Jim Bakker, the influential televangelist who constructed a massive religious media empire alongside his first wife, Tammy Faye, before losing it amid financial crimes and a high-profile scandal, has died at the age of 86. His death on Monday was announced in a statement by his second wife, Lori Bakker, though a specific cause of death was not immediately disclosed. The couple lived near the Missouri entertainment hub of Branson, where they had produced ‘The Jim Bakker Show’ since its debut in 2003. Bakker had previously suffered a stroke in 2020. Lori Bakker praised her late husband as a pioneer of Christian television, noting his dedication to his ministry through numerous seasons of life. Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Bakker met Tammy Faye at North Central Bible College in Minneapolis. The couple married in 1961 and left school to pursue a traveling ministry, with Jim preaching while Tammy Faye sang and played the accordion. Their early efforts drew the attention of televangelist Pat Robertson, leading them to launch a children’s program on the Christian Broadcasting Network in 1965 and later host ‘The 700 Club.’ After leaving CBN in 1972, Bakker established the PTL Satellite Network two years later, featuring ‘The PTL Club’ as its flagship broadcast. By the mid-1980s, the ministry reached unprecedented heights, pulling in millions of dollars annually from devoted followers and attracting up to 13 million nightly viewers. The enterprise also included Heritage USA, a sprawling Christian-themed park and hotel complex located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Styled similarly to a Christian late-night talk show, ‘The PTL Club’ blended upbeat sermons with guest interviews and musical performances. The Bakkers became prominent cultural figures during the 1980s and 1990s, frequently drawing parodies from late-night comedians and ‘Saturday Night Live’ due to their affluent lifestyle and Tammy Faye’s distinct, heavy makeup. Their tumultuous life story was later revisited in the 2021 biographical film ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye.’
Source: cbsnews.com
