Enlarge Video 
Download Video
Video RSS
TV Networks Shifting Toward Hurricane
By Jennifer Abney Anchor
Published: Mon, May 05, 2008 - 6:53 am
Last Updated: Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 2:08 am
Last Updated: Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 2:08 am
Jennifer Abney
Meyer began her ministry in the basement of her Missouri home, preaching in borrowed suits to small groups and conferences. Then she got a big break and hit the airwaves on local radio stations.
"One of our first radio stations was in Mobile, AL," she said,"We then had a conference with about 300 people at a local hotel, over the years God has blessed us."
Those conferences have increased quite a bit in size over the last few decades.
"We had a big crusade in India," said Meyer,"We had close to 1 1/2 million people in 4 days."
Now, Joyce Meyer is living a successful and busy life that many could only dream of having.
"My normal schedule includes a lot of scheduled conferences, travel internationally, I do TV and other interviews, and different teachings," said Meyer.
But, her life wasn't always so charmed. She had to overcome a lot of difficult obstacles along the way.
"You have to have a lot of determination," said Meyer "And, be willing to never give up."
She survived a father who sexually abused her as a child and, as a young woman a failed marriage full of emotional abuse.
"My dad would tell me you'll never amount to anything," she said "There was some kind of determination in me even then, someday I knew I would do something with my life. "
But, Meyer didn't always aspire to life in ministry.
"I always tell people don't be upset if you don't know what you want to do," said Meyer, "At 32 I was a book keeper, and God called me to preach. You never know what He's gonna do."
She has since authored over 70 bestselling books, her ministry employees over 900 people worldwide, and she has a successful television show that can be seen by over a billion people worldwide. Plus, her second marriage to Dave Meyer has been blessed for over 40 years.
"Dave and I are proud that we are getting to preach the gospel in most of the world in 32 different languages," said Meyer, "We love our work in India and Africa, with our orphanages and feeding hungry kids, it's great helping hurting people."
With her success has come criticism. Meyer has come under fire by some for her teaching style and her ministry's financial success.
"God wants us to not only to have enough to meet our needs, but to have an overflow so we can be a blessing to others," said Meyer,"If I had nothing I couldn't be helping people all over the world."
According to Meyer, 82 percent of her ministry's donations is invested back into global outreach programs.
So how does Meyer deal with her critics?
"You start out getting hurt by the critics, it hurts when all you are trying to do is help people and love God and someone's got a problem with it," she said,"Eventually you have to get smart and ignore your critics."
It is that type of no-nonsense and down to earth advice that many say drive them to Meyer's teachings
"I think the reason people relate to me is because I talk about practical stuff," she said,"I teach people how to have a good relationship with yourself and with God."
A 64 year old grandmother, Joyce Meyer has overcome physical and emotional abuse. She turned a grassroots ministry into a worldwide phenomena and has no plans of slowing down. Her goal for her followers and her TV show's name are pretty much one in the same Enjoying Everyday Life.
Meyer says she likes, "to teach people to have good relationship with other people." She also says, "You know they're everywhere you go, you can't live with them and can't live without them!" She believes, "People want to know how to live their everyday life, they just want to be happy."
Joyce Meyer's new book 'The Secret to True Happiness' is now available.
Click here to watch Jennifer's entire 15 minute interview with Joyce Meyer.
News Map
Email to a Friend 
Printer Friendly 
Hurricane Ike packing 135 mph winds. NHC says it's an extremely…
Thank you MHEAT923, That site tells me all I need to know about Joyce Meyer! I wish all preachers and pastors were required to take a vow of poverty like priests and nuns and I’m a baptist.