Mary Neal's Sharebook 

Frederick Eikerenkoetter, better known as Rev. Ike, died Tuesday at 74 in a Los Angeles hospital from complications from a stroke.

The Rev. Frederick Eikerenkoetter, known as Rev. Ike to a legion of followers here and across the nation to whom he preached the blessings of prosperity while making millions from their donations, has died. He was 74.

A family spokesman said he died Tuesday in a Los Angeles hospital, two years after he suffered astroke from which he never recovered.

Rev. Ike's ministry reached its peak in the mid-1970s, when his sermons were carried on 1,770 radio stations to an audience estimated at 2.5 million.

He also preached his philosophy of self-empowerment on television and the Internet, in books and magazines, and on audiotapes and videotapes.

From the stage of the former Loews movie theater on 175th St. In Washington Heights, which he restored and transformed into his United Church Science of Living Institute, Rev. Ike would tell thousands of parishioners "this is the do-it-yourself church. The only savior in this philosophy is God in you."

He then would exhort the believers to "close your eyes and see green ... Money up to your armpits, a roomful of money, and there you are, just tossing around in it like a swimming pool."

Read more: http://www.nydailyn ews.com/news/ us_world/ 2009/07/30/ 2009-07-30_ luxuryloving_ rev_ike_is_ dead.html? print=1&page=all#ixzz0Mk8Qs i0V

**********************************

Rev. Ike had what is known as a "prosperity ministry."  Many preachers include lessons on acquiring abundance in the earthly plane.  Rev. Ike was one of the first and best to carry this message, and he basically taught about little else.  Besides his local congregation, Rev. Ike had a large following via television and radio.  A couple of people I know have one of Rev. Ike's annointed prayer cloths.  He was an icon who will be long remembered.

My condolences to all who loved him.

Mary Neal
http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com/