Michael Alfred "Mike" Warnke (born November 19, 1946 in Evansville, Indiana) is a Christian evangelist and comedian who became one of evangelical Christianity's best-known experts on the subject of Satanism until an investigation concluded his involvement with Satanism was a hoax. November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Nickname: River City Location in the state of Indiana Country United States State Indiana County Vanderburgh Government  - Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel (D) Area  - City 40. ... Christians believe that Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant (see Hebrews 8:6). ... Evangelism is the proclaiming of the Christian Gospel. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A hoax is an attempt to trick an audience into believing that something false is real. ...

Early life

Warnke was the son of Alfred "Al" Warnke and Louise Warnke. In 1955, Warnke's mother was killed in a car accident. Three years later his father died, leaving Mike an orphan. Mike was taken to foster parents in San Bernardino, California, and graduated from Rim High in Crestline in June of 1965. In September, he enrolled at San Bernardino Community College but withdrew after one semester, after which he began his tenure as a Satanist. On June 2, 1966, Warnke enlisted in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman.^[1] 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official website: http://www. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Rim of the World High School is a high school located in Lake Arrowhead, California, at the top of the mountain overlooking the San Bernardino Valley. ... Crestline is a census-designated place located in the San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... June 2 is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ...

According to Warnke's account in The Satan Seller, his religious experience came during his tenure in the Navy, on August 27, 1966, and he received Jesus into his life as his personal savior. Returning from boot camp, Warnke began dating fellow Rim High alum Sue Studer. The following year, Warnke completed his naval medic training and returned to San Diego, whence he married Studer. In 1969, Warnke was sent to Vietnam for a six-month tour of duty^[2] where he won a Purple Heart, allegedly killed a man, and was shot several times.He returned to the United States in 1970.^[1] August 27 is the 239th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (240th in leap years), with 126 days remaining. ... Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to some form of Christianity. ... Boot Camp is a software assistant made available by Apple Computer that assists users in installing Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (Home, Professional, and Media Center Editions only, not Tablet PC Edition) on Intel-based Macintosh computers. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Flag Seal Nickname: Americas Finest City Location Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates , Government County San Diego Mayor City Attorney         City Council District One District Two District Three District Four District Five District Six District Seven District Eight Jerry Sanders (R) Michael Aguirre Scott Peters Kevin... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... For other meanings see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

While still in the service of the Navy, Warnke teamed up with San Diego evangelist Morris Cerullo and was touted for his "Satanist experience". Warnke and Cerullo toured the country participating in charismatic revivals. Cerullo wanted to write a book about youth occultism, and assigned the writing task to David Balsiger with help from Warnke. In early 1972, Warnke requested and received an early discharge from the Navy as a conscientious objector so that he could work full-time in the ministry. Warnke then left Cerullo's ministry to start his own, and he and Balsiger went on to write the book that would make Warnke famous.^[1] Evangelism is the proclaiming of the Christian Gospel. ... Morris Cerullo is known world wide as an international evangelist based in San Diego, California. ... A revival meeting is a series of Christian religious services held with an eye to encourage active members of a religious body and to provoke those outside of it to become part of it. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... John T. Neufeld was a WWI conscientious objector sentenced to 15 years hard labour in the military prison at Leavenworth. ...

Adult life

The Satan Seller

In 1973, Warnke's book The Satan Seller was released. It was written by Warnke with help from Balsiger and Les Jones and tells of Warnke's orphaned childhood and his introduction into Satanism. It details Warnke's participation in sexual orgies, alcoholism, and drug dealing; his rise in the ranks of Satanism to the level of "high priest"; the attempt on his life — a heroin overdose — that left him angry and disillusioned; his heroism in Vietnam; and how he found Jesus and came home as an evangelist. The story ends with Warnke living happily in California with wife Sue Studer.^{[citation needed]} In fewer than three months after the release, The Satan Seller had become a religious best-seller.^[1] 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... A drug overdose occurs when a chemical substance (i. ...

The book launched Warnke into stardom within evangelical Christian communities. He became a popular speaker at Christian meeting places such as Melodyland in Anaheim, California. In 1974, Warnke moved his family to attend Trinity Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a nine-month preparation for ministry. It was here that among other charismatic Christians and recent converts preparing for a life of ministry, Warnke met Carolyn Alberty, with whom Warnke began an affair.^[1] Warnke also met Elijah Coady, an independent bishop of the Syro-Chaldean Church, which was a sect of the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Coady ordained Warnke as a deacon. Upon gaduation, Warnke was again ordained, and Warnke moved with his family to Denver, Colorado.^[1] The word evangelicalism usually refers to religious practices and traditions which are found in conservative, almost always Protestant Christianity. ... Location of Anaheim within Orange County, California Coordinates: Country United States State California County Orange Mayor Curt Pringle Area    - City 130. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Nickname: Oil Capital of the World, Americas Most Beautiful City Location in the state of Oklahoma Coordinates: Country United States State Oklahoma Counties Tulsa, Osage, Wagoner, Rogers  - Mayor Kathy Taylor (D) Area    - City 483. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  Ranked 20th  - Total 69,960 sq mi (181,196 km²)  - Width 230 miles (370 km)  - Length 298 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... The charismatic movement began with the adoption of certain beliefs typical of those held by Pentecostal Christians —specifically what are known as the biblical charisms of Christianity: speaking in tongues, prophesying, etc. ... Episcopi vagantes (Latin for wandering bishops) are persons who have been consecrated as bishops in a Christian church in some irregular fashion, especially those claiming to have valid Roman Catholic orders although their consecrations were not authorized by the Roman Catholic Church. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... This article is about the sacrament. ... Deacon is a role in the Christian Church which is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. ... This article refers to the state capital of Colorado. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ...

Recordings and Wives

In November 1975 at an Indiana coffeehouse, Warnke's talk about his conversion from Satanism to Christianity was incidentally recorded. This recording became Warnke's first album, Alive, which was soon widely played on Christian radio.^{[citation needed]} Later that same year, despite interventions from pastors and other acclaimed ministers, Warnke left Sue for Carolyn and filed for divorce. Four months after the divorce was finalized in December, Warnke married Carolyn.^[1] 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... Coffeehouse in Damascus // A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or cafe (also spelled as café from the French, Spanish, and Portuguese or caffè from the Italian) shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant. ... An album is a collection of related audio tracks distributed to the public. ... Christian radio is a radio format that focuses on transmitting programming with a Christian message. ...

Warnke's popularity earned him the cover of the Setpember 1976 issue of Harmony, a prominent Christian magazine in the 1970s. In 1977, Warnke released his second album, Jester In The King's Court. The following year, Warnke recounted his Vietnam experiences on his third album, Hey, Doc!. His albums became "the most popular Christian comedy albums ever produced".^[3] During a tour to Hazard, Kentucky, Warnke met Rose Hall, a thrice-divorced mother of three, and began courting her while still married to and together with Carolyn. That marriage came to an end when, as Cornerstone quotes^[1] Carolyn: "[Warnke] threw me into a wall and split my head open. He said, 'If you go to a local hospital and tell them what your name is, I'll kill you.'" Carolyn fled to Florida. By November 1979, their divorce was final, and Mike moved to Rose's farm in Kentucky. On January 2, 1980, Warnke and Rose married.^[1] 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Template:A year The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Hazard is a term used in evaluating safety: A hazard is a potential unwanted event. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... For the song by The Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

Warnke and his label, Word Records, fueded over an album which he eventually produced and distributed on his own, A Christian's Perspective on Halloween (1979). Word Records and Warnke reconciled by 1981,^{[citation needed]} resulting in Coming Home (1981), and now including wife Rose, Higher Education (1982) and Growing Up (1983). Then under Word's Dayspring label, he released (solo) Stuff Happens (1985), Good News Tonight (1986), One In A Million (1988), Live ... Totally Wierd (1989).^[4][5] Warnke also made a VHS home video, Do You Hear Me? (1989). Word Records is a giant in Christian Music. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... DaySpring Records was a subsidiary of Word Records which started in the seventies and ended in the mid-1990s. ...

During the 1980s, Warnke's and Rose's ministry propsered, as they toured and performed together and raised millions of dollars for their ministry.^{[citation needed]} As the Warnke's popularity waxed, their personal relationship waned. In 1984, Rose wrote "Satan provided a woman to fill the gap in Michael's life."^[6] They separated in 1989 and divorced in 1991. Six weeks after the divorce was finalized, Warnke married former Rim High alum and current wife, Susan Patton.^[1] The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Extravagant claims

In 1982, Warnke began to exaggerate his achievements.^{[citation needed]} For instance, during the 1980s Warnke's claims of academic degrees increased from two Bachelor's degrees to two Master's Degrees to a Doctorate of Philosophy.^{[citation needed]} In The Satan Seller, Warnke claims to have been wounded twice while in Vietnam. In Hitchhiking on Hope Street, that number was raised to five.^[1] Warnke followed up his interest in the Eastern Orthodox tradition and his 1978/1979 ordination as a deacon with a 1983 ordination by independent bishop Richard Morrill. This allowed Warnke to call himself a bishop.^[1] 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... A bachelors degree (Artium Baccalaureus, A.B. or B.A.) is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years. ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate (or graduate) course of one to three years in duration. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

National exposure

Warnke received national coverage when he appeared in a May 16, 1985 story on "20/20", featuring ABC News reporter Tom Jarriel. Warnke told of fingers being cut off, ritual sacrifice, animals being killed to use their blood in a sacrifice, and many other gory details. After Warnke's appearance on "20/20," he became a well-paid expert on Satanism.^{[citation needed]} He was frequently cited as an expert on the occult by Christian radio host Bob Larson and the Chick Publications stable of authors. May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the television show. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... The word occult comes from the Latin occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to knowledge of the hidden. In the medical sense it is used commonly to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e. ... Bob Larson (born 1944 in McCook, Nebraska) is a radio and television evangelist, currently based in Colorado. ... Chick Publications is an American publishing company based in Ontario, California, run by Jack Chick which produces and markets Protestant fundamentalist pamphlets, DVDs, VCDs, videos, books, a poster, and (most famously) comic tracts in many languages. ...

Investigation, debunking and disgrace

In 1991, Cornerstone magazine launched an investigation into Warnke's life and testimony. The previous year, that magazine had debunked the story recounted in Satan's Underground, by Lauren Stratford who claimed her deep involvement in Satanism led her to partake in a ritual in which her own child was sacrificed. After this exposé, which showed that for instance, Stratford's alleged child never existed, Cornerstone journalists Mike Hertenstein and Jon Trott investigated Warnke. They investigated Warnke's life, from interviews with over 100 personal friends and acquaintances, to his ministry's tax receipts. Their investigation turned up damaging evidence of fraud and deceipt. 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cornerstone is a quarterly journal published by Jesus People USA covering faith issues with an emphasis on politics and culture. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Laurel Rose Willson (August 18, 1941 – 8 April 2002) was an American woman born in Washington, whose allegations of Satanic ritual abuse were published under the alias Lauren Stratford. ... Laurel Rose Willson (August 18, 1941 – April 2002) was an American woman from Washington who wrote alleged non-fiction under the alias Lauren Stratford and who later adopted the alias of Laura Grabowski. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The investigation revealed pictures of Warnke taken during the precise time of his alleged status as a Satanist priest. Instead of an emaciated drug-addict sporting long fingernails and waist-length hair, the pictures showed Warnke to be a typical 'square' of the mid-1960s.^{[citation needed]} The investigation refuted, for instance, Warnke's claims that he and mass-murderer Charles Manson had attended a Satanic ritual — but Manson was in federal prison at the time. It also uncovered that before even joining the Navy, where Warnke claims to have converted, he had been involved with a college Christian ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ. The investigation also revealed the unflattering circumstances surrounding Warnke's multiple marriages, affairs, and divorces. Most critically, however, the investigation showed how Warnke could not possibly have done the many things he claimed to have done throughout his nine-month tenure as a Satanist, much less become a drug-addicted dealer or become a Satanic high preist.^[7] The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... This article or section includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Each March, U.S. college students spend Spring Break participating in “Big Break,” a Campus Crusade outreach to Panama City Beach vacationers Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian mission organization, focusing on evangelism and discipleship in over 190 countries around the world. ...

Before publishing the article, Cornerstone contacted Warnke for an interview, but he and Cornerstone could not agree to the terms of an interview.^[8][9] In June 1992, at the annual Christian Booksellers' Association convention, Cornerstone revealed its story. 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

Aftermath

Warnke sent a response to Cornerstone,^[8] published in July, insisting he told the truth, stating:

I stand by my testimony of being delivered and set free by the power of Jesus Christ after being a satanic high priest exactly as published in my book, The Satan Seller.... some information was purposefully changed to protect the privacy of certain individuals and to prevent readers from using the book as a guide for occultism and satanic purposes. But, as we stated in the front of the book, 'The events are absolutely as described.'

Despite these assertions, Warnke did not provide the name of a single satanist but used invectives against ex-wife Carolyn.^[8]

Public response was varied, but nevertheless overwhelmingly against Warnke.^[9] Initially, Word Records stated they would stand by their artist. However, further investigations by local Kentucky reporters at the Herald-Leader revealed that Warnke's ministry had engaged in financial misdeeds and that "Mike, his ex-wife Rose, and her brother Neale received a total of $809,680 in salary at a time when the ministry newsletter claimed donations were down and more funds were needed."^[9] One week later, Word Records dropped Warnke from its label. Finally, on September 30, 1992, fewer than 100 days after the investigation was made public, Warnke Ministries closed its doors.^{[citation needed]} September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

In the spring of 1993, Warnke submitted to the authority of an assembly of ministers "acting as elders", acknowledging his "ungodliness", his "multiple divorces", his "failure has husband, father, and friend", and of "embellishment and exaggeration ... in an attempt ... to entertain". Nonetheless, he continued to "stand by [his] testimony of former satanic involvement."^[10] el 18 de mayo nacio claudia // 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

Warnke suffered a heart attack in 1997.^{[citation needed]} In 2000, he bagan attempting a comeback, limited to small churches around the Kentucky area.^{[citation needed]} In 2002, he published Friendly Fire: A Recovery Guide for Believers Battered by Religion (ISBN 0-7684-2124-1), an account of what he perceived as his unfair treatment by fellow Christians in the wake of the Cornerstone exposé.^{[citation needed]} A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A comeback may mean: A retort, often intended as an insult. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Mike Warnke

• Mike Warnke and Celebrations of Hope, official website
• Warnke in The History of Christian Stand-up Comedy
• Critical account of Warnke's 1988 performance as a "Christian comedian."

Image File history File links Wikiquote-logo-en. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Further reading

• Mike Hertenstein, Jon Trott: Selling Satan: The Tragic History of Mike Warnke (ISBN 0-940895-07-2), Cornerstone Press 1993. An expanded, book-length version of the Cornerstone exposé by the original journalists.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Selling Satan. Cornerstone (1992).
2. ^ Cornerstone, issue 98: "Records show Warnke was in Vientam for only six months"
3. ^ As quoted in Cornerstone issue 98: 1979-02-26, "When Mike Warnke Speaks, the World Listens!", Contemporary Christian Music
4. ^ http://ccmdiscography.150m.com/W-WebSite.html
5. ^ http://www.sweet-music.com/WW.html
6. ^ As cited by Cornerstone expose: Rose Hall Warnke, The Great Pretender, Starburst Publishers, 1985.
7. ^ Why the Dates Don't Work (sidebar). Cornerstone (1992).
8. ^ ^{a b c} Warnke's statement in response to Cornerstone's claims. Cornerstone (1992-07-15).
9. ^ ^{a b c} Warnke Update. Cornerstone (1992).
10. ^ Warnke's 1993 statement of apology and repentance.