Mike Murdock
Encyclopedia
Michael Dean Murdock is a televangelist and pastor of the Wisdom Center ministry based in Fort Worth, Texas
. His father, J.E. Murdock, is also a pastor. Murdock was educated in LaGrange High School in Lake Charles, and in Southwestern Assemblies of God University
in Waxahachie for three semesters. He received an honorary doctorate from International Seminary in Florida which is not accredited.
Murdock preaches around the world and is best known for his promotion of prosperity theology
. He often preaches with Benny Hinn
and has also preached with Tammy Faye Bakker. Additionally, he hosts the Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock television program.
and other television networks, and his weekly television program, Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock. Murdock is a Founding Trustee on the Board of International Charismatic Ministries along with the late Dr. Oral Roberts.
On January 28, 2011, Trey Smith, a student of Mike Murdock's, released a book entitled "Thieves", in which he claims to expose a dark side to Murdock's ministry
. Smith's claim is that he was a childhood friend of Murdock's son Jason and saw Murdock's secured mansion estate many times from the inside. Among other claims, Smith alleges that Mike Murdock concealed pornography and items of extreme value in a personal closet. Smith claims to have stolen a safe from that closet in March of 1999. Murdock reported his losses to police to be $125,000.00, but gave conflictingly higher amounts (claims from hundreds of thousands to millions) to supporters for presumed fundraising purposes. Mike Murdock initially listed his own son, Jason Murdock, as the primary suspect of the burglary. However, the Denton County Sheriffs Department ultimately dropped the safe robbery / burglary
investigation citing that Murdock would not cooperate with detectives after a white powder was discovered in Murdock's personal closet. Murdock's attorney later stated that police investigators had planted the white powder. It was during this time that Trey Smith claims to have been on the run from the TV minister in Mexico and a variety of other places, which is the primary focus of Smith's book. In detail Smith describes the allegedly callous response that Mike Murdock had for people who came to him for help during the years leading to the safe robbery. Additionally, Smith claims that Mike Murdock had a concerning note in the safe that Smith felt was intended for Murdock's son, Jason. Trey Smith has appeared on "Bob Enyart
Live," Bruce Collins w/ Jesse Ventura
, as well as many other news / talk shows to discuss the police report, his experiences, his allegations of Mike Murdock's excessive lifestyle, sexual affairs and the details of the Mike Murdock safe robbery, commonly called the, "TV Pastor Safe Robbery."
In July 2011, D Magazine
, a large North Texas
(Dallas based) news and entertainment publication, ran all of chapter one of Trey Smith's book Thieves as a headlining article. The article included a full page artist rendering of Smith running from televangelist Mike Murdock. D Magazine cited that they had "courted Smith's story" after investigation. This is the same publication that assisted Ole Anthony
and the Trinity Foundation
during the scandal surrounding televangelist Robert Tilton
.
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. His father, J.E. Murdock, is also a pastor. Murdock was educated in LaGrange High School in Lake Charles, and in Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private Christian University located in Waxahachie, Texas, USA, near Dallas and Fort Worth. SAGU is regionally-accredited with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and officially endorsed by the Assemblies of...
in Waxahachie for three semesters. He received an honorary doctorate from International Seminary in Florida which is not accredited.
Murdock preaches around the world and is best known for his promotion of prosperity theology
Prosperity theology
Prosperity theology or gospel is a Christian religious belief whose proponents claim the Bible teaches that financial blessing is the will of God for Christians. Most teachers of prosperity theology maintain that a combination of faith, positive speech, and donations to Christian ministries will...
. He often preaches with Benny Hinn
Benny Hinn
Toufik Benedictus "Benny" Hinn הין; born December 3, 1952) is a televangelist, best known for his regular "Miracle Crusades" – revival meeting/faith healing summits that are usually held in large stadiums in major cities, which are later broadcast worldwide on his television program, This Is Your...
and has also preached with Tammy Faye Bakker. Additionally, he hosts the Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock television program.
Preaching style
Mike Murdock preached his first public sermon at the age of eight and began full-time evangelism at the age of 19. Murdock receives hundreds of invitations to speak in churches, colleges, and business corporations. He has appeared on TBN, CBN, BET, INSP, WORD, Daystar Television NetworkDaystar Television Network
The Daystar Television Network is an American evangelical Christian television religious broadcasting network headquartered near Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Bedford, Texas...
and other television networks, and his weekly television program, Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock. Murdock is a Founding Trustee on the Board of International Charismatic Ministries along with the late Dr. Oral Roberts.
Controversy
In 2003, Mike Murdock was the subject of a series of articles in the Fort Worth Star Telegram about the questionable use of money from Murdock's ministry.On January 28, 2011, Trey Smith, a student of Mike Murdock's, released a book entitled "Thieves", in which he claims to expose a dark side to Murdock's ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
. Smith's claim is that he was a childhood friend of Murdock's son Jason and saw Murdock's secured mansion estate many times from the inside. Among other claims, Smith alleges that Mike Murdock concealed pornography and items of extreme value in a personal closet. Smith claims to have stolen a safe from that closet in March of 1999. Murdock reported his losses to police to be $125,000.00, but gave conflictingly higher amounts (claims from hundreds of thousands to millions) to supporters for presumed fundraising purposes. Mike Murdock initially listed his own son, Jason Murdock, as the primary suspect of the burglary. However, the Denton County Sheriffs Department ultimately dropped the safe robbery / burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
investigation citing that Murdock would not cooperate with detectives after a white powder was discovered in Murdock's personal closet. Murdock's attorney later stated that police investigators had planted the white powder. It was during this time that Trey Smith claims to have been on the run from the TV minister in Mexico and a variety of other places, which is the primary focus of Smith's book. In detail Smith describes the allegedly callous response that Mike Murdock had for people who came to him for help during the years leading to the safe robbery. Additionally, Smith claims that Mike Murdock had a concerning note in the safe that Smith felt was intended for Murdock's son, Jason. Trey Smith has appeared on "Bob Enyart
Bob Enyart
Bob Enyart is an American talk radio host, author, and pastor of Denver Bible Church. He is best known for buying nearly $16,000 worth of O.J. Simpson memorabilia at an auction benefiting the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman and then leading a group which set fire to the items on...
Live," Bruce Collins w/ Jesse Ventura
Jesse Ventura
James George Janos , better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American politician, the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, Navy UDT veteran, former SEAL reservist, actor, and former radio and television talk show host...
, as well as many other news / talk shows to discuss the police report, his experiences, his allegations of Mike Murdock's excessive lifestyle, sexual affairs and the details of the Mike Murdock safe robbery, commonly called the, "TV Pastor Safe Robbery."
In July 2011, D Magazine
D Magazine
This article is about the magazine about Dallas. For the Italian magazine, see La Repubblica.D Magazine is a monthly magazine covering Dallas-Fort Worth. It covers a range of topics including politics, business, food, fashion and lifestyle in the city of Dallas. The first issue was published in...
, a large North Texas
North Texas
North Texas is a distinct cultural and geographic area forming the central-northeastern section of the U.S. state of Texas. North Texas is generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, and north of Waco...
(Dallas based) news and entertainment publication, ran all of chapter one of Trey Smith's book Thieves as a headlining article. The article included a full page artist rendering of Smith running from televangelist Mike Murdock. D Magazine cited that they had "courted Smith's story" after investigation. This is the same publication that assisted Ole Anthony
Ole Anthony
Ole Anthony , a native of Minnesota, is the current editor of The Door, a magazine of Christian satire. He was the subject of a lengthy profile in the December 6, 2004, issue of The New Yorker. As head of the Trinity Foundation, he is also involved in investigating the financial activities and...
and the Trinity Foundation
Trinity Foundation
Trinity Foundation may refer to:* Trinity Foundation of Dallas, Texas, a non-denominational Christian organization most notable for being a televangelism watchdog group and publisher of The Door magazine...
during the scandal surrounding televangelist Robert Tilton
Robert Tilton
Robert Tilton is an American televangelist who achieved notoriety in the 1980s and early 1990s through his infomercial-styled religious television program Success-N-Life, which at its peak in 1991 aired in all 235 American TV markets , brought in nearly $80 million per year, and was described as...
.