Peter Popoff is a U.S. televangelist who has spent most of his career claiming to treat physical ailments with faith healing. He has claimed that the power of God works through him to cure various ailments, and many of his crusade services have involved him working alleged miracles by laying his hands upon members of the audience. Popoff is also known for sending packets of Miracle Spring Water to his viewers. The water is claimed to be a solution to physical and financial problems.

Early career

At appearances in the 1980s, Popoff routinely and accurately stated the home addresses and specific illnesses of his audience members, a feat he allowed them to believe was due to divine revelation and "God given ability". His actual methods were discovered in 1987 when noted skeptic James Randi visited a show and discovered radio transmissions of Popoff's off-stage wife reading information which she and aides had gathered from earlier conversation with members of the audience. Popoff would simply listen to these promptings with his in-ear receiver and repeat what he heard to the crowd. After tapes of these transmissions were played on the United States TV program The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Popoff's popularity and viewing audiences declined sharply, and his ministry declared bankruptcy later that year.

Popoff's shows also featured audience members who were brought on stage in wheelchairs and then rose dramatically to walk without support. These were some of Popoff's most incredible healings, but what believing audience members and television viewers did not know is that wheelchairs were used by Popoff to seat people who were already able to walk. He no longer "heals" people in this way.

Popoff wrote several paperbacks in the early '80s that were published by Faith Messenger Publications but are now out of print.

Current activities

Popoff has recently appeared on late-night U.S. television as a preacher and also in infomercials. He has promoted his "Miracle Spring Water" as a "point of contact" for divine healing. He has also preached a form of prosperity theology under the slogan "Go into business with God", claiming that God will make "divine transfers" into a viewer's "divine account". One infomercial states, "A divine transfer is supernatural. This is not money you're going to make from your job... God is going to supernaturally put money into your account."

Within four weeks of submitting one's address to Popoff's automated phone service, subscribers receive in the mail from Popoff (now calling himself "Prophet Peter Popoff") a three-page essay filled with elaborate biblical language and red-ink imitation handwriting. Instead of the promised "Miracle Water", included is a tiny plastic "Golden Tablet" and a "Miracle Band" (a cardboard bracelet marked simply with "JIREH", Hebrew for "see" but sometimes translated "provide"). Popoff purports that the "Golden Tablet" was made by God and intended to create immense wealth for the subscriber. Popoff then insists that the subscriber wear the "Miracle Band" while posting him a check for $28.30 (related to Exodus 28:30 in some way), in order to receive further instructions on how to use the "Golden Tablet".

Popoff's infomercials can be seen late nights and early mornings on the Travel Channel, BET, and Comedy Central.

Financial details on Peter Popoff Ministries

• As of FYE 2004, Peter Popoff received $548,167 as President of his organization.
• 36.7% of the organization's total expenses go towards fundraising and administrative expenses.
• In total the Peter Popoff Ministries raised $16,220,066 in revenue in FYE 2004. See Charity Navigator ^*

References