Renowned televangelist Jim Bakker, who, alongside his first wife Tammy Faye, established a religious media empire through the popular show The PTL Club, has passed away at the age of 86. Bakker’s death was confirmed by his second wife, Lori Bakker, who expressed her deep loss. The exact cause of his death has not been disclosed.
Living in the vicinity of Branson, Missouri, Bakker and his wife filmed The Jim Bakker Show in the area starting in 2003. Their significant impact in the evangelical world stemmed from The PTL Club, which garnered immense popularity in the 1980s, attracting up to 13 million viewers nightly. The couple’s ministry also included the establishment of the Heritage USA theme park and hotel in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Originally from Muskegon, Michigan, Bakker began his religious journey at North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, where he met Tammy Faye. They embarked on a traveling ministry, catching the attention of televangelist Pat Robertson and eventually launching The PTL Club on the PTL Satellite Network.
However, the Bakkers’ empire faced turmoil in the late 1980s due to a sex scandal involving Bakker and financial crimes within their organization. Bakker’s admission of misconduct led to his resignation, with subsequent legal troubles culminating in a conviction for fraud and conspiracy. Despite the challenges, Tammy Faye remained loyal to Bakker until their divorce in 1992.
After serving time in prison, Bakker remarried and launched The Jim Bakker Show with his second wife, Lori. In a recent settlement in June 2021, Bakker resolved a lawsuit related to false claims about a health supplement’s ability to cure COVID-19.
Throughout his life, Bakker’s journey in the evangelical world was marked by highs and lows, leaving a lasting legacy in Christian television.
