Pastor Juanita Bynum has been shaking the pulpit with the introduction of her International Prayer Institute, an intensive in-person course hosted by Bynum in which registrants receive seven two-hour sessions at an undisclosed location in Atlanta, a tote bag, a binder, a prayer shawl, and sacred anointing oil. They will also participate in a Q&A at the end of each teaching session with Bynum and upon completion of the course, receive a certificate. All this is included for the price of $1,499.99.

The course had an original price tag of $1,999.99 but was generously discounted by the pastor. The course is set to begin on Oct.6 with a capacity of 150 attendees. In the announcement post on Instagram, Bynum urges those interested to “Register Now! Seating is Limited!”

As expected, followers expressed shock in her comments, so Bynum took to Facebook to explain that she’s well worth the lofty price tag.

“I’m not going to insult myself to even discuss the price. It’s an insult to who I am,” the 63-year-old self-proclaimed prophetess stated. “After being in ministry for over 50 years and for, I know, at least 35+ years, I have done nothing but be a pioneer in the things of prayer and helping people to understand prayer and letting them watch me doing it. So that they can know that there are different dimensions and different levels to prayer.” 

Bynum adds that the course will introduce people to the different levels of prayer that are required to access the mindset needed to access God.

“And how do I know that there are different levels and different dimensions? Well, it’s simple. It’s called results,” Bynum stated. “When you get the results, you know the person absolutely knows what they are doing. And that’s what I want to do.”

No matter how Bynum explained the particulars of the course, social media wasn’t agreeing with her putting a price on prayer.

Twitter user @ThatsArtez called out the “pimpin’ in the pulpit.”

 

“Juanita Bynum is a prime example of Pimps in The Pulpit,” they wrote. “I’m in disbelief. The Old Saints taught us to pray by being examples, and the Bible gives specific instructions on how to pray!”

User @akwash02 tweeted that, for the price tag, the course offerings could stand to be beefed up a little.

“Juanita Bynum….if imma pay $2,000 for the prayer institute, I better get a picture on a cloud and a suit made by the hem of His garment,” they tweeted.

Bynum also received criticism from other members of the cloth. ChristianPost.com reported that Chicago-based online preacher and U.S. Army veteran, Marcus Rogers, talked about the course with his nearly 1 million followers on Facebook, calling the $1,499.99 price tag “outrageous,” even at its discounted price.

“As you guys know, I never charge to travel and preach, and I never charge for classes. I feel like God freely gave it, so I freely give it to help His people. I know a few pastors don’t like that I do that because I teach everything they charge for free. So I want to hear y’all hearts on this. I just think this is outrageous,” Rogers wrote.

Bynum’s prayers must work because she’s no stranger to maneuvering under fire. As Blavity reported, Twitter called out Bynum after two videos resurfaced of her telling a church congregation that someone wasn’t saved if they listened to secular music. However, a Twitter user posted a second video of her dancing to Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine.”

Juanita Bynum