Louisiana televangelist Jimmy Swaggart living his 'last days,' son Donnie Swaggart said
Swaggart, 90, has been unconscious in a Baton Rouge hospital since suffering a heart attack in his home June 15.
The Rev. Donnie Swaggart, who now leads his father's ministry, gave an update to the Baton Rouge congregation Sunday.
"All of the family has been called in," Swaggart said. "Really, speaking very straight-fowardly, it's not a question of if, but when, so we as a family have gathered.
"We want dad's last days to be comfortable. We want him to be surrounded by family."
Swaggart is a native of Ferriday, growing up with famous musical cousins Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley. He is the last surviving member of the musical trio.
Swaggart's TV ministry reaches millions of Christians, but his career isn't without controversy.
He admitted to adultery during a tearful confession to his congregation in 1988. Swaggart was defrocked by the Assembly of God church but continued his ministry.
Swaggart's social media platforms have seen an outpouring of support for the minister, which his wife Frances said has comforted the family.
Donnie Swaggart said his mother hasn't left Swaggart's side except for brief periods.
"She only leaves the hospital to clean up a bit and to eat," Swaggart said. "Pray for mother that she'll have strength."
Donnie Swaggart praised his father's life and ministry.
"There's no greater example of a good and faithful servant than my father," he said.
More: Here's the latest on the condition of Louisiana televangelist Jimmy Swaggart following heart attack
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana televangelist Jimmy Swaggart living his 'last days'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Magazine
42 minutes ago
- Time Magazine
Why the Dalai Lama Continues to be a Counselor to Us All
No sooner had a tsunami, in March 2011, swept 18,500 souls to their deaths in Japan than the Dalai Lama, in his home in northern India, expressed his determination to make a 'pilgrimage' to offer what he could to the devastated area. Before the year was out, I was accompanying him to Ishinomaki, a fishing village almost entirely leveled by the disaster. I'd met him first as a teenager and had already been speaking regularly with him for 37 years, as well as published a book on his work and his vision. The minute his car came to a halt amidst the debris, the Tibetan leader strode out and offered blessings to the hundreds lined up along the road, together with words of encouragement. He held heads against his heart, trying to soothe tears. Then, in a nearby temple that had somehow survived the cataclysm, he recalled his own sudden flight from Tibet in 1959. No life is without loss, he observed—but renewal is an hourly possibility. That morning is a tiny reminder of how, as he prepares to mark his 90th birthday on July 6th, the 14th Dalai Lama has come to symbolize a sort of planetary doctor of the mind, making house-calls on every continent. Regularly noting that 'my religion is kindness' and frequently reiterating that if scientific findings contradict Buddhist teachings, science must trump Buddhism, he's become the rare spiritual teacher who can speak across every border in our ever more divided world. In an age when moral leadership can be hard to find, he's become a voice of ecumenical wisdom and compassion to whom millions from every tradition can turn, for both solace and guidance. Read More: A Monk's Struggle Born in a cowshed in a village three hours from the nearest road, Tenzin Gyatso, as he became known, is the first Dalai Lama to set foot outside of Asia. He often says that while having lost his home after he had to leave Tibet—to prevent outright war against China—he's gained the whole world as his home. Having traveled with him everywhere from Okinawa to L.A. and Jaipur to Zurich, I can see that's no idle claim. Here is a Buddhist leader who delivers talks on the Gospels to a group of Christians, tears misting his eyes as he describes some of Jesus's parables. Here, too, is a champion of 'secular ethics' who calls himself a 'defender of Islam,' consults rabbis on how to sustain a culture in exile, and regularly refers to himself as a student of India, the predominantly Hindu country where he has lived for 66 years. This would be liberating in any circumstance, but it offers an especially powerful example at a time when so many of us are torn apart by competing belief systems. Over half a century of talking with him, I've noticed how the Dalai Lama's first impulse is to find common ground with every child—or soldier, or Chinese Communist party member—he meets. He begins each day with prayers for his 'Chinese brothers and sisters,' taking care to distinguish between often heroic individuals and a government in Beijing that has more or less tried to destroy Tibet. And though he's one of the world's most respected religious leaders, he notes that religion is a luxury, like tea, that adds savor to life. But the water that none of us can live without is everyday kindness and responsibility. Above all, he's a master realist; as leader of his people since the age of four, he has no interest in impractical schemes or romantic gestures. He knows that, in the 8th century, Tibetan troops captured the Chinese capital, Chang'an, while at other times, China has almost erased Tibet. No border lasts forever. For 10 recent Novembers, I traveled across Japan with him, spending every moment of his working day by his side; what moved me most deeply, every year, was when we stepped into a room full of ragged, sobbing figures, and I realized that every one of them was Han Chinese, from the People's Republic, depleting hard-earned savings to come to Japan to listen to the Dalai Lama. For Buddhists, he is a formidable scholar who draws on ancient texts to show that people's interdependent destinies make environmental awareness and global consciousness a necessity. For Tibetans, he has become one of the three defining Dalai Lamas of their history. But for the rest of us, he's been an open-hearted incarnation of conscience who puts his faith in 'common sense, common experience, and scientific findings.' A natural democrat, he renounced all temporal power in 2011, though his people often wish he'd make all their decisions for them. He has also often stated that he may be the last Dalai Lama—though not the last spiritual leader of the Tibetans—since, on his death, Beijing will surely choose a boy who's a Party member and present him as a successor. It's a curious paradox in his life that he has set up Tibetan monasteries and communities in India and across the world, even as Tibet itself is ever more eroded by foreign settlers and murderous policies. He has inspired confidence in many countries, even as his own people, in their suffering, are driven to self-immolation and calls for armed resistance. And he's become a beloved visitor to almost every continent, even though unable to return to his homeland. Yet one of his sovereign gifts, in our short-attention age, is for never losing sight of the larger picture. The day after he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, in 1989, I barged in on him with questions on behalf of this very magazine. Though Tibetans across the globe were celebrating the victory, the Dalai Lama was, as ever, more measured and far-sighted. He really wondered if he'd done enough, he told me, but all he could do was give all of himself, day after day, in the knowledge that in the long run—as his peers and teachers, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King knew—the moral universe bends towards justice. Ninety years from now—and in centuries to come—he will be remembered as one of our first global spiritual leaders, and one of the most enduring.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Mega Millions, Pick 3 on July 4, 2025
Looking to win big? The Idaho Lottery offers several games if you think it's your lucky day. Lottery players in Idaho can chose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Lucky For Life, 5 Star Draw, Idaho Cash, Pick 3 and Pick 4. Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here's what experts say to do first. Here's a look at Friday, July 4, 2025 results for each game: Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 4 drawing 17-20-24-41-42, Mega Ball: 24 Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 4 drawing Day: 2-3-0 Night: 9-8-2 Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 4 drawing Day: 9-9-9-5 Night: 9-2-6-1 Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lucky For Life numbers from July 4 drawing 09-26-27-30-46, Lucky Ball: 05 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Idaho Cash numbers from July 4 drawing 01-02-06-19-36 Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ? Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Maine Lottery results: See winning numbers for Mega Millions, Pick 3 on July 4, 2025
The Maine Lottery offers several games for those aiming to win big. You can pick from national lottery games, like the Powerball and Mega Millions, or a variety of local and regional games, like the Pick 3, Pick 4 and Gimme 5. While your odds of winning a big jackpot in the Powerball or Mega Millions are generally pretty slim (here's how they compare to being struck by lightning or dealt a royal flush), other games offer better odds to win cash, albeit with lower prize amounts. Here's a look at Friday, July 4, 2025 results for each game: Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 4 drawing 17-20-24-41-42, Mega Ball: 24 Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 4 drawing Day: 2-6-3 Evening: 6-1-8 Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 4 drawing Day: 0-3-5-0 Evening: 6-7-5-9 Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lucky For Life numbers from July 4 drawing 09-26-27-30-46, Lucky Ball: 05 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Gimme 5 numbers from July 4 drawing 08-26-27-34-39 Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results When are the Maine Lottery drawings held? Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
