Jimmy Swaggart, televangelist rocked by prostitution scandals, dies at 90
Swaggart encapsulated his downfall in a tearful 1988 sermon, in which he wept and apologized but made no reference to his connection to a prostitute.'I have sinned against you,' Swaggart told parishioners nationwide. 'I beg you to forgive me.' He announced his resignation from the Assemblies of God later that year, shortly after the church said it was defrocking him for rejecting punishment it had ordered for 'moral failure.'The church had wanted him to undergo a two-year rehabilitation program, including not preaching for a full year. Swaggart said at the time that he knew dismissal was inevitable but insisted he had no choice but to separate from the church to save his ministry and Bible college.advertisementFrom poverty and oil fields to a household name, Swaggart grew up poor, the son of a preacher, in a music-rich family. He excelled at piano and gospel music, playing and singing with talented cousins who took different paths: rock-'n'-roller Jerry Lee Lewis and country singer Mickey Gilley.In his hometown of Ferriday, Louisiana, Swaggart said he first heard the call of God at age 8. The voice gave him goose bumps and made his hair tingle, he said.'Everything seemed different after that day in front of the Arcade Theater,' he said in a 1985 interview with the Jacksonville Journal-Courier in Illinois. 'I felt better inside. Almost like taking a bath.'- Ends
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Who was Jimmy Swaggart? From cousin of rock icons to the Gospel preacher who rose to fame before scandals reshaped his legacy
Jimmy Swaggart, a prominent name in American televangelism during the 20th century, passed away on 1 July 2025 at the age of 90. He had suffered a cardiac arrest on 15 June and was admitted to Baton Rouge General Medical Center, where he remained under care until his death. His family confirmed he died surrounded by loved ones. Born in Ferriday, Louisiana, on 15 March 1935, Swaggart rose to national fame in the 1970s and 1980s as a Pentecostal preacher and gospel musician. He was the cousin of musicians Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley. His syndicated sermons and gospel recordings earned him both a wide following and multiple Grammy nominations, with over 15 million albums sold. Final days and cause of death According to an official update from Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, Swaggart had been in declining health in recent years. After suffering a cardiac arrest at home, he was taken to hospital and remained under medical supervision until his death two weeks later. An Instagram post from the ministry said, 'Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Saviour, Jesus Christ.' Impact of scandals on his career Swaggart's career was marked by two major scandals involving sex workers, which had significant consequences on his public and religious standing. In 1988, he was found with a prostitute in New Orleans, after which he publicly admitted wrongdoing and was defrocked by the Assemblies of God. A second incident in 1991, involving another sex worker in California, led to further damage to his image, including the loss of several national broadcasting contracts. These events contributed to a sharp decline in his mainstream visibility throughout the 1990s. Ministry rebuilding and legacy Despite the controversies, Swaggart continued to operate outside traditional Pentecostal structures. He established the SonLife Broadcasting Network and led services at the Family Worship Centre in Baton Rouge. He also revived the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College, focusing on Pentecostal education and ministry training. Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who has passed on to his heavenly home. Brother Swaggart has impacted countless lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Join us as we pray for his family, ministry, and all who have been… He retained a global audience through online and satellite programming, although his reach never returned to its peak. After his death, statements from his family, including his wife Frances Swaggart and son Donnie, described his life as one dedicated to evangelism and gospel music. Public reaction remains divided. Some view Swaggart as a foundational figure in evangelical broadcasting, while others recall the scandals that reshaped his career trajectory. His influence on gospel music and Christian media remained significant until his final Swaggart leaves behind a legacy shaped by early influence, public scandal, and continued evangelical broadcasting until his final days.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Jimmy Swaggart, the controversial and longest-serving televangelist in America, has passed away at 90
Jimmy Swaggart, America's longest-serving televangelist, has passed away at the age of 90. The news, which was broken by his family on Tuesday, July 1, closes the book on one of the most remarkable pastors to ever appear on American television. Jimmy Swaggart recounted his early life in his autobiography To Cross a River, where he claimed to have started from humble beginnings as an impoverished preacher in rural Louisiana. Unable to afford a home, Jimmy and his family resided in church basements, motels, and the homes of other pastors. Jimmy's fortunes would change after he began his career as a televised preacher in the 1970s and 1980s, eventually gaining a massive following and influence. Jimmy Swaggart's career was dogged with controversy Televangelist Rev. Jimmy Swaggart dead at 90 — weeks after suffering a heart attack With his increasing prominence came increased controversy, however, as after founding Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, the televangelist threw his support behind the Mozambican National Resistance during the Mozambique Civil War. The Mozambican National Resistance, or RENAMO, was dogged with allegations of war crimes, and Jimmy's own reputation was tarnished after allegations emerged of Swaggart Ministries providing direct material support to the militant group. Jimmy would later face scandals of a more personal nature, with him being accused of soliciting prostitutes on multiple occasions. The first public scandal was the culmination of a longstanding feud Swaggart had with rival minister Martin Gorman. Retaliating to Swaggart's accusations of impropriety, Martin began his own investigation, resulting in him uncovering Swaggart's affair with local prostitute Debra Murphree at the Travel Inn in New Orleans. Swaggart's response to these allegations was a public, tearful speech that he gave on February 1988, where he said: "I have sinned against You, my Lord, and I would ask that Your Precious Blood ... would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God's forgetfulness never to be remembered against me anymore." Jimmy Swaggart's legacy continues with his son While Jimmy Swaggart's reputation would never fully recover from these scandals, he maintained a dedicated following, and Jimmy Swaggart Ministries would remain active throughout the remainder of his life. Jimmy's son, Donnie Swaggart, and his grandson, Gabriel Swaggart, are also preachers, and seem set to carry on Jimmy's legacy after his passing.
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
Jimmy Swaggart, televangelist rocked by prostitution scandals, dies at 90
Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who became a household name amassing an enormous following and multimillion-dollar ministry only to be undone by his penchant for prostitutes, has died decades after his once vast audience dwindled and his name became a punchline on late night television. His death was announced Tuesday on his public Facebook page. A cause wasn't immediately given, though at 90 he had been in poor Louisiana native was best known for being a captivating Pentecostal preacher with a massive following before being caught on camera with a prostitute in New Orleans in 1988, one of a string of successful TV preachers brought down in the 1980s and '90s by sex scandals. He continued preaching for decades, but with a reduced audience. Swaggart encapsulated his downfall in a tearful 1988 sermon, in which he wept and apologized but made no reference to his connection to a prostitute.'I have sinned against you,' Swaggart told parishioners nationwide. 'I beg you to forgive me.' He announced his resignation from the Assemblies of God later that year, shortly after the church said it was defrocking him for rejecting punishment it had ordered for 'moral failure.'The church had wanted him to undergo a two-year rehabilitation program, including not preaching for a full year. Swaggart said at the time that he knew dismissal was inevitable but insisted he had no choice but to separate from the church to save his ministry and Bible poverty and oil fields to a household name, Swaggart grew up poor, the son of a preacher, in a music-rich family. He excelled at piano and gospel music, playing and singing with talented cousins who took different paths: rock-'n'-roller Jerry Lee Lewis and country singer Mickey his hometown of Ferriday, Louisiana, Swaggart said he first heard the call of God at age 8. The voice gave him goose bumps and made his hair tingle, he said.'Everything seemed different after that day in front of the Arcade Theater,' he said in a 1985 interview with the Jacksonville Journal-Courier in Illinois. 'I felt better inside. Almost like taking a bath.'- Ends
