Live Prayer

Infobox Television
show_name = Live Prayer


caption =
genre = Religious broadcasting
camera = Steven CampbellLive Prayer credits]
picture_format =
audio_format =
runtime = 30 minutes (WXPX)
1 hour (all others)
creator =
developer =
producer = Rich Nation
executive_producer = Bill Keller
presenter =
starring = Bill Keller
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer = JAVEN
opentheme = "Hope for You"
endtheme =
country = USA
location =
language = English
network = WTOG 44 (2003-2007)
ION Television (2006; nationally)
WTTA 38 (2007)
WXPX 66 (2007)
first_aired = March 3, 2003
last_aired = Present
num_seasons =
num_episodes = over 1175 [http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=3044 Live Prayer Daily Devotional for August 31st, 2007] ]
list_episodes =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website = http://www.liveprayer.com/
imdb_id =
tv_com_id =

Live Prayer is a Christian evangelical Internet and television ministry located in Tampa, Florida and run by Bill Keller.

The ministry began as a website in 1999, [http://www.christianpost.com/article/20060201/13965_LivePrayer.com_Responds_to_60_Million_Prayers.htm The Christian Post - LivePrayer.com Responds to 60 Million Prayers] ,] later expanding into a daily TV show on March 3, 2003 [http://www.liveprayer.com/press/lib.htm Liberty University News: A Prodigal Son Turns Preacher] ] . To date, more than 1,175 episodes of the program have aired.

Live Prayer was broadcast nationally in the United States from July 3, 2006 through November 2006 on ION Television [http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49936 WorldNetDaily - 'Dr. Phil' of prayer to hit national TV] ] [http://www.usareligiousnews.com/newsArticle.php?ID=297 USA Religious News - "LivePrayer with Bill Keller" Going National] ] . At the end of that period, the ministry was financially unable to continue purchasing time.

After moving across numerous networks (WTOG, WTTA, WXPX, etc) and time slots while being simulcast on LivePrayer.com, the live call-in television show has moved to being streamed live exclusively over the Internet at LivePrayer.com.

Live Prayer receives an average of over forty thousand prayer requests by e-mail each day. [http://www.michnews.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/252/11672?bah=.php MichNews.com - Prayer Times 60 Million? You Do the Math!] ] A group of more than 700 retired pastors read messages, pray over the requests, and write personalized replies. [ [http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=10733 Charisma Magazine - Evangelist Wins Souls Online] ] To date Live Prayer has responded to over 60,000,000 prayer requests. [http://www.usareligiousnews.com/newsArticle.php?ID=892 USA Religious News - Liveprayer.com, Hits Seven Year Milestone and 60 Million Prayer Mark!] ] [ [http://www.christiannewswire.com/index.php?module=releases&task=view&releaseID=1433 Christian News Wire - Nationally Syndicated Late-Night Talk Show 'Live Prayer with Bill Keller' Launches Live Tonight on the I-Network] ] Live Prayer also maintains an archive of over 3,000,000 "praise reports" from viewers.

Television shows

Late night show

The Live Prayer television program began as a late-night show on WTOG where Bill Keller would discuss current events from a biblical perspective and take phone calls. The show began on March 3rd, 2003 and was seen nationwide on ION Television in 2006. On August 31st, 2007, after 1,175 episodes and nearly 5 years, Live Prayer was pulled from WTOG due to complaints from the Council on American-Islamic Relations [ [http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=61974 Tampa Bay's 10 - Televangelist loses TV show] ; Accessed 9-20-2007.] [ [http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/florida/news-article.aspx?storyid=89749 First Coast News - St. Petersburg Televangelist Loses Show After Muslims Complain] ; Accessed 9-20-2007.] [ [http://www.b92.net/eng/news/comments.php?nav_id=43286 B-92 News - Muslims claim televangelist ouster victory] ; Accessed 9-20-2007] [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hQ5ZUW93Jswtu1592IxrJZ1PRpow Associated Press - Televangelist Critical of Islam Dumped (August 24th 2007)] ; Accessed 9-20-2007.] [ [http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/247705.html KansasCity.com - TV station yanks program by televangelist who condemns other religions] ; Accessed 9-20-2007.] [ [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/world/north-america/article2893982.ece Belfast Telegraph - American televangelist axed after anti-Muslim outburst (August 25th 2007)] ; Accessed 9-20-2007.] ; however, a new show "Live Prayer AM" began on September 3rd, 2007 on WTTA. [ [http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=3040 Live Prayer Daily Devotional for August 28th, 2007] ] [ [http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57310 WorldNetDaily - Christian TV show out, Muslim pressure group blamed] ] [ [http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/24/Southpinellas/TV_station_pulls_plug.shtml St. Petersburg Times - TV station pulls plug on Keller] ]

Each show began with Keller discussing a topic (except for Friday when viewers bring up their own topics). After ten to twenty minutes, Keller opened the phone line and accepts calls from people who either want to discuss the topic of the show, make a praise report, or request prayer.

Keller encouraged people who hold opposing viewpoints (including atheists, evolutionists, Wiccans, Muslims, Mormons, and homosexuals) to call the show and debate him.

Live Prayer AM

Live Prayer AM began on September 3rd of 2007 and aired each weekday morning from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM (eastern time) on WTTA, Tampa Bay's local MyNetworkTV affiliate. In early November 2007, due to WTTA suddenly changing its policy regarding live call-in shows, the show moved to local ION station WXPX; while still seen at 7:30AM, the show was trimmed to a half-hour. [http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/20/State/Dateline_Florida.shtml St. Petersburg Times 11/20/2007: "Dateline Florida: Televangelist's final broadcast will be Friday"] ]

The format of Live Prayer AM is a bit different from the original late-night show and features more guests as well as on-site interviews with staff from attractions in Florida.

However, like the old late-night show, Live Prayer AM still starts with Bill Keller's monologue about current events and their relation to the Bible, continues with viewer call-ins, and ends with Bill asking his viewers to accept Jesus Christ.

On November 19, 2007, Keller announced that he will be suspending his television program after the telecast on Friday, November 23, after officials from ION told Keller that it will no longer carry live programming. Keller has plans to revive the show on his website as an Internet-only live call-in broadcast in January 2008.

Crank calls

Like any live television program, Live Prayer is attacked by crank callers. The show has an 7 second delay to stop those who use profanity from getting on the air, but occasionally non-profane prank calls make it through onto the airwaves. ["Obviously, we get a percentage of "crank calls" which is why we have a 7 second delay." [http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=2513 Live Prayer Daily Devotional for March 10th 2006] ]

Keller lightheartedly says that those who intend to make crank calls must watch the show, and hear the word of God, often without getting through.

Website

Daily devotional

In August 1999, Keller began writing the Live Prayer Daily Devotional which he has continued to write everyday since. The devotional is now emailed to over 2,400,000 people around the world. The Live Prayer Daily Devotional is also available on the website, in both written and audio form, as well as for cellphone users via WAP and in audio form over the phone.

Internet simulcast & show archive

The Live Prayer television program is also broadcast [http://www.liveprayer.com/live.cfm live on the website] . When the television program is not live, a feed from a webcam showing the Live Prayer office is shown instead. The website also has an archive of the past 5 Live Prayer episodes.

Internet show

Bill Keller recently announced that Live Prayer will become a 2 hour long daily Internet call-in program beginning on January 7, 2008. [Live Prayer episode for November 23rd 2007]

Budget & donations

Keller makes a point about never asking for donations on the TV show, although there is a donation page on the website. He frequently accuses others in the Christian television world of "preaching to the choir" and "building bigger buildings instead of winning the lost for Christ". He purposely shows Live Prayer only on secular television channels to reach non-Christian audiences.

The ministry operates on a budget of approximately US$80,000 a month, although this was much higher when Live Prayer was on national television in 2006. The budget pays for the salaries of the Live Prayer staff, the air time on WTOG (which is by far the largest item), and the hosting & maintenance of the Live Prayer website.

Live Prayer pays Keller a salary of about $50,000 annually [http://www.liveprayer.com/press/mh.htm Miami Herald - TV preacher aims at the multitudes] ] , which he says is substantially less than other televangelists who he accuses of wasting money buying private jets & building bigger buildings. ["The easy route of course is to simply do what everyone else does and take so much time every program to beg people to give. However, that defeats the whole purpose of what we are trying to accomplish. If I was going to do that, I would simply go on the Christian networks and become part of the "preach to the choir" culture, build a big glass building, buy a Malibu mansion, and fly around in a private jet. However, that is not what Liveprayer or Bill Keller is about." [http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=2702 Live Prayer Daily Devotional for October 9th 2006] ]

Although the television show is taped at a studio owned by WTOG, Keller does his writing and manages the ministry from a small but busy office on the property of "Ace Motors", a used car lot owned by one of Live Prayer's board members. [http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A3441 Creative Loafing - God's Man For the Internet Age] ] [ [http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/02/Southpinellas/A_televangelist_s_lea.shtml SP Times - A televangelist's leap of faith] ] [ [http://liveprayer.com/crib2.cfm?b=h Video of the Live Prayer office] ] The suits Bill Keller wears on the air are donated by [http://www.perfectmatchcustomclothiers.com/ Perfect Match Clothiers] .

Keller has also vigorously criticized Prosperity theology preached by certain televangelists for treating God as some sort of "divine genie" who grants wishes of earthly wealth.

History

In August 1999 Bill Keller started writing the Live Prayer daily devotional and started the Live Prayer television program in March 2003. Live Prayer has been growing quickly since and first appeared on national TV in July 2006.

Howard Stern appearance

Keller has been on The Howard Stern Show three times. He first appeared on March 1, 2007, for a short appearance where he discussed his history and beliefs. He appeared twice more for two one-hour Live Prayer specials on Howard 101 on March 26, 2007, and April 1, 2007. While on the show he counseled wack packers (including "Jeff the drunk" for whom Bill Keller offered to find work as a carpenter's apprentice [ [http://signsofwitness.com/?p=461 Signs of the Witness - Definitely a Sign of SOMETHING When Howard Stern Has an Hour of Christian Prayer on His Show] ] [ [http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=2886 Live Prayer Daily Devotional for March 29th, 2007 "Into the lion's den"] ] [ [http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=2887 Live Prayer Daily Devotional for March 30th, 2007 "Into the Lion's Den"] ] ), preached the gospel, and took live phone calls. [ [http://www.liveprayer.com/stern1.cfm LivePrayer.com - Archive of Howard Stern appearances] ] [ [http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070327/26539_Howard_Stern_Invites_'Live_Prayer'_to_His_Studio.htm The Christian Post - Howard Stern Invites 'Live Prayer' to His Studio] ] On his last appearance he challenged Rosie O'Donnell to defend her anti-Christian views, specifically her statement that "fundamentalist Christianity is no different from radical Islam". [ [http://houston.christianpost.com/article/culture/74/section/rosie.challenged.to.defend.her.%5Canti-christian.hate.speech%5C.on.howard.stern.show/1.htm The Christian Post - Rosie Challenged to Defend Her 'Anti-Christian Hate Speech' on Howard Stern Show] ] Howard Stern offered to host a debate between the two; however O'Donnell has not replied to his challenge.

On August 6, 2007, Bill Keller announced he had reached an agreement with Howard Stern to do a monthly Live Prayer special on Howard 101. [ [http://www.liveprayer.com/archvid.cfm?d=080607 Live Prayer episode for August 6th 2007 "Pressing forward to reach the lost and hurting"] ; Accessed 08-08-2007] [ [http://www.liveprayer.com/080707.htm Live Prayer Daily Devotional for August 7th 2007] ]

Controversy

Live Prayer has been embroiled in controversy many times. Keller claims to deliver the truth of the Bible without modification even when people may be offended.

Criticism of Mitt Romney

On May 11, 2007, Keller wrote that "a vote for Romney is a vote for Satan" in his daily devotional because Mitt Romney is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an organization that he considers to be a cult. [ [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55642 WorldNetDaily - 'Vote for Romney is vote for Satan'] ] [ [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/02/evangelist_in_hot_water_over_romney_remark/ The Boston Globe - Evangelist in hot water over Romney remark] ] [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/31/AR2007053102532.html?sub=AR The Washington Post - Separation of Church and State and Tax Exemptions] ] Keller repeated this statement on the Live Prayer television program, [ Live Prayer episode for May 11th 2007 "A vote for Romney is a vote for Satan."] which was later included in the documentary film . Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State later wrote a letter to the IRS asking them to revoke Live Prayer's tax exempt status due to Bill Keller's allegedly political statements. Bill Keller later clarified his statements saying he was spreaking on a spiritual topic, not a political one. [Live Prayer episode for June 1st 2007 "Barry Lynn"] [ [http://www.jewsonfirst.org/07c/keller.html Televangelist Bill Keller calls Mormonism and Islam "False Religions"] ] [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56418 WorldNetDaily - Activist's church mixes politics, religion but sics IRS on Bill Keller, leading Internet evangelist] ] [ [http://www.liveprayer.com/of2.cfm?b=h Bill Keller's appearance on the O'Rielly Factor] ] [http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55988 WorldNetDaily - Group sics IRS on Mormon critic] ]

Later, on June 21, 2007, Keller appeared on the show in a Mormon temple garment. He challenged Romney to make public his own Mormon temple garment. [Live Prayer episode for June 21st 2007 "Mitt Romney, show me your underwear"]

Finally, on June 28, 2007, Keller invited evangelist Ed Decker — an opponent of the LDS church and a former Mormon priest [http://www.saintsalive.com/who.html http://www.saintsalive.com/who.html] ] — to discuss Mormonism, Freemasonry, and an alleged relationship between the two groups.Live Prayer episode for June 28th 2007 "Mormonism and Freemasonry (with guest Ed Decker)"]

Message to Osama bin Laden

On September 17, 2007, Keller released a 10-minute [http://www.liveprayer.com/usama1.cfm?b=h video message] , in which he asked Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to repent of his sins & accept Jesus Christ; he also urged other Muslims to do the same. The video was released not only on Keller's own website, but also various other websites as well. Keller opted to deliver his message on video, as this was the way bin Laden delivered his messages. ["St. Petersburg Times", September 18, 2007, page 1B] [ [http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=2313d40a-a4a1-4046-8552-caf89ad21e96 ABC Action News (WFTS) - Televangelist Bill Keller suggests Osama bin Laden convert to Christianity] ] [ [http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57633 WorldNetDaily - Switcheroo: American minister sends video to Osama] ] [ [http://www.local6.com/news/14128623/detail.html Local6.com (WKMG-TV) - Televangelist Urges Osama bin Laden To Become Christian] ]

Criticism of Oprah Winfrey

Keller frequently criticizes talk-show host and media personality Oprah Winfrey for promoting new age spiritual products such as The Secret and A Course in Miracles. [ [http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7010708979 Internet Evangelist Believes Oprah Winfrey Is Starting Her Own Cult | AHN | May 31, 2008 ] ]

Beliefs

Keller and the other members of his ministry preach that the original Bible manuscripts are inerrant, that Jesus was the son of God born of the virgin Mary, that humans are born with sin, and that salvation can only be attained through faith in Jesus Christ. [ [http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_statement.cfm Live Prayer Statement of Faith] ]

ee also

*George Bogle
*This is Your Day

References

External links

* [http://www.liveprayer.com Official 'Live Prayer' website]
* [http://www.wapdd.com/ LivePrayer Daily Devotional for cellphone users]