Controversial televangelist Jim Bakker has died
7 october 2026 в 06:28
Jim Bakker, the well-known televangelist and former husband of the late Tammy Faye Bakker, has died at the age of 86.
Bakker’s death was announced by his second wife, Lori, on the Facebook page of «The Jim Bakker Show». She wrote, «With a broken heart, I announce that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, has gone to be with the Lord». Lori noted that Jim dedicated 66 years of his life to preaching the Gospel and was a pioneer of Christian television. She added that even in his final days, his heart remained devoted to God’s work.
Jim and Tammy Faye’s son, Jay Bakker, also remembered his father on Facebook. He wrote that they had a complicated relationship and asked for respect for his privacy during this difficult time.
Jim and Tammy Faye rose to fame in the 1970s with their Christian show «The PTL Club», - which raised donations from viewers. Their ministry faced scandal in 1987 when it was revealed that PTL paid $ 279,000 to Jessica Hahn for her silence about an affair with Bakker. In 1988, Jim was indicted for fraud and was sentenced to 45 years in prison in 1989, of which he served five years.
After his release from prison in 1994, Bakker married Lori in 1998 and launched «The Jim Bakker Show» in 2003. In 2021, he and his church reached a settlement in a lawsuit related to false claims about a product called Silver Solution, which was allegedly capable of curing COVID-19.
Bakker’s death was announced by his second wife, Lori, on the Facebook page of «The Jim Bakker Show». She wrote, «With a broken heart, I announce that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, has gone to be with the Lord». Lori noted that Jim dedicated 66 years of his life to preaching the Gospel and was a pioneer of Christian television. She added that even in his final days, his heart remained devoted to God’s work.
Jim and Tammy Faye’s son, Jay Bakker, also remembered his father on Facebook. He wrote that they had a complicated relationship and asked for respect for his privacy during this difficult time.
Jim and Tammy Faye rose to fame in the 1970s with their Christian show «The PTL Club», - which raised donations from viewers. Their ministry faced scandal in 1987 when it was revealed that PTL paid $ 279,000 to Jessica Hahn for her silence about an affair with Bakker. In 1988, Jim was indicted for fraud and was sentenced to 45 years in prison in 1989, of which he served five years.
After his release from prison in 1994, Bakker married Lori in 1998 and launched «The Jim Bakker Show» in 2003. In 2021, he and his church reached a settlement in a lawsuit related to false claims about a product called Silver Solution, which was allegedly capable of curing COVID-19.
© Artemenko Olga
