Jimmy Swaggart, the 90-year-old televangelist tarnished in a 1980s sex scandal, is fighting for his life in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, hospital following an early Sunday morning cardiac arrest.
Family members and ministry officials confirmed the evangelist’s critical condition during a Sunday night prayer service, urging supporters worldwide to pray for a miracle.
“Without a miracle, his time is short,” Donnie Swaggart told the congregation at the Family Worship Center during an emotional Sunday evening servicio de oración that focused on his father’s health crisis.
“But we believe in God. We’re not giving up. We’re going to give the Lord an opportunity to work.” The ministry called for urgent prayers for the man widely known as “Brother Swaggart,” emphasizing the need for divine intervention on Father’s Day, when the cardiac arrest occurred.
The elder Swaggart’s heart attack occurred around 8 a.m. at the longtime preacher’s Baton Rouge home, where he was found unresponsive. Family members, including Donnie, performed CPR until an ambulance arrived.
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Paramedics successfully restored a heartbeat before transporting Swaggart to a local hospital, where he remains unconscious.
Swaggart’s grandson, Gabriel Swaggart, shared a poignant update during the service, relaying a message from his mother, Debbie, who was at the hospital.
“She said that Brian was singing. She put the phone up to his ear, and tears were rolling down his face,” Gabriel said. “He heard the music, and he hears what we say.”
The Swaggart family, including Frances Swaggart, Jimmy’s wife of more than 70 years, and their son Donnie, have remained by his side, supported by an outpouring of prayers from the ministry’s global audience. Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, which operates the SonLife Broadcasting Network and the Family Worship Center, has reached millions through television, radio, gospel music, and Bible distribution efforts over nearly seven decades.
El Informe Roys (TRR) contacted the Swaggart family’s spokeswoman for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Swaggart, born March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, has been a towering figure in Pentecostal evangelism since the 1950s. His television program, The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast, gained prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, reaching up to 100 million viewers at its peak.
As a Gospel artist, his expressive style was influenced by the “rockabilly” music he and cousins Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley shared as children. Swaggart sold over 15 million Christian music albums. He earned numerous Grammy nominations, while his ministry expanded to include the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College and global outreach efforts.
Despite his age, he has continued to serve as senior pastor of the Family Worship Center.
Swaggart’s Controversial Past
Swaggart’s career has not been without significant controversy. In February 1988, he was photographed with a prostitute in New Orleans, a scandal that rocked an evangelical community already shaken by a similar 1987 scandal involving televangelist jim baker.
The Assemblies of God, where Swaggart was ordained, ordered a two-year rehabilitation period, which would have shut down his $150-million-a-year ministry. The denomination lifted Swaggart’s credentials after he resumed preaching after only three months away.
Three years later, he was linked to another incident involving a prostitute, further damaging his reputation. Contributions plunged, most of his staff left, as did the students who once populated his Bible college. Despite those setbacks, Swaggart rebuilt his ministry, maintaining a loyal following through his television broadcasts and Gospel music.
His heir apparent is Gabriel, 45, who is president of the Bible college and co-pastor of the church.
Mark A. Kellner is a reporter based in Mesquite, Nevada. He most recently covered statewide elections for the Correo de Nueva York and was for three years the Faith & Family Reporter for el tiempo de washington. Mark is a graduate of the University of the Cumberlands and also attended Boston University’s College of Communication.
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28 Responses
Jimmy swaggart made a mistake. Nothing compared to all of this child molestation going on everywhere today. I’m sad that at 90 years old swaggar’s family and church have to relive it at the end of his life. He did serve his time for his wrong doing. I am so glad God doesn’t have a record of it after jimmy asked for forgiveness!!
Well said Cindy!
I tell you the truth, if God forgave like people do, nobody would stand a chance to be in his paradise. Thank you Jesus!!!!
He got caught soliciting sex, didn’t follow the restoration plan, and then got caught soliciting sex 3 years later. I am guessing it happened many times that he didn’t get caught. He was seduced by fame and power and influence. I’m only sad his family is having to be reminded of the way he lived his life, because this is the way he chose to live his life.
Swagger has ask GOD to forgive him. If GOD forgets repented sin, why do you bring it up.
A lot of Christians believe that he should neve have been put back in a position of authority because of the way that he transgressed and abused his authority regardless of whether or not he repented. There’s nothing wrong with humbly repenting and then taking one’s place in the pew rather than the pulpit.
Also, as Christians, we’ve been reading and preaching about specific sins of specific people for thousands of years. Those repented sinners in the Old and New Testaments have been forgiven and are in heaven now, but they are still valuable examples for teaching and, honestly, encouragement.
because he continued to get caught? because he never repented or made restitution?
Asking God for forgiveness doesn’t erase the natural consequences of one’s action. And a natural consequence of getting caught soliciting sex repeatedly while professing to be a holy, set apart preacher is that hypocrisy is what people will remember about you on your deathbed.
Say what you want about him, but he’s the last of the genuine tent revival type of preachers and one of the last TV preachers to focus on sin and repentance. Of all the disgraced preachers, I think he was the only one who actually felt remorse for his sins.
Compared to the three-ring circus common on TV today, Swaggert isn’t so bad.
My grandfather came to faith in Christ by listening to Jimmy Swaggart broadcasts in the late 70s and early 80s. The man certainly destroyed his massive outreach and lived a life opposite to what he preached. That doesn’t change the impact of what he preached. Countless souls were converted, encouraged and built up by the crusades. It’s a testimony of the power of the gospel being preached, even when the man preaching it, won’t obey it. That particular temptation could’ve easily been avoided by always keeping a few young preachers with him. Billy Graham did so, and was never even accused of immorality.
GOD forgave, and forgot, his wife, family and church forgave. and moved on. why can’t you. He was the only Minister that owned up for what he did, no other one did. And GOD still blessed him and the ministry to reach the lost. FYI, the issue was not with Jim Bakker, its was with Marvin Gormen, check your history. we all fall short of GOD’s Grace and love, but thats why we have the Cross Jesus Crucified.
I lost my mom last year at the age of 85 due to Lewy Body Dementia. My mother was my world. I know we all have our parting day and only our God knows how and when. The last thing to go when they’re laid like that is the hearing. I whispered in her ear through a lot of tears “Mom, I love you so much. You’ve served your time. Go in peace. You have been the best mom that anybody could’ve ever asked for and I have no complaints. I love you so very much and this is see you later gator.” I believe he has lived a long time now and he deserves his eternal rest with his poppa up in heaven. Jimmy you are saved and forgiven. No need to hash up old things that the Father has deleted from your life a long time ago. Prayers for your family for strength, peace, and acceptance whatever the outcome.
Don’t apologize Julie for telling the truth as that is why thousands follow you. No apology required.
Yes, his sins were between him and God. But I don’t think it was right that he kept preaching. Know when it is time to step down.
Disappointed that the first point of the headline was his fall almost 40 years ago rather than his present need. And also, rather than focus on the work he did for the Kingdom of God, the article ended with his “controversial past”. I am thankful that some of the exposures have surfaced with the work done by this group, however, this type of emphasis is what cheapens good journalism and causes Christians to lose faith because of the over-the-top negative that is published. Christians truly do destroy their own.
You actually believe God keeps his word!?
Study much more to show thyself approved.
Why do people have to bring up past!! My husband and I have always loved Pastor Swaggart! Preaching and especially his music!! He helped me a lot and he still makes me cry each time I hear him sing!! Praying that he is peacefully resting 🙏 ❤️
The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue but yet this man is laying on his death bed and you had to add his “tarnished sex scandal past” to make this news report better
For me the biggest issue is not the sins of the past but the sins of the present …
He is preaching a false message of the CROSS! And has made this false doctrine the central part of his entire ministry!
Corinthians warns Paul wrote if anyone bring another message another testament another gospel or another spirit it will not go well with you !
For Satan has his servants that will come as apostles of righteousness !
Swaggart has been confronted of this numerous times and has flatly rejected these admonitions .
Please elaborate on the “false doctrine of the Cross” that you speak of.
Please tell me you don’t believe in the cross, cause that’s what it sounds like.
The Cross Is The Means and Jesus Christ Is The Souce!
Without the shedding of Jesus Christ precious blood we as mankind would all be doomed to Hell!
But because of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified we all have a chance to go to Heaven. It’s about the Blood that sets mankind free!
Dear Saints
Having listened to many calling themselves pastors etc. I can SAFELY Say I have not heard any False Teaching from Jimmy Swaggart or SLB. Those Stuck in the past must remember that the Ways of God are not ours. Moses, David, Abraham were all Tarnished as All humanity. Who without Sin Cast the first Stone – let no man deceive themselves ONLY CHRIST was Perfect in Flesh.
Jimmy Swaggart like Apostle Paul will go before God the Creator and his Son Jesus Christ to say, “I have run the race and finished my course.” HOW MANY SOULS SAVED DUE TO JIMMY SWAGGART’S WORK? He repented of his transgressions and the REST is between God and his servant Jimmy Swaggart. Judge not lest you be judged!
The accuser of the brethren is the devil. David repented after the Uriah/Bathsheba sin and was still called “a man after God’s own heart,” Loved!
That may be true, but he is still biblically UNQUALIFIED to be a pastor. Any cursory look at the Scriptures for the qualifications of elders will confirm this. He has been biblically unqualified since he refused to accept the sanctions of the AoG back in 1988 and went off to start his own independent church.
Many years ago when i was young i watched him on TV…. But as time has moved on people change….
When i was a young guy living in the mallee (bush) we used to watch Jimmy Swaggart at his tv crusades as he would walk up and down the stage dragging his bible…I used to enjoy watching him….But as the years past one doesn’t have time for tv……as one had to get out and learn a trade say 7.30am till 4.00pm and that was a tuff life. Working hard hours 5 days a week, just to get a quid $$$. Not easy. But later in life i see Jimmy Swaggart on TV especially the monthly share a thons making over $4.000.000 then they have their special items where if one donates $1.500 they could receive 40 volumes of the bible or something similar to that. So the whole Swaggart team rake in plenty of $$$$$ yet they want more, i heard Donnie say yesterday….. Many people have lost their Mums and their Dads, just like me,but certainly no fanfare, just a litttle show down the road, WHY because we are not important.
Swaggart’s prostitute reported that he requested she bring her 9 year old daughter to their trysts. Hopefully that was a one-time moment of weakness and not a sign of something more serious. Ministers paying “consenting” adults for services is one thing, but this report of pedophilia tendencies has been what has worried me the most about his affairs.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1988/05/25/Prostitute-says-Swaggart-kinky-and-cheap-too/2208580536000/
The problem with Swaggart is that he is biblically unqualified to be a pastor. PERIOD. However, his ego and need for audience convinced him to ignore that pesky bit of Scriptures. He is biblically unqualified to be a pastor just like Morris, Evans, Bickle, and all the others Julie has covered over the years. SO why do the Swaggart defenders on this site and elsewhere give Swaggart a pass simply because he repented and stopped hanging out with prostitutes after 1991? They are no different than the Morris defenders saying his crimes are “old news”, look how many people got “saved” because of his ministry, and all the usual excuses. Neither belongs in a pulpit.
That being said, Swaggart is an awesome piano player, right up there with his late cousin Jerry Lee Lewis and better than his other cousin the late Mickey Gilley.
Do you seriously believe all the crap ur talking? Saying Pastor Jimmy is not qualified to be on a pulpit? As Jesus said when the news brought that women before Him for her adultery, “let the one amongst you who have no sin cast the first stone” we are all sinners for we are only men. Don’t try and act as a judge on other people. Be very careful of what you say about people.
Why don’t you actually open up your Bible and read the qualifications for elder as stated in 1 Tim 3:1-7. Especially that part about being above reproach and have a good reputation with outsiders. Kind of hard to have that when you visited prostitutes and paid for their services.
Watch. Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set ye free.