The child preacher who exposed a con
Marjoe Gortner was four years old when he was ordained as an evangelical minister. He became a hugely successful preacher but behind it all was an elaborate con.
In 1944, Marjoe Gortner was just four years old when his parents had him ordained as an evangelical minister. He was dubbed 鈥榯he miracle child鈥� and conducted his first marriage ceremony before he could barely even write. During the 1950s, he became a star turn on the American preaching circuit and attracted huge crowds for his exuberant preaching, raking in millions of dollars. Behind it all was an elaborate con and years later Marjoe went public with an expose that took him to Hollywood.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producers: Edgar Maddicott and Maryam Maruf
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
(Photo: A young Marjoe Gortner giving a sermon Credit: Still from the documentary Marjoe, courtesy Sarah Kernonchan)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Thu 17 Mar 2022 12:06GMT大象传媒 World Service
- Thu 17 Mar 2022 23:06GMT大象传媒 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Fri 18 Mar 2022 03:06GMT大象传媒 World Service
Contact Outlook
Info on how we might use your contribution on air
Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary
Step into someone else鈥檚 life and expect the unexpected