American televangelist, Jim Bakker, who rose to prominence through a multimillion-dollar Christian television ministry before his career was derailed by a sex scandal and fraud conviction, has died aged 86.
Bakker died on Monday, according to his wife, Lori Bakker, who announced his death in a statement shared on social media. His cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
“It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord this evening,” Lori said.
She added, “For 66 years, Jim gave his life to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a pioneer of Christian television, but 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.”
Bakker became widely known alongside his then-wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, after they launched the Christian television programme, The PTL Club, in the 1970s.
The programme expanded into a major religious broadcasting operation, while the couple also established Heritage USA, a Christian theme park and resort in South Carolina.
At the height of their influence, the Bakkers attracted millions of viewers and raised significant sums through their ministry.
Their empire, however, collapsed in the late 1980s following revelations about Bakker’s personal conduct and the finances of the ministry.
Bakker resigned from PTL in 1987 after it emerged that money had been paid to church secretary Jessica Hahn, who accused him of sexual assault.
He was later prosecuted over the ministry’s finances and convicted in 1989 on fraud and conspiracy charges.
He was sentenced to 45 years in prison but spent about five years behind bars before his release on parole in 1994.
His conviction also ended his marriage to Tammy Faye, who later divorced him and pursued a separate television career before her death in 2007.
Following his release, Bakker returned to Christian broadcasting and established a new ministry in Missouri.
He later hosted The Jim Bakker Show, where he focused on end-times teachings and promoted survivalist products.
His later ministry also attracted controversy.
In 2020, Missouri authorities sued Bakker after he promoted a product as a treatment for COVID-19.
The case was eventually settled, with Bakker and his ministry agreeing to pay restitution.
Despite the controversies surrounding his career, Bakker remained active in Christian broadcasting for decades.
Lori said, “Jim loved people deeply. He loved this ministry, and he loved the friends and partners who stood with him throughout the years.”
She added, “Even in his final days, his heart was still for the work of God and for the gospel to continue reaching the world.”
Lori and Bakker’s family have requested privacy following his death.
