Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, better known as Reverend Ike (June 1,
1935 â€" July 28, 2009), was an American minister and evangelist based
in New York City. He was known for the slogan "You can't lose with the
stuff I use!" Though his preaching is considered a form of new-age
theology, Rev. Ike diverged from traditional Christian theology and
taught what he called "Science of Living."Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter
II was born in Ridgeland, South Carolina to parents from the
Netherlands Antilles, and was of African and Indo (Dutch-Indonesian)
descent. He began his career as a teenage preacher and became
assistant pastor at Bible Way Church in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
After serving a stint in the Air Force as a Chaplain Service
Specialist (a non-commissioned officer assigned to assist commissioned
Air Force chaplains), he founded, successively, the United Church of
Jesus Christ for All People in Beaufort, South Carolina, the United
Christian Evangelistic Association in Boston, Massachusetts, his main
corporate entity, and the Christ Community United Church in New York
City.Known popularly as "Reverend Ike," his ministry reached its peak
in the mid 1970s, when his weekly radio sermons were carried by
hundreds of stations across the United States. He was famous for his
"Blessing Plan" â€" radio listeners sent him money and in return he
blessed them. He said doing this would make radio listeners who did it
more prosperous. He was criticized[by whom?] for his overt interest in
financial remuneration. In 1972, The New York Times described his
church service:Rev. Ike bought the Loew's 175th Street Theatre movie
palace in the Washington Heights neighborhood for over half a million
dollars, renamed it the "Palace Cathedral" â€" although colloquially
it was known as "Reverend Ike's Prayer Tower" â€" and had it fully
restored. Restorations included the seven-story high, twin chamber
Robert Morton organ. The "Miracle Star of Faith", visible from the
George Washington Bridge, tops the building’s cupola. In 2016, the
building was designated as a landmark by the New York City Landmark
Commission.
1935 â€" July 28, 2009), was an American minister and evangelist based
in New York City. He was known for the slogan "You can't lose with the
stuff I use!" Though his preaching is considered a form of new-age
theology, Rev. Ike diverged from traditional Christian theology and
taught what he called "Science of Living."Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter
II was born in Ridgeland, South Carolina to parents from the
Netherlands Antilles, and was of African and Indo (Dutch-Indonesian)
descent. He began his career as a teenage preacher and became
assistant pastor at Bible Way Church in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
After serving a stint in the Air Force as a Chaplain Service
Specialist (a non-commissioned officer assigned to assist commissioned
Air Force chaplains), he founded, successively, the United Church of
Jesus Christ for All People in Beaufort, South Carolina, the United
Christian Evangelistic Association in Boston, Massachusetts, his main
corporate entity, and the Christ Community United Church in New York
City.Known popularly as "Reverend Ike," his ministry reached its peak
in the mid 1970s, when his weekly radio sermons were carried by
hundreds of stations across the United States. He was famous for his
"Blessing Plan" â€" radio listeners sent him money and in return he
blessed them. He said doing this would make radio listeners who did it
more prosperous. He was criticized[by whom?] for his overt interest in
financial remuneration. In 1972, The New York Times described his
church service:Rev. Ike bought the Loew's 175th Street Theatre movie
palace in the Washington Heights neighborhood for over half a million
dollars, renamed it the "Palace Cathedral" â€" although colloquially
it was known as "Reverend Ike's Prayer Tower" â€" and had it fully
restored. Restorations included the seven-story high, twin chamber
Robert Morton organ. The "Miracle Star of Faith", visible from the
George Washington Bridge, tops the building’s cupola. In 2016, the
building was designated as a landmark by the New York City Landmark
Commission.
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