Jimmy Swaggart Hospitalized After Heart Attack: ‘Without a miracle, his time will be short’
Prominent Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart has been hospitalized after having a heart attack in his family home early Sunday morning with his son Donnie Swaggart revealing that without a miracle he is likely to pass away very shortly. Speaking to his congregants during the evening service, his son, Donnie Swaggart, told the gathered body:
This morning at a little after eight, Gabe and I rushed into Mother’s house. Dad had gone into cardiac arrest. He never regained consciousness. We both took turns giving him chest compressions until EMT could get there and they were, I’ve never seen so many people arrive at one time and I want to thank them. But they were able to get a heartbeat back. Right now he is in ICU and without a miracle, without a miracle, his time will be short.
He later added:
But we believe God. We’re not giving up. We’ve already told the doctors we don’t want to hear anything from them. We will make decisions in our own time. But we’re going to give the Lord an opportunity to work.
Swaggart founded the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the late 1960s, where he remains the pastor today. A prolific author, he wrote more than 50 books and sold over 15 million gosple records worldwide.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Jimmy Swaggart became a household name through The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast, a globally broadcast program that blended preaching, gospel music, and calls to salvation. At its peak, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries reached an estimated 100 million viewers and he headlined major crusades worldwide, becoming one of the biggest names in the industry. He later launched the SonLife Broadcasting Network. (SBN)
His world imploded in February 1988 when photographs surfaced of him entering and exiting a New Orleans motel with Debra Murphree, a prostitute. Murphree later told reporters that Swaggart had paid her for sexual services. The fallout prompted a widely broadcast confession on February 21, 1988, where Swaggart tearfully acknowledged unspecified “moral failings” and sought forgiveness.
The Assemblies of God, his religious denomination, imposed a three-month suspension. However, after Swaggart rejected additional disciplinary measures and they felt he was unrepentant, they revoked his ministerial credentials.
Despite his now-infamous teary confession, three years later, in 1991, Swaggart was stopped by police in Indio, California with another prostitute in his vehicle. She alleged that Swaggart had propositioned her for sexual acts. This was the final straw, and led many to write him off altogether. Most of his church stood by him, however.
While he apologized for propositioning a prostitute in the first incident, in the second, he told his congregation that God instructed him to keep preaching and that to anyone asking about it: “The Lord told me it’s flat none of your business.”
Since then, although not as popular as he used to be, his ministry has continued unabated. He and his family continue to run all his ministry endeavors, with his wife hosting the television program, Frances and Friends, shown daily on SBN. Swaggart has continued to host the Bible study program, The Message of the Cross, with his son Donnie, a pastor, preaching at Family Worship Center.
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Televangelists are a big reason I became a nonbeliever, the fake smiles and even faker words.
I get your point, and I despise those frauds as well. People like you, whose faith has been shaken to the core by those snakes, are one of the biggest reasons I can’t abide them. But there is obviously more to your story, Greg. Fake smiles and words from fake Christians are not really the only reason you left the faith.
You could have turned them off. You could have admitted the fact that there are hypocrites in every profession. You could have sought out solid Bible preachers instead. You had to have realized at some point that a few snake oil salsemen in our midst do not disprove Jesus’ truth claims. Why did you REALLY stop believing, and what would it take for you to come back?
He said “big reason”, he didn’t say “only reason”. Why do you feel YOU know there were “other” reasons? Why do you feel entitled to try to dig into his mind? He MAY have done his own research and MAY had discovered, like I did, that there is ZERO evidence to back up the claims of the bible. ZERO. The bible is a book full of claims and zero evidence to back them up. What is your evidence? The trees? You do not even know for a fact that Jesus said anything that is attributed to him. Gospels written decades after the alleged event. Paul (allegedly) writing most of the NT even though he never saw anything but a “light”. Paul pointing to 500 witnesses yet not one, NOT ONE, bothered to write anything down nor are there any contemporary supporting accounts of the alleged event. People rising from the grave and walking through town yet NOT ONE record of this actually happening. The list is long as to why he may now not believe. You have NOTHING but the bible to cling to. It’s not enough for everyone. I used to believe: then I actually read that bible—ALL of it.
There are non-Christian contemporary historical accounts, perhaps not of all the specific events, but they exist nonetheless. Josephus, Tacitus, etc.
None of which refute any of the contents of the New Testament.
So your logic can also work in the reverse. If it were all a ruse, and none of it were true, then why would those historians neglect to record such an important fact?
Why has none of it ever been proved false?
Why would no witnesses to such falsehoods never bothered to write anything down?
Bottom line, given the Bible itself is a historical record, there is plenty of evidence to substantiate it, and ZERO evidence to refute it. None whatsoever. So now what?
And Oscar is correct. Nobody ever condemned themselves to eternal damnation just because of something somebody else did. Nobody’s ever done that. The wickedness of men doesn’t make it any less true. Not ANY less true. Therefore, it shouldn’t reasonably be any reason at all, much less a big reason. And that’s not mind reading. It’s truth. You’d have to first reject the fact that there is an afterlife, and that there is eternal punishment and reward. Then, and only then, could you attempt (attempt) to claim your decision not to believe had anything to do with anyone else.
Even the Jewish historians called Him a “sorcerer” in the Talmud.
Why? Because He really did perform the miracles. Because it really is true.
Consider, of all those people who never bothered to write anything down. Would they be more likely to write something down if it were all true, or if it were all false?
Jerusalem up to Galilee. At that time there were possibly a million people or more. And not one wrote anything down saying “this never happened” ???
They wouldn’t write something down just to say “yep, that happened, and I’m the 1001th person to write it down”. They’d write something down if they believed there was a need to contest the known facts – a necessity to say something.
“3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, .. ” Rom. 3:3-4
They are as good a reason as any. My big reason was actually reading the bible, cover to cover. More than once.
No…you are a non-believer because you apparently reject Jesus Christ. Don’t blame your unrepentant rejection of the Gospel on someone else.
Miracles should be saved for something more worthy than a 90 year old that has lived a full life. Rev. Swaggart never walk the talk, and his shallow repentance and insincere humbleness made a mockery out of God. He was a contemporary of Baker’s scandal ridden PTL club which was brought down by the same immoral behavior that plagued Swaggart. The 1980’s were the dark years for Christian evagalist; as many preached morality, but failed to live up to the standards of their teachings. I am sure that Rev. Swaggart has made good with God by now and if he thinks he needs more time on earth to redeem himself, he is too late.
I can’t disagree with one word in your post.
It’s comforting to know that God has appointed you as Swaggart’s, and humanity’s, ultimate Judge.
You are a hate monger, and a sanctimonious hypocrite.
Ed,
No not a hate monger, I simply hate hypocrites and snake oil salesman. Swaggart and Baker did a diservice to the Christian movement, that is a fact.
You conveniently left out the fact that law enforcement gave polygraphs to both of the “prostitutes” and both failed the incriminating questions. Swaggart was also never charged with any crime.
You people always lie by omission. You’re deceitful and evil.
Keep drinking the Koolaid. We will remember ol’ Jimmy as ‘Swaggart the Swine’.
Three incredibly talented musicians came from that family: Mickey Gilley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart.
All famous at different times.
SNL’s Church Lady did a hilarious “interview” with old Jimmy that is worthy going back to watch as well as the one with the Baker’s. I didn’t realize old Dad was caught with a second prostitute after that cringe worthy confession that was as fake as swamp land in death valley. Always wonder when children call their mother “mother” if that tells all about how they were as parents. I mean who in the 21st century calls their mom or momma “mother?”
……”we are a very private family”. Now, maybe. The public deserved to know, however, that your dad had a problem with adultery and soliciting prostitutes. The reason they needed to know, is that they are using monies and substance, given them by G-d. It’s a matter of stewardship and each one of us is responsible.
I understand, I understand, the business must go on, after all.