Prophetess Juanita Bynum is once again at the center of controversy after a viral video showed her asking 21 members of a congregation to sow a $1,066 offering, which she described as a “restoration seed” to restore their faith and finances.
In the clip, first shared by ItsOnSite, Bynum can be seen telling churchgoers that “God wants some people to pay some bills for Him,” and that He had already chosen 21 people to give that amount. “$1,066 is nothing,” she told the audience, urging them to step forward. “You’re not deciding about money, you’re deciding about your future.”
According to Bynum, those who gave the offering would witness God’s work unfold in their lives.
As people began to walk forward to donate, she called out others she claimed were still hesitating. “Five more people. Come now. This is about the restoration of your faith.”
The Chicago-born televangelist, best known for her groundbreaking 1998 sermon No More Sheets, has faced criticism in the past for what some view as exploitative practices. Social media users did not hold back after the video surfaced.
“This why I have a very personal relationship with God… y’all can have the church,” one Instagram commenter wrote. Another quipped, “She didn’t even need a gun & a mask.” Others questioned the unusual amount, with one user joking, “That’s a very specific number… I wonder what she needs $22,386 for?”
Some, however, defended Bynum, pointing to their own experiences with giving. “I literally pay my tithes in church and make it back tenfold every week,” one person wrote. Another added, “I’m a firm believer in paying tithes and giving back to the Lord because He has given me.”
Bynum’s ministry has been marked by both acclaim and controversy. Her 2002 million-dollar wedding to Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III ended in a highly publicized divorce after she accused him of assault.
She also drew criticism in 2019 for promoting a four-week prayer course priced at $1,499.99, which many labeled as “charging for prayer.”
Despite years of public scrutiny, Bynum continues to draw large audiences and remains a polarizing figure in the world of televangelism.
