African-American televangelist and singer, Juanita Bynum has come under criticism for asking people to pay money to learn how to pray. The author and lecturer is the founder of Juanita Bynum International, her ministry based in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States.
The televangelist recently announced a programme themed ‘The Prayer Institute’ scheduled to hold in October.
To participate in the programme, the singer asked people to pay $1,499.
In a blog post, 63-year-old Juanita Bynum said the four-week intensive programme will begin on October 6 and hold every Thursday in the month.
According to the post, registration for the programme originally costs $1,999, but now goes for $1,499.
Benefits of the programme, according to the post, include “two-hour intensive (7 sessions), Q & A (at the end of each intensive), the prayer institute tote bag, and the prayer institute binder.”
Others are “exclusive prayer institute journal, the prayer institute certificate, mantling of a full prayer shawl by Dr. Bynum, and sacred anointing oil”.
Further checks on the website show Bynum charges for other prayer-related items such as sacred prayer kits and 5 am prayer T-shirts which cost $133 and $15 respectively.
Her registration fee for the forthcoming programme has sparked a wave of backlash on Twitter.
Several users called out the televangelist for “selling” what should be free