Even though I was naive about the ways of religion and the cons and crooks that go with it so many times, I saw through this guy. However, I wonder how many destitute people who were down and out actually sent this guy what little they had expecting bountiful riches to follow. It is sad to wonder how many gave their last dime to a man with riches untold.
I gave up my search for faith and truth a few years ago. When I watch preachers and evangelists on TV today, I see right through many of them. I can see their manipulative ways and the masters of spin that they are. Before I offend any Christians, I do know that this does not apply to all pastors, ministers, reverends or evangelists. I have met some in my time who were sincere and dedicated to a higher purpose and not to their own glorification or out to line their pockets.
Reverend Ike's passing did remind me of days gone by. The days of my youth where I sought a true path to the spiritual world, a path to righteous living and a peace that surpasses all understanding. I guess I studied too hard and found myself with more questions than answers. The ways of the cross seemed to criss-cross in places that didn't make much sense. I finally decided to quit seeking. This was years after my encounter with Reverend Ike, so he is not to be blamed.
Rest in Peace Reverend Ike, wherever you might be. I hope God had a Rolls Royce waiting for you.
P.S. Reverend Ike had a joke in his magazine. It read something like this. A man asked Reverend Ike for some lucky numbers. Reverend Ike told him to write some numbers down on a slip of paper and swallow it. He said, "If those don't come out today, they will come out tomorrow".
Ha ha.
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