Prescriptions for digitalis, nitroglycerine tablets, oral diabetes medication, and many unidentified pills were discarded by people who might have needed such substances to stay alive. Dozens of people have come forward and tossed their medicine bottles onto the platform.
Popoff's effect on his followers is so great that on several occasions he has asked his audience to "break free of the Devil" by throwing their medications up onto the stage. Popoff is seen nationwide on 51 television outlets and heard on 40 radio stations, and has an average monthly budget of $550,000, according to his business manager. These slick mail campaigns have paid off. "Peter wrote to me", replied the man, "and wanted me to come here today for a special message God has for me." He was blissfully unaware that thousands of persons in the Bay area received identical letters - identical, that is, except for the personalized effect generated by Popoff's computer.
A man preparing to enter the Popoff crusade in San Francisco in February was approached by a TV interviewer, "Why are you coming to see Reverend Popoff?" he was asked. Sometimes the letters start off typed, and in an ensuing page turn into what appears to be a handwritten request for money from Reverend Popoff himself. Each is personalized by the computer, which drops the recipient's first name into the text occasionally after the salutation "Brother". Special envelopes and endless appeals for the emergency needs of his ministry arrive every week. Those on Popoff's mailing list have received Russian currency, handkerchiefs, and red felt hearts to be carried or worn, then each to be sent back with a check attached. He actually knew my address and had no notes to look at! he is real, all right!"Įvangelist/healer Peter Popoff has headquarters in Upland, California, whence he sends out slick fund-raising literature that is generated and printed by computer to appear as if it were personally typed and signed. One woman who was "healed" at one of the meetings and later interviewed by CSER stated: " know he is real from the way he talked. The subjects picked are so overwhelmed that they often break into tears. Those in the audience are so impressed by Popoff's "Gift of Knowledge" that they break into applause. The impression given at such services is that the information comes directly from God indeed, a magazine distributed by Popoff's organization described an audience member being "called out by the Spirit for healing".
Peter Popoff, like many faith healers, calls out the names, illnesses, and sometimes addresses of people at his crusades, then "lays hands" on them and prays for their healing. Jason was giving the thumbs-up sign to Steiner as they began a number of surreptitious recordings designed to expose how Reverend Peter Popoff was able to "divinely" recite personal details about audience members and their afflictions during his popular faith-healing services. It consisted of Alec Jason, an electronics expert, and his assistant Bob Steiner. This secret team of two was located in a hidden section of the auditorium complex. Can you hear me? If you can't you're in trouble, 'cause I'm talking as well as I can! (Her voice suddenly becomes businesslike.) I'm looking up names right now. The team heard (and captured on tape) an affectionate feminine voice from above: Hello, Petey. The first words were captured by a secret team of researchers as the Reverend Peter Popoff of Upland, California, stepped onto a stage at San Francisco's Civic Auditorium, where he was about to start a faith healing service that would be videotaped for his weekly national broadcast.
It happens that a group of researchers, sponsored by the Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion (CSER), a new offshoot of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) lead by special investigator and magician James Randi, has managed to actually capture on tape some of those "divine" conversations between God and well-known television evangelist and faith healer Reverend Peter Popoff! Wouldn't it be interesting just once to tap into those private and personal conversations? įor centuries, religious people have claimed that they have engaged in direct communications with God. The incredible story From Science and the Paranormal magazine, 1987. Why do many Pentecostals think he is saved and that the Holy Spirit is performing miracles through him? See actual video of Popoff in the act of fraud! Science and the Paranormal magazine, 1987 "And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned and in their greed they will exploit you with false words their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." 2 Peter 2:2