Reverend Ike

Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, better known as Reverend Ike (June 1, 1935 – July 28, 2009[1]), 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!"[2] Though his preaching is considered a form of prosperity theology, Rev. Ike diverged from traditional Christian theology and taught what he called "Science of Living."[1][3]

Reverend Ike
Born
Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II

( 1935-06-01)June 1, 1935
Ridgeland, South Carolina
DiedJuly 28, 2009(2009-07-28) (aged 74)
Los Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
Spouse(s)Eula M. Dent
Websitewww.scienceoflivingonline.com

Life and career

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.

The "Palace Cathedral" is now known as the United Palace (2014). It is used as a live music venue as well as a church, and is still owned by the United Church Evangelistic Association.

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.[4] He was famous for his "Blessing Plan" – radio listeners sent him money and in return he blessed them. He said radio listeners who did this would become more prosperous. He was criticized for his overt interest in financial remuneration. In 1972, The New York Times described his church service:[5]

“Close your eyes and see green,” the minister exhorted. “Money up to your armpits, a roomful of money and there you are, just tossing around in it like a swimming pool.”

The preacher was the Rev. Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter 2d—better known as “Reverend Ike”—urging several thousand of his devoted parishioners to think positive thoughts.

From the red‐carpeted stage of what was once a Loew's movie palace at 175th Street and Broadway, Reverend Ike evoked giggles from the predominantly black congregation. But they repeated his words obediently during a recent Sunday as, microphone in hand, he sang, “Lots and lots of money, ready for my use, oh yes, it's ready for my use.”[5]

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" – although colloquially it was known as "Reverend Ike's Prayer Tower" – and had it fully restored. Restorations included the seven-story high, twin chamber Robert Morton organ.[6] 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[7] by the New York City Landmark Commission.

Rev. Ike was also the "chancellor" of the United Church Schools, including the Science of Living Institute and Seminary (which awarded him, his wife, and his son Doctor of the Science of Living degrees); the Business of Living Institute (home of Thinkonomics); and other educational projects.

Other activities

Ike made a guest appearance on Hank Williams, Jr.'s single “Mind Your Own Business”, a Number One country music hit in December 1986. This song is Reverend Ike's only chart single.[8]

In Pop culture

In December 2005, John Lennon and Yoko Ono's personal assistant May Pang told Radio Times:[9]

At night he (John Lennon) loved to channel-surf, and he would pick up phrases from all the shows. One time, he was watching Reverend Ike, a famous black evangelist, who was saying, "Let me tell you guys, it doesn't matter, it's whatever gets you through the night." John loved it and said, "I've got to write it down or I'll forget it." He always kept a pad and pen by the bed. That was the beginning of [the song] "Whatever Gets You thru the Night".

Family and death

Ike and his wife, Eula M. Dent, had one son, Xavier Eikerenkoetter. Reverend Ike died in Los Angeles at age 74 on July 28, 2009, after having not fully recovered from a stroke in 2007. His son gave a moving eulogy at his father's memorial service[10] comparing his father to Martin Luther King and Malcolm X – as a "spiritual activist" and a liberator of minds. Xavier subsequently took over the church.[11]

References
  1. Lehmann-Haupt, Christopher (July 29, 2009). "Reverend Ike, Who Preached Riches, Dies at 74". The New York Times.
  2. Science of Living Online.
  3. Harrell, David Edwin (1978). All Things are Possible: the Healing & Charismatic Revivals in Modern America. Indiana University Press. pp. 234–235. ISBN 978-0-253-10090-0.
  4. Norman, Tony (August 4, 2009). "The wretched, venal life of Rev. Ike". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 17, 2016. ...in the 1970s. His sermons from the pulpit of the United Church Science of Living Institute in New York could be heard on 1,770 radio and television stations across the country. An estimated 2.5 million people tuned in every week
  5. Blau, Eleanor (1972-07-26). "Harlem Preacher Stresses Power of Money and Prayer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  6. "United Church: 'The Palace Cathedral'" in New York City Organ Project New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
  7. "United Palace Cathedral Gets Landmark Approval, Despite Church Opposition". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on 2017-04-07. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Billboard Books. p. 288. ISBN 0-8230-8291-1.
  9. "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night by John Lennon (featuring Elton John)". songfacts.com. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  10. giftofmoney (2010-02-04), Bishop Xavier: "Rev. Ike was a liberator of minds!", retrieved 2017-04-06
  11. Associated Press "Reverend Ike, Preacher of Material Prosperity, Dies at 74", Huffington Post, July 30, 2009; retrieved December 26, 2011.
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