Orlando-based evangelist says Bill Maher movie ruined his life

Orlando-based evangelist says Bill Maher movie ruined his life
Amy L. Edwards

Sentinel Staff Writer

September 23, 2009
For the past decade, Jeremiah Cummings says, he has made a modest living as an Orlando-based evangelist who traveled the globe to encourage people to deepen their faith.

Then, he said, he was tricked into appearing in front of a movie camera with political comedian Bill Maher and was falsely portrayed in Maher's comedy documentary Religulous as a flashy, gold-loving evangelist.

Since the movie came out about a year ago, Cummings said, his life — and work — has been a struggle.

He has sued. He has been sued. His speaking engagements are down. He can't pay the rent on his family's five-bedroom home in the Rio Pinar community, court records show.

"All of these things that have happened have hurt the ministry," Cummings said. "I'm struggling to try to keep my family together."

Cummings, 58, said he wasn't told the truth about Religulous when he agreed to be interviewed in 2006. Cummings, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity, said he was told he was going to be featured in a documentary called A Spiritual Journey.
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Orlando based evangelist