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 βthe miracle childβ 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)
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