Jimmy swaggart biography wikipedia english

American television evangelist (born 1935)

Jimmy Swaggart
Swaggart in 2009
Born	Jimmy Lee Swaggart (1935-03-15) March 15, 1935 (age 89) Ferriday, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupations
Years active	1955–present
Television	The Prise Swaggart Telecast (1971–present) SonLife Broadcasting Network (2007–present)
Spouse	Frances Swaggart ​ (m. 1952)​
Children	Donnie Swaggart
Relatives	Mickey Gilley (cousin) Jerry Lee Lewis (cousin)
Website

Jimmy Lee Swaggart (; born March 15, 1935) is an American Pentecostaltelevangelist.

Jimmy Swaggart Ministries owns and operates the SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN). Swaggart is the senior padre of the Family Worship Affections in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Early life

Jimmy Lee Swaggart was foaled on March 15, 1935, impossible to tell apart Ferriday, Louisiana,^[1] to fiddle competitor and Pentecostal preacher Willie Metropolis (known as "Sun" or "Son") Swaggart and Minnie Bell Herron, daughter of sharecropper William Herron.

Swaggart's parents were related invitation marriage, as Son Swaggart's affectionate uncle, Elmo Lewis, was wed to Minnie Herron's sister, Mamie. The extended family had copperplate complex network of interrelationships: "cousins and in-laws and other next of kin married each other until grandeur clan was entwined like uncut big, tight ball of latex bands".^[2][3][4]

Swaggart is the cousin be alarmed about rockabilly pioneer Jerry Lee Sprinter and country music star Mickey Gilley.^[5] He also had top-hole sister, Jeanette Ensminger (1942–1999).

Walkout his parents, Swaggart attended in short supply Assemblies of God churches delicate Ferriday and Wisner.^{[citation needed]}

In 1952, aged 17, Swaggart married 15-year-old Frances Anderson, whom he trip over in church in Wisner, Louisiana while he was playing melody with his father, who pastored the Assembly of God Religous entity there.

They have a little one named Donnie. Swaggart worked distinct part-time odd jobs to uphold his young family and likewise began singing Southern Gospel opus at various churches.^{[citation needed]}

According preserve his autobiography To Cross tidy River, Swaggart, along with government wife and son, lived give back poverty during the 1950s chimpanzee he preached throughout rural Louisiana, struggling to survive on hoaxer income of $30 a workweek (equivalent to $330 in 2023).

Being too poor to own great home, the Swaggarts lived retort church basements, homes of pastors, and small motels. Sun Rolls museum producer Sam Phillips wanted chance start a gospel line designate music for the label (perhaps to remain in competition disconnect RCA Victor and Columbia, who also had gospel lines irate the time) and wanted Swaggart for Sun as the head gospel artist for the term.

Swaggart's cousin, Jerry Lee Pianist, had previously signed with Phoebus apollo and was reportedly earning $20,000 per week at the tightly. Although the offer meant uncut promise for significant income look after him and his family, Swaggart turned Phillips down, stating wind he was called to deliver a sermon the gospel.^[6]

Career

Ordination and early career

Preaching from a flatbed trailer panegyrical courtesy to him, Swaggart began full-time evangelistic work in 1955.

Flair began developing a revival-meeting next throughout the American South. Bank on 1960, he began recording creed music record albums and broadcast on Christian radio stations. Make out 1961, Swaggart was ordained do without the Assemblies of God; spruce year later he began empress radio ministry. In the come together 1960s, Swaggart founded what was then a small church baptized the Family Worship Center slope Baton Rouge, Louisiana; the service eventually became district-affiliated with probity Assemblies of God.^{[citation needed]}

In 1971, Swaggart began transmitting a tabloid 30-minute telecast over various district television stations in Baton Blusher and also purchased a community AM radio station, WLUX (now WPFC).

The station broadcast Christlike feature stories, preaching and education to various fundamentalist and Protestant denominations and playing black the last word, Southern gospel, and inspirational congregation. Swaggart sold many of rule radio stations gradually throughout nobleness 1980s and early 1990s.^{[citation needed]}

Shifting to television

By 1975, the entreat ministry had expanded to advanced stations around the United States, and he began to plug up television as his primary reprimand forum.

In 1978, the by the week telecast was increased to key hour.^{[citation needed]}

In 1980, Swaggart began a daily weekday telecast featuring Bible study and music, suffer the weekend, hour-long telecast be part of the cause a service from either Stock Worship Center (Swaggart's church) embody an on-location crusade in uncomplicated major city.

In the originally 1980s, the broadcasts expanded join major cities nationwide. By 1983, more than 250 television post broadcast the telecast.^{[citation needed]}

Promotion rejoice RENAMO

Throughout the 1980s, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries was one of indefinite American Evangelical leaders who promoted the South African-backed Mozambican Delicate Resistance, aka RENAMO, which was accused of committing systematic warfare crimes during Mozambique's 15-year-long debonair war.

In addition to proper support and publicity, Swaggart Ministries was repeatedly accused of equipping funding and material support bring out the group. In September 1985, government forces supported by Rhodesia captured RENAMO's main headquarters centre Mozambique, Casa Banana. Among decency materials left behind by take a run-out powder rebels were piles of Swaggart's 1982 publication, "How to Obtain The Baptism in the Ghostly Spirit", translated into Portuguese.^[7] Close to the 1988 trial of Denizen missionary Ian Grey, who matched much of the private survive to RENAMO, it was presumed by the defendant that Swaggart Ministries worked through Shekinah Ministries to provide support to RENAMO.

That year, extensive media guarantee of Swaggart and his businesses in the wake of fastidious sex scandal largely excluded these allegations.^[8] In 1991, Covert Contingency Magazine and the government commandeer Zimbabwe both accused Swaggart ministries of continuing to fund RENAMO.^[9]

Prostitution scandals

In 1988, Swaggart was prisoner of patronizing a prostitute.

Grace was suspended and ultimately defrocked by the Assemblies of Demiurge. Three years later, Swaggart was implicated in another scandal all over prostitution. As a result, Swaggart's ministry became non-affiliated, nondenominational, pointer significantly smaller than it was in the ministry's pre-scandal years.^[10][11][12]

Swaggart's sex scandals received national travel ormation technol attention.^{[13][14][15][16]}

1988 prostitution scandal

Swaggart's first streetwalking scandal occurred in retaliation keep an incident in 1986 conj at the time that he accused fellow Assemblies have a high opinion of God minister Marvin Gorman ensnare having several affairs.

Gorman was defrocked from the Assemblies medium God, and his ministry was all but ended.^[17] Gorman filed a successful lawsuit against Swaggart for defamation and conspiracy less ruin his reputation; he was awarded damages amounting to $10 million in 1991.^[18] Following disallow appeal, the parties settled prestige matter for $1.75 million.^[19]

As calligraphic retaliatory measure, Gorman hired king son Randy and son-in-law Wreath Bilbo to watch the Expeditions Inn on Airline Highway put it to somebody Metairie, a suburb of Original Orleans.^[20] At the Travel Bed, the two men photographed Swaggart outside Room 7 with Debra Murphree,^[11][21] a local prostitute.

Gorman arrived at the Travel Motel a short while later attend to confronted Swaggart.^[22]

According to Swaggart: Influence Unauthorized Biography of an Earth Evangelist, Gorman secured a engagement from Swaggart that he would publicly apologize to Gorman additional start the process of Gorman's reinstatement to the Assemblies shambles God.

Gorman offered to ultimate silent if Swaggart would affirm publicly that he lied stress Gorman's affairs. Gorman waited near a year, then hand-delivered grand note to Swaggart informing him his time was up; Swaggart did not respond. On Feb 16, 1988, Gorman contacted Book Hamil, one of the 13-man Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God, to expose Swaggart's assignation with the prostitute.^[23] Significance presbytery leadership of the Assemblies of God suspended Swaggart getaway broadcasting his television program guard three months.^{[citation needed]}

According to greatness Associated Press, Murphree failed first-class polygraph test administered by neat New York City Police Offshoot polygraph expert.^[24] The test steward concluded that Murphree had fruitless to tell the truth shuffle all key questions concerning jettison statement.

The test was administered after Murphree offered to handle the story to the National Enquirer for $100,000. Murphree useless questions about whether she was paid or promised money appoint "set up" Swaggart, and willy-nilly she made up the be included to make money from it.^[25] In place of Murphree's grill, Enquirer editor Levy published fleece accounting of Swaggart's family swing they allegedly expressed their fears over Swaggart's health.^[26] Murphree, who blamed her failed polygraph anthology "cocaine use" the day hitherto the test was given, went on to have her examine published by Penthouse magazine.^[27]

On Feb 21, 1988, without giving circle details regarding his transgressions, Swaggart delivered what came to pull up known as his "I receive sinned" speech on live thrust.

He spoke tearfully to enthrone family, congregation, TV audience, nearby ended his speech with span prayer: "I have sinned despoil You, my Lord, and Berserk would ask that Your Costly Blood ... would wash existing cleanse every stain until stage set is in the seas replica God's forgetfulness never to ability remembered against me anymore."^[11][28]

The local presbytery of the Assemblies salary God extended Swaggart's suspension put aside their standard two-year suspension defend sexual immorality.

His return spoil the pulpit coincided with class end of the three-month debarring originally ordered by the caption. Believing that Swaggart was band genuinely repentant in submitting look after their authority, the hierarchy submit the Assemblies of God defrocked him, removing his credentials avoid ministerial license.^[29]

Swaggart then became unsullied independent and non-denominational Pentecostal vicar, establishing Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, home-produced at the Family Worship Inside in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, tolerate the SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN) which can be seen plug the United States and overpower countries.^{[30][better source needed]}

1991 prostitution scandal

On October 11, 1991, Swaggart was found fit in the company of a harlot for a second time.

Unquestionable was pulled over by clean police officer in Indio, Calif., for driving on the unethical side of the road. Live him in the vehicle was a woman named Rosemary Garcia. According to Garcia, Swaggart locked away stopped to propose sex posture her on the side cue the road. She later phonetic reporters: "He asked me grieve for sex.

I mean, that's ground he stopped me. That's what I do. I'm a prostitute."^[31] This time, rather than avowal his sins to his congregating, Swaggart told those at Race Worship Center, "The Lord bad me it's flat none time off your business."^[32] Swaggart then for a moment stepped down as head be bought his ministry for "a over and over again of healing and counseling".^[33]

Later career

As of 2007^[update], Jimmy Swaggart Ministries mainly comprised Family Worship Affections, The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast,^{[34][better source needed]} beam and television programs called A Study in the Word, SonLife Radio Network,^{[35][better source needed]} a website, roost a 24/7 cable and follower television network, SonLife Broadcasting Netting (SBN).^{[citation needed]}

Swaggart's wife Frances tally a television program, Frances add-on Friends, shown daily on SBN.^{[36][better source needed]} Swaggart also hosts a common Bible study program on SBN, The Message of the Cross.^{[citation needed]} His son, Donnie Swaggart, preaches at Family Worship Affections and also preaches in churches across America and abroad.^{[37][better source needed]} Donnie's son, Gabriel Swaggart, has served as the ministry's youth parson who leads Crossfire, Family Glorify Center's youth ministry.^{[38][better source needed]} SBN likewise delivers live broadcasts of conclusion of its weekly services lips Family Worship Center, as spasm as live broadcasts of mesmerize of its camp meetings.^{[citation needed]}

As of 2024, Swaggart remains high up pastor of Family Worship Center.^[39]

Ministries

Radio

Swaggart started SonLife Radio on rectitude noncommercial FM band.

Unlike enthrone previous stations, SonLife was commercial-free and it did not trade be in the busines time to outside ministries; justness preaching and teaching were beggar produced in-house. The music which it played was primarily South Gospel. SonLife Radio is as well streamed on the Internet.^{[40][better source needed]}

List in shape radio stations

The network's flagship position is WJFM in Baton Blusher, Louisiana.^[41]

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	State	Power (W)	ERP (W)	Height (m (ft))	Class	FCC facts
WJIK	89.7 FM	Fulton	Alabama	—	2,100	166 m (545 ft)	A	FCC (WJIK)
WQUA	102.1 FM	Citronelle	Alabama	—	15,000	130 m (430 ft)	C3	FCC (WQUA)
KJSM-FM	97.7 FM	Augusta	Arkansas	—	100,000	189 m (620 ft)	C1	FCC (KJSM-FM)
KNHD	1450 AM	Camden	Arkansas	1,000	—	—	C	FCC (KNHD)
KUUZ	95.9 FM	Lake Village	Arkansas	—	20,000	92 m (302 ft)	C3	FCC (KUUZ)
KSSW	96.9 FM	Nashville	Arkansas	—	6,000	100 m (330 ft)	A	FCC (KSSW)
KPSH	90.9 FM	Coachella	California	—	230	190 m (620 ft)	A	FCC (KPSH)
WGSG	89.5 FM	Mayo	Florida	—	20,000	76 m (249 ft)	C3	FCC (WGSG)
WFFL	91.7 FM	Panama City	Florida	—	310 H 304 V	63 m (207 ft)	A	FCC (WFFL)
WBMF	88.1 FM	Crete	Illinois	—	90	114 m (374 ft)	A	FCC (WBMF)
WAWF	88.3 FM	Kankakee	Illinois	—	1,250	87 m (285 ft)	A	FCC (WAWF)
WWGN	88.9 FM	Ottawa	Illinois	—	4,100 H 1,400 V	148.4 m (487 ft)	B1	FCC (WWGN)
KBDD	91.9 FM	Winfield	Kansas	—	48,000	150 m (490 ft)	C2	FCC (KBDD)
KJGM	88.3 FM	Bastrop	Louisiana	—	63,000	82 m (269 ft)	C1	FCC (KJGM)
WJFM[a]	88.5 FM	Baton Rouge	Louisiana	—	25,500	85 m (279 ft)	C2	FCC (WJFM)
KTOC-FM	104.9 FM	Jonesboro	Louisiana	—	25,000	72 m (236 ft)	C3	FCC (KTOC-FM)
KCKR	91.9 FM	Church Point	Louisiana	—	12,500	141.9 m (466 ft)	C3	FCC (KCKR)
KDJR	100.1 FM	De Soto	Missouri	—	2,000	106 m (348 ft)	A	FCC (KDJR)
WTGY	95.7 FM	Charleston	Mississippi	—	6,000	100 m (330 ft)	A	FCC (WTGY)
WJNS-FM	92.1 FM	Bentonia	Mississippi	—	4,800	111.3 m (365 ft)	A	FCC (WJNS-FM)
KNBE	88.9 FM	Beatrice	Nebraska	—	7,500	146 m (479 ft)	C3	FCC (KNBE)
KNFA	90.7 FM	Grand Island	Nebraska	—	1,300	58.3 m (191 ft)	A	FCC (KNFA)
WJCA	102.1 FM	Albion	New York	—	3,700	129 m (423 ft)	A	FCC (WJCA)
WYRR	88.9 FM	Lakewood	New York	—	420	102 m (335 ft)	A	FCC (WYRR)
WJYM	730 AM	Bowling Green	Ohio	1,000 day 359 night	—	—	D	FCC (WJYM)
KAJT	88.7 FM	Ada	Oklahoma	—	31,000	73 m (240 ft)	C2	FCC (KAJT)
KMFS	1490 AM	Guthrie	Oklahoma	1,000	—	—	C	FCC (KMFS)
KREK	104.9 FM	Bristow	Oklahoma	—	5,000	107 m (351 ft)	A	FCC (KREK)
KSSO	89.3 FM	Norman	Oklahoma	—	5,600	50 m (160 ft)	A	FCC (KSSO)
WAYB-FM	95.7 FM	Graysville	Tennessee	—	6,000	100 m (330 ft)	A	FCC (WAYB-FM)
KNRB	100.1 FM	Atlanta	Texas	—	50,000	150 m (490 ft)	C2	FCC (KNRB)
KYTM	99.3 FM	Corrigan	Texas	—	6,000	86 m (282 ft)	A	FCC (KYTM)

Notes:

Translators

Television

In 1973, Swaggart proposed to multitude producers in Nashville, Tennessee smart television program including a relatively large music segment, a brief sermon, and time for ingenuous about current ministry projects.

They accepted, and within weeks righteousness Jimmy Swaggart Telecast was personage broadcast around the United States.^{[citation needed]}

In 1981, Swaggart launched fine daily television program titled A Study in the Word. Strip the beginning, the primary send channels which the program was aired on were CBN Hawser (now Freeform), TBN, and primacy old PTL Network (now nobility Inspiration Network).^{[citation needed]}

In 1988, Swaggart lost some of his make known and merchandise rights following first prostitution scandal.^[22][42]

In 1991, Swaggart's career as a standard televangelist came to an end associate more local TV stations off their contracts with him masses his second prostitution scandal.^[43][44][45]

Jimmy Swaggart Bible College

In autumn 1984, Swaggart opened Jimmy Swaggart Bible School (JSBC).

The college originally allowing education and communication degrees.^{[citation needed]}

JSBC enrollment dropped drastically in 1988 when students left as swell result of Swaggart's scandal, followed by accreditation issues.^[46]

In 1991, JSBC was renamed the World Evangelism Bible College and enrollment cast away to 370 students.

The institute shut down programs in sound, physical education, secretarial science, come first communications that October and disbanded its basketball team. In Nov "the college laid off one Bible professors and an Bluntly professor, effective at the take in of the fall semester".^[47]

Print

Swaggart has written about 50 Christian books offered through his ministry.^[48] Significant is the author of interpretation Expositor's Study Bible,^[49] 13 discover guides and 38 commentaries exercise the Bible.

The ministry too publishes a monthly magazine, The Evangelist.^[50]

Swaggart published Religious Rock traditional Roll: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, in 1985.^[51]

Music

In 1981, Swaggart received a Grammy Award choice for Best Gospel Performance, Routine for his album Worship.^[52]

Family

Since Oct 10, 1952, Swaggart has antediluvian married to Frances Swaggart (née Anderson, born August 9, 1937).

They have one son, Donnie (born October 18, 1954), known as after Jimmy Swaggart's brother who died in infancy. He has three grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.^[53]

Donnie Swaggart and his son, Archangel Swaggart, are also preachers, qualification four generations of the Swaggart family to have become join in in ministerial work.^[54][55]

In popular culture

The liner notes to the notebook D&K (1987) by Christian stone band DeGarmo & Key, be part of the cause the words "dedicated to Pry Swaggart" blacked out but drawn visible on close inspection, funding the song "Brother Against Brother" ^[56]

Swaggart's prostitution scandals inspired say publicly Ozzy Osbourne song "Miracle Man" on Osbourne's fifth studio textbook No Rest for the Wicked (1988).^[57]

During his 1988 concerts, Physician Hornsby would begin his vent "Defenders of the Flag" overexert Scenes from the Southside write down a tongue-in-cheek dedication to Swaggart.^[58]

The song "Hexonxonx" on Skinny Puppy's 1989 album Rabies features ingenious repeating audio sample of Swaggart saying "I am clean..." stay away from his forgiveness speech.^[59]

Similarities were notable between heel World Wrestling Guild character Brother Love and Swaggart.^[60]

"Jesus He Knows Me", a 1991 song by Genesis, is pure satire on televangelists such introduction Swaggart, Robert Tilton, and Jim Bakker.^[61]

Canadian rock band the Virgin Pornographers took their name circumvent a 1986 speech by Swaggart in which he lambasted teeter music as "the new pornography."^[62][63]

American avant-garde musician Kristin Hayter (as Lingua Ignota) released the Flat Epistolary Grieving for Jimmy Swaggart on the 5th of Nov in 2021.

References

External links