JimmySwaggart Dies at 90: Televangelist Who Rose to Global Fame Before Scandalous Fall

Baton Rouge, LA – July 1, 2025 — The Rev. Jimmy Lee Swaggart, once one of America’s most influential televangelists, has died at the age of 90. Swaggart, who built a global ministry from humble beginnings in rural Louisiana, passed away weeks after being hospitalized for a heart attack. His death was confirmed by Jimmy Swaggart Ministries via a statement on social media.

A fiery Pentecostal preacher known for his emotional sermons, booming voice, and gospel music, Swaggart once reached tens of millions through his televised revivals. At the height of his influence in the 1980s, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries aired in over 140 countries and took in donations totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars daily. His message — a dramatic battle between good and evil — captivated countless viewers and followers around the world.

From Pulpit to Scandal

Swaggart’s charismatic preaching and musical performances made him a household name, but his ministry was rocked by scandal in 1987 when he was photographed with a prostitute in New Orleans. The fallout was immediate and severe: the Assemblies of God suspended him, and he gave a tear-filled public confession in February 1988, pleading for forgiveness from his family, his followers, and God.

“I have sinned against you, my Lord,” he declared, weeping before a congregation of 7,000. “And I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain.”

The scene became one of the most iconic moments in televangelist history — but the damage was done.

Only months before, Swaggart had publicly condemned fellow televangelists Jim Bakker and Marvin Gorman for sexual impropriety. Gorman later hired a private investigator, who uncovered the scandal that ultimately led to Swaggart’s public fall from grace. Gorman later sued Swaggart for defamation and won a $10 million verdict, which was eventually settled for a lesser amount.

Swaggart’s refusal to comply with the Assemblies of God's full-year suspension led to his defrocking in 1988. He insisted that taking a year off would destroy his ministry, choosing instead to continue preaching independently.

A Second Scandal and Diminished Influence

In 1991, another scandal emerged when Swaggart was stopped by police in California while accompanied by a prostitute. This time, he expressed no public remorse, telling his congregation:

“The Lord told me it’s flat none of your business.”

Although he continued to preach, the scandals severely impacted his audience and fundraising efforts. Swaggart never regained the prominence he once held, though his Family Worship Center remained active, and his son Donnie Swaggart took on a leading role in the ministry.

A Life of Passion, Music, and Controversy

Jimmy Swaggart was born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, to Willie and Minnie Swaggart. He grew up poor and deeply religious. He was also first cousin to rock ’n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis and country star Mickey Gilley. The three cousins were childhood companions who discovered music together on an old piano and occasionally snuck into Black nightclubs as teens.

Swaggart married Frances Anderson at the age of 17. By 18, he had become a father and soon began traveling across the South holding tent revivals, preaching the Pentecostal gospel, and playing gospel music. He started his television ministry in 1975 and quickly became a sensation.

Over the years, Swaggart recorded numerous gospel albums and published books on Christian living. Despite controversies, he remained a powerful orator, praised even by skeptics for his ability to sway audiences.

“I don’t believe a word he says, but I don’t know anyone in the world who’s better with a closing argument,” one lawyer famously told a sociologist in a 1988 New York Times profile.

Swaggart also drew criticism for his rigid theology. He denounced Catholicism, Judaism, Mormonism, and Christian Science as “false cults,” alienating interfaith audiences while reinforcing his fundamentalist stance.

Legacy of Redemption and Resilience

Even in his final years, Swaggart continued to preach from the Family Worship Center pulpit in Baton Rouge, his voice softer, his hair gray, but his message unchanged. He often spoke of forgiveness, weakness, and the patience of God.

“God is patient with us,” he said during a 2014 televised sermon. “Thank God for that.”

Jimmy Swaggart is survived by his wife Frances, son Donnie, several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Though his legacy remains controversial, Swaggart's rise and fall shaped the landscape of modern televangelism and remains a cautionary tale of charisma, power, and the challenges of public ministry.

Hashtags for Social Media:

#JimmySwaggart #Televangelist #ChristianNews #Evangelism #PentecostalPreacher #ScandalAndFaith #ReligiousLeaders #AmericanChristianity #BreakingNews #FaithAndFailure