Controversial Televangelist Jim Bakker Passes Away at 86
YouTube/The Jim Bakker Show
Renowned televangelist Jim Bakker, known for his rise in Christian broadcasting and subsequent fall from grace, has died at the age of 86. The news was shared by his wife, Lori Bakker, through a statement on “The Jim Bakker Show” Facebook page.
Lori Bakker described her husband as a “pioneer of Christian television,” who devoted 66 years to spreading the Gospel. “He was my husband, my best friend, and the man I was honored to walk beside through so many seasons of life and ministry,” she said.
Jim Bakker’s son, Pastor Jay Bakker, reacted to his father’s death with a Facebook post, acknowledging their “very complicated relationship.” Jay requested privacy during this time, stating, “I need to mourn in my own time.”
Jim Bakker, alongside his first wife Tammy Faye Bakker, gained fame in the 1970s with “The PTL Club.” By 1978, he had established Heritage USA, a massive Christian theme park in South Carolina that drew millions annually.
Reaching its peak in the mid-1980s, the Bakker ministries generated approximately $100 million annually, with their TV show attracting audiences in 13 million homes, according to a 2018 article by Paul Matzko.
The Bakkers faced scandals during the late 1980s, leading to Jim Bakker’s arrest in 1988 and imprisonment from 1989 until 1994. He later chronicled his experiences in the book I Was Wrong.
Following his release, Bakker remarried in 1998 and launched “The Jim Bakker Show,” filmed in Missouri. The show was often criticized for its controversial claims, including promoting products alleged to have healing properties.
In 2020, Bakker faced legal issues after promoting a COVID-19 cure on his show, resulting in a lawsuit by the Missouri government. Former Missouri Governor Jay Nixon defended Bakker, claiming, “This case is about religious freedom.” Bakker settled the case in 2021, agreeing to pay restitution without admitting wrongdoing.
Jim Bakker’s health became a concern in 2020 when he suffered a stroke. Lori Bakker announced the stroke as “the most vicious attack that he has ever experienced.” Despite the health setbacks, Bakker remained dedicated to his ministry.
In the last years of his life, Bakker continued appealing to his audience for financial support, emphasizing the need to sustain his program. “I believe if everyone who watches this program will give a thousand dollars, we’ll be able to pay our bills and stay on the air,” he said in 2025.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
