Reverend Ike

Birth Name: Frederick Joseph Eikerenkoetter

Date of Birth: June 1, 1935

Place of Birth: Ridgeland, South Carolina, U.S.

Date of Death: July 28, 2009

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: African-American

Reverend Ike was an American minister and televangelist. He founded Christ Community United Church, now United Palace of Spiritual Arts, in Manhattan, New York City. He was known for his preaching of prosperity theology. Reverend Ike was featured in Hank Williams, Jr.’s hit country song “Mind Your Own Business.”

Reverend Ike was the son of Rema and Joseph Frederick Eikerenkoetter, who were born in Georgia. He was married to Eula, with whom he had one child.

Reverend Ike’s paternal grandfather was named William Eikerenkoetter (the son of Joseph Eikerenkoetter and Margaret). William was born in South Carolina.

Many sources say that Reverend Ike’s father was of Dutch-Indonesian descent. This does not appear to be accurate. His father and all of Ike’s other traceable ancestors are listed as “black” or “mulatto” on the U.S. Census. The name Eikerenkoetter traces back to a German immigrant family of slaveowners in South Carolina.

Sources: Genealogy of Reverend Ike – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Reverend Ike – https://www.nytimes.com.html