Who was the first American televangelist to be convicted in federal court?
On October 6, 1989, Jim Bakker, founder of the PTL (for "Praise The Lord" and "People That Love") Ministry and on-air PTL and 700 Clubs, became the first television evangelist in the history of the United States to be convicted of federal crimes, in Charlotte, NC.
Bakker and his wife, Tammy Faye, preached their version of living the just and righteous life and adhering to Fundamentalist Christian tenets on the television...and made a mint doing it.
Convicted on all 24 charges against him, Bakker was sent to prison for conning true believers out of $158,000,000, following a trial that lasted six weeks. He spent $3,700,000 of that money living the High Life, amassing a fleet of luxury cars, and buying things like a dog house complete with air conditioning.
More Info:
www.nytimes.com
What are your thoughts on this subject?
102 Comments
jeff grinsgo
And $1000/day for Tammy Faye's makeup.
Marianne Frederick Halterman
It was an awful chapter in the history of televangelism... and so many people fell for Jim Bakker's version of profitable christianity which (like the tax collectors in the Temple) had nothing to do with the bedrock of the Christian faith. And it backfired on those in his tele-flock who did adhere to and practice their faith. In faith as in life, honesty is always the best policy. God works in mysterious ways, and remember "we must render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's. Selah.
Barbara Toms
serves him right , praying on the vulnerable people , what a sad man.
Gery Tillmanns
Him and Tammy were front page news. Televangelists feed on the lost sole.
Linda Walde
all the others are not better than Bakker....they all steal from the poor and make themselves rich...you shouldn't have to pay someone to believe in God...sad
George Oliver Prince
I'd much rather give money to a legitimate charity (Saint Jude's) than to some televangelist. God will understand
William Mdcannold Jr.
Boy do we have a slew of new deserving candidates today. Osteen heads the list. It is sickening to see all those snickering for these characters. Christianity is and was NEVER intended for such participation and abuse. Christ himself said that 'whenever two or more gather in my name, there am I also'. Only two!
Wynny Bain
I knew he wasn't right. I just didn't know how not right he was...
Alge Borusas
"Pass the Loot" was more like it.
Jah's-Friend
Gery Tillmanns, what does the bottom of a shoe have to do with anything? 😁🤣
Jah's-Friend
PTL— Purloin, Take, & Lie to the people... Can I get an AMEN?
Jah's-Friend
Kay Agnew, how about, “Purloin, Take, & Lie... 😠
Jah's-Friend
Marianne Frederick Halterman, if you can believe it, an aged Jim Baker came out of prison and is at it again, with a new dirty birdie for a wife and they're still fleecing the sheep. They are selling survival buckets of non-perishable food to the sheeple, among other things. How anyone can ever trust this snake oil salesman again and fall for more of his thievery is just something I cannot wrap my brain around... 🐂💩
Kay Agnew
PTL could have also stood for Pay The Lady!
Mayo420ChiBears#1
jeff grinsgo, might have 🐝 more than that. Lol
Debbie Jones
He was a slimeball, in an expensive suit!
gingercake
I am not sorry about giving money to the Bakkers. Their ministry gave more back to their true followers that their followers gave to them. Our family had wonderful vacations at Heritage USA and Miraculous healings, fellowship with other believers. Jim Bakker was a man of vision. He wasn't wise about business and surrounded himself with the wrong people.
celia younger
worse is the republican televangelist... that is evil... and crooked. Marianne Frederick Halterman,
celia younger
and a house with air conditioner for their dogs. jeff grinsgo,
nancyrnovak
I am glad they got what they deserved should have been more
Kathi Keegan Chang
I always wondered why the two of them were always FAKE smiling, as the end of the era in his fake, Christian Life, brought down the house fully. Shame on them, and shame on the network! Nothing but Bad Acting can explain anything involving THEM!
edwardolson
I just remember seeing this on tv 📺
Kitty
Jim Bakker did not found the 700 Club. He only worked for the ministry, begun by Pat Robertson. Jealousy compelled him to begin his own ministry, the PTL Club.
karenleaton
eric maser, I respectfully suggest that if you are going to correct people that you use correct information!
Firstly, the New Testament does NOT say that Mary Magdalene was a *prostitute*.
Secondly, all 27 of the documents contained in the New Testament were recorded by 100 common era (or AD if you will) and kept from containing mistakes by GOD Himself.