On a “Believer’s Voice of Victory” TV broadcast last week, evangelist Kenneth Copeland declared that following Jesus leads to “divine health”—including protection from COVID-19.

During the Christmas Eve message, titled “Be Set Free From Worry and Cares,” Copeland speaks about 2 Corinthians 5:7 and walking by faith, not by sight. At one point he tells viewers, “If you know what to do in the natural and you know what to do in the supernatural, you can walk in divine health. And that’s what we’re talking about. So I believe it, and I walk by faith, therefore I will never have COVID of any kind. Amen.”

Critics: Virus Has Claimed ‘Many Faithful Christians’

Hemant Mehta, founder of the “Friendly Atheist” blog, tweeted a clip of Copeland’s comments, calling the 86-year-old a “scamvangelist.” Mehta writes: “Many, many faithful Christians have died due to COVID.”