Peter Popoff - Resurgence

Resurgence

In 1998 The Washington Post reported that Popoff was making a recovery, and that "Popoff is seeking to jump-start his ministry by repackaging himself for an African American audience, buying time on the Black Entertainment Television network". Consequently, Popoff, along with Don Stewart and Robert Tilton, received "criticism from those who say that preachers with a long trail of disillusioned followers have no place on a network that holds itself out as a model of entrepreneurship for the black community." Popoff's infomercials can be seen late nights and early mornings in the US and Canada on BET, Discovery Networks, The Travel Channel, The Learning Channel (TLC), Global Television, TV One, The Word Network and Vision TV. This includes television in Australia on Nine, in the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

In February 2007, Inside Edition broadcast a feature on Popoff's continued faith healing and Miracle Spring Water. The show claimed that Popoff's new television programs feature him "healing the sick" in a manner identical to his method prior to James Randi's exposé. The investigation, led by Matt Meagher, featured clips from The Tonight Show episode, an interview with Randi, and Inside Edition seeking comment from Popoff. Meagher confronted Popoff as he got into his car, but his microphone was accidentally damaged as Popoff attempted to shut the door of the car. Asking Popoff why he took thousands of dollars from a desperate married couple, Popoff refused to answer questions and declined to be interviewed. The interview ended with Randi saying "flim flam is his profession; that's what he does best. He's very good at it, and naturally he's going to go back to it."

In May 2007, ABC's 20/20 focused on Popoff's comeback and explored the lives of a few people who felt cheated. Various media outlets have run stories critical of Popoff's comeback. In July 2008, a Nanaimo, British Columbia resident was reimbursed by Popoff after the woman took her concerns over his fundraising public.

In 2008, the UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom gave serious warnings to broadcasters for transmitting Popoff's material, which the regulator felt promoted his products "in such a way as to target potential susceptible and vulnerable viewers". These programs included offers of free Miracle Manna that allegedly provide health and financial miracles. If viewers asked for the so-called manna, they were subsequently sent letters asking for money.

In 2009, advertisements appeared in the UK press offering a free cross which contained "blessed water" and "holy sand". The blessed water was supposedly from a source near Chernobyl (the site of a nuclear accident). Animals drinking from this source were purportedly free from any radiation sickness. The cross also bore the inscription 'Jerusalem'. Requests for donations accompanied the cross and follow-up requests for money from Popoff were also sent out. However, when Senator Grassley from Iowa singled out 6 US televangelists for investigation regarding mishandling of finances in the same year, Popoff's ministry was not included.

Popoff was designated by the James Randi Educational Foundation, (JREF) to be one of the recipients of the 2011 Pigasus Award, which exposes fraud, along with Mehmet Oz (from The Dr. Oz Show) and CVS Pharmacy. “Debt cancellation is part of God’s plan,” according to Popoff. Popoff teaches that God will respond to prayer and seed-faith by providing financial blessing. Credit.com wrote a blog concerning Popoff's claims.

Popoff's longtime right-hand man Reeford Sherrell, now calling himself Pastor Lee Sherrell, has also begun a televised Texas-based ministry. Like Popoff, he uses the lure of a religious trinket (in this case, a free "purple prayer cloth") to compile an address list. Once a follower requests the prayer cloth and inputs his address, letters asking for money are dispatched.

Currently, Popoff's "People United For Christ" business has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB concluded their review of the organization with the following warning: "Since making his comeback to television, Popoff appears to have resumed his faith healing sessions in a manner identical to his method prior to his exposure as a fraud. If you feel you have been victimized by this organization, please report your experience to the California Attorney General's office or the U S Postal Service."

According to Ole Anthony of the Trinity Foundation, which has investigated Popoff and other televangelists since 1987, "Most of these are fooled by their own theology ... but is fundamentally evil. Because he knows he's a con man."