Leroy Jenkins (televangelist)

For other people named Leroy Jenkins, see Leroy Jenkins (disambiguation).
Leroy Jenkins
Born (1937-02-19) February 19, 1937
Greenwood, South Carolina, U.S.
Occupation Evangelist, Television personality
Known for Founder of Leroy Jenkins Ministries, Scottsdale, Ariz.
President, Leroy Jenkins Ministries
Title Rev. Leroy Jenkins
Term $50,000 and up ↑ (?)
Religion Pentecostal (Christian)
Spouse(s)
  • Ruby Garrett,[1] married 1953-1975 (divorced)
  • Linda Peck,[1] married 1977-1977 (divorced)
  • Eloise Thomas,[1] married 2001-2001 (annulled)
Children 7 (by Garrett[1])
Parent(s) W.M. Jenkins (mother)
Website http://www.leroyjenkins.com

Leroy Jenkins (born February 19, 1937 in Greenwood, South Carolina) 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 stations across the U.S. and internationally on Christian television networks.

Career

In 1979, Jenkins was convicted in Delaware, Ohio for conspiracy to assault two men and plotting the arson of two homes. Jenkins was sentenced to twelve years in prison for the incident.[2] 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 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.[3] Jenkins was known for his faith healing, through the use of "miracle water". In 2003, while based in Ohio, Jenkins "miracle water" was found to contain coliform bacteria by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Jenkins claimed tests conducted by independent laboratories all 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.[4]

Present ministry

As of March 2011, Jenkins's ministry is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. In 2002, a film was released about his life, entitled The Calling (a.k.a. Man of Faith).

Jenkins has recorded several Gospel albums over the course of his ministry career.

Discography

In film

Family life

Jenkins's mother, Mrs. W. M. Jenkins, was also a well-known evangelist in Florida during the 1960s and 1970s.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "The Rags to Riches Life of Evangelist Leroy Jenkins". The Spartanburg Herald (Vol. 107 - No. 79). Spartanburg, SC: Fred D Moffitt. 20 April 1979. p. B6. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Leroy Jenkins Convicted". The Times-News. Henderson, NC: George R. Fain. 23 May 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Judge Annuls Pastor's attempt to marry lottery jackpot winner, National Enquirer (www.Enquirer.com) article, March 8, 2001.
  4. ↑ "Evangelist Fined $200". Associated Press. July 29, 2003. Archived from the original on 2011-02-20.
  5. ↑ Saints, Clergy and Other Religious Figures on Film and Television, 1895-2003 By Ann C. Paietta Page 25 Canción * 119
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