Reverend Ike, also known as Rev. Ike, was a renowned American minister and evangelist who dedicated his ministry to the principles of material satisfaction and self-motivated prosperity. But have you ever wondered how much he was worth at the time of his death? Let’s delve into the life and legacy of this remarkable individual.
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Biography
Born on June 1, 1935, in Ridgeland, South Carolina, USA, as Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, Reverend Ike was the son of a Baptist preacher and a black American school teacher. He received a clear calling to the ministry at the tender age of 7 and served as an assistant pastor in his father’s church at just 14 years old.
After graduating as the valedictorian of his class at the Pentecostal American Bible College in Chicago, Frederick founded the United Church of Jesus Christ for All People in Beaufort, South Carolina. He later moved to Boston in 1964 and established the Miracle Temple. In 1966, Reverend Ike relocated to New York City, where he founded the Christ Community United Church.
In his pursuit of spreading his message, Reverend Ike purchased the Loew’s 175th Street Theatre movie palace in the Washington Heights neighborhood for over $500,000 in 1969, eventually renaming it the “Palace Cathedral.” This grand gesture symbolized his commitment to prosperity and faith.
Spreading the Word
Reverend Ike was a pioneer in reaching a vast audience through television in the 1970s, with his sermons captivating over 2.5 million people. He fervently advocated that both material and spiritual abundance were God’s intentions for each individual. And he had some catchy phrases to emphasize his teachings:
“It is not the love of money that is the root of all evil, it’s the lack of money.”
“Never say money is hard to get. Money will hear you, and that’s just what she’ll be.”
“Money is always obeying your thought about it, your feeling about it, your belief about it.”
To further spread his message, Reverend Ike also founded a magazine called “Action!” that reached a readership of over a million people.
Family and Legacy
In 1964, Reverend Ike married Eula Mae Dent, whom he met at the Miracle Temple in Boston. Their son, Xavier Eikerenkoetter, went on to found the United Palace of Cultural Arts. Xavier followed in his father’s footsteps as the Spiritual Director of the United Palace House of Inspiration, a spiritual sanctuary established by Reverend Ike.
Sadly, Reverend Ike passed away on July 28, 2009, in Los Angeles due to complications from a stroke. He left behind a legacy of inspiring countless individuals to embrace the goodness of life and reject a mindset fixated on the afterlife. As he once famously said:
“If you want to experience the goodness of life, you must believe in the nowness of life, you must get rid of that pie-in-the-sky by and by when you die attitude.”
Reverend Ike – Net Worth
Reverend Ike accumulated his wealth primarily through his radio and television sermons, which resonated with a wide audience. Additionally, he sold audio cassettes and books that delved into various topics, including visualization, prosperity, and personal growth. Some of his notable works include “Your Power of Visualization,” “Money-Making Miracle-Working Idea,” “How to Stop Hurting and Being Hurt,” and “The Secret of Good Luck.”
At the time of his passing, Reverend Ike had an estimated net worth of $6 million. He once remarked, “It is no secret that I am well-paid,” expressing his belief that his significant remuneration was well-deserved due to the immense good he was bringing into the world.
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Remember Reverend Ike’s teachings: “There is no honor in poverty! There is no style in poverty! Poverty doesn’t have any class!” Keep striving for abundance, both in material wealth and spiritual fulfillment.
