When the Oxygen show, Preachers of L.A. debuted on October 9, 2013, over 1 million people watched and not all of them were fans. Less than a week after the show hit the airwaves, Bishop T. D. Jakes spoke to his congregation about the show, calling it "junk."
He said, "Now, I know you been watching that junk on TV. I want to tell you right now, not one dime of what you’re sowing right now will buy my suit. I want you to know my car is paid for. I want you to know I got my house on my own. I want you to know I’m not bling-blinging. I am not shake and bake. I had money when I came to Dallas and I plan to have some when I leave." He added, "You did not buy what I got. I had it when I came here. You know I had it when I came here. The devil is a lie. I have sold enough books and produced enough movies. I don’t need your offering to pay for this little slimy suit. So I rebuke that spirit in the name of Jesus Christ."
Over the course of the next week, other black pastors came out publicly about the show, saying that it didn't show the church in a good light.
In an interview with BET, Rev. James C. Perkins, the pastor of Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit and vice president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, worried that the show will cause people to believe that all pastors are in it for the money and the fame. "There are many pastors who are out here serving the people and not just serving themselves," he said.
Rev. Michael J.T. Fisher, the pastor of the Greater Zion Church Family of Compton, California, agreed. He said, "They are giving the world ammunition to shoot back at the church and not accept the message that it is trying to convey. They’ve sold out. It will call for pastors all over the country to have to defend their integrity because these men have decided to chase their dream of being in the public eye."
Deitrick Haddon responded to the comments that Bishop Jakes made on Atlanta's PRAISE 102.5 when he called into the Darlene McCoy show.He said that while he respects Bishop Jakes, he was shocked by his comments. "I was a bit taken back and shocked when I saw his view on the show, being that he’s a forefather in unorthodox, unconventional methods of sharing the Gospel, whether it be through MegaFest or partnering with comedians or Oprah."
With the third episode of the controversial show airing tomorrow, one has to wonder what will come next.
