Reverend Ike, also known as Rev. Ike, was a famous American minister and evangelist who preached the gospel of material wealth and self-empowerment. He was one of the first televangelists to reach millions of viewers with his message of positive thinking and abundance. He was also known for his catchy slogan: “You can’t lose with the stuff I use!”
But how did Rev. Ike die? What was the cause of his death? And what legacy did he leave behind? In this article, we will explore these questions and more.
Contents
Early Life and Ministry
Rev. Ike was born as Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II on June 1, 1935, in Ridgeland, South Carolina. His parents were of African and Dutch-Indonesian descent. His father was a Baptist preacher and his mother was a school teacher.
Rev. Ike felt a call to the ministry at the age of seven. He became an assistant pastor in his father’s church at the age of 14. He graduated as valedictorian from the Pentecostal American Bible College in Chicago in 1956.
He founded his first church, the United Church of Jesus Christ for All People, in Beaufort, South Carolina. He then moved to Boston, where he established the United Christian Evangelistic Association and the Miracle Temple. In 1966, he relocated to New York City, where he founded the Christ Community United Church.
The Palace Cathedral and the Blessing Plan
In 1969, Rev. Ike bought the Loew’s 175th Street Theatre, a former movie palace in the Washington Heights neighborhood, for over half a million dollars. He renamed it the Palace Cathedral and had it fully restored. It became his main place of worship and the headquarters of his ministry.
The Palace Cathedral could seat up to 3,000 people and featured a lavish interior with gold-plated chandeliers, velvet curtains, and a huge pipe organ. Rev. Ike also installed a large neon sign on the facade that read: “Reverend Ike’s Prayer Tower”.
Rev. Ike’s ministry reached its peak in the mid-1970s, when his weekly radio and television sermons were broadcasted to hundreds of stations across the United States. He also published a magazine called Action!, which had over a million readers.
Rev. Ike was famous for his Blessing Plan, a fundraising scheme that encouraged his followers to send him money in exchange for his prayers and blessings. He claimed that by doing so, they would attract more money and prosperity into their lives. He often told his congregation: “It is not the love of money that is the root of all evil, it’s the lack of money.”
Controversies and Criticisms
Rev. Ike’s teachings and practices were controversial and criticized by many, especially by traditional Christians who accused him of distorting the gospel and exploiting his followers. Rev. Ike diverged from orthodox Christian theology and taught what he called the Science of Living, a form of mind science that emphasized the power of positive thinking and visualization.
Rev. Ike also faced legal troubles and investigations by the authorities. In 1974, he was indicted for mail fraud, but the charges were later dropped. In 1975, he was sued by the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive advertising, but he settled the case out of court. In 1984, he was fined by the Internal Revenue Service for tax evasion, but he appealed the decision and won.
Rev. Ike also had a lavish lifestyle and a flamboyant personality. He owned several luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce and a Mercedes-Benz. He wore expensive suits and jewelry and had a large collection of art and antiques. He was married to Eula Mae Dent, whom he met in Boston, and had one son, Xavier Eikerenkoetter.
Death and Legacy
Rev. Ike suffered a stroke in 2007, which left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. He died on July 28, 2009, in Los Angeles, at the age of 74. He was survived by his wife and son, who continued his ministry and his cultural activities.
Rev. Ike’s death marked the end of an era in American religious history. He was one of the pioneers of the prosperity gospel, a movement that influenced many other preachers and churches, such as Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, and T.D. Jakes. He was also one of the first black religious leaders to achieve national fame and recognition.
Rev. Ike’s message of material and spiritual abundance resonated with many people, especially those who faced poverty, discrimination, and oppression. He inspired them to believe in themselves and their potential. He also challenged the conventional notions of religion and spirituality and offered a new way of understanding God and the universe.
Rev. Ike’s legacy lives on in his books, recordings, and teachings, which are still available online and through his website. He also left behind a beautiful architectural landmark, the United Palace, which is now used as a live music venue and a cultural center. Rev. Ike’s motto was: “The best thing you can do for the poor is not to be one of them.” He certainly lived up to that.
