A self-styled 'apostle' is facing a wave of backlash after viral footage showed fans shaking uncontrollably and collapsing during her book-signing tour. Critics have accused Kathryn Krick of staging an emotional spectacle, while some have claimed her work is 'demonic'.
Viral footage sparks controversy
Krick, a Los Angeles-based leader of the Five-Fold Church, has built a huge following through viral 'deliverance ministry' clips on TikTok and Instagram. However, footage from her Ignite Revival book tour stop at a Barnes & Noble in Houston, Texas, which occurred in May, stirred heated debates when it blew up online in mid-July.
Clips showed attendees convulsing and collapsing after coming into contact with her. Supporters hailed it as proof of supernatural 'signs and wonders', while critics accused Krick of staging an emotional spectacle.
Ongoing controversy
Krick's ministry has been dogged by controversy since 2021, when she launched her church in Los Angeles. She began posting highly edited videos of deliverance services that show people screaming, thrashing and writhing as she speaks, touches them, or even blows into a microphone, ChurchLeaders.com reported.
Her insistence on the title 'Apostle' has offended many in the religious community, as mainstream Christian theologians argue that original apostles were uniquely appointed by Jesus.
Criticism and defense
Krick is also accused of targeting vulnerable people by claiming she can cast out 'demons' responsible for serious illnesses and life problems, including cancer, depression, poverty and even autism, netizens have argued in the Exvangelical Reddit community. A Redditor wrote in 2021: 'I just find it fishy that it seems like every week she has someone supposedly being delivered from demon possession. She is also in the heart of LA where there are a TON of actors.'
The backlash has become so intense that prominent Christian commentators have publicly warned people away. Evangelical pundit Allie Beth Stuckey described the bookstore scenes as 'at best, a show for attention, and, at worst, demonic activity', while other voices have compared Krick's methods to occultic 'street magic', Follow Jesus reported.
Despite the backlash, Krick has become a popular religious figure, with many followers expressing admiration. A Facebook user commented: 'I've been to her meetings three times and I encountered the power of God powerfully each time. She is the most humble and pure vessel I have witnessed to date. So many people are quick to blast her as false instead of seeking God and asking him to reveal the truth. But you have to do that with an open heart and be willing to learn something new and unexpected. She's awesome and I'm so glad God is restoring his power and anointing to his church but hides it from religious fools and those who are unwilling to have childlike faith and humility.'
