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- Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart dead at 90, family says (foxnews.com)
Jimmy Swaggart, Longtime Televangelist, Dies at 90
Baton Rouge, LA – Reverend Jimmy Swaggart, whose fiery sermons and gospel music reached millions of homes via television for decades, passed away Tuesday at the age of 90. His family confirmed the news, stating he had “finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Just weeks prior, Swaggart’s son, Donnie Swaggart, had requested prayers for his ailing father during a Sunday service. The family’s Tuesday statement echoed sentiments of both grief and celebration, describing Swaggart as not merely a preacher, but a “worshiper, a warrior, and a witness to the grace and mercy of God.”
Swaggart, born in Ferriday, Louisiana in 1935, embarked on his ministry in 1955. He founded Jimmy Swaggart Ministries and served as pastor of the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge. His television ministry, at its zenith in the mid-1980s, reached over two million households, making him the nation’s top-rated TV preacher at the time.
However, Swaggart’s career was marked by controversy. In 1987, he was embroiled in a scandal involving a prostitute, leading to a tearful, televised apology where he confessed to an unspecified sin.
A few years later, he was again in the spotlight after being stopped by police with a suspected prostitute in his car. He also drew criticism for controversial remarks about the LGBTQ+ community.
Despite these setbacks, Swaggart continued his ministry, remaining a prominent figure in televangelism until his passing.
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- Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart dead at 90, family says (foxnews.com)