Leroy Jenkins (televangelist)
Encyclopedia
Leroy Jenkins is an American televangelist and preacher who was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He was known for his faith healing
, through the use of "miracle water". His television program can be seen on television stations across the U.S. and internationally on Christian television networks including as The Word, BET
, on its Morning Inspiration segment, and DayStar
, as well as internet podcasts. Jenkins, who was once married to Linda Peck, (known as Linda Harkins), was also raised in Tupelo, Mississippi
.
There have been also claims by many observers that were in attendance, that he was miraculously healed at an A.A. Allen "miracle crusade" of about 8,000 people which was held at the Atlanta fairgrounds that year. The event, which was also a part of the controversial Allen's televised crusade ministry, has been widely circulated over the years in many Christian media circles, and can also been seen in excerpts over the internet, including Jenkins's official website.
, gaining a following as "The Man With The Miracle Arm".
for threatening assault and arson
while still married to his former wife Harkins. Jenkins, who wound up getting sentenced to and serving five years in prison for the incident, was then mysteriously pardoned by the State of Ohio later. In 1994, he was arrested for grand theft but the charges were soon dropped when he agreed to pay restitution. In 2001, his marriage to a 77-year old widow who had recently hit the Ohio Lottery jackpot for $6,000,000 USD was annulled by a judge in Delaware, Ohio. The legal guardian of one Eloise Thomas, whose husband had died just three weeks before the marriage to Jenkins, former Ohio State Senator Ben Espy
, claimed on behalf of the woman's family that Ms. Thomas was incompetent and therefore incapable of knowing what she was doing when she attempted to marry Jenkins. Jenkins has repeatedly denied accusations that he was attempting to marry the woman for the sake of her net worth, which was estimated at $4,000,000 USD. In 2003, while his ministry was still based in Columbus
, Jenkins's "miracle water" was allegedly found to contain coliform bacteria
by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Jenkins claimed that the tests conducted by independent laboratories had found the water safe for drinking and that the state ignored his findings. Jenkins was later fined $200 because he didn't have a license to sell the water.
, as he continues to practice faith healing. In 2002, a film was released about his life, entitled The Calling (a.k.a. Man of Faith), starring Damian Chapa
, Faye Dunaway
, Robert Wagner
and Brad Dourif
. The film was executive produced by Robert Wagner, and was written and directed by Damian Chapa.
Also a gifted Christian singer, Jenkins has recorded several Gospel albums over the course of his ministry career and has often sung at various crusades, including his own.
Faith healing
Faith healing is healing through spiritual means. The healing of a person is brought about by religious faith through prayer and/or rituals that, according to adherents, stimulate a divine presence and power toward correcting disease and disability. Belief in divine intervention in illness or...
, through the use of "miracle water". His television program can be seen on television stations across the U.S. and internationally on Christian television networks including as The Word, BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
, on its Morning Inspiration segment, and DayStar
Daystar
Daystar may refer to:* DayStar Digital, a company that used to manufacture Apple Macintosh clones* Daystar Technologies, a company that builds performance upgrades for Apple Macintosh Computers and services the previous company's products...
, as well as internet podcasts. Jenkins, who was once married to Linda Peck, (known as Linda Harkins), was also raised in Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
.
Early ministry
In 1960, while living in suburban Atlanta, the young Jenkins had his left arm badly severed while renovating his house after a plate glass window pane broke and fell down from a window. After being rushed to the hospital immediately after the accident, Jenkins, who had his arm reattached by surgeons by his adamant insistince, was told that he would soon die of gangrene poisoning that was eating away at the limb. Jenkins then claimed that he had an out-of body experience, where God allowed him to see himself being operated on by the surgeons, and that he then cried out for Jesus Christ to save him, and that he was then "placed back in his body" and was then afterwards revived by the surgeons.There have been also claims by many observers that were in attendance, that he was miraculously healed at an A.A. Allen "miracle crusade" of about 8,000 people which was held at the Atlanta fairgrounds that year. The event, which was also a part of the controversial Allen's televised crusade ministry, has been widely circulated over the years in many Christian media circles, and can also been seen in excerpts over the internet, including Jenkins's official website.
"The Man With The Miracle Arm"
Soon after the miracle healing event, the young Jenkins, who at this point had been a successful young businessman in Atlanta, married to Harkins, with two young children, felt that God had a call on his life for ministry. After becoming an ordained pastor, Jenkins would then begin travelling extensively around the world with the likes of Allen, Don Stewart, and R.W. SchambachR.W. Schambach
R.W. Schambach is an American televanglist, pastor, faith healer, and author. His television program, Power Today can be seen on the DayStar Christian TV network aa well as over the internet in streaming podcasts.-Early life and faith:An outgoing youth, Schambach, who was born in Philadelphia,...
, gaining a following as "The Man With The Miracle Arm".
Controversies
In 1979, Jenkins was indicted in Delaware, OhioDelaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
for threatening assault and arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
while still married to his former wife Harkins. Jenkins, who wound up getting sentenced to and serving five years in prison for the incident, was then mysteriously pardoned by the State of Ohio later. In 1994, he was arrested for grand theft but the charges were soon dropped when he agreed to pay restitution. In 2001, his marriage to a 77-year old widow who had recently hit the Ohio Lottery jackpot for $6,000,000 USD was annulled by a judge in Delaware, Ohio. The legal guardian of one Eloise Thomas, whose husband had died just three weeks before the marriage to Jenkins, former Ohio State Senator Ben Espy
Ben Espy
Ben E. Espy is a Democratic politician who formerly served in the Ohio Senate. A member of Columbus City Council from 1982 to 1992, Espy went on to obtain an appointment to the Ohio Senate after Senator Richard Pfeiffer resigned in 1992...
, claimed on behalf of the woman's family that Ms. Thomas was incompetent and therefore incapable of knowing what she was doing when she attempted to marry Jenkins. Jenkins has repeatedly denied accusations that he was attempting to marry the woman for the sake of her net worth, which was estimated at $4,000,000 USD. In 2003, while his ministry was still based in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Jenkins's "miracle water" was allegedly found to contain coliform bacteria
Coliform bacteria
Coliform bacteria are a commonly used bacterial indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water. They are defined as rod-shaped Gram-negative non-spore forming bacteria which can ferment lactose with the production of acid and gas when incubated at 35-37°C...
by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Jenkins claimed that the tests conducted by independent laboratories had found the water safe for drinking and that the state ignored his findings. Jenkins was later fined $200 because he didn't have a license to sell the water.
Present ministry
As of March 2011, Jenkins's ministry is based in Scottsdale, ArizonaScottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, as he continues to practice faith healing. In 2002, a film was released about his life, entitled The Calling (a.k.a. Man of Faith), starring Damian Chapa
Damian Chapa
Damian Robert Chapa is a Mexican-American actor, film director and film producer.Chapa was born in Dayton, Ohio, USA. He was briefly married to Natasha Henstridge. Among his earlier notable film roles are one of the leads in Taylor Hackford's Blood In Blood Out and the part of Ken in the film...
, Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is an American actress.Dunaway won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Network after receiving previous nominations for the critically acclaimed films Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown...
, Robert Wagner
Robert Wagner
Robert John Wagner is an American actor of stage, screen, and television.A veteran of many films in the 1950s and 1960s, Wagner gained prominence in three American television series that spanned three decades: It Takes a Thief , Switch , and Hart to Hart...
and Brad Dourif
Brad Dourif
Bradford Claude "Brad" Dourif is an American film and television actor who gained early fame for his portrayal of Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and has since appeared in a number of memorable roles, including the voice of Chucky in the Child's Play franchise, Younger Brother in...
. The film was executive produced by Robert Wagner, and was written and directed by Damian Chapa.
Also a gifted Christian singer, Jenkins has recorded several Gospel albums over the course of his ministry career and has often sung at various crusades, including his own.
Discography
- God Gave Me A Song
- If I Could Dream
- Mercy Wins
- Release Me
- Songs and Sermon In Bakersfield
- Songs To Be Healed By
- Stars In My Crown
- Touching Jesus
Family life
Jenkins's mother, Mrs. W. M. Jenkins, was also a well-known evangelist in Florida during the 1960s and 1970s.See also
- Faith healingFaith healingFaith healing is healing through spiritual means. The healing of a person is brought about by religious faith through prayer and/or rituals that, according to adherents, stimulate a divine presence and power toward correcting disease and disability. Belief in divine intervention in illness or...
- GlossolaliaGlossolaliaGlossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
- PentecostalismPentecostalismPentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
- Word of FaithWord of FaithWord of Faith is a family of Christian churches as well as a label applied by some observers to a teaching movement kindred to many Pentecostal and charismatic churches and individuals worldwide. The basic doctrine preached is that of salvation through Jesus Christ and what that salvation entails...
- Holy SpiritHoly SpiritHoly Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...