Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart hospitalized in critical condition
Pastor Donnie Swaggart said during a prayer service June 15 that his father was found at his home around 8 a.m. and revived before being taken to a local hospital, saying that only a 'miracle' could extend his father's life.
'He never regained consciousness,' he said. 'I've never seen so many people arrive at one time, and I want to thank them. They were able to get a heartbeat back. Right now, he is in the ICU, and without a miracle, his time will be short. But we believe God − we're not giving up.'
Jimmy Swaggart, a prominent evangelist for decades, is a native of Ferriday, Louisiana, and serves as the pastor of the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
During the peak of his exposure in the 1980s, Swaggart became involved in various prostitution scandals that led to his suspension and defrocking. The scandals peaked in 1988 when Swaggart delivered his infamous "I have sinned" speech on live television.
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on Monday, June 16.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jimmy Swaggart: Televangelist hospitalized after cardiac arrest
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