Jimmy Swaggart, Pentecostal Pioneer and Televangelist to the Nations, Dies at 90
- Global Prophetic Voice
- Jul 1
- 2 min read
Jimmy Lee Swaggart, one of the most recognizable voices in 20th-century Pentecostalism and a pioneer of Christian television broadcasting, passed away earlier this morning in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 90. His death marks the end of an era in Spirit-filled ministry and closes the chapter on a life lived boldly at the intersection of gospel fervor, personal failure and spiritual endurance.
Born March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, Swaggart was a firebrand from the start. A cousin of rock-and-roll icons Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, he chose a different stage: revival tents instead of concert halls, prayer altars instead of piano bars. He began preaching at age 20, traveling dusty Southern roads with his wife, Frances, and their baby son, Donnie, preaching wherever doors opened—churches, storefronts, and camp meetings.
Swaggart’s rise to international fame came through television. “The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast,” launched in the 1970s, became a juggernaut of Spirit-filled programming, at its peak reaching more than 100 million people in over 100 countries. A gifted musician and soulful gospel singer, he recorded over 50 albums and sold more than 15 million records—earning Grammy nominations and Dove Awards while always centering the cross of Jesus Christ.
As a preacher, Swaggart’s style was unmistakable: weeping eyes, trembling voice, thunderous conviction. He called sinners to repentance with urgency and thundered against compromise with the zeal of an Old Testament prophet. His messages often emphasized the power of the Holy Spirit, the blood of Jesus and the nearness of Christ’s return.
Yet Swaggart’s ministry was not without profound valleys. In 1988, his public confession of moral failure during a nationally televised broadcast stunned his congregation and followers around the world. A second scandal followed in 1991, which led to his permanent separation from the Assemblies of God. Many assumed his ministry would not recover.
But Swaggart kept preaching.
Refusing to step down, he rebuilt independently with Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge as his base and the SonLife Broadcasting Network as his global voice. Alongside Frances and Donnie, he reestablished himself as a key figure in the Pentecostal world, shepherding a loyal audience that never left his side. In later years, Swaggart continued to preach multiple times a week, his health slowing him physically but never quenching his spiritual fire.
His contributions to charismatic Christianity include founding the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College, publishing dozens of books, and influencing generations of preachers through his commentary and broadcasts. His theology emphasized the centrality of the cross, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the urgency of salvation in the end-times.
Jimmy Swaggart is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Frances Swaggart; their son, Donnie Swaggart; grandchildren, including Pastor Gabriel Swaggart; and a spiritual family that spans continents.
He leaves behind a complex, unforgettable legacy—one marked by revival fire, raw repentance, and the relentless mercy of God. Like King David, whose failures did not disqualify his calling, Jimmy Swaggart leaves behind not only the memory of what he did, but the evidence of the God who restored him. Funeral arrangements are pending. Memorial services will be broadcast live on SonLife Broadcasting Network.
