Faith Healer Cerullo Plans to Reopen Heritage USA

San Diego faith healer and evangelist Morris Cerullo will reopen Heritage USA, the 2,200-acre Christian theme park in Ft. Mill, S.C., by next summer, he said Monday.

With his purchase of the land approved last week by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Thurmond Bishop and the secured creditors owed money by Jim Bakker’s scandal-riddled PTL ministry, Cerullo will take control of the ministry’s assets if he comes up with $45 million by Nov. 2.

Cerullo, 58, has been president of San Diego-based Morris Cerullo World Evangelism since 1961.

At a press conference in Ft. Mill on Monday, Cerullo said he will not offer Bakker and his wife, Tammy Faye, roles in the ministry, though they would be welcome on the grounds of Heritage USA. It is time, Cerullo said, for the world to forgive Bakker, who is serving a 45-year term in Rochester, Minn., for fraud and conspiracy for misusing contributions made to the Praise The Lord ministry.

In May, Cerullo put $7 million into an escrow account for the purchase of the PTL television network, which includes broadcast studios and use of a satellite that can reach 800 cable systems and 7 million homes.

Timothy Treadwell, lawyer for Cerullo and his organization, said the purchase will be completed as soon as the Federal Communications Commission approves. Cerullo has said he will move his operations to Heritage USA, which is located about 20 miles south of Charlotte, N.C.

After the purchase is complete, Cerullo plans to spend $25 million on renovations and new construction in the park, spokesmen said.

Some of Cerullo’s real estate deals in California have fallen through, but Al Newman, a Cerullo spokesman, said the evangelist is better prepared this time.