JEFF TURNER
Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, once one of America’s most recognisable religious figures, has died at the age of 90. His passing was announced Tuesday through a post on his Facebook page saying, “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. 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.”
While a cause of death was not immediately given, it was known that Swaggart had been in poor health in recent years.
A Louisiana native, Swaggart rose from humble beginnings to become a Pentecostal preacher with a presence both in the pulpit and on screen. Born into a poor family, Swaggart grew up surrounded by music. He excelled at gospel piano and often performed alongside his famous cousins — rock ’n’ roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis and country music star Mickey Gilley.
Swaggart’s ministry began modestly with a radio show and a religious magazine, but it wasn’t long before he harnessed the power of television. By the late 1980s, his impassioned sermons and charismatic style had turned him into a household name. His broadcasts reached millions around the world, and his ministry grew into a multimillion-dollar empire.
However, Swaggart’s prominence came crashing down amid prostitution scandals. In a tearful and widely viewed 1988 sermon, Swaggart stood before his congregation and the nation, weeping as he confessed, “I have sinned against you… I beg you to forgive me.” The fallout was swift. His church ordered a two-year rehabilitation programme, including a full year where he was barred from preaching.
Though his ministry never regained its former scale, Swaggart continued to preach and broadcast for decades, albeit to a reduced audience.
Jimmy Swaggart was 90.
