Live Prayer: Difference between revisions
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Live Prayer has been embroiled in controversy many times. Keller claims to deliver the truth of the Bible without modification even when people may be offended. |
Live Prayer has been embroiled in controversy many times. Keller claims to deliver the truth of the Bible without modification even when people may be offended. |
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==="Prophecy" that John Kerry would become president in 2004=== |
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On March 8, 2004, Keller "prophesied" that George W. Bush would not be re-elected president due to his perceived lack of support for the State of [[Israel]], among other issues<ref name="falseprophet">Live Prayer Daily Devotional for March 8, 2004. [http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=1739 "A Special Word in Regard to the 2004 United States Presidential Race"]</ref>. Keller erroneously predicted the election of [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] contender [[John Kerry]]<ref name="falseprophet" />. Keller reiterated his statements on March 10, denying allegations that he was working for Kerry and discouraging [[Republican Party (United States)| Republican]]s from voting<ref name="falseprophet2">Live Prayer Daily Devotional for March 10, 2004. [http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=1741 "Presidential Prophecy Follow-up - Part I"]</ref>. Additionally, Bill Keller wrote that he was willing to be stoned to death should his prediction prove incorrect<ref name="falseprophet2" />. Finally, on November 4, Bill Keller admitted his mistake while continuing his assertion that he was willing to be stoned to death<ref>Live Prayer Daily Devotional for November 4, 2004. [http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=1981 "The Past 14 Years"]</ref>. |
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===Criticism of Mitt Romney=== |
===Criticism of Mitt Romney=== |
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Revision as of 04:52, 24 December 2008
| Live Prayer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Religious broadcasting |
| Starring | Bill Keller |
| Theme music composer | JAVEN[1] |
| Opening theme | "Hope for You"[1] |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | over 1175[2] |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Bill Keller[1] |
| Producer | Rich Nation[1] |
| Camera setup | Steven Campbell[1] |
| Running time | 30 minutes (WXPX) 1 hour (all others) |
| Original release | |
| Network | WTOG 44 (2003-2007) ION Television (2006; nationally) WTTA 38 (2007) WXPX 66 (2007) Internet only (2008) |
| Release | March 3, 2003 – Present |
Live Prayer is a Christian evangelical Internet and television ministry located in Tampa, Florida and run by Bill Keller.
The ministry began as a website in 1999,[3] later expanding into a daily TV show on March 3, 2003[4]. To date, more than 1,175 episodes of the program have aired.[2]
Live Prayer was broadcast nationally in the United States from July 3, 2006[4] through November 2006 on ION Television [5][6]. At the end of that period, the ministry was financially unable to continue purchasing time.
After moving across numerous several local networks (such as WTOG, WTTA, WXPX) and time slots while being simulcast on LivePrayer.com, the live call-in television show moved to being streamed live exclusively over the Internet at LivePrayer.com.
Live Prayer receives an average of over forty thousand prayer requests by e-mail each day.[7] A group of more than 700 retired pastors read messages, pray over the requests, and write personalized replies. [6][3][8][5] To date Live Prayer has responded to over 60,000,000 prayer requests. [9][7][10] Live Prayer also maintains an archive of over three million praise reports from viewers.[2]
Television shows
Late night show
The Live Prayer television program began as a late-night show on WTOG where Bill Keller would discuss current events from a biblical perspective and take phone calls. The show began on March 3d, 2003 and was seen nationwide on ION Television in 2006. On August 31, 2007, after 1,175[2] episodes and nearly 5 years, Live Prayer was pulled from WTOG due to complaints from the Council on American-Islamic Relations[11][12][13][14][15][16]; however, a new show "Live Prayer AM" began on September 3, 2007 on WTTA.[17][18][19]
Each show began with Keller discussing a topic (except for Friday when viewers bring up their own topics). After ten to twenty minutes, Keller opened the phone line and accepts calls from people who either want to discuss the topic of the show, make a praise report, or request prayer.
Keller encouraged people who hold opposing viewpoints (including atheists, evolutionists, Wiccans, Muslims, Mormons, and homosexuals) to call the show and debate him.
Live Prayer AM
Live Prayer AM began on September 3, 2007 and aired each weekday morning from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (Eastern time) on WTTA, Tampa Bay's local MyNetworkTV affiliate. In early November 2007, because WTTA suddenly changed its policy regarding live call-in shows, the show moved to local ION station WXPX; while still seen at 7:30 a.m. the show was trimmed to a half-hour. [20]
The format of Live Prayer AM is a bit different from the original late-night show and features more guests as well as on-site interviews with staff from attractions in Florida.
However, like the old late-night show, Live Prayer AM still starts with Bill Keller's monologue about current events and their relation to the Bible, continues with viewer call-ins, and ends with Bill asking his viewers to accept Jesus Christ.
On November 19, 2007, Keller announced that he will be suspending his television program after the telecast on Friday, November 23, after officials from ION told Keller that it will no longer carry live programming. Keller has plans to revive the show on his website as an Internet-only live call-in broadcast in January 2008.[20]
Crank calls
Like any live television program, Live Prayer is attacked by crank callers. The show has an 7 second delay to stop those who use profanity from getting on the air, but occasionally non-profane prank calls make it through onto the airwaves.[21]
Keller lightheartedly says that those who intend to make crank calls must watch the show, and hear the word of God, often without getting through.
Website
Daily devotional
In August 1999, Keller began writing the Live Prayer Daily Devotional which he has continued to write everyday since. The devotional is now emailed to over 2,400,000 people around the world.[4] The Live Prayer Daily Devotional is also available on the website, in both written and audio form, as well as for cellphone users via WAP and in audio form over the phone.
Internet simulcast & show archive
The Live Prayer television program is also broadcast live on the website. When the television program is not live, a feed from a webcam showing the Live Prayer office is shown instead. The website also has an archive of the past 5 Live Prayer episodes.
Internet show
Bill Keller recently announced that Live Prayer will become a two-hour long daily Internet call-in program beginning on January 7, 2008.[22]
Budget & donations
Keller makes a point about never asking for donations on the TV show, although there is a donation page on the website. He frequently accuses others in the Christian television world of "preaching to the choir" and "building bigger buildings instead of winning the lost for Christ". He purposely shows Live Prayer only on secular television channels to reach non-Christian audiences.
The ministry operates on a budget of approximately US$80,000 a month, although this was much higher when Live Prayer was on national television in 2006. The budget pays for the salaries of the Live Prayer staff, the air time on WTOG (which is by far the largest item), and the hosting & maintenance of the Live Prayer website.
Live Prayer pays Keller a salary of about $50,000 annually[23][6], which he says is substantially less than other televangelists who he accuses of wasting money buying private jets & building bigger buildings.[24]
Although the television show is taped at a studio owned by WTOG, Keller does his writing and manages the ministry from a small but busy office on the property of Ace Motors, a used car lot owned by one of Live Prayer's board members.[25][26][27] The suits Bill Keller wears on the air are donated by Perfect Match Clothiers.[1]
Keller has also vigorously criticized Prosperity theology preached by certain televangelists for treating God as some sort of "divine genie" who grants wishes of earthly wealth[citation needed].
History
In August 1999 Bill Keller started writing the Live Prayer daily devotional and started the Live Prayer television program in March 2003. Live Prayer has been growing quickly since and first appeared on national TV in July 2006.[4]
Howard Stern appearance
Keller has been on The Howard Stern Show three times. He first appeared on March 1, 2007, for a short appearance where he discussed his history and beliefs. He appeared twice more for two one-hour Live Prayer specials on Howard 101 on March 26, 2007, and April 1, 2007. While on the show he counseled wack packers (including "Jeff the drunk" for whom Bill Keller offered to find work as a carpenter's apprentice [28][29][30]), preached the gospel, and took live phone calls. [31][32] On his last appearance he challenged Rosie O'Donnell to defend her anti-Christian views, specifically her statement that "fundamentalist Christianity is no different from radical Islam".[33] Howard Stern offered to host a debate between the two; however O'Donnell has not replied to his challenge.
On August 6, 2007, Bill Keller announced he had reached an agreement with Howard Stern to do a monthly Live Prayer special on Howard 101.[34][35]
Controversy
Live Prayer has been embroiled in controversy many times. Keller claims to deliver the truth of the Bible without modification even when people may be offended.
Criticism of Mitt Romney
On May 11, 2007, Keller wrote that "a vote for Romney is a vote for Satan" in his daily devotional because Mitt Romney is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an organization that he considers to be a cult. [36][37][38] Keller repeated this statement on the Live Prayer television program,[39] which was later included in the documentary film Article VI: Faith. Politics. America. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State later wrote a letter to the Internal Revenue Service asking them to revoke Live Prayer's tax exempt status due to Bill Keller's allegedly political statements. Bill Keller later clarified his statements saying he was spreaking on a spiritual topic, not a political one.[40][41][42][43][44]
Later, on June 21, 2007, Keller appeared on the show in a Mormon temple garment, which he characterized as "magical underwear". He challenged Romney to make public his own Mormon temple garment.[45]
Finally, on June 28, 2007, Keller invited evangelist Ed Decker — an opponent of the LDS church and a former Mormon priest[46] — to discuss Mormonism, Freemasonry, and an alleged relationship between the two groups.[47]
Message to Osama bin Laden
On September 17, 2007, Keller released a 10-minute video message, in which he asked Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to repent of his sins & accept Jesus Christ; he also urged other Muslims to do the same. The video was released not only on Keller's own website, but also various other websites as well. Keller opted to deliver his message on video, as this was the way bin Laden delivered his messages. [48][49][50][51]
Criticism of Oprah Winfrey
Keller frequently criticizes talk-show host and media personality Oprah Winfrey for promoting new age spiritual products such as The Secret and A Course in Miracles.[52]
Beliefs
Keller and the other members of his ministry preach that the original Bible manuscripts are inerrant, that Jesus Christ was the son of God born of the virgin Mary, that humans are born with sin, and that salvation can only be attained through faith in Jesus Christ. [53] Keller also contends that Biblical law has been done away with and that contemporary Jews constitute the Israelites of the Old Testament.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Live Prayer credits
- ^ a b c d Live Prayer Daily Devotional for August 31st, 2007
- ^ a b The Christian Post - LivePrayer.com Responds to 60 Million Prayers,
- ^ a b c d Liberty University News: A Prodigal Son Turns Preacher
- ^ a b WorldNetDaily - 'Dr. Phil' of prayer to hit national TV
- ^ a b c USA Religious News - "LivePrayer with Bill Keller" Going National
- ^ a b MichNews.com - Prayer Times 60 Million? You Do the Math!
- ^ Charisma Magazine - Evangelist Wins Souls Online
- ^ USA Religious News - Liveprayer.com, Hits Seven Year Milestone and 60 Million Prayer Mark!
- ^ Christian News Wire - Nationally Syndicated Late-Night Talk Show 'Live Prayer with Bill Keller' Launches Live Tonight on the I-Network
- ^ Tampa Bay's 10 - Televangelist loses TV show; Accessed 9-20-2007.
- ^ First Coast News - St. Petersburg Televangelist Loses Show After Muslims Complain; Accessed 9-20-2007.
- ^ B-92 News - Muslims claim televangelist ouster victory; Accessed 9-20-2007
- ^ Associated Press - Televangelist Critical of Islam Dumped (August 24, 2007); Accessed 9-20-2007.
- ^ KansasCity.com - TV station yanks program by televangelist who condemns other religions; Accessed 9-20-2007.
- ^ Belfast Telegraph - American televangelist axed after anti-Muslim outburst (August 25, 2007); Accessed 9-20-2007.
- ^ Live Prayer Daily Devotional for August 28th, 2007
- ^ WorldNetDaily - Christian TV show out, Muslim pressure group blamed
- ^ St. Petersburg Times - TV station pulls plug on Keller
- ^ a b St. Petersburg Times 11/20/2007: "Dateline Florida: Televangelist's final broadcast will be Friday"
- ^ "Obviously, we get a percentage of "crank calls" which is why we have a 7 second delay." Live Prayer Daily Devotional for March 10th 2006
- ^ Live Prayer episode for November 23, 2007
- ^ Miami Herald - TV preacher aims at the multitudes
- ^ "The easy route of course is to simply do what everyone else does and take so much time every program to beg people to give. However, that defeats the whole purpose of what we are trying to accomplish. If I was going to do that, I would simply go on the Christian networks and become part of the "preach to the choir" culture, build a big glass building, buy a Malibu mansion, and fly around in a private jet. However, that is not what Liveprayer or Bill Keller is about." Live Prayer Daily Devotional for October 9, 2006
- ^ Creative Loafing - God's Man For the Internet Age
- ^ SP Times - A televangelist's leap of faith
- ^ Video of the Live Prayer office
- ^ Signs of the Witness - Definitely a Sign of SOMETHING When Howard Stern Has an Hour of Christian Prayer on His Show
- ^ Live Prayer Daily Devotional for March 29th, 2007 "Into the lion's den"
- ^ Live Prayer Daily Devotional for March 30h, 2007 "Into the Lion's Den"
- ^ LivePrayer.com - Archive of Howard Stern appearances
- ^ The Christian Post - Howard Stern Invites 'Live Prayer' to His Studio
- ^ The Christian Post - Rosie Challenged to Defend Her 'Anti-Christian Hate Speech' on Howard Stern Show
- ^ Live Prayer episode for August 6, 2007 "Pressing forward to reach the lost and hurting"; Accessed 08-08-2007
- ^ Live Prayer Daily Devotional for August 7, 2007
- ^ WorldNetDaily - 'Vote for Romney is vote for Satan'
- ^ The Boston Globe - Evangelist in hot water over Romney remark
- ^ The Washington Post - Separation of Church and State and Tax Exemptions
- ^ Live Prayer episode for May 11, 2007 "A vote for Romney is a vote for Satan."
- ^ Live Prayer episode for June 1, 2007 "Barry Lynn"
- ^ Televangelist Bill Keller calls Mormonism and Islam "False Religions"
- ^ WorldNetDaily - Activist's church mixes politics, religion but sics IRS on Bill Keller, leading Internet evangelist
- ^ Bill Keller's appearance on the O'Rielly Factor
- ^ WorldNetDaily - Group sics IRS on Mormon critic
- ^ Live Prayer episode for June 21, 2007 "Mitt Romney, show me your underwear"
- ^ http://www.saintsalive.com/who.html
- ^ Live Prayer episode for June 28th 2007 "Mormonism and Freemasonry (with guest Ed Decker)"
- ^ St. Petersburg Times, September 18, 2007, page 1B
- ^ ABC Action News (WFTS) - Televangelist Bill Keller suggests Osama bin Laden convert to Christianity
- ^ WorldNetDaily - Switcheroo: American minister sends video to Osama
- ^ Local6.com (WKMG-TV) - Televangelist Urges Osama bin Laden To Become Christian
- ^ Internet Evangelist Believes Oprah Winfrey Is Starting Her Own Cult | AHN | May 31, 2008
- ^ Live Prayer Statement of Faith