In a rare sit-down interview, an 89-year-old Kenneth Copeland sat down with young evangelist Bryce Crawford, 22, where the two discussed their meanings of prosperity and faith.
Copeland told Crawford that he surrendered his life to Christ in 1962 and began his ministry in 1964. As the conversation continued, Crawford shared that he disagreed with Copeland’s prosperity-focused teaching, emphasizing that his goal was to better understand Copeland’s interpretation of scriptures.
“It’s hard for me personally to wrap my mind around that prosperity message,” said Crawford. “It has a lot to do with the finances. That can be attractive … having the benefits of blessings. I don’t want someone to perceive it as, ‘I believe in this Jesus just to get the benefits of the kingdom.’”
Copeland added, “Jesus is the prize.”
When Crawford asked how Copeland defines wealth and prosperity, Copeland stated,
“When one mentions prosperity, most people think about money. Now, money is not the root of all evil. The Bible said the love of it is. There are people who commit that and don’t have any money. True prosperity starts with John 3:16. Then you go from there and go to the Second Chapter of the Book of Acts because being able to pray in the spirit is the gateway to the supernatural.”
Copeland added, “Being rich is more than enough to take care of what you have and enough leftover to help somebody take care of themselves.”
According to Jubilee Cast, this was Copeland’s first interview in over 15 years.
Founded in 1967 by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Kenneth Copeland Ministries (KCM) has grown into a global 24/7 outreach platform that spans radio, television, and digital media.