Jimmy Swaggart

Jimmy Lee Swaggart (born March 15, 1935) is an American Pentecostal pastor, author, radio and televangelist through his weekly telecast. His 1980s telecast was transmitted to over 3,000 stations and cable systems each week.

Sexual scandals in the late 1980s and early 1990s led the Assemblies of God to defrock him. As a result of the scandals, Swaggart temporarily stepped down as the head of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Swaggart's television ministry, which began in 1975, continues airing in the US and internationally. The weekly Jimmy Swaggart Telecast and A Study in the Word programs are broadcast throughout the US and on 78 channels in 104 other countries, and over the Internet.

Early life

Jimmy Lee Swaggart was born in Ferriday, Louisiana, on March 15, 1935, to Willie Leon (a.k.a., "Son") and Minnie Belle (née Herron) Swaggart. He is the cousin of rock'n'roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and country music star Mickey Gilley. With his parents, Swaggart attended a small, 25-member Assemblies of God church in Ferriday. On October 10, 1952, Swaggart married Frances Anderson (born on August 9, 1937). Their son, Donnie, was born on October 18, 1954. Swaggart worked several part-time odd jobs in order to support his young family and also began singing Southern Gospel music at various churches.