Liberal Christian group calls on TV networks and Roku to drop Bakker show

Gregory J. Holman
Springfield News-Leader

On Tuesday, a liberal Christian group announced that it's collected 11,000 signatures on a petition to convince platforms like Roku, DirecTV and DISH Network to drop Jim Bakker’s "dangerous and misleading broadcast from their platforms," according to a news release.

The group, Faithful America, bills itself as an online community of 160,000 Christians seeking social justice. One of its leaders told the News-Leader that group members began signing the petition on Friday, responding to the Bakker operation's recent promotion and sales of a would-be cure for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

"The Bible is pretty clear on Jesus healing the sick, which is not what snake oil does," said Rev. Nathan Empsall, an Episcopal priest who directs campaigns for Faithful America.

Others are calling for Bakker to stop

In this 2002 photo, Jim Bakker holds one of the paintings that would go up at the Studio City Cafe, in Branson, where his TV show would be filmed.

Federal officials, along with attorneys general in Missouri and New York, have called for Bakker's operation to stop selling the "silver sol" product, noting that public health authorities and scientists say there is no single medication effective against the new virus. COVID-19 had infected at least 113,000 people worldwide as of late Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Empsall said the government authorities' actions against Bakker were "great," but "not enough."

"It's incumbent on the national satellite companies and other entertainment providers to take away his platform," he said.

Faithful America plans to deliver its petition to each of the networks that carry Bakker’s broadcast, according to the Tuesday news release. The list includes:

  • Christian Television Network (CTN);
  • Daystar;
  • FOLK TV; 
  • GEB America;
  • ImpactNetwork;
  • Upliftv;
  • The Word Network;
  • World Harvest television;
  • Z Living.

Bakker Show and Covid-19: Missouri AG files suit against Jim Bakker show

Meanwhile, the petitioners want Roku and the satellite companies to stop carrying channels that keep Bakker on their lineups.

Empsall told the News-Leader late Tuesday that he was not surprised to learn that many Branson residents regard Bakker's "silver sol" sales as "a black eye on Branson." Growing up in Idaho around a white supremacist faction, he's used to the feeling, he said.

"This is something Christians really care about," Empsall said over the phone from Connecticut. "They're sick of seeing their faith hijacked to support political agendas or personal profits."

More coverage: Trump administration takes aim at Jim Bakker Show near Branson

Empsall said one petition-signer located in Van Buren told networks, "I'm embarrassed this felon landed in my Ozarks! Please take him off your air."

The News-Leader reached out to Bakker's operation, but a representative hung up the phone late Tuesday.

Gregory Holman is the investigative reporter for the News-Leader. Email news tips to gholman@gannett.com and consider supporting vital local journalism by subscribing. Learn more by visiting News-Leader.com/subscribe.