Not content with previously inviting followers to cure themselves of COVID-19 by touching their television screens, televangelist Kenneth Copeland tried a different tact last week.
In a service delivered to an empty church but streamed online, Copeland, founder of the Texas-based Kenneth Copeland Ministries, summoned the “wind of God” to defeat the pandemic sweeping the world.
Surrounded by just four of his followers, Copeland thundered: “Wind, almighty, strong, south wind, heat: Burn this thing, in the name of Jesus. Satan, you bow your knees. You fall on your face.
“COVID-19,” he says, before blowing at the camera, “I blow the wind of God on you. You are destroyed forever.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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Related: Televangelist Kenneth Copeland is “curing” people of coronavirus through the television
Copeland preaches an evangelical interpretation of the Bible, with his website talking of the “sinful desires” and “unnatural affection” of homosexuality.
A staunch supporter of President Trump, he previously suggested at a church service in mid-March that hatred directed at Trump had opened the door to the pandemic.
“This disease called COVID-19 will be over much sooner than you think,” he claimed. “Christian people all over this country praying have overwhelmed it.
“There’s been some really nasty things that have happened this year—last year and this year—that I’m quite certain—well, I know—opened the door to a lot of this,” Copeland said. “Displays of hate and hatred by politicians toward the president. And hate on both sides. The Democrats hate him, and we have some people that hate them because they hate him.”
Copeland and his wife, Gloria, have served on Trump’s Evangelical advisory board.
Copeland is far from being the only person of faith to offer unorthodox methods of healing. Fellow televangelist Jim Bakker was recently sent a cease and desist letter by authorities after he tried to sell a silver solution online that he claimed could cure the virus.
Related: Antigay preacher sued for selling fake coronavirus cure
Like Copeland, Franklin Graham also suggested to Fox News this weekend that COVID-19 was due to the fact, “Man has turned his back on God, we have sinned against him.”
Meanwhile, in Brazil, the country’s notoriously anti-gay President, Jair Bolsonaro, in response to a request from evangelical Christian, set aside yesterday (Sunday) as a national day of prayer and fasting to “free Brazil from this evil” coronavirus epidemic.
“With the pastors and religious leaders we will call for a day of fasting by Brazilians so that Brazil can free itself from this evil as soon as possible,” he later said on radio station Jovem Pan.
As of yesterday, there have been over 337,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US and 9,643 deaths. Officials, including Trump, have said the next two weeks are likely to see a further increase in deaths. Most states have issued stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of infection.
For the latest advice on COVID-19, check the CDC and WHO websites.
Related: White House streams anti-gay church sermon at service attended by Mike Pence
JessPH
Why do all these religious radicals look scary?! It’s like they are possessed.
masterwill7
Exactly what I wanted to say.. Looks at the picture of this person, he looks possessed with evil himself… Ever seen a sane an healthy normal guy looking like this?? Nope!
Tempus
Um…WITCH! Honestly, on a serious note WTH? I recently saw a preacher on the news denouncing those preachers who said people would be safe attending church because God would protect and/or cure them by stating that God isn’t some genie as well as people are expected to have common sense. I found myself wishing I could attend this man’s church because he seemed actually intelligent. This man sounds more like he’s trying to cast a spell than asking God to destroy the virus.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
“I blow the wind of God on you.”
Anyone wanna lay odds a scandal involving this repugnant reprehensive puddle of puke errupts as he speaks the same line as he kneels before a young boy???
succubus
you two resemble
Woteva
That man giving a blow? Eeeew. Now I’m isolating AND traumatised. Thanks for that.
chase_boston
maybe you can ask him for forgiveness for not posting my comments … I am sure you and him would have great old time in bed.
Heywood Jablowme
“Anti-gay evangelist blows…”
He blows something, I’m sure, but it’s not the “wind of God.”
Mister P
Why didn’t he just stop it before it started.
Invader7
@JessPH . They ARE possessed . And on coke, meth,crack,heroin !!! Just sociopaths-one & all !! Watch this sleazy con artist low life gets LaCorona and DIES !!!
Tombear
I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian home. Meanwhile many of the congregants were bi or gay. I had sex in a fundamentalist church at 16. My personal experience taught me that these fundamentalist are all hypocrites who don’t believe in any type of science a subject this boy is good in. I left the church and obtained a PharmD degree. My parents were so proud of their gay son becoming a Pharmacist and loved my gayness they left the church too? These idiots don’t believe in science! I have become very anti fundamentalist and Evangelical Christian because of my life experiences!
midwest sensible
As my Dad used to say when someone told a big lie, “the wind blew and the shit flew”. Let’s call evangelical churches what they are – Cults! I hope they all congregate, blow the wind on each other, and wait for salvation from the pandemic.
Woteva
Hallelujah!
justgeo
Which ring of Dante’s hell did this asshole emerge from?
woodroad34
I hope a match was lit; ’cause I’m sure that wind was a real stinker.
Thad
Let’s be clear. We’d love it if the wind of God blew away COVID-19. It ain’t gonna happen.
scottjamesmiller
Zephyr Winds Which Blow On High
Lift Me Now So I May Fly!
Isis, Isis, Isis
blackhook
This loon has 200k followers on YouTube …they are all hopelessly stupid, hateful & will fully ignorant. If you wanna see more of this kook, Inside Edition caught up with him as one of his private jets had just parked in his hangar. The guy is certifiably nuts, and so are his idiot $upporters. How can anyone fall for this sh*t???
Woteva
Because God told them all to of course!
ShowMeGuy
So g0d farts can cure the Mexican Beef Flu. Who knew?