Mike Murdock
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Mike Murdock | |
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| Born | Michael Dean Murdock April 18, 1946 Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | evangelist, pastor, author |
| Years active | 1965-present |
| Website | Official Website |
Michael Dean Murdock (born April 18, 1946 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States) is a televangelist and pastor of the Wisdom Center ministry based in Fort Worth, Texas. His father, J.E. Murdock, is also a pastor. Murdock was educated in LaGrange High School in Lake Charles, and in Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie for three semesters. He received an honorary doctorate from International Seminary in Florida which is not accredited. Mentored under Jimmy Swaggart, Murdock preaches around the world and is best known for his promotion of prosperity theology. He often preaches with Benny Hinn and has also preached with Tammy Faye Bakker. Additionally, he hosts the Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock television program.
Preaching style
Mike Murdock preached his first public sermon at the age of eight and began full-time evangelism at the age of 19. Murdock receives hundreds of invitations to speak in churches, colleges, and business corporations. He has appeared on TBN, CBN, BET, INSP, WORD, Daystar and other television networks, and his weekly television program, Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock. Murdock is a Founding Trustee on the Board of International Charismatic Ministries along with the late Dr. Oral Roberts.
Controversy
On January 28, 2011, Trey Smith, a student of Mike Murdock's, released a book entitled "Thieves", in which he claims to expose a dark side to Murdock's ministry. Smith's claim is that he was a childhood friend of Murdock's son Jason and saw Murdock's secured mansion estate many times from the inside. Among other claims, Smith alleges that Mike Murdock concealed pornography and items of extreme value in a personal closet. Smith claims to have stolen a safe from that closet in March of 1999. Murdock reported his losses to police to be $125,000.00, but gave conflictingly higher amounts (claims from hundreds of thousands to millions) to supporters for presumed fundraising purposes. Mike Murdock initially listed his own son, Jason Murdock (who also commonly goes by the name Jay Sustain), as the primary suspect of the burglary. However, the Denton County Sheriffs Department ultimately dropped the safe robbery / burglary investigation citing that Murdock would not cooperate with detectives after a white powder was discovered in Murdock's personal closet. Murdock's attorney later stated that police investigators had planted the white powder. It was during this time that Trey Smith claims to have been on the run from the TV minister in Mexico and a variety of other places, which is the primary focus of Smith's book. In detail Smith describes the allegedly callous response that Mike Murdock had for people who came to him for help during the years leading to the safe robbery. Additionally, Smith claims that Mike Murdock only had six dollars in his safe and a concerning note that Smith felt was intended for his son, Jason Murdock. Trey Smith has appeared on "Bob Enyart Live" as well as a variety of other news / talk shows to discuss the police report, his experiences, his allegations of Mike Murdock's excessive lifestyle, sexual affairs and the details of the Mike Murdock safe robbery, commonly called the, "TV Pastor Safe Robbery."
In 2003, Mike Murdock was the subject of a series of articles in the Fort Worth Star Telegram about the questionable use of money from Murdock's ministry.[1]
Written works
Mike Murdock is the author of several books, including The Leadership Secrets of Jesus, Secrets of the Richest Man Who Ever Lived, "The Uncommon Leader," and The Law of Recognition.
References
- ^ Barbee, Darren (3/02/2003). "PROFIT in the pulpit". Reprinted by The Trinity Foundation. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
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