Elijah Bernard Jordan (born June 11, 1959) better known as E. Bernard Jordan, is an American television evangelist, founder of Zoe Ministries, and writer of books on prosperity theology.

Jordan grew up in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant area and believed he received his calling through a dream when he was 15 years of age. When he was 23 years of age he founded the Zoe Ministries in New York City. Jordan studied at the Tabernacle Bible Institute in Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bible Institute. Jordan received a purported Ph.D. from Friends International Christian University, an unaccredited mail order and online university.McKenna, Chris. (September 14, 2003). "The Prophet of Profit shows the seeds of wealth." Times Herald-Record. He also briefly attended Kepler College, an uncredited online, certificate granting institution, pursuing a degree in astrology. In 2019, Jordan earned a Master of Divinity degree from Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, a historical Black College and University. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in 2022.

Jordan was raised to the bishopric in 1994 by Roy E. Brown of the Pilgrim Assemblies International denomination.

The first edition of Jordan's The Laws of Thinking made the New York Times Best Seller list in 2007.New York Times Best Seller list. The New York Times. March 18, 2007. Retrieved December 27, 2011.

Prosperity ministry Initially Zoe Ministry services were conducted in a member's home, then in several New York City hotels before they were held in a theatre. His "Power of Prophecy" television show aired from 1991 to about 1997, when it became too expensive to maintain. His ministry is based upon the premise that if one sows money, such as contributions to his ministry, they will reap prosperity for themselves. In his book God is Not a Christian, Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu..., Carlton Pearson references Jordan's discussion of the inner spiritual divine as the essence of who we are, rather than our physical body as Jordan described in his book The Laws of Thinking.Pearson, Carlton. (2010). God is Not a Christian, Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu... New York: Atria Books, Simon & Schuster. .

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley honored Jordan for his ministerial work in 2007. Al Sharpton is numbered as one of his friends and he has celebrity mentees, such as Joseph "Reverend Run" Simmons of Run-DMC and MTV's Run's House,"Bishop Jordan honored in Chicago." Jet. April 23, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2011. having named him "Protege of the Year Award" in 2004. The same day, symbolic of his "Prosperity Ministry", there was a "Rolls-Royce parade outside the Plaza Hotel in New York City, " featuring Jordan's Phantom Rolls-Royce."Rev. Ike and Rev. Run honored." Jet. July 12, 2004. Retrieved December 26, 2011. The new $325,000 Phantom had been a gift from Reverend Run as a "thank you" for his mentoring support."Thank you." Jet. May 10, 2004. Retrieved December 26, 2011.

Although he lives a life of luxury, he is sometimes dressed in a black, hooded robe, such as at Zoe Ministries retreats in Woodbourne, New York in the Catskill Mountains.

Philanthropy

In 2025, Jordan donated eight million dollars to Virginia Union University, his alma mater, to create the Jordan Institute of Spiritual Technology and Digital Theology.Green, Thad (May 10, 2025). Virginia Union gifted $8 million by alum to establish institute. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved August 14, 2026. The institute will be housed in the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union.Wimbush-Robinson, Kiya (May 19, 2025). HBCU lands huge $8 million donation for amazing reason. Clutchpoints.com. Retrieved August 14, 2026.

Criticisms Critics of Jordan's work question his being labeled a "prophet" and question the monetary pledges for spiritual enlightenment.Bishop Bernard Jordan, False Prophet Forgotten Word Ministries. Retrieved December 26, 2011.Bishop E. Bernard Jordan And The New Psychic Friends Network. New York Bureau, Preachers Investigation Bureau. Posted January 14, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2011.E. Bernard Jordan, Master False Prophet. Apprising Ministries. Posted June 25, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2011.

Lawsuits A federal judge entered a default judgement against Jordan in 2019. This followed a year-long failure by Jordan to respond to a class suit action by Jeffrey Molitor who complained of robocalls from the ministry.

In a separate case in 2018, an Ohio woman also sued for compensation and punitive damages due to unauthorized robocalls and text messages from Manasseh Jordan Ministries. A corporation that provided phone services was sued Additional lawsuits have been filed in California.

Personal Jordan lived with his wife Debra and five children in a gated community, Tuxedo Park in Orange County, New York. Jordan now resides in a 26,000 square foot mansion in Saddle River, New Jersey. Jordan was connected with Reverend Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II ("Reverend Ike"), a radio and television preacher who preached prosperity and "positive self-image psychology", who died in 2009."Reverend Ike, Preacher of Material Prosperity, Dies at 74." Huffington Post. July 30, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2011.

Published works This is a partial list of Jordan's published works:Open Library: E. Bernard Jordan works. Retrieved December 26, 2011.World Cat: E. Bernard Jordan works. Retrieved December 26, 2011. 1973 – 10 Things Americans Wish They Had Known and 7 Things They Have to Know 1992 – The Power of MoneyOpen Library: Jordan, E. Bernard. (1992). The Power of Money Zoe Ministries. . 1994 – Spiritual ProtocolJordan, E. Bernard. (1994). Spiritual Protocol Zoey Publishing; 4th edition. ASIN: B000B9W9EA. 1995 – Keys to LiberationJordan, E. Bernard. (1995). Keys to Liberation Zoe Ministries ASIN: B000X2A48I. 1995 – The Power of the DimeJordan, E. Bernard. (1995). The Power of the Dime Zoe Ministries. ASIN: B000BANGNW. 1995 – What Every Woman Should Know About MenJordan, E. Bernard. (1995). What Every Woman Should Know About Men Zoe Ministries Publisher. ASIN: B0012KW6WM. 1995 – Written Judgements Volumes 1–4. Zoe Ministries, Inc.Jordan, E. Bernard; Jordan, Debra. (1995). Zoe Minisitries. Multiple ISBNs. 1996 – The Achiever's Guide to SuccessJordan, E. Bernard. (1996). The Achiever's Guide to Success Zoey Publishing; 2nd edition. . 1996 – His Color Was Black: A Race AttackWorld Cat: Jordan, E. Bernard. (1996). His Color Was Black: A Race Attack New York: Zoe Ministries Publisher. OCLC 45705546. 1996 – The Spirit Of LiberationJordan, E. Bernard. (1996). The Spirit Of Liberation Zoe Ministries; 2nd Printing edition. . 2005 – "Cosmic Universe: The Universal Keys to Wealth"Open Library: Jordan, E. Bernard. (2005) "Cosmic Universe: The Universal Keys to Wealth" AuthorHouse. . 2008 – The Laws of Thinking: 20 Secrets to Using the Divine Power of Your Mind to Manifest Prosperity. is a book that explains 20 Laws that govern God's operation on this earthly plane.Open Library: Jordan, E. Bernard. (2008) . The Laws of Thinking: 20 Secrets to Using the Divine Power of Your Mind to Manifest Prosperity. Second edition. Hay House. . Spanish version.World cat: E. Bernard Jordan. Translator Graciela Frisbie. (2011). Las leyes del pensamiento : 20 secretos para utilizar el Poder Divino de tu mente para alcanzar la prosperidad. México D.F. : Grupo Editorial Tomo S.A. de C.V. . French version.World Cat: E. Bernard Jordan; translation Nadine Lachance. (2008). Les lois de la pensée : 20 secrets pour trouver la prospérité en utilisant le pouvoir divin de votre pensée Varennes, Québec : AdA. . 2008 – The Business of Getting Rich (12 Secrets to Unveiling the Spiritual Side of Wealth In You).Jordan, E. Bernard. (2008) The Business of Getting Rich (12 Secrets to Unveiling the Spiritual Side of Wealth In You) . 2009 – Beyond the Laws of ThinkingJordan, E. Bernard. (2009) Beyond the Laws of Thinking Foghorn Publishers. . 2011 – The Laws of ProsperityOpen Library: Jordan, E. Bernard. (2011). The Laws of Prosperity. Hillsboro, NY: Atria Books. .

See also Reverend Ike Joseph Simmons, Reverend Run

References

External links E. Bernard Jordan official site About E. Bernard Jordan Church Official Site