Jimmy Swaggart
Jimmy Lee Swaggart (March 15, 1935 – July 1, 2025) was an American Pentecostal televangelist.[1] His church, Family Worship Center, is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Swaggart wrote about 50 Christian books. He sold over 15 million records worldwide as a gospel artist. He also received a Grammy Award nomination.[2][3]
Career
[change | change source]Swaggart first started his television ministry in 1975. The show airs nationally across the U.S. and overseas. The weekly Jimmy Swaggart Telecast and A Study in the Word are shown nationwide and overseas on 78 channels in 104 countries and live over the Internet.[4] He preaches a message called "The Cross" which is that you can only get to heaven through Jesus.
He was a very controversial figure, too. He was caught with a prostitute in 1987, but later asked God (and the public) for forgiveness. He was caught again in 1991.[5]
In 1981, Swaggart received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Gospel Performance, Traditional for his album Worship.[6]
Swaggart held many crusades in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, and South Africa.[7]
Despite being known as an important figure in the Christian Right, Swaggart was politically independent.[8] However, he was a supporter of President Donald Trump.[9]
Personal life
[change | change source]Swaggart was born in Ferriday, Louisiana.[5] He was a cousin of musicians Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley. Swaggart was married to Frances Swaggart, who hosts the popular SonLife Radio program, Frances and Friends. They had one son, Donnie, who is also a minister. They had three grandchildren, Jennifer, Gabriel and Matthew Swaggart. Gabriel also served the ministry as pastor of Crossfire Youth Ministries.[10]
In June 2025, Swaggart was hospitalized in Baton Rouge, Louisiana after going into cardiac arrest at his home.[11] He died in Baton Rouge on July 1, 2025 at the age of 90.[12][13][10]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "www.jsm.org". Archived from the original on 2017-06-24. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
- ↑ "Jimmy Swaggart Ministries". Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. October 18, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
- ↑ "About Jimmy Swaggart". Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
- ↑ "Family Worship Center". Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Djupe, Paul A.; Olson, Laura R. (2008). Encyclopedia of American religion and politics. Checkmark Books. p. 430. ISBN 978-0-8160-7555-3. Retrieved Sep 26, 2012.
- ↑ "Jimmy Swaggart : One Nomination". Grammy. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ↑ King, Wayne; Times, Special To the New York (February 22, 1988). "Swaggart Says He Has Sinned; Will Step Down". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
- ↑ Jeansonne, Glen; Luhrssen, David (December 20, 2012). "Jimmy Swaggart". 64 Parishes. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ↑ Swaggart, Jimmy (October 28, 2024). "Yes, Mr. President - we love you and are praying for you". Facebook. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Stout, David (2025-07-01). "Jimmy Swaggart, Passionate Televangelist Ousted by Scandal, Dies at 90". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ↑ "Rev. Jimmy Swaggart hospitalized after going into cardiac arrest at Louisiana home". The Advocate. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ↑ Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, beloved Evangelist and gospel music pioneer, dies at 90
- ↑ Hilburn, Greg. "Louisiana televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, 'King of Honky Tonk Heaven,' dies". The Times. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
Other websites
[change | change source]
Media related to Jimmy Swaggart at Wikimedia Commons
Quotations related to Jimmy Swaggart at Wikiquote
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