Rod Parsley: My Son's Autism Sure Is A Moneymaker

If you're not familiar with Rod Parsley, he's the senior pastor at the World Harvest Church. He is also a leader in both the Ohio Reformation Project, and a vocal proponent of Gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell.

Parsley loves money, he was once quoted in a 1993 issue of Columbus Monthly as saying, "'I just love to talk about money,' he told them. 'I just love to talk about your money. Let me be very clear — I want your money. I deserve it. This church deserves it.''' He is also the father of a son, Austin, who was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism at age three. Sometimes Parsley uses the latter to gain the former.

The March, 1998 issue of Charisma magazine ran an article on Parsley entitled "The Electric Evangelist" which detailed Austin's autism, and later that year on June 4th in a televised sermon Parsley announced to his parishioners that indeed his son had been diagnosed with the disorder. Parsley assured the crowd that, "we’re not all the way out of the woods but we’re on our way.”

And oh what a way it was. By 2001, Parsley was telling potential donors during tent revivals that he had, in fact, healed Austin. From the March 31, issue of the Pocono [PA] Record:

Parsley preached for about an hour-and-a-half before offering a healing service to the crowd.

"Some of you will be looking in the rear-view mirror on the way home and will be startled by who is looking at you," said Parsley.

Parsley then told a story about his son, who he said couldn't read and had trouble using the toilet in the past.

Parsley said that he then began to give his belongings away, including his alligator shoes, suit coat and belt. While in this phase of giving, Parsley said his son began "reading on a university level, while in third grade" and "didn't have to wear an adult diaper anymore."

That is an amazing recovery, indeed. After Parsley used his son as an example, he was ready to start his spiel for their money. Again from the Record:

"God wants us to give," said Parsley. "Who needs an envelope?" he asked. "The only reason you don't need an envelope is if you have a check."

Then Parsley brought out a man whom he said had been previously healed.

"This man spent 15 years in a wheelchair," said Parsley. "After hearing this, this is no time to say, 'here's five [dollars],' unless that's all you have."

Parsley then polled the audience to see how much they would give.

"Stand up if you've given $100 or more," he said. "Fifty dollars or more, stand up. I gotta know what kind of company I'm meeting with tonight."

Ah, a classic tactic. Stand up if you gave over $100. Still sitting down, here's another shot. You don't want to still be sitting after the fifty dollar pledge, do you? Cash in hand, Parsley then left without performing any healings.

So, how is Austin doing these days? It's been six years since Parsley's selflessness healed his son. From the July 2004 issue of Charisma:

[Joni] Parsley admits that ASD has placed limitations on her family but says she has learned to live one day at a time rather than trying to envision the big picture.

"If you look at five years from now and wonder if you'll still be dealing with this, it's overwhelming," she explains. "So we just say: 'Today, this is what's before us. And sufficient for today are the cares of today.'"

Parsley keeps her prayers for Austin simple, too.

"My prayer is that he is happy and he's healthy and he knows that he's loved and that he's uniquely gifted of God," she says. "I don't want him 'healed' in a way that would take that away. I'm embracing it. I don't believe God gave him autism, but I know God gave us Austin."

I guess it's a good thing Parsley's healing didn't take, as that isn't what his wife wants for their son, but who knows, maybe Parsley will heal him again if the price is right.

Notes: Much of this research was found in G. Richard Fisher's piece, "The Raging Prophet" for Personal Freedom Outreach.

I'd also like to thank a reader in American Samoa for pointing me in the right direction to find the Pocono Record article which is only available through Google cache.