Televangelists

[Monzo]

Televangelists had their heyday in the 70's and 80's, some of them still exist today, for example Jimmy Swaggart runs a Christian network with his offsprings, but most known Televangelists have died in recent years, like this week Pat Robertson.

Did you used to watch Televangelists' programs and sermons, or do you still watch them? And if so, is there someone you like? Was anyone particularly bad or even evil? Have Televangelists influenced you or anyone around you, for better or for worse?

 

[James from London]

We didn't have real televangelists in the UK, but I would have followed Joshua Rush off a cliff (or the roof of derelict building). Alec Baldwin then went on to play Jimmy Swaggart in Great Balls of Fire.

 

[Brian Kinney]

Did you used to watch Televangelists' programs and sermons, or do you still watch them? And if so, is there someone you like? Was anyone particularly bad or even evil? Have Televangelists influenced you or anyone around you, for better or for worse?

No, no. No. No. No no no. But I would've followed Joshua Rush too - in a church to open his mind for buying a beach house... Everyone who saw Vertigo knows stories with lovable guys and deceiving blonde doubles never have a happy end. Churches and billboards don't have safety nets. Poor Joshua was punished to death for his heterosexual sins. All he needed was a conversion therapy.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Similarly, we didn’t really have televangelists here in Ireland, although we did always seem to have a few celebrity Catholic priests knocking about on TV. The American televangelists would’ve been accessible via the religious channels on Sky but I don’t know anyone that watched them (I myself only ever watched a bit of Another Life on somewhere like the God Channel). Curiously enough, when Sky One was closed a few years ago, the programme that had run longest on its schedule was Hour of Power, which used to go out in the early hours of a Sunday morning.

I think my first knowledge of televangelism was when Irish Eurovision winner / future Presidential candidate Dana Rosemary Scallon got involved with EWTN in the 80’s/90’s, although I think she hosted a music show as opposed to outright televangelism. It was only ever reported about here and wasn’t broadcast but it was enough to pique my interest. Since then I’ve learned about the OTT worlds of the likes of Jan Crouch and Tammy Faye and I find the wranglings and politics somewhat fascinating.

 

[Monzo]

I find the wranglings and politics somewhat fascinating.

I know this fascination. In Germany there is Jimmy Swaggart's Sonlife Broadcast Network on Cable TV. I was never interested in the channel, but all of a sudden I got stuck when switching through, maybe it was the hate speech that caught me. I've never really understood why American Christians are so enthusiastic about Trump, even today. The Swaggarts' sermons and Jimmy Swaggart's wife Frances' call-in show "Frances & Friends" opened my eyes to the subject. However, it seems to me that politicians are being used by televangelists in the same way as vice versa, so it's a win-win - or a lose-lose for the rest of the USA.

Besides the Swaggarts, I only know Joyce Meyer, who airs on a German Bible channel, but I haven't watched enough of her preachings to get a serious opinion. When I tune in, I don't really hear any hate speech, so I quickly lose interest in what she is saying. It's really bad that hate speech of all things makes me listen to a pastor, which brings me back to the Swaggarts. Jimmy Swaggart had built a church for 4000 people that still services today, but I reckon maybe only 100 people are sitting there in the front rows, the upper tiers are all empty. Homosexuality is condemned in the sermons, but there is always little applause from the audience, which gives me hope that even America's Christian conservatives are changing.

When it comes to how televangelists are portrayed in fiction, I liked the dynamic between Joshua Rush and his father. At least it didn't strike me as unrealistic, unlike Filthy Rich. Still, I would like to know how televangelists really are. How do they think? The Swaggarts have luxurious homes. Maintaining this costs a lot of money every month, what could have been done with this money in the name of their own church for those in need? I wonder how they can justify that to themselves if they call themselves good Christians? Or do they just have faith in God that if they should stop living the good life, he will take it away from them and until this day they're gonna to enjoy it?

I'm amazed that despite all the scandals in the catholic church and the me too campaign, nothing of the sort has come to light about televangelists. Either they must be very decent, or their victims will be silenced, recognizing that a scandal would harm the Church and thus all those in need supported by the Church.

 

[ClassyCo]

When I hear "televangelists", I think of Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker and their PTL Club scandal.

I don't watch any of the televangelists -- never have, never will.

 

[Monzo]

I was watching Sunday morning service on SBN yesterday and it really got me down. The subject covered by Jimmy Swaggart's grandson, Gabriel, was marriage. Of course homosexuals and transsexuals were sentenced. For me the saying that one loves the sinner and hates sin is always particularly nasty, so everyone just has to adapt with their sexuality and sexual identity. There was also a mention of Elliot Page, although not by name, but it was clear who it was about. In any case, "she" was listening to demonic voices and has therefore changed from God. I always find it sad to hear people applaud something like that in a church. Later, the "only real" marriage was focused and only man and wife was said, not husband and wife. It was also made clear that the man is always at the top of the family and that the wife has to stand behind him. I am amazed that there are still so many women out there who share this image of marriage and family.

 

[ClassyCo]

Jim & Tammy Faye say "goodbye" to their PTL Club following their embezzlement and sex scandals.

 

[Monzo]

Do televangelists fit on Broadway? Elton John thinks so and has therefore contributed the music to a biographical stage musical about Tammy Faye, which recently premiered on Broadway.

 

[Monzo]

Viewers and critics quickly agreed: televangelists are not welcome on Broadway!

‘Tammy Faye’ Musical to Close After Failing to Find Broadway Audience

Well-reviewed in London but poorly received in New York, the musical with an Elton John score will end its run on Dec. 8.

www.nytimes.com

‘Tammy Faye’ Musical to Close on Broadway in December

The new musical features music by Elton John, who is also a producer on the show.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[Spooky Owl!]

We didn't have real televangelists in the UK, but I would have followed Joshua Rush off a cliff (or the roof of derelict building). Alec Baldwin then went on to play Jimmy Swaggart in Great Balls of Fire.

Almost like chasing one's own tail?

 

[Sea - Boo! - Er]

Do televangelists fit on Broadway? Elton John thinks so and has therefore contributed the music to a biographical stage musical about Tammy Faye, which recently premiered on Broadway.

I suspect he likes her makeup.

 

[Monzo]

Jimmy Swaggart turned 90 on Saturday. Instead of the usual Sunday morning service, a birthday celebration was held at his church the following day.

Several family members tried unsuccessfully to make Jimmy Swaggart cry with expressions of love, but it wasn't until President Trump's congratulatory letter was read that Jimmy Swaggart began to sob.

 

[Monzo]

Jimmy Swaggart has been admitted to the hospital and things aren't looking good.

Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart hospitalized

An Evangelist pastor from the Family Worship Center, Jimmy Swaggart, went into cardiac arrest around 8 this morning.

www.fox8live.com

Jimmy Swaggart's own TV channel, SBN (which can also be easily viewed via livestream on YouTube), is turning Jimmy Swaggart's condition into a unique show. Whether it's worth watching is up to you to decide. Once a month, there's a telethon, which starts today, and yesterday it was pointed out that people should definitely donate to show their respect for Jimmy Swaggart. The monthly donation goal, by the way, is $4 million, which is what it would take to pay for all of SBN's broadcast licenses worldwide. Is it even possible to pay that much, or is it a cheap rip-off? The monthly donation goal is never actually reached (often it's even a million short), and yet SBN is still on the air.

 

[Monzo]

Jimmy Swaggart has died.

Jimmy Swaggart, Televangelist and Preacher, Dies at 90 After Suffering Cardiac Arrest

Jimmy Swaggart, the famed Pentecostal televangelist and preacher, has died. He was 90 years old.

people.com

Jimmy Swaggart Dies: Sex Scandal-Plagued Televangelist Was 90

Jimmy Swaggart, who was one of the most popular televangelists of the 20th Century until sex scandals made him the butt of jokes, died July 1.

deadline.com

Prostitution scandal televangelist Jimmy Swaggart dies at 90

The Louisiana native was a Pentecostal preacher with a massive following before being caught on camera with a sex worker in New Orleans in 1988.

www.expressandstar.com

I watch Jimmy Swaggart's SBN television channel quite frequently because it provides a good insight into a certain brand of American Christianity that is foreign to me. From his cardiac arrest two weeks ago until his death today, several of his family members, who appear on TV as well, constantly praised how viewers would show their love for Jimmy by donating to what turned out to be the highest-grossing telethon of all time ($4.7 million) two weeks ago and again today at the monthly Biblethon, where viewers can purchase (highly overpriced) Bibles that are then delivered to third-world countries for missionary work. Jimmy's condition was exploited by his family a lot, but I guess that's exactly what Jimmy Swaggart would have wanted.

 

[Monzo]

A mudslinging match among Jimmy Swaggart's descendants is starting sooner than expected - or is it just the media looking for it?

FAMILY IN CRISIS: 20 Minutes Ago — Gabriel Swaggart CONFIRMS Financial Abuse Inside Ministry — Says His Father Quietly Moved Millions While Jimmy Was Too Sick to Notice… - tung

THE SHATTERING SILENCE: Gabriel Swaggart’s Heartfelt Confession That Rocked the House of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries No one saw it coming—not the congregation, not the ministry's partners, not even those seated closest to the pulpit. When Gabriel Swaggart, grandson of the legendary evangelist...

entertainmentnews.charmingflowers.com.vn

Regarding the Swaggarts, I think we should listen to the people who live where the church is located, in Baton Rouge: The church is usually empty, mostly filled with visitors from other cities and states who want to see the televangelists one time. And there's a scheduling system for tour groups, so the church isn't packed with travelers one week and empty the next. So why don't believers from Baton Rouge want to go to Jimmy Swaggart's church and instead turn to other churches that actually do something for the local people, while the Swaggarts, by their own admission, are doing something for people worldwide with their TV channel?

Incidentally, Joel Osteen's mother, who founded the church with her husband in 1959, which Joel now successfully leads, died this week. A mudslinging match like the one with the Swaggarts isn't expected among the Osteens, because Joel has been in charge for a long time.

Megachurch pastor Joel Osteen's mom, Dolores 'Dodie' Osteen, dies at 91

'Known as ‘Mama Dodie’ to the entire Lakewood family, together, we celebrate her amazing life,' her Joel Osteen said about his mom's death.

eu.usatoday.com

 

[Monzo]

Jim Bakker has passed away.

Jim Bakker Dies: Televangelist Was 86

Jim Bakker, the televangelist who built a media empire with former wife Tammy Faye Bakker, has died. He was 86.

deadline.com

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Jim Bakker has passed away.

Jim Bakker Dies: Televangelist Was 86

Jim Bakker, the televangelist who built a media empire with former wife Tammy Faye Bakker, has died. He was 86.

deadline.com

God, I thought he was already dead.

 

[Scorpienne]

I can remember watching Jim & Tammy's infomercial back in the day. I thought Heritage USA Waterpark was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen and would beg my parent to send them money so we could go stay there. They refused, of course. LOL!

And I didn't realize he was 86 years old. Wow. RIP

 

[ClassyCo]

Jim Bakker, televangelist who co-founded "The PTL Club" empire but fell into disgrace, dies at 86

Jim Bakker, who along with his first wife Tammy Faye built an evangelical empire around "The PTL Club" TV show, only to lose it all over a sex scandal and financial crimes, has died at 86.

www.cbsnews.com