Joyce Meyer Deborah Bedford

Pauline Joyce Meyer, born in St. Louis in 1943, is an American author, speaker, and president of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Her ministry is based near St. Louis, Missouri. Meyer has spoken about experiencing sexual abuse from her father after his return from World War II. After a difficult first marriage, she married Dave Meyer in 1967.

Meyer describes a profound spiritual experience in 1976 that deepened her faith. She became involved in a charismatic church, eventually serving as an associate pastor. In 1985, she established her own ministry, initially called 'Life in the Word.' This expanded into a television program, 'Enjoying Everyday Life,' which continues to air. Her books have achieved significant commercial success, with a major publisher acquiring rights to her back catalog in 2002. Meyer has faced scrutiny regarding her lifestyle and the finances of her ministry, including detailed reports on ministry-funded assets and salaries. She has also been recognized as one of the most influential evangelicals in America.

Born Pauline Joyce Hutchison on June 4, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri, Joyce Meyer's early life was marked by significant challenges. Her father joined the army for World War II the day she was born and, upon his return, she has stated he began to sexually abuse her. After graduating from high school, she married a car salesman, a relationship she has described as lasting five years, during which she alleges her husband was unfaithful and encouraged her to steal from her employer. Meyer claims she later returned the stolen money. Following her divorce, she met and married Dave Meyer on January 7, 1967.

Meyer recounts a pivotal spiritual experience in 1976, describing a moment of intense prayer while driving to work where she felt she heard God call her name. While she had been born again at age nine, she states that unhappiness led her to seek a deeper connection with her faith. This led to a profound sense of spiritual fullness, which she experienced publicly at a bowling alley. She began leading a Bible class and became active in a charismatic church, eventually becoming an associate pastor. Within a few years, her popularity as a Bible teacher contributed significantly to the church's growth. In 1985, she left the church to found her own ministry, initially named 'Life in the Word.'

In 1993, Meyer's husband encouraged the launch of a television ministry, which began airing under the 'Life in the Word' banner. The program, later renamed 'Enjoying Everyday Life,' became a long-running religious broadcast. Her books have also achieved widespread distribution, with a major publisher acquiring rights to her extensive backlist in 2002. Meyer's ministry has been subject to public criticism regarding her personal lifestyle and the financial practices of the organization. Reports detailed significant ministry expenditures on assets like a private jet, luxury vehicles, and lavishly furnished headquarters. In response to publicity and calls for investigation, Meyer announced plans in 2004 to reduce her salary and retain more royalties from outside book sales, a move that Ministry Watch noted likely increased her personal compensation while reducing ministry revenue.

Joyce Meyer Ministries was among several religious organizations investigated by a U.S. Senate inquiry concerning the tax-exempt status of religious organizations. The inquiry sought detailed financial information, including potential personal profits from donations. The ministry complied with the requests for financial records and committed to future transparency. The inquiry did not find any wrongdoing. In 2009, the ministry received accreditation from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Meyer's ministry also engages in charitable activities, including an inner-city outreach program called the 'Dream Center' and international aid through its 'Hand of Hope' arm, which supports clean water initiatives and disaster relief efforts.

“there's no need for us to apologize for being blessed.”

“You can be a businessman here in St. Louis, and people think the more you have, the more wonderful it is ... but if you're a preacher, then all of a sudden it becomes a problem.”