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Robert Tilton is an American televangelist who achieved popularity in the 1980s and 1990s through his paid television program Success-N-Life. At its peak, it aired in all 235 American TV markets.
One of Tilton's favorite sermon topics was the Biblical story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (First Kings 17:8-16). In the story, Elijah comes to a widow who is almost out of food. Elijah asks her to prepare him a meal. She replies that she has only enough food left for one last meal for herself and her son. Elijah asks her instead to prepare him a meal first and then promises that God will not let her food be exhausted. In faith she does so, and her food supply indeed does not run out. Tilton continually used this story to persuade financially desperate viewers to send him their last bit of money in return for the promise of God's continued blessing.
A 1991 ABC News investigation found that his ministry threw away prayer requests unread, keeping only any money or valuables sent by viewers. Viewership and donations declined, Tilton cancelled Success-N-Life in 1993.
Tilton returned to the airwaves in 1997, buying airtime on independent television stations. In 1998 his program began airing on cable channel BET.
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