He is not what he realistically has become, an increasingly shrill and marginalized maverick preacher on His troubles in the 1980's, have provided for him some measure of assurance that Of new converts and idealistic Christians, many too young (or undiscerning) to have been aware of Loyalists have kept his ministry afloat for the past decade Where his take on current events and religion can be heard. Much of Swaggart's "Evangelist" periodical,Īs on SonLife, is used to market his music CD's and tapesĪnd self-published Bible commentaries, and provide for him a monthly platform Banking heavily on Internet and radio networking,Ī mouse click or a radio dial twist can bring one to a website-archived worship services at the Family Worship CenterĬhurch Swaggart founded or a flow of his gospel piano music. Homespun, down-home revivalism that helped create his preacher's persona. Pentecostal conservatism: indeed, it is a reiteration of the same kind of Ministry at his Baton Rouge headquarters, having sold off much of its property,Ĭlosed much of his Bible School, and virtually ceasing all of the world missions support work he once did.īut the Swaggart ministry presence shows no reinvention of the evangelist's To this day Swaggart presides over the wobbling remnants of his once vast Them and fundraises continually through the broadcasts to pay for their Station feeds that feature the teaching and preaching of Swaggart, his wifeįrancis, son Donny and grandson Gabriel. JSM seeks to accomplish this by using Internet webcasts,Ī selective use of secular and Christian cable and satellite broadcasting, and radio Reestablish his syndicated "Telecast" programming around the world as SonLife isĪn ad hoc media outreach of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries (JSM), ever engaged in an arduous Manages to get aired through Swaggart's SonLife Broadcasting Network. Time one of the most watched television programs in Christian circles in theġ980's alongside the "PTL Club" and the "700 Club" still Mostly evaporated, leaving him high and dry with only a few fanatical supporters But after another dalliance in 1991 with a Chicana prostitute inĬalifornia, what support he was able to rally after his initial bolt from the AoG His personal presence at the helm of his evangelistic association to prevent itįrom a collapse, Swaggart chose to leave the AoG and pursue an Submit to their inexplicably lenient probationary period and citing the need for Leadership over his "period of restoration." Refusing to Needlessly messy and equally public clash with AoG executive Seemed much more "punitive" than the Louisiana AoG presbytery.īut Swaggart's determination to put his fall behind him initiated a Rehabilitation program oversight) although this effort's objectives hardly Superceded by the national AoG leadership in Springfield, Missouri with an aim on more thoroughĭisciplinary action, (a year's suspension of pulpit ministry and two years of "action" in essence simply compelled Swaggart to step down from his Louisiana AoG presbytery's official disciplinary Indiscretions emerged that further revealed a profound depth of serious moral failure Its way through the courts, far more disturbing details about Swaggart's Utterly hypocritical fashion - had personally helped to oust from theġ996, when litigation Gorman brought against Swaggart for slander began to work Of another fallen AoG evangelist, Marvin Gorman, whom Swaggart - in Revelation of surveillance conducted on him by the private investigators The sordid details of Swaggart's secret trysts with Murphree were supplied by a public Of Baton Rouge, Louisiana became public knowledge in the winter of 1988. Visitations with prostitute Debra Murphree and others in the red light districts Life of the one-time Assemblies of God (AoG) evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, whose decidedly unclerical What this person is referring to is the all too painfully public deconstruction of the ministry and Touch? We are quick to throw stones, yet, not quick to administer love and forgiveness. How many have taken the time to pray for him and the lives he and Donnie Perfectly capture the sentiments of these well-meaning, yet deluded Christians: That often entirely obscures real consideration of the matter. These issues reveal that the subject is often riddled with emotional argumentation Seem to escape their notice, things this article will strive to underscore. Swaggart's life example and ministry that always Rush to define how Christian mercy has been withheld from the fallen, they overlook several important matters about How the church has "shot our wounded" and generally been legalistic, It is piteouslyĪsked by many who look at the sad career of Pentecostal evangelist Jimmy Swaggart as an example of Need for a legitimate response to it, one question continually comes up. Church when confronted with the moral failures of its leadership and the dire