Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart Dies At 90 (Worthy News In-Depth)

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BATON ROUGE, USA (Worthy News) – U.S. evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who impacted generations and continued faithfully preaching the Gospel after surviving scandals, has died at age 90, his organization confirmed.

Jimmy Swaggart Ministries announced Tuesday, “Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ. Today was the day he has sung about for decades.”

Swaggart, who is believed to have preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ on television longer than any other American in history, had remained in critical condition after suffering a heart attack last month at home in the U.S. city of Baton Rouge.

Family members had been urging prayers at emotionally charged worship services. However, on Tuesday, “he met his beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory. At the same time, we rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day,” his ministry stressed.

“For over seven decades, Brother Swaggart poured out his life preaching the Gospel, singing songs of the faith, and pointing millions to the saving power of Jesus Christ and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.”

And it added that “his voice echoed through nations, his music softened hearts, and his message never changed: Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” and through His resurrection offering eternal life for anyone who believes.

Yet his death ends an era. Swaggart, born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, was one of America’s most well-known preachers. He launched into full-time ministry in 1955.

LONGTIME PASTOR

He was the pastor of the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which he established, and the founder of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

His ministry owns and operates the SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN), which broadcasts his Family Worship Center services.

Swaggart also founded the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College.

At his peak in the mid-1980s, Swaggart was the country’s top-rated TV preacher, broadcasting services to over 2 million households.

However, his image was bruised in 1988 after he faced public scrutiny over his involvement with a prostitute whom he met in a seedy New Orleans motel.

Swaggart never confessed to anything more than an unspecified sin during a televised apology in which he tearfully said: “I have sinned against you, my Lord,” before his congregation during a live broadcast.

However, he did not specify that he had solicited a prostitute.

DEFROCKED BY CHURCH

The incident led to him being defrocked by the Assemblies of God, although he continued to preach. Three years later, Swaggart was again found with a prostitute, this time in Indio, California, the media reported at the time.

Critics condemned his mistakes, but believers supporting Swaggart said they forgave him just as Jesus did with a woman accused of adultery, seen as a capital offense.

They apparently referred to Bible verse John 8:7: “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

Swaggart also made headlines for saying in a televised worship service that he would kill any gay man who looked at him romantically and tell God that he died.

He said he made the comment jokingly and did not mean any harm.

Despite some controversies and personal setbacks, Swaggart continued preaching the Gospel on the airwaves and in person worldwide.

Swaggart held evangelism campaigns or “crusades” including in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, and South Africa.

WRITING, SINGING

He also wrote about 50 Christian books offered through his ministry.

And Swaggart sang, selling over 15 million records worldwide as a Gospel artist and even receiving one Grammy Award nomination.

As the cousin of the late rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, he spoke at Lewis’s funeral.

One of Lewis’ final records was a Gospel album he recorded with Swaggart, which was released just a few months before his death.

“He was not just a preacher- he was a worshiper, a warrior, and a witness to the grace and mercy of God. He was a man whose faith was steadfast and always entered whatever door the Lord opened,” Jimmy Swaggart Ministries stressed in a statement seen by Worthy News. “And the Lord honored that faith.”

His ministry urged prayers for his family and loved ones. “Please continue to lift up Sister Frances, Donnie, Debbie, Gabriel, Jill, Jennifer, Clif, Matt, Joanna, Sam, Ryder, Abby, Lola, Harper, Navy, Harrison, Caroline, and Mackenzie in your prayers.”

It added that the “family would like to thank the staff, doctors, and nurses at Baton Rouge General Medical Center for their incredible support and care given during this time.”

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