Jenkins was known for his
faith healing, through the use of "miracle water". In 2003, while based in
Delaware, Ohio, Jenkins' "miracle water", drawn from a well on the grounds of his religious compound known as the
Healing Waters Cathedral, was found to contain
coliform bacteria by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Jenkins claimed tests conducted by independent laboratories all found the water safe for drinking and that the state ignored his findings. Jenkins was later fined $200 because he didn't have a license to sell the water. In 1979, Jenkins was convicted in
Greenwood, South Carolina, of conspiracy to assault two men and of plotting the
arson of two homes. Jenkins was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with eight years suspended, for the incident. In 1994, he was arrested for grand theft, but the charges were soon dropped when he agreed to pay restitution. In 2001, his marriage to a 77-year-old widow, a black woman who had recently hit the Ohio Lottery jackpot for $6,000,000, was annulled by a judge in Delaware, Ohio. The legal guardian of Eloise Thomas, whose husband had died just three weeks before the marriage to Jenkins, former Ohio state senator
Ben Espy, claimed on behalf of the woman's family that Thomas was incompetent and therefore incapable of knowing what she was doing when she attempted to marry Jenkins. Jenkins has repeatedly denied accusations that he was attempting to marry the woman for the sake of her net worth, which was estimated at $4,000,000. In 2002, a film was released about his life, entitled
The Calling (released on video as
Man of Faith). As of March 2011, Jenkins's ministry was based in
Scottsdale, Arizona. Jenkins released several Gospel albums over the course of his ministry career. Jenkins died from complications of pneumonia on June 21, 2017.
Discography •
God Gave Me A Song •
If I Could Dream •
Mercy Wins •
Release Me •
Songs and Sermon In Bakersfield •
Songs To Be Healed By •
Stars In My Crown •
Touching Jesus ==In film==