Howard Stern Invites 'Live Prayer' to His Studio

By Kevin Jackson, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, March 27, 2007

A live prayer show was featured on Howard Stern's show Monday night when the controversial and famous "shock jock" invited the television host of a prayer program to his studio.

Bill Keller, nicknamed the "Dr. Phil of Prayer," was invited to hold his daily program, Live Prayer with Bill Keller, on Stern's Sirius Satellite Radio 101 network from 7-8 p.m. where he would answer calls from many of Stern's difficult fans.

"Howard said he wanted me to field calls from some of his most challenging listeners," said Keller, the host of Live Prayer, in a news release. "He is a man of his word because after the show his people called and invited me to do a one hour special just like my television program."

The special programming is a result of a debate Stern and Keller had on Mar. 1, where they quarreled with one another for about 20 minutes on topics ranging from homosexuality to adultery to pre-marital sex. The shock jock enjoyed it so much that he invited the prayer warrior for a full show.

Despite the difficulties he will have to face in dealing with Stern's typical listeners, the guest host was excited to be on the programming, expressing how he can bring about positive change.

"Just from the first program, I had over 3,000 emails from Stern listeners," the ministry figure noted in a statement. "About 40 percent of them were typical, hateful anti-Christian emails, but some 60 percent of them were legitimate, sincere people asking for prayer and direction in their lives. I believe many were backslidden Christians who were jolted back to reality by listening to Howard and I debate the very things that were heavy on their hearts."

The format of the special program on Stern's show was the same as on Live Prayer. Keller opened the show with a 10-12 minute monologue about current issues and gave his opinion about them. Following that, the phone lines were opened up for callers who he then responded to.

Live Prayer with Bill Keller is the only live call-in, faith-based television show that is broadcasted on only secular television channels. The host deals with a large variety of hot topics and sins, which he prays for live on the spot from a conservative, biblical perspective.

The show is broadcasted Monday-Friday on Tampa, Fla.'s CBS Affiliate CW 44 late at night from 1-2 a.m. Interested people can listen 24/7 to online streaming on his website, LivePrayer.com.

According to Keller, his website has responded to over 60 million prayer requests.