American televangelist Jim Bakker, who built one of the United States’ most prominent Christian television ministries before his career was overshadowed by sexual and financial scandals, has died at the age of 86.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

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 that Bakker had dedicated 66 years of his life to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and described him as a pioneer of Christian television.

“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,” she said.

Lori also said her husband deeply cared about people, his ministry and the supporters who stood by him over the years.

“Even in his final days, his heart was still for the work of God and for the gospel to continue reaching the world,” she added.

Bakker rose to prominence alongside his then-wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, through their Christian television programme, The PTL Club, which they launched in the 1970s.

The programme eventually developed into a major religious broadcasting empire, while the couple also established Heritage USA, a Christian theme park and resort in South Carolina.

At the peak of their influence, the Bakkers attracted millions of viewers and raised substantial amounts of money through their television ministry.

However, their empire unravelled in the late 1980s following revelations concerning Bakker’s personal conduct and the finances of his 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 subsequently faced scrutiny over the ministry’s finances and was convicted in 1989 on fraud and conspiracy charges.

Bakker was sentenced to 45 years in prison but spent roughly five years behind bars before being released on parole in 1994.

The scandal also ended his first marriage. Tammy Faye later divorced him and went on to pursue her own television career before her death in 2007.

Following his release from prison, Bakker returned to Christian broadcasting and established a new ministry in Missouri.

He later hosted The Jim Bakker Show, where he frequently focused on end-times teachings and promoted survivalist products.

His later ministry was also embroiled in 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