Like many Gen X Christians in the 1980s, I was not only captured by the explosion of Christian television and radio ministries, but I also had my personal favorites who really deepened my understanding of the Bible. One of those was televangelist Jimmy Swaggart. Much like Aimee Semple McPherson of the Foursquare Gospel movement, Swaggart was instrumental in putting the Assemblies of God and Pentecostalism on the map, making the gospel and a relationship with Jesus a dynamic pursuit rather than a rote obligation.
Swaggart was a media pioneer. In 1969, he launched "The Camp Meeting Hour." Because of a letter-writing campaign, within two years, the radio program aired on more than 700 U.S. stations.
That was the beginning, and Swaggart parlayed that reach into television: In 1973, "The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast" was launched. In a 1977 exclusive with Charisma Magazine, they reported on the exponential expansion of Swaggart's radio and television ministries. "The Camp Meeting Hour" aired on 550 stations in the U.S. and Canada, and 25 stations globally. The TV program was viewed on 200 stations in the U.S., Canada, the Philippines, and the Bahamas, and was translated into over a dozen different languages.
Swaggart was also the author of 100 books, including the Expositor’s Study Bible, which Swaggart Ministries says has sold more than four million copies. Swaggart also published "The Evangelist" Magazine for five decades.
What is often forgotten is the mark that Jimmy Swaggart made on gospel music as a singer, songwriter, and musician. In 1955, Swaggart recorded his first album, “Some Golden Daybreak,” which would eventually sell more than 17 million copies. By 1977, Swaggart had recorded 29 more albums, which sold over five million copies. In March, Swaggart learned he would be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame for his extensive contributions to the industry.
Like his contemporaries, Swaggart mounted evangelistic crusades in the United States and overseas. And, not gonna lie: It was also kind of cool that his cousins were Rock 'N Roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and country music artist Mickey Gilley.
Sadly, like some of his contemporaries, Swaggart's lifestyle choices caused him to publicly and spectacularly fall from grace. Swaggart was one of the main accusers and agitators who helped to bring down televangelist Jim Bakker and his Praise The Lord (PTL) ministry, only to become ensnared by his own net. In 1988, Swaggart was caught on camera in New Orleans in the company of a prostitute. His now-infamous "I Have Sinned" speech was aired on every news network, on loop for weeks on end, amplifying his disgrace to a greater degree than his Christian telecasts. Several other scandals followed, but Swaggart remained in ministry. However, his prominence and influence were adversely affected.
The scandals cost Swaggart’s ministry millions — it dropped from $150 million in revenue during the mid-1980s to about $11 million in the 1990s, RNS reported at the time, and much of his television audience collapsed. The Family Worship Center Church, which could hold thousands, began to draw only a few hundred worshippers.
After a few months out of the pulpit, Swaggart, who was defrocked by the Assemblies of God, returned to ministry and remained active the rest of his life, preaching into his late 80s.
As God forgives, so did many who followed Swaggart and his ministry. As one Swaggart successor, Texas preacher Tony Evans, articulated, "Comebacks don’t seem likely when your back is up against the wall and your hope is depleted. But if you will stay the course, you will discover God’s power to reverse the irreversible in your life."
Apparently, Swaggart understood this. In 2010, he formed SonLife Broadcasting Network to house and distribute the Swaggart Ministries radio, television, and now streaming programs. SBN's programming is now aired across North America, and according to their website, reaches over 300 million homes across the globe.
On June 15, it was reported that Swaggart had suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized.
Swaggart was hospitalized June 15 after going into cardiac arrest and being treated by paramedics, the televangelist’s son, Donnie, told congregants at the Family Worship Center Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during a weekend prayer meeting after his father was taken to the Baton Rouge General Medical Center. Though paramedics were able to restore the elder Swaggart’s heartbeat, he did not regain consciousness, according to his son, leaving him in critical condition.
“Without a miracle, his time will be short,” Donnie Swaggart told congregants in mid-June.
Swaggart remained hospitalized for days, never regaining consciousness. On Sunday (June 29), Donnie Swaggart told worshippers at the church that the family had gathered around his father and it was just a matter of time.
The Swaggart family and their publicist announced Jimmy Swaggart's death on July 1. He was 90 years old.
Famed televangelist Jimmy Swaggart died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Tuesday, July 1, his family and publicist announced. He was 90.
The Pentecostal preacher and pioneer of televangelism had been in critical condition at a Louisiana hospital after going into cardiac arrest on June 15, family members said during a prayer service last month.
Swaggart's publicist Megan Kelly told USA TODAY the late pastor died at about 7:30 a.m. local time while surrounded by his family.
"Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ. Today was the day he has sung about for decades," reads an announcement on his Facebook page. "He met his beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory. At the same time, we rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day."
The pioneer and evangelist is receiving many glowing tributes from those who were positively impacted by his life and ministry.
Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart is now with the Lord. He lived 90 years on the Earth and lead millions of souls to Christ… He was my preaching hero when I was a teenager and later I went to Bible College at his school. His ministry paid for 2/3 of our tuition. He sold over 20 million records in his lifetime and donated all of the royalties back to the ministry… No doubt, one of the greatest preachers in history… He leaves an incredibly rich legacy. Well done!
However, those who were deeply wounded and affected by the scandals are posting flaming detractions.
Jimmy Lee Swaggart was born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana. At the age of eight, Swaggart had a dramatic salvation experience where he said he felt the call of God on his life. This caused Swaggart to spend hours reading the Bible and in prayer, entreating God to fulfill his will in his life. Both of Swaggart's parents (and his cousins) were gifted musicians, so after one revival meeting, Swaggart asked God to give him the talent to play the piano, and the Lord answered that prayer.
From the small Pentecostal churches he attended with his parents, W.L. and Minnie Bell Swaggart, to stadiums and revival meetings around the world. Swaggart began his ministry in 1955 and a few years later released his first album, “Some Golden Daybreak,” and would eventually sell more than 17 million recordings, according to his ministry bio.
According to the family, his sister Jeanette died in 1999. Swaggart is survived by Frances, his wife of 70 years, who stood by him throughout the scandals and beyond. His son Donnie, daughter-in-law Debbie, grandson Gabriel, daughter Jill, granddaughter Jennifer, son-in-law Clif, son Matt, daughter-in-law Joanna, and nine great-grandchildren — Sam, Ryder, Abby, Lola, Harper, Navy, Harrison, Caroline, and Mackenzie.
As Christians, we believe in a God who forgives and restores the most egregious sin. All we have to do is ask him for it. The fact that Swaggart was able to successfully rebuild his ministry, keep and restore his marriage, and leave this life with honors from a world that once considered him a byword is a reflection that Jimmy Lee Swaggart took hold and fully embraced the Jesus he so boldly proclaimed to others.
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