Jim Bakker

{{short description|American televangelist (born 1940)}}
{{for|people named James Baker|James Baker (disambiguation)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox clergy
| name             = Jim Bakker
| image            =
| caption          = Bakker in 1986
| birth_name       = James Orsen Bakker
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1940|1|2}}
| birth_place      = [[Muskegon, Michigan]], U.S.
| church           = [[Assemblies of God USA|Assemblies of God]] (1960–1988)<br>[[Charismatic movement|Charismatic]] (2003–present)
| congregations    = ''[[The PTL Club]]''<br>[[Heritage USA]]<br>Heritage Village Church<br>Morningside Church
| spouse           = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Tammy Faye Messner|Tammy Faye LaValley]]<br>|1961|1992|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Lori Beth Graham<br>|1998}}
}}
| children         = 7, including [[Jay Bakker]]
}}

'''James Orsen Bakker''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|eɪ|k|ər}};<ref name=Time06-2001>{{cite magazine|last=Ostling|first=Richard N.|author-link=Richard N. Ostling|title=Power, Glory&nbsp;– and Politics|date=June 24, 2001|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time magazine]]|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101860217-143137,00.html|access-date=November 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308110631/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101860217-143137,00.html|archive-date=March 8, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> born January 2, 1940) is an American convicted fraudster and [[televangelist]]. Between 1974 and 1987, Bakker hosted the television program ''[[The PTL Club]]'' and its cable television platform, the [[PTL Satellite Network]], with his then wife, [[Tammy Faye Messner|Tammy Faye]]. He also developed [[Heritage USA]], a now-defunct Christian theme park in [[Fort Mill, South Carolina]].

In the late 1980s, Bakker resigned from the PTL ministry over a cover-up of hush money to church secretary [[Jessica Hahn]] for an alleged [[rape]]. Subsequent revelations of [[accounting fraud]] brought about felony charges, conviction, imprisonment, and divorce. Bakker later remarried and returned to televangelism, founding Morningside Church in [[Blue Eye, Missouri|Blue Eye]], [[Missouri]], and reestablishing the PTL ministry. He currently hosts ''The Jim Bakker Show'', which focuses on the [[Eschatology|end times]] and the [[Second Coming]] of Christ while promoting [[survivalism|emergency survival]] products. Bakker has written several books, including ''I Was Wrong'' and ''Time Has Come: How to Prepare Now for Epic Events Ahead''.

==Personal life==
James Orsen Bakker was born in [[Muskegon, Michigan|Muskegon]], [[Michigan]], the son of Raleigh Bakker and Furnia Lynette "Furn" Irwin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=doYfAAAAIBAJ&pg=6009,3137616&dq=finding-refuge-in-a-doting-grandmother&hl=en|title=Herald-Journal - Google News Archive Search|work=google.ca|access-date=September 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213143115/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=doYfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nM4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6009,3137616&dq=finding-refuge-in-a-doting-grandmother&hl=en|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Bakker attended [[North Central University]], a [[Minneapolis]] [[bible college]] affiliated with the [[Assemblies of God USA|Assemblies of God]], where he met fellow student [[Tammy Faye Messner|Tammy Faye LaValley]] in 1960.<ref>{{cite news|last=Welch|first=William M.|title=Ex-wife of evangelist Jim Bakker dies|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=July 21, 2007|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-07-21-tammy-faye_N.htm|access-date=November 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523233146/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-07-21-tammy-faye_N.htm|archive-date=May 23, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Bakker worked at a restaurant in the [[Young–Quinlan Building|Young-Quinlan]] department store in Minneapolis; Tammy Faye worked at the Three Sisters, a nearby boutique.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sturdevant|first1=Andy|url=https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2014/05/tammy-faye-bakkers-year-minneapolis-scoping-out-sites-college-marriage-and-ministry|title=Tammy Faye Bakker's year in Minneapolis: scoping out the sites, from college to marriage and ministry|newspaper=[[MinnPost]]|date=May 28, 2014|access-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203075601/https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2014/05/tammy-faye-bakkers-year-minneapolis-scoping-out-sites-college-marriage-and-ministry|archive-date=February 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Bakkers married on April 1, 1961, and left college to become [[Itinerant minister|itinerant]] [[Evangelism|evangelists]]. They had two children, Tammy Sue "Sissy" Bakker Chapman (born March 2, 1970) and [[Jay Bakker|Jamie Charles "Jay" Bakker]] (born December 18, 1975). The couple divorced on March 13, 1992.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tammy Faye Bakker Gets Divorce, Custody of Son, 16|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1992-03-14/news/mn-3158_1_tammy-faye-bakker|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 14, 1992|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009180218/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-03-14/news/mn-3158_1_tammy-faye-bakker|archive-date=October 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 4, 1998, Bakker married Lori Beth Graham, a former televangelist, fifty days after they met.<ref>{{cite news |last=Garfield |first=Ken |date=April 1, 2000 |title=The Preacher's Wife: Lori Beth Bakker says she is her own woman |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=20000401&id=YWQzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6682,207555 |newspaper=[[The Free Lance-Star]] |location=Fredericksburg, VA |access-date=September 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429094010/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=20000401&id=YWQzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cwgGAAAAIBAJ&pg=6682,207555 |archive-date=April 29, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2002, they [[adopted]] five children.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://jimbakkershow.com/about-us/about-jim/|title=About Pastor Jim Bakker {{!}} The Jim Bakker Show|work=The Jim Bakker Show|access-date=October 1, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001220448/https://jimbakkershow.com/about-us/about-jim/|archive-date=October 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/65297-jim-bakker-s-son-the-no-1-thing-to-remember-when-dealing-with-immigrants|title=Jim Bakker's Son: The No. 1 Thing to Remember When Dealing With Immigrants|last=Lancaster|first=Jessilyn|website=Charisma News|language=en|access-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124041816/https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/65297-jim-bakker-s-son-the-no-1-thing-to-remember-when-dealing-with-immigrants|archive-date=January 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.charismanews.com/culture/74716-exclusive-jim-bakker-s-son-ricky-believes-this-is-the-generation-that-will-see-christ-return|title=EXCLUSIVE: Jim Bakker's Son Ricky Believes This Is the Generation That Will See Christ Return|last=Staff|first=Charisma|website=Charisma News|language=en|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203032906/https://www.charismanews.com/culture/74716-exclusive-jim-bakker-s-son-ricky-believes-this-is-the-generation-that-will-see-christ-return|archive-date=February 3, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Career==
===Early career===
In 1966, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker began working at [[Pat Robertson]]'s [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] (CBN) in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Portsmouth]], [[Virginia]], which had an audience in the low thousands at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker Lived Here - in a Kit Home!|url=http://www.searshomes.org/index.php/2011/11/23/jim-and-tammy-faye-bakker-lived-here-in-a-kit-home/|publisher=Sears Home|website=searshome.org|date=November 23, 2011|access-date=February 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215024019/http://www.searshomes.org/index.php/2011/11/23/jim-and-tammy-faye-bakker-lived-here-in-a-kit-home/|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The Bakkers contributed to the network's growth, hosting a children's variety show called ''Come On Over'' that employed comic routines with [[puppet]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tammy Faye Bakker-Messner, "On her first television appearance and creating The Jim and Tammy Show |website=Television Academy Foundation Interviews |date=October 23, 2017 |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/shows/jim-and-tammy-show |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408085932/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/shows/jim-and-tammy-show |archive-date=April 8, 2019 }}</ref> Due to the success of ''Come On Over'', Robertson made Bakker the host of a new prime-time talk show, ''[[The 700 Club]]'', which gradually became CBN's flagship program.<ref name=wapo>{{Cite news|title=Robertson's Bakker Connection|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/02/06/robertsons-bakker-connection/f558f67c-c4f5-489c-b733-e768d1daacdc/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=February 6, 1988|access-date=February 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311081305/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/02/06/robertsons-bakker-connection/f558f67c-c4f5-489c-b733-e768d1daacdc/|archive-date=March 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The Bakkers left CBN in 1973 and, soon after, joined with [[Paul Crouch|Paul]] and [[Jan Crouch]] to help co-found the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]] (TBN) in [[California]]. However, this partnership lasted only eight months until a falling-out between Jim Bakker and Paul Crouch caused the Bakkers to eventually leave the new network.

===PTL===
[[File:HeritageUSASign.jpg|thumb|Heritage USA sign in 2007. The site is now mostly demolished.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Remnants Of This Abandoned Theme Park In South Carolina Are Hauntingly Beautiful|last1=Jarvis|first1=Robin|url=http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/south-carolina/abandoned-theme-park-sc/|publisher=onlyinyourstate|website=onlyinyourstate.com|date=June 3, 2017|access-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213022309/http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/south-carolina/abandoned-theme-park-sc/|archive-date=February 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
While under TBN, the Bakkers moved to [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], [[North Carolina]], where in May of 1973 they launched an east coast version of ''Praise The Lord'' under TBN's umbrella. Less than a year later the Bakkers formed their own non profit organization, registered the [[The PTL Club|PTL]] trademark, left the umbrella of TBN and the Crouches, and continued their show on 36 [[WCNC-TV|WRET]] Charlotte, 16 [[WGGS]] [[Greenville, South Carolina]], and a few other stations. In 1975, they nationally debuted their own [[late-night talk show|late night]]-style talk show, known as ''[[The PTL Club]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tammy Faye: Faith & Flamboyance |work=Biography (TV) |date=August 7, 2000 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1682420/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210075814/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1682420/ |archive-date=February 10, 2017 }}</ref> Bakker founded the [[PTL Satellite Network]] in 1974, which aired ''The PTL Club'' and other religious television programs through local affiliates across the U.S.<ref name="buzzfeed"/>

Throughout the 1970s, Bakker built a headquarters for PTL in [[the Carolinas]] called Heritage Village.<ref name="buzzfeed"/> Over time, the Bakkers expanded the ministry to include the [[Heritage USA]] theme park in [[Fort Mill, South Carolina|Fort Mill]], [[South Carolina]], which became the third most successful theme park in the U.S. at the time. Viewer contributions were estimated to exceed $1&nbsp;million a week, with proceeds to expand the theme park and ''The PTL Club''{{'s}} mission.<ref name=Time06-2001 /><ref>{{cite news|title=Televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's fall from grace|last=Connelly|first=Sherryl|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/televangelists-jim-tammy-faye-bakker-fall-grace-article-1.3387060|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|date=August 5, 2017|access-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213022105/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/televangelists-jim-tammy-faye-bakker-fall-grace-article-1.3387060|archive-date=February 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Bakker responded to inquiries about his use of mass media by saying: "I believe that if [[Jesus]] were alive today, he would be on TV".<ref>{{cite web|last=Shepherd|first=Steve|title=Submit Yourselves To God|url=https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/submit-yourselves-to-god-steve-shepherd-sermon-on-authority-166240|website=Sermon Central|quote=I believe that if Jesus were alive today, he would be on TV|date=April 17, 2012|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213195629/https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/submit-yourselves-to-god-steve-shepherd-sermon-on-authority-166240|archive-date=February 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Two scandals brought down PTL in 1987: Bakker was accused of [[sexual misconduct]] by church secretary [[Jessica Hahn]], which led to his resignation, and his illegal misuse of ministry funds eventually led to his imprisonment.<ref name="buzzfeed"/> Bakker was dismissed as an [[Assemblies of God]] minister on May 6, 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/06/Assemblies-of-God-defrocks-Bakker/6768547272000/|publisher=[[United Press International]]|title=Assemblies of God defrocks Bakker|date=May 6, 1987|access-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213022246/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/06/Assemblies-of-God-defrocks-Bakker/6768547272000/|archive-date=February 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1990, the biographic television movie ''[[Fall from Grace (1990 film)|Fall from Grace]]'', starring [[Kevin Spacey]] as Bakker, depicted his rise and fall.<ref>{{cite web|title='Stars of'Fall From Grace' Go Beyond Caricature in Portrayal of the Bakkers|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1990-04-23/entertainment/ca-323_1_jim-and-tammy-faye/|date=April 23, 1990|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305214751/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-04-23/entertainment/ca-323_1_jim-and-tammy-faye|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 18, 2019, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[20/20 (U.S. TV program)|20/20]]'' aired a two-hour special, entitled ''Unfaithfully Yours'', about the PTL scandal.<ref>{{cite web|title= See Exclusive Clip From '20/20' Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker Special|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/tammy-faye-jim-bakker-special-2020-clip-779879/|date= January 16, 2019|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date= January 23, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223854/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/tammy-faye-jim-bakker-special-2020-clip-779879/|archive-date= January 23, 2019|url-status= live}}</ref>

==== Early investigations ====
In 1979, Bakker and PTL came under investigation by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) for allegedly misusing funds raised on the air. The FCC report was finalized in 1982 and found that Bakker had raised $350,000 that he told viewers would go towards funding overseas missions but that was actually used to pay for part of Heritage USA. The report also found that the Bakkers used PTL funds for personal expenses.<ref name="FCC1">{{cite web|title=Federal report: PTL president abuses donations|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/01/27/Federal-report-PTL-president-abuses-donations/7682507186000/|work=[[United Press International]]|date=January 27, 1986|access-date=December 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101002748/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/01/27/Federal-report-PTL-president-abuses-donations/7682507186000/|archive-date=January 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> FCC commissioners voted four to three to drop the investigation, after which they allowed Bakker to sell the only TV station that he owned, therefore bypassing future FCC oversight.<ref name="FCC2">{{cite news|title=PTL Fund Raising A Tangled Saga|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/05/23/ptl-fund-raising-a-tangled-saga/e659bb79-63e3-4a98-bfc6-c27dfec4fc07/?noredirect=on|last1=Isikoff|first1=Michael|author-link1=Michael Isikoff|last2=Harris|first2=Art|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]| date=May 23, 1987|access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref> The FCC forwarded its report to the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]], which declined to press charges, citing insufficient evidence.<ref name="FCC1"/> Bakker used the controversy to raise more funds from his audience, branding the investigation a "[[witch-hunt]]" and asking viewers to "give the Devil a black eye".<ref name="FCC2"/>

A confidential 1985 [[Internal Revenue Service]] (IRS) report found that $1.3 million in ministry funds was used for the Bakkers' personal benefit from 1980 to 1983. The report recommended that PTL be stripped of its [[tax-exempt]] status, but no action was taken until after the Jessica Hahn scandal broke in 1987. Art Harris and [[Michael Isikoff]] wrote in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' that politics may have played a role in the three government agencies taking no action against PTL despite the evidence against them, as members of the [[Reagan administration]] were not eager to go after television ministers whose evangelical followers made up their base.<ref>{{cite news|title=PTL's Missing Millions|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1987/06/21/ptls-missing-millions/553aa246-42b9-49bd-954e-0c3b85349514/?noredirect=on|last1=Isikoff|first1=Michael|author-link1=Michael Isikoff|last2=Harris|first2=Art|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]| date=June 21, 1987|access-date=January 12, 2019}}</ref>

====Sexual misconduct and resignation====
A $279,000 payoff for the silence of [[Jessica Hahn]], who alleged that Bakker and former ''PTL Club'' co-host [[John Wesley Fletcher]] [[Date rape|drugged and raped]] her, was paid with PTL funds through Bakker's associate [[Roe Messner]].<ref name=Time12-1988 /><ref>{{cite news |title=Larry King Live Interview with Jessica Hahn (rush transcript) |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0507/14/lkl.01.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |work=[[Larry King Live]] |date=July 14, 2005 |access-date=July 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821011040/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0507/14/lkl.01.html |archive-date=August 21, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Bakker, who made PTL's financial decisions, allegedly kept [[two sets of books]] to conceal accounting irregularities. Reporters for ''[[The Charlotte Observer]]'', led by Charles Shepard, investigated PTL's finances and published a series of articles.<ref>{{cite magazine| first=Richard N.| last=Ostling| title=Enterprising Evangelism| date=August 3, 1987| url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,965155,00.html| magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]| access-date=January 27, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212091610/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0%2C8816%2C965155%2C00.html| archive-date=February 12, 2007| url-status=dead}}</ref>

On March 19, 1987, after the disclosure of a payoff to Hahn, Bakker resigned from PTL.<ref name=Time12-1988>{{cite magazine | last=Ostling | first=Richard N. | author-link=Richard N. Ostling | title=Jim Bakker's Crumbling World | date=December 19, 1988 | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,956551,00.html | access-date=December 5, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220084524/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,956551,00.html | archive-date=February 20, 2008 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Although he acknowledged that he had a sexual encounter with Hahn at a hotel room in [[Clearwater, Florida]], he denied raping her.<ref name=Ostling/> Bakker was also the subject of [[homosexual]] and [[bisexual]] allegations made by Fletcher and PTL director Jay Babcock, which Bakker denied [[under oath]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Report: Former Co-Host Fletcher Says Bakker Bisexual|url=https://www.apnews.com/1edbfbf8ad79965c9a80bcc1f98c97bf/|date=December 5, 1988|website=[[AP News]]|access-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223106/https://www.apnews.com/1edbfbf8ad79965c9a80bcc1f98c97bf/|archive-date=January 23, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ex PTL Employee Testifies He Had Sex With Bakker|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/09/22/ex-ptl-employee-testifies-he-had-sex-with-bakker/33c99727-bffe-43c0-ac57-c1dc9751fe51/|date=September 22, 1988|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419162329/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/09/22/ex-ptl-employee-testifies-he-had-sex-with-bakker/33c99727-bffe-43c0-ac57-c1dc9751fe51/|archive-date=April 19, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Rival televangelist [[John Ankerberg]] appeared on ''[[Larry King Live]]'' and made several allegations of moral impropriety against Bakker, which both Bakkers denied.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bakker Issues Denial of Rival TV Minister's New Sex Allegations|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1987-04-26/news/mn-1576_1_jim-bakker/|date=April 26, 1987|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529055750/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-04-26/news/mn-1576_1_jim-bakker|archive-date=May 29, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bakker was succeeded as PTL head by the Rev. [[Jerry Falwell]] of [[Thomas Road Baptist Church]] in [[Lynchburg, Virginia]].<ref name=Ostling>{{cite magazine|last=Ostling|first=Richard N.|author-link=Richard N. Ostling|title=Taking Command at Fort Mill|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964322-1,00.html|date=May 11, 1987|access-date=November 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308110637/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964322-1,00.html|archive-date=March 8, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bakker chose Falwell as his successor because he feared that fellow televangelist [[Jimmy Swaggart]], who had initiated an Assemblies of God investigation into Bakker's sexual misconduct, was attempting to take over his ministry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/03/24/Fire-and-brimstone-evangelist-Jimmy-Swaggart-admitted-today-he-instigated-a/5623543560400/|work=[[United Press International]]|title=Fire-and-brimstone evangelist Jimmy Swaggart admitted today he instigated a...|date=March 24, 1987|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101193824/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/03/24/Fire-and-brimstone-evangelist-Jimmy-Swaggart-admitted-today-he-instigated-a/5623543560400/|archive-date=January 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bakker believed that Falwell would temporarily lead the ministry until the scandal died down,<ref name="ATC"/> but on April 28, 1987, Falwell barred Bakker from returning to PTL upon hearing of allegations of illicit behavior which went beyond the Hahn allegations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/15/AR2007051501365.html?noredirect=on|last=Harris|first=Art|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|title=Falwell Takes Control, Bars Bakker From PTL|date=April 29, 1987|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101145401/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/15/AR2007051501365.html?noredirect=on|archive-date=January 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that summer, as donations declined sharply in the wake of Bakker's resignation and the end of ''The PTL Club'', Falwell raised $20 million to keep Heritage USA solvent and took a promised [[water slide]] ride at the park.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,965543,00.html | title=American Notes: Fund Raising | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=September 21, 1987 | access-date=November 29, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212141215/http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,965543,00.html | archive-date=February 12, 2005 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Falwell and the remaining members of the PTL board resigned in October 1987, stating that a ruling from a [[bankruptcy court]] judge made rebuilding the ministry impossible.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/09/us/falwell-quits-warning-ptl-ministry-may-end.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Falwell Quits, Warning PTL Ministry May End|date=October 9, 1987|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101145239/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/09/us/falwell-quits-warning-ptl-ministry-may-end.html|archive-date=January 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In response to the scandal, Falwell called Bakker a liar, an [[embezzlement|embezzler]], a sexual deviant, and "the greatest scab and cancer on the face of Christianity in 2,000 years of church history".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W-vkVdJPN4wC&pg=PA126|title=The Cross and Reaganomics: Conservative Christians Defending Ronald Reagan|first=Eric R.|last=Crouse|year= 2013|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield#Imprints|Lexington Books]]|via=[[Google Books]]|isbn=9780739182222}}</ref> On [[CNN]], Swaggart stated that Bakker was a "cancer in the body of Christ".<ref name="ATC">{{cite news |title=Son of Jim and Tammy Faye Finds His Own 'Grace' |quote=Jim Bakker is a cancer in the body of Christ |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/01/15/132864466/jim-and-tammy-fayes-son-finds-his-own-grace |work=[[All Things Considered]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=January 15, 2011 |access-date=February 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213084653/https://www.npr.org/2011/01/15/132864466/jim-and-tammy-fayes-son-finds-his-own-grace |archive-date=February 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 1988, Swaggart became involved in a sex scandal of his own after being caught visiting prostitutes in [[New Orleans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/22/us/swaggart-says-he-has-sinned-will-step-down.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Swaggart Says He Has Sinned; Will Step Down|last=King|first=Wayne|date=February 22, 1988|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101145243/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/22/us/swaggart-says-he-has-sinned-will-step-down.html|archive-date=January 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The Bakker and Swaggart scandals had a profound effect on the world of televangelism, causing greater media scrutiny of TV ministers and their finances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/crystal-cathedral-founder-robert-schuller-dies-at-88/2015/04/02/61b96702-d970-11e4-bf0b-f648b95a6488_story.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Crystal Cathedral founder Robert Schuller dies at 88|last1=Singh|first1=Lisa|last2=Banks|first2=Adelle M.|date=April 2, 2015|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412034441/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/crystal-cathedral-founder-robert-schuller-dies-at-88/2015/04/02/61b96702-d970-11e4-bf0b-f648b95a6488_story.html|archive-date=April 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Falwell said that the scandals had "strengthened broadcast evangelism and made Christianity stronger, more mature and more committed."<ref>{{cite news | title=Preacher Scandals Strengthen TV Evangelism, Falwell Says | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=March 19, 1988 | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73577139.html?dids=73577139:73577139&FMT=ABS&FMTS | access-date=December 5, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103120420/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73577139.html?dids=73577139:73577139&FMT=ABS&FMTS | archive-date=November 3, 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/09/The-Rev-Jerry-Falwell-returning-to-Heritage-USA-to/8017560750400/|title=The Rev. Jerry Falwell, returning to Heritage USA to ...|work=[[United Press International]]|date=October 9, 1987|access-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203153805/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/09/The-Rev-Jerry-Falwell-returning-to-Heritage-USA-to/8017560750400/|archive-date=December 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

====<span class="anchor" id="Fraud conviction and incarceration"></span>Fraud conviction and imprisonment====
''The PTL Club''{{'}}s fundraising activities between 1984 and 1987 were reported by ''[[The Charlotte Observer]]'', eventually leading to criminal charges against Bakker.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Miller|first1=Hunter|title=How a Sexual Assault Scandal Led to the Uncovering of a $158 Million Crime in a Televangelist Empire|url=http://popculture.com/tv-shows/2017/09/28/jessica-hahn-sex-scandal-jim-bakker-ptl-club/#3|website=popculture.com|date=September 28, 2017|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214142046/http://popculture.com/tv-shows/2017/09/28/jessica-hahn-sex-scandal-jim-bakker-ptl-club/#3|archive-date=February 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Bakker and his PTL associates sold $1,000 "lifetime memberships", entitling buyers to an annual three-night stay at a luxury hotel at Heritage USA during that period.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schmidt|first=William|title=For Jim and Tammy Bakker, Excess Wiped Out a Rapid Climb to Success|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/16/us/for-jim-and-tammy-bakker-excess-wiped-out-a-rapid-climb-to-success.html?pagewanted=all|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 16, 1987|access-date=February 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215084321/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/16/us/for-jim-and-tammy-bakker-excess-wiped-out-a-rapid-climb-to-success.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the prosecution at Bakker's fraud trial, tens of thousands of memberships were sold but only one 500-room hotel was ever finished.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=David|title=Former Heritage USA resort is again up for sale|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/1997/09/29/story4.html|work=[[The Business Journals]]|date=September 29, 1997|access-date=February 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040521172657/http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/1997/09/29/story4.html|archive-date=May 21, 2004|url-status=live}}</ref> Bakker sold "exclusive partnerships" which exceeded capacity, raising more than twice the money needed to build the hotel. Much of the money paid Heritage USA's operating expenses, and Bakker kept $3.4 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 20 Church Scandals: #9 Jim Bakker PTL Scandal|url=http://pimppreacher.com/post/122919285600/top-20-church-scandals-9-jim-bakker-ptl-scandal|quote=Bakker kept $3.4 million in bonuses for himself|publisher=PimpPreacher.com|date=July 1, 2015|access-date=February 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215083819/http://pimppreacher.com/post/122919285600/top-20-church-scandals-9-jim-bakker-ptl-scandal|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

After a 16-month federal [[grand jury]] probe, Bakker was [[indicted]] in 1988 on eight counts of [[mail fraud]], 15&nbsp;counts of [[wire fraud]] and one count of [[Racketeering|conspiracy]].<ref name=Time12-1988 /> In 1989, after a five-week trial which began on August 28 in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], a jury found him guilty on all 24 counts. Judge [[Robert Daniel Potter]] sentenced Bakker to 45 years in [[Federal Bureau of Prisons|federal prison]] and imposed a $500,000 fine.<ref>{{cite news |last=Applebome |first=Peter |title=Bakker Is Convicted on All Counts; First Felon Among TV Evangelists |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/06/us/bakker-is-convicted-on-all-counts-first-felon-among-tv-evangelists.html |access-date=November 23, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=October 6, 1989 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217032132/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/06/us/bakker-is-convicted-on-all-counts-first-felon-among-tv-evangelists.html |archive-date=December 17, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Applebome|first=Peter|title=Bakker Sentenced to 45 Years For Fraud in His TV Ministry|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/25/us/bakker-sentenced-to-45-years-for-fraud-in-his-tv-ministry.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 25, 1989|access-date=March 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309054358/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/25/us/bakker-sentenced-to-45-years-for-fraud-in-his-tv-ministry.html|archive-date=March 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Peifer | first=Justice Paul E. | title=Jim Bakker's Federal Court Appeal | publisher=Supreme Court of Ohio website | date=April 12, 2000 | url=http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/Justices/pfeifer/column/2000/jp041200.htm | access-date=November 29, 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430221259/http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/Justices/pfeifer/column/2000/jp041200.htm | archive-date=April 30, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> At the [[Federal Medical Center, Rochester]] in [[Rochester, Minnesota]], he shared a cell with activist [[Lyndon LaRouche]] and skydiver [[Roger Nelson (skydiver)|Roger Nelson]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Witt |first=April |title=No Joke |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/2004/10/24/no-joke/882986fd-53f1-4443-95f8-f4f265d38f61/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 24, 2004|access-date=March 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428093533/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/2004/10/24/no-joke/882986fd-53f1-4443-95f8-f4f265d38f61/|archive-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit]] upheld Bakker's conviction on the fraud and conspiracy charges, voided Bakker's 45-year sentence and $500,000 fine and ordered a new sentencing hearing in February 1991.<ref name="U.S. v. Bakker">{{cite web |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?q=%22James+O.+Bakker%22&hl=en&as_sdt=3,44&case=1832676487785187662&scilh=0 |title=U.S. v. Bakker |year=1991 |access-date=October 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312135825/http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?q=%22James+O.+Bakker%22&hl=en&as_sdt=3,44&case=1832676487785187662&scilh=0 |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The court ruled that Potter's sentencing statement about Bakker, that "those of us who do have a religion are sick of being saps for money-grubbing preachers and priests",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/29/opinion/jim-bakker-s-startling-sentence.html |department=Opinion |title=Jim Bakker's Startling Sentence |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 29, 1989 |access-date=June 9, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613005011/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/29/opinion/jim-bakker-s-startling-sentence.html |archive-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> was evidence that the judge had injected his religious beliefs into Bakker's sentence.<ref name="U.S. v. Bakker"/>

A sentence-reduction hearing was held on November 16, 1992, and Bakker's sentence was reduced to eight years. In August&nbsp;1993, he was transferred to a minimum-security federal prison in [[Jesup, Georgia]]. Bakker was [[parole]]d in July 1994, after serving almost five years of his sentence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jim Bakker freed from jail to stay in a halfway house |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/02/us/jim-bakker-freed-from-jail-to-stay-in-a-halfway-house.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 2, 1994 |access-date=March 11, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311081429/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/02/us/jim-bakker-freed-from-jail-to-stay-in-a-halfway-house.html |archive-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref> His son, Jay, spearheaded a letter-writing campaign to the parole board advocating leniency.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bakker |first=Jay |author-link=Jay Bakker |title=Son of a Preacher Man: My Search for Grace in the Shadows |year=2001 |publisher=Harper Collins |isbn=006251699X}}</ref> Celebrity lawyer [[Alan Dershowitz]] acted as Bakker's parole attorney, having said that he "would guarantee that Mr.&nbsp;Bakker would never again engage in the blend of religion and commerce that led to his conviction."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/24/us/judge-cuts-bakker-s-prison-term-making-parole-possible-in-4-years.html |title=Judge cuts Bakker's prison term, making parole possible in 4&nbsp;years |last=Applebome |first=Peter |date=24 August 1991 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=15 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515161918/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/24/us/judge-cuts-bakker-s-prison-term-making-parole-possible-in-4-years.html |archive-date=May 15, 2020}}</ref> Bakker was released from [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] custody on December 1, 1994,<ref>{{cite news |last=Smothers |first=Ronald |title=Ex-television evangelist Bakker ends prison sentence for fraud |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/02/us/ex-television-evangelist-bakker-ends-prison-sentence-for-fraud.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 2, 1994 |access-date=February 21, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216030215/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/02/us/ex-television-evangelist-bakker-ends-prison-sentence-for-fraud.html |archive-date=February 16, 2018}}</ref> owing $6 million to the IRS.<ref>{{cite news | last=Krotz | first=Daniel | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-krotz/jim-bakker-and-other-coun_b_795822.html | work=[[Huffington Post]] | title=Jim Bakker and the counterfeit hell robbers | date=December 20, 2010 | access-date=February 18, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204062348/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-krotz/jim-bakker-and-other-coun_b_795822.html | archive-date=February 4, 2017 | url-status=live}}</ref>
<!--The reporting is problematic. First is the claim of parole. Parole at the Federal level was eliminated by the Sentencing Act of 1984 <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/98th-congress/house-bill/5773 |title=H.R.5773 - Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=January 21, 2021 }}</ref>

In addition the federal sentencing method was based on a system of points, where points were added or subtracted depending on various factors including the particular crimes. Using a chart prepared by the US Sentencing Commission the total of the points indicated the sentencing range. A change of eight years to 45 years is way outside the range of any one total of points.<ref>[https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/guidelines-manual/2016/Sentencing_Table.pdf ussc.gov]</ref> For the 4th Circuit to require a resentencing, that required that the District Court to modify the convictions.

The 4th Circuit could not require a significant adjustment simply because the trial judge supposedly demonstrated bias. District Court judges were extremely limited in the range of sentencing. The sentences were computer based upon the determination of Probation officers who calculated the points and then determined the sentencing range based on the total points. This was mandatory until maxinimum sentencing was made optional in the Supreme Court case of United States v. Booker<ref>United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005).</ref> -->

===Return to televangelism===
[[File:Thorvaldsen's Christ in Grace Street Studio Building.jpg|thumb|The set of ''The Jim Bakker Show'' in [[Blue Eye, Missouri]]]]
In 2003, Bakker began broadcasting ''The Jim Bakker Show'' daily at Studio City Café in [[Branson, Missouri]], with his second wife Lori;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-20060708-2006-07-08-0607080152-story.html|title=Televangelist Rebuilds His Life After Scandal|first=Kevin |last=Murphy|newspaper=[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]]|date=July 7, 2006|language=en-US|access-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812193450/https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-20060708-2006-07-08-0607080152-story.html|archive-date=August 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> it has been carried on [[Christian Television Network|CTN]], [[Daystar (TV network)|Daystar]], Folk TV, Grace Network (Canada), [[Daystar Television Canada]], [[GEB America]], [[Hope Channel|Hope TV]] (Canada), Impact Network, [[WGN America|WGN]], [[Family Broadcasting Corporation|WHT]], [[Tri-State Christian Television|TCT Network]], [[The Word Network]], UpliftTV, and [[Z Living|ZLiving]] networks.<ref>{{Cite journal|title='New' Jim Bakker Returns to Christian Television|journal=Charisma News Service|date=June 2, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://jimbakkershow.com/watch-us-live/broadcast-listings/|title=Broadcast Listings|website=The Jim Bakker Show|date=May 7, 2011 |language=en-US|access-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215143653/https://jimbakkershow.com/watch-us-live/broadcast-listings/|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://jimbakkershow.com/news/ptl-shop-and-the-jim-bakker-show-now-on-zliving/|title=PTL Shop and The Jim Bakker Show now on ZLiving!|website=The Jim Bakker Show|date=July 25, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=July 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729211145/https://jimbakkershow.com/news/ptl-shop-and-the-jim-bakker-show-now-on-zliving/|archive-date=July 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Most of Bakker's audience receives his program on [[DirecTV]] and [[Dish Network]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Bakker |first=Jim |title=Broadcast Listings |url=https://jimbakkershow.com/watch-us-live/broadcast-listings/|publisher=The Jim Bakker Show |website=jimbakkershow.com|date=May 7, 2011 |access-date=February 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215143653/https://jimbakkershow.com/watch-us-live/broadcast-listings/|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Bakker condemned the [[prosperity theology]] in which he took part earlier in his career, and has embraced [[apocalypticism]].<ref name="buzzfeed">{{cite news |last=McKinney |first=Kelsey |title=The Second Coming Of Televangelist Jim Bakker |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kelseymckinney/second-coming-of-televangelist-jim-bakker |url-status=live |work=[[Buzzfeed News]] |date=May 19, 2017 |access-date=January 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181320/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kelseymckinney/second-coming-of-televangelist-jim-bakker |archive-date=January 29, 2019}}</ref> His show has a [[Millennialism|millennial]], [[survivalist]] focus and sells buckets of [[freeze-dried]] food, such as beans on toast,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mohr |first=Kylie |date=December 3, 2015 |title=Apocalypse Chow: We Tried Televangelist Jim Bakker's "Survival Food" |website=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/12/03/456677535/apocalypse-chow-we-tried-televangelist-jim-bakkers-survival-food }}</ref> to his audience in preparation for the [[Eschatology|end of days]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Mohr |first=Kylie |title=Apocalypse Chow: We Tried Televangelist Jim Bakker's 'Survival Food' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/12/03/456677535/apocalypse-chow-we-tried-televangelist-jim-bakkers-survival-food |url-status=live |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=December 3, 2015 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131201031/http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/12/03/456677535/apocalypse-chow-we-tried-televangelist-jim-bakkers-survival-food |archive-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref> Elspeth Reeve wrote in ''[[The Atlantic]]'' that Bakker's "doomsday survival gear" is overpriced.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reeve |first=Elspeth |title=Jim Bakker's Doomsday Survival Gear Is Way Overpriced |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/05/jim-bakkers-doomsday-survival-gear-way-overpriced/327958/|work=[[The Atlantic]]|date=May 17, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306023057/https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/05/jim-bakkers-doomsday-survival-gear-way-overpriced/327958/|archive-date=March 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> A man named Jerry Crawford, who credits Bakker with saving his marriage, invested $25 million in a new ministry for Bakker in [[Blue Eye, Missouri]], named Morningside USA. Production for ''The Jim Bakker Show'' moved to Morningside in 2008.<ref name="buzzfeed"/>

====Prophecies and statements====
In 2013, Bakker wrote ''Time Has Come: How to Prepare Now for Epic Events Ahead'' about end-time events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21414015-time-has-come|title=Time Has Come|website=www.goodreads.com|access-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref> Bakker has changed his views on [[prosperity theology]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Prosperity Gospel Apocalypse: Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's PTL Empire|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2017/07/sex-money-fame-and-the-evangelical-empire-of-jim-and-tammy-faye-bakker/|website=[[Patheos]]|date=July 26, 2017|access-date=February 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224112850/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2017/07/sex-money-fame-and-the-evangelical-empire-of-jim-and-tammy-faye-bakker/|archive-date=February 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In his 1980 book ''Eight Keys to Success'', he stated, "God wants you to be happy, God wants you to be rich, God wants you to prosper."<ref>{{cite book|last=Wigger|first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OjsqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA7 |title=PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's Evangelical Empire|pages=7|publisher=John H. Wigger|year=2017|isbn=9780199379729}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9447990-eight-keys-to-success|title=Eight Keys To Success|website=www.goodreads.com|access-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523231351/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9447990-eight-keys-to-success|archive-date=May 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In his 1996 book, ''I Was Wrong'', he admitted that the first time he actually read the Bible all the way through was in prison. Bakker also wrote that he realized that he had taken passages out of context and used them as [[prooftext]]s to support his [[prosperity theology]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Bakker|first=Jim|title=I Was Wrong: Excerpt From Jim Bakker's Autobiographical Book. Bakker admits to study the Bible|url=http://www.spiritwatch.org/firejbwrong.htm|quote=The more I studied the Bible|publisher=Spiritwatch Ministries|year=1996|access-date=February 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224005909/http://spiritwatch.org/firejbwrong.htm|archive-date=February 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bakker's revived show features a number of ministers who bill themselves as "prophets". He now says that "PTL" stands for "Prophets Talking Loud".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jimbakkershow.com/news/the-5-principles-of-faith/|title=The 5 Principles of Faith|first=Jim|last=Bakker|date=June 22, 2016|access-date=July 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703005054/https://jimbakkershow.com/news/the-5-principles-of-faith/|archive-date=July 3, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In an October 2017 video, Bakker said that "God will punish those" who ridicule him;<ref>{{cite web|last=Mazza|first=Ed|title=Jim Bakker Says God Will Punish You For Making Fun Of Him|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jim-bakker-stop-making-fun-of-me_us_59e593f3e4b0a2324d1d2f54|quote=Jim Bakker: One day, you're going to shake your fist in God's face. And you're going to say, 'God, why didn't you warn me?' He's gonna say, 'You sat there and you made fun of Jim Bakker all those years. I warned you, but you didn't listen.|work=[[HuffPost]]|date=October 17, 2017|access-date=February 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107145213/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jim-bakker-stop-making-fun-of-me_us_59e593f3e4b0a2324d1d2f54|archive-date=January 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> he has said that [[Hurricane Harvey]] was a judgment of God, and he blamed [[Hurricane Matthew]] on then-President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Disgraced pastor Jim Bakker says Hurricane Harvey was 'judgment' from God while selling his Tasty Pantry bucket for $175|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/disgraced-pastor-jim-bakker-calls-hurricane-harvey-judgement-article-1.3473935|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York|date=September 5, 2017|access-date=February 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083505/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/disgraced-pastor-jim-bakker-calls-hurricane-harvey-judgement-article-1.3473935|archive-date=February 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tashman|first=Brian|title=Jim Bakker Blames Hurricane Matthew On Obama|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/jim-bakker-blames-hurricane-matthew-on-obama/ |publisher=Right Wing Watch|date=October 17, 2016|access-date=February 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083601/http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/jim-bakker-blames-hurricane-matthew-on-obama/|archive-date=February 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Bakker predicted that if then-President [[Donald Trump]] was [[Efforts to impeach Donald Trump|impeached]], Christians would begin a Second American Civil War.<ref>{{cite web|title=Televangelist Jim Bakker: Christians will start a civil war if Trump is impeached|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|quote=Jim Bakker: If it happens, there will be a civil war in the United States of America. |last=Delk |first=Josh |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/348418-televangelist-jim-bakker-christians-will-start-new-civil-war-if/|date=August 29, 2017|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214014707/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/348418-televangelist-jim-bakker-christians-will-start-new-civil-war-if|archive-date=February 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He compared the [[2017 Washington train derailment]] to the [[Sinking of the RMS Titanic|sinking]] of the [[RMS Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']] and stated the [[Amtrak]] train derailment was a warning from God.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mantlya|first=Kyle|title=Jim Bakker: Washington Train Derailment Was A Warning From God|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/jim-bakker-washington-train-derailment-was-a-warning-from-god/|publisher=Right Wing Watch|quote=Jim Bakker: The great preachers of all times have said the ''Titanic'' is God's warning|date=January 3, 2018|access-date=February 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226032207/http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/jim-bakker-washington-train-derailment-was-a-warning-from-god/|archive-date=February 26, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He also claimed that he predicted the [[September 11 attacks]] of 2001, stating that he "saw 9/11 in 1999 before [[New Year's Eve]]" and that there would "be terrorism" and bombings in New York City and [[Washington, D.C.]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=Televangelist Jim Bakker claims he predicted 9/11 disaster|url=https://joltleft.com/televangelist-jim-bakker-claims-he-predicted-911-disaster/|quote=Jim Bakker: I saw 9/11 in 1999 before New Year's Eve ... I said there's going to be terrorism; there's going to be a bombing in New York and Washington DC. I said it would be at a high defense location in DC ...|publisher=Jolt Left|date=August 23, 2011|access-date=February 25, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226032244/https://joltleft.com/televangelist-jim-bakker-claims-he-predicted-911-disaster/|archive-date=February 26, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> A few days after the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]], he stated that "God came to [him] in a dream... and he was wearing camouflage, a hunting vest and had an [[AR-15 style rifle|AR-15]] strapped to his back" and that God supported Trump's plan to [[arm teachers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jim Bakker Supports Arming Some Teachers: 'Jesus Loves AR-15'|url=https://www.nova-magazine.net/jim-bakker-supports-arming-some-teachers-jesus-loves-ar-15/|quote=To me, that is a sign that he is against gun control. God ordained Donald Trump and he supports his plan to arm teachers.|work=nova-magazine.net|date=February 22, 2018|access-date=March 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306142257/https://www.nova-magazine.net/jim-bakker-supports-arming-some-teachers-jesus-loves-ar-15/|archive-date=March 6, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the death of [[Billy Graham]] on February 21, 2018, Bakker attended Graham's funeral and paid his respects, stating that Graham was the greatest preacher since [[Jesus]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Marusak |first1=Joe |last2=Funk |first2=Tim |title=Fallen evangelist Jim Bakker and wife pay their respects to Billy Graham in Charlotte |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/special-reports/billy-graham-life/article202470224.html |work=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|date=February 27, 2018|access-date=March 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228091355/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/special-reports/billy-graham-life/article202470224.html|archive-date=February 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and also remarking that Graham had visited him in prison.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dyches|first=Chris|title=Fallen PTL pastor Jim Bakker recalls prison visit from Rev. Billy Graham|url=http://m.wbtv.com/story/37607004/fallen-ptl-pastor-jim-bakker-recalls-prison-visit-from-rev-billy-graham|publisher=[[WBTV]]|location=Charlotte, N.C.|date=February 27, 2018|access-date=March 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306023215/http://m.wbtv.com/story/37607004/fallen-ptl-pastor-jim-bakker-recalls-prison-visit-from-rev-billy-graham|archive-date=March 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

On the ''Stand in the Gap Today'' radio program, Pennsylvania Pastors Network president Sam Rohrer criticized Bakker's civil-war prediction.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gryboski|first=Michael|title=Pastors Network Pres: Jim Bakker Is Wrong, Christians Won't Start 'Civil War' Over Trump Impeachment|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastors-network-president-jim-bakker-wrong-christians-wont-start-civil-war-over-trump-impeachment-197355/|work=[[The Christian Post]]|date=August 31, 2017|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073339/https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastors-network-president-jim-bakker-wrong-christians-wont-start-civil-war-over-trump-impeachment-197355/|archive-date=February 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Christian Today]]'' criticized Bakker's show for preying on "the most vulnerable kinds of people" and claimed that it had "no place on our TV screens."<ref>{{cite web|last=Saunders|first=Martin|title=Jim Bakker's TV show amounts to spiritual abuse – so why is he still broadcasting?|url=https://www.christiantoday.com/uk/jim-bakkers-tv-show-amounts-to-spiritual-abuse-so-why-is-he-still-broadcasting/128881.htm|work=[[Christian Today]]|date=May 1, 2018|access-date=May 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502064231/https://www.christiantoday.com/uk/jim-bakkers-tv-show-amounts-to-spiritual-abuse-so-why-is-he-still-broadcasting/128881.htm|archive-date=May 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

====COVID-19 misinformation====
{{see also|Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic}}
Bakker sold [[colloidal silver]] supplements that he advertised as a [[panacea (medicine)|panacea]]. In March&nbsp;2020, the office of the [[Attorney General of New York]] ordered Bakker to cease making false medicinal claims about his supplements' alleged ability to cure the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|2019–2020 strains of coronavirus]], and the [[Federal Trade Commission]] and the [[Food and Drug Administration]] also sent a warning letter to Bakker about his claims regarding the supplements and coronavirus.<ref>{{cite news |title=NY AG Letitia James orders televangelist Jim Bakker to quit advertising coronavirus cure |date=March 6, 2020 |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |url=https://nypost.com/2020/03/06/ny-ag-letitia-james-orders-televangelist-jim-bakker-to-quit-advertising-coronavirus-cures/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306142558/https://nypost.com/2020/03/06/ny-ag-letitia-james-orders-televangelist-jim-bakker-to-quit-advertising-coronavirus-cures/ |archive-date=March 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FDA, FTC sends warning letter to ''Jim Bakker Show'' |date=March 9, 2020 |newspaper=Ozarks Independent |url=http://ozarksindependent.com/2020/03/09/fda-ftc-sends-warning-letter-to-jim-bakker-show/ |access-date=March 9, 2020 |archive-date=April 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406135333/http://ozarksindependent.com/2020/03/09/fda-ftc-sends-warning-letter-to-jim-bakker-show/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Missouri]] attorney general [[Eric Schmitt]] and [[Arkansas]] attorney general [[Leslie Rutledge]] filed lawsuits against Bakker for allegedly pushing the supplements as a treatment for the virus.<ref>{{cite news |title=Federal government, Missouri AG tell area pastor to stop claiming coronavirus cure |website=Branson tri-lakes News |url=http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_d2e39562-62fd-11ea-a417-1b9ee625bd44.html |access-date=March 11, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311153024/http://www.bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_d2e39562-62fd-11ea-a417-1b9ee625bd44.html |archive-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jim Bakker sued by second state for selling fake coronavirus cure |website=[[CBS News]] |date=June 17, 2020 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jim-bakker-sued-by-second-state-for-selling-fake-coronavirus-cure/ |access-date=July 16, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-date=July 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717181336/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jim-bakker-sued-by-second-state-for-selling-fake-coronavirus-cure/}}</ref> In the State lawsuit against him, Bakker is represented by former Missouri governor [[Jay Nixon]], who has argued for the suit to be dismissed. Nixon says that the allegations made in the lawsuit are false, stating: "Bakker is being unfairly targeted by those who want to crush his ministry and force his Christian television program off the air."<ref>{{cite news |title=Jim Bakker seeks dismissal of suit claiming he touted false virus cure |last=Salter |first=John |date=May 5, 2020 |newspaper=[[Star Tribune]] |url=https://www.startribune.com/jim-bakker-seeks-suit-dismissal-ex-governor-is-his-lawyer/570207402/ |access-date=May 6, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507124231/https://www.startribune.com/jim-bakker-seeks-suit-dismissal-ex-governor-is-his-lawyer/570207402/ |archive-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref>

In April 2020, prohibited from receiving credit card transactions, Bakker disclosed to his viewers that his ministry was on the brink of filing for bankruptcy and urgently petitioned them for donations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Televangelist asks viewers to send checks after credit card companies cut him off for selling fake coronavirus cure |last=Slisco |first=Aila |date=April 22, 2020 |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |language=en |url=https://www.newsweek.com/televangelist-asks-viewers-send-checks-after-credit-card-companies-cut-him-off-selling-fake-1499636 |access-date=April 23, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-date=April 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426214105/https://www.newsweek.com/televangelist-asks-viewers-send-checks-after-credit-card-companies-cut-him-off-selling-fake-1499636}}</ref>

The following month, GEB America and World Harvest Television dropped Bakker's program from their networks after [[DirecTV]] owner [[AT&T]] asked channels to reconsider airing the show. AT&T made the request of its channels in response to a [[deplatforming]] campaign from the liberal Christian group Faithful America.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holman |first=Gregory J. |date=May 6, 2020 |title=Liberal Christian group says TV network tied to Oral Roberts University drops Bakker show |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/missouri/2020/05/06/jim-bakker-show-oral-roberts-university-geb-network-faithful-america/5175969002/ |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref><ref name="stroke">{{cite web |last=Marusak |first=Joe |date=May 8, 2020 |title=TV pastor Jim Bakker suffers stroke, wife and son confirm. 'Jim will be back!' |newspaper=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article242596441.html |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510232623/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article242596441.html|url-status=live |archive-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref>

On May 8, 2020, Lori Bakker announced that Jim Bakker had suffered a stroke that his son Jay described as “minor”. Lori stated that he would be taking a sabbatical from the program until he recovers. She blamed the stroke on Bakker's hard work on his show and wrote that he had described the criticism against him as “the most vicious attack that he has ever experienced”.<ref name="stroke"/> Bakker returned to his program for the first time following his stroke on July 8, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marusak |first=Joe |date=July 8, 2020 |title=TV pastor Jim Bakker returns to his show for the first time since suffering a stroke |newspaper=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/tv/article244094697.html |access-date=July 16, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-date=July 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710173315/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/tv/article244094697.html}}</ref>

On June 23, 2021, Missouri Attorney General [[Eric Schmitt]] announced the settlement of the state's lawsuit against Bakker.  Bakker and Morningside Church would be prohibited from saying silver solution could "diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat, or cure any disease or illness". Restitution of about $157,000 would also be paid to those who bought silver solution between February 12, 2020, and March 10, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wert |first=Jason |date=June 23, 2021 |title=Attorney General settles suit with Jim Bakker |website=[[KWTO (AM)]] |url=https://933kwto.com/attorney-general-schmitt-settles-suit-with-jim-bakker/ |access-date=June 23, 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623161425/https://933kwto.com/attorney-general-schmitt-settles-suit-with-jim-bakker/ |archive-date=June 23, 2021}}</ref>

==Works==
*''Move That Mountain'' (1976), {{ISBN|978-0-88270-164-6}}
*''Eight Keys to Success'' (1980), {{ISBN|978-0-89221-071-8}}
*''I Was Wrong'' (1996), {{ISBN|978-0-7852-7425-4}}
*''Prosperity and the Coming Apocalypse'' (1998), {{ISBN|978-1-4185-5422-4}}
*''The Refuge: The Joy of Christian Community in a Torn-Apart World'' (2000), {{ISBN|978-1-4185-5423-1}}
*''Time Has Come: How to Prepare Now for Epic Events Ahead'' (2014), {{ISBN|978-1-61795-134-3}}
*''You Can Make It: God's Faithfulness in Dark Times-Past, Present and Future'' (2021) {{ISBN|978-1-63641-047-0}}

==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.jimbakkershow.com Jim Bakker Show]

{{PTL scandal}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bakker, Jim}}
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