That’s Some Mighty Powerful Soap There, Kerney
On Sunday, my massive disdain for televangelists reached a boiling point after Adam Gillette shared stories with me about a TV preacher he once saw named Kerney Thomas. Adam proceeded to tell me that Kerney advertises an olive oil soap that will not only cleanse your skin, but will provide blessings of all sorts — financial gain, healing to whatever part of the body you apply it to (I leave this up to the imagination), you name it. You will be blessed with this soap, says the Kerney. Apparently Adam has seen this “great prophet of God” on TV before and laughed himself silly as he saw Kerney pray for someone who called into his show, then go right on to prescribe the soap for “a nominal fee” to “continue his healing.” I laughed in disbelief as I heard tales of Kerney Thomas holding crusades where he promoted prayer cloths, soap, and trinkets containing “God’s anointing” to no end. I thought it was unreal and vowed to prove Adam Gillette wrong. Of course, Adam didn’t know his name at the time, so searching for him on the Internet was going to prove a bit tough.
But I couldn’t. It sounded absurd enough, but after I performed some extensive research on the Internet, I have found everything Adam said about Kerney Thomas to be true. After searching for “black televangelist soap” in Wikipedia, it came up with a result entitled “Thomas Kerney.” I clicked on it, and read up about him and it described exactly what Adam had described. Read it for yourself, it’s great and horrifying at the same time:
Kerney Thomas is most famous for his early morning appearances on Black Entertainment Television (BET). He makes regular appearances on the Word Network with other televangelists such as Peter Popoff and Robert Tilton. Thomas also hosts a radio show that airs weekdays on Houston’s KWWJ 1630AM. He leads a very controversial broadcast in Christian circles, as most of his teachings are considered false. For example, Thomas advocates the use of a “prayer handkerchief” and “olive oil soap” as a guaranteed way to make a miracle manifest in someone’s life. In fact, he claims that bathing in the “olive oil soap” can cure people of AIDS, cancer, and common aches and pains.
This is hilarious, but sad at the same time. Since when do we have to trust in man-made items to have the power of the Lord in them, when the Bible tells us to trust God alone for our healing??? Read on:
He also causes controversy by proclaiming himself to be a prophet of God and encouraging viewers of his broadcasts to send him money in exchange for miracles from God. He claims that the more money is sent to his ministry, the greater than person will be blessed. In fact, he encourages viewers to come to him first before their church pastor because “In the Old Testament they (Israelites) didn’t go to the pastor; they came to the prophet.”
This makes me want to sucker punch Kerney Thomas in the face. Not only is it the “give to get” “word-of-faith” doctrine rearing its ugly head again, but it’s some wacko requesting money for personal gain. But that’s not all.
A clip on Youtube shows him taking a call from someone, speaking in tongues when praying for him, and telling the caller he prayed for him but never names his specific problem or never says his name. Funny thing about this is that he has a treasure chest that holds pieces of paper he claims are the prayer requests he prays over every day. It doesn’t show it, but normally what would happen after the post-prayer dialogue is Kerney convincing the caller to either “sow a seed” and donate to his “ministry,” or buy an “anointed prayer cloth” or “anointed olive oil soap.” He’ll go on, like the Wikipedia article states, to tell them that the more they donate, the more they will be blessed. If that doesn’t make me mad I don’t know what does.
Apparently there are many people who believe they have been healed by Kerney Thomas and his shenanigans. Take a look at some of their testimonials on his website (it even has a video at the home page in which people read off a card or prompter). Outlandish testimonies of healings, financial prosperity, etc. all because of the anointed olive oil soap. Horrible.
To wrap this up, yes, Kerney Thomas is only hilarious just because of his outlandish methods, but in the grand scheme of things he does what about 99.999999999999% of televangelists exist to do. Provide false teaching, swindle you out of your money, and make a laughingstock out of Christianity. It’s terribly sad.
22 Comments, Comment or Ping
donna daniels
Thanks Chris,
I needed a laugh this morning!!
I don’t remember anywhere in the bible where Jesus said “Now if you send $$$$$ to my ministry, you may touch the hem of my garment and you can be healed.
Sep 5th, 2006
Paully
The sad thing is, there are some people who are writing out a check to this snake-oil salesman to get their healing. PT Barnum was right, “there is a sucker born every minute”
Sep 5th, 2006
Aftan
I just think it is sad that some people are so desperate to believe in something that people like this guy can be successful.
Sep 5th, 2006
John
I use “Lava Soap” & have Divine Healing w/o using my $ for this guys soap. I get my soap @ Wal-Mart, it is in the automotive section under cleaners.
Lost a lot of skin w/ this soap but, I am still healthy & wealthy.
I put my $ on top of my TV & it increases right there! REALLY, it does! Would I lie to you?
If, you send me your $, I will put it on top of my TV & you will be healthy &…………. lighter in the wallet. True true.
Sep 6th, 2006
Chris
Hey Jofn, when I see you tonight, you give me that soap and I will give you $10.
Sep 6th, 2006
Kirk Rising
God bless you Chris. This is Kirk the State Youth Director of NC. I happened upon you site through Jude2. I would like to feature you on striketheground.com if that is ok. Your work is growing and maturing. You look great on the broadcast. I would like to use your news footage and if you could write me somthing about yourself for the website it would be great. Maybe sometime, you can help me with some of the things I am involved in. God bless you and keep you. Check out our site and blog if you get a chance. Take care and let me know as soon as possible about the article and the footage.
Making Heaven My Home,
Kirk
Sep 6th, 2006
Chris
Hey Kirk!!! Good to hear from you again. I’d be honored to be featured on Strike The Ground…where is a good email address that I can send all the information that you need? Shoot me an email at chris @ firestormlive . net (remove the spaces of course) and let me know.
Thanks for taking the time to look at the stories I’ve put up there, and thanks for the props and encouragement. I’d love to give you a hand with what you need sometime, just let me know…I’ve started working with the Mac over the past six months and have learned a lot in Final Cut Pro and LiveType. I like the site, I visit there often and I thought STG.tv was pretty cool. God bless you Kirk and hope to hear from you soon,
Chris
Sep 6th, 2006
YellowRose
I like olive oil to cook with!
What a loser…I can’t stand TV evangelists! It’s amazing that there are people out there so gullible. But then again look at the mess in the splinters of our churches, and then I see there are people very gullible.
Sep 6th, 2006
Chris
Good point, YR. I don’t know who to fault more, the gullible public or the televangelist scum.
Sep 6th, 2006
Adam
So indeed part of the credit does go to Jimmy Kimmel, for it was his show where i first stumbled upon the great Kerney Thomas. Indeed, some good things DO happen after midnight.
Sep 9th, 2006
Chris
Watched some Kerney this morning and he had some kid call in and tell of how his right leg was healed after it was injured in sports. The rest of what the kid said was unintelligible, I think it was him thanking Jesus.
Kerney let out a big “OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” shout three times during the call. It was…interesting.
Sep 19th, 2006
Bob Bowman
Your a disgrace to Christians and should be ashamed of yourself.
Sep 2nd, 2007
Chris
And why could that be?
Because I’m trying my hardest to expose the public to charlatans and liars that make a mockery out of Christianity?
If Kerney Thomas is what a Christian is then I am proud to be the disgrace that you called me.
God bless you.
P.S. You’re a disgrace to everyone that has learned to use proper punctuation in their contractions.
Sep 2nd, 2007
MikeG
I like Kerney,Its amazing how he can sit there with a straight face and do his act. The best part is he gets most black old woman to get money from. I would like to know if anyone has left him in there will. People sometimes leave large amounts of money to people like this. One woman left almost a million dollars to a con that worked her for years. Last night Kerney received a call from a woman who was a old client of his. She swears he has helped her before and she is back for more. Some people must really be lomely.
Sep 3rd, 2007
Brother Merchant
Indeed it is sad to even watch that swindler pimped and con people out of money. This is the 3rd website i’ve seen exposing Thomas and his gimmick teaching. I thought I was the only one who saw this guy at 4:00 am on BET. What this false prophet is doing is using the name of Jesus and flase toungues to get money. He is trying to reduce the body of Christ to objects (prayer cloths, soap..ect). If you want to know about Jesus just read the bible…and then have a laugh by watching his comedy show. This Kerney Thomas cat could have been on Chappelle Show…lol
Sep 5th, 2007
Brother Merchant
Correction: he is using FALSE TOUNGUES and Pimping poor people.
Sep 5th, 2007
Brother Merchant
Also…remember Prayer is free..and so is Jesus!!!
Sep 5th, 2007
sharon
If his soap even cleans his rump properly …that would be a miwacul!!
Jul 16th, 2008
r.c.
Personally I agree with Brother Merchant in that God is free and prayer is free. If people would take the time to sit and read the Bible they would understand that they can go to Christ in prayer themselves for healing, deliverance, financial breakthrough, etc. I don’t believe all TV Evangelist are fake, but if people would get into the Word first they would be able to see the difference. But in His word He says that things done in the dark will be brought into the light. So all these false prophets, people making a mockery of God, and people scamming other people and think they are getting away with it will soon be fully exposed and not only have to deal with the people of the land but still have to stand before God. So anyone who isn’t familar with the Word of God you don’t have to pay for prayer just take time and find some quiet time and get on your knees and talk to God yourself. If you want someone to pray with find a true christian or if you want call me and i will pray with you myself.
okay that’s all i have to say thanks for allowing me to leave a reply.
Nov 14th, 2008
guy
he actually does not charge for the red n\blood of jesus prayer hancherchief; but he does speak in tongues with no interpretation.
Nov 21st, 2008
Bus Plunge
http://bus-plunge.blogspot.com/search?q=holy+handkerchief
Nov 21st, 2008
tellthetruth
I got a red “praykerchief” and wiped my hind end with it and sent it back to him. He is a peice of crap and should be stoned to death. God have mercy on his soul for mocking religion. And someone please tell him he can just say “God” and now GAAAAAAAAAWWWWD.
Dec 14th, 2008
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