Jim Bakker, the televangelist who built one of television’s most influential religious networks before his empire collapsed in scandal, died on Monday at the age of 86, according to his second wife.
Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Bakker dropped out of a Bible college in Minneapolis after marrying his first wife, Tammy Faye Bakker. The couple began a traveling ministry and later hosted a children’s show for televangelist Pat Robertson before launching the PTL Satellite Network in 1972.
The network, which stood for “Praise the Lord,” became a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s and 1990s. At its peak, it drew an estimated 13 million viewers per episode and led to the construction of a Christian-themed resort in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Bakker’s career took a dramatic turn in 1987 when he admitted to a sexual encounter with Jessica Hahn, a church secretary. The incident resulted in his resignation from the network and the transfer of control to Jerry Falwell. Two years later, in 1989, Bakker was convicted of fraud and conspiracy stemming from an investigation into his company’s finances.
He was sentenced to 45 years in prison but that term was reduced to eight years. Bakker continued evangelizing until his death.
His second wife, Lori Bakker, stated: “It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord this evening.” She added, “For 66 years, Jim gave his life to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Lori Bakker concluded: “Even in his final days, his heart was still for the work of God and for the gospel to continue reaching the world. To me, he was my husband, my best friend, and the man I was honored to walk beside through so many seasons of life and ministry.”
The couple divorced in 1992. Tammy Faye Bakker later married Roe Messner, the contractor of the theme park, who was convicted of bankruptcy fraud in 1995. Tammy Faye died of colon cancer in 2007.
Bakker remained a supporter of President Donald Trump until his death.
