Kenneth Copeland “Blows Wind of God” on COVID-19: What Happened & Why It’s Controversial But Hilarious
What He Did
- In a viral moment during a televised sermon, Texas-based televangelist Kenneth Copeland declared he was issuing divine judgment on COVID-19.
- He led a chant with a small group in his church (which was mostly empty at the time) calling on a “supernatural heatwave” and “almighty, strong, south wind” to burn the virus.
- Then, dramatically, he blew into the camera and said: “COVID-19 … I blow the wind of God on you. You are destroyed forever, and you will never be back.”
- He further claimed that the virus “hates heat… humidity … water … it just dies.”
His Beliefs & Theology Behind It
- Copeland’s approach reflects his belief that believers have authority over the weather. He said his ministry has known “for 45 years” that they can command the atmosphere.
- In his view, weather (“heat, wind”) is “God’s weapon” against the virus.
- He also proclaimed that the pandemic was “finished” — that COVID-19 was “destroyed forever.”
Public & Expert Response
- Health experts and organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) have explicitly rejected the notion that heat or wind can reliably kill COVID-19.
- Critics have dismissed Copeland’s act as theatrics or even dangerous misinformation.
Follow-Up & Legacy
- According to his own ministry and independent reports, Copeland later reiterated faith-based defenses, including that believers should continue to trust in divine protection and spiritual authority.
- Some analysts note an apparent tension: on one hand, he demanded a vaccine “immediately” from God, yet he has also been associated with anti-vaccine sentiments.
- His actions and statements during the pandemic have since become part of broader conversations about how certain religious leaders responded to COVID-19, blending theology, faith healing, and public health.