Jim Bakker, once the most popular televangelist in the 1960s and 1970s, is now known for his controversies. Jim and his wife Tammy Faye hosted a show on the PTL network that was viewed by 20 million people across various nations. They also constructed Heritage USA, the largest Christian-themed amusement park in the United States. However, their success was short-lived as Jim was arrested on numerous fraud counts following a sexual assault scandal. In this article, we will explore “Where is Jim Bakker Now?” and provide all the details.
Jim Bakker was born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan, on the shores of Lake Michigan. He met Tammy while attending college in 1960 and married her after only three dates. They soon quit school to become traveling evangelists. In 1974, Jim established the PTL Satellite Network and launched his own late-night chat program called “The PTL Club.” The network expanded to include hundreds of television stations between 1974 and 1977.
The couple’s success led to the construction of Heritage USA after purchasing 2500 acres of land in Fort Mill, South Carolina. However, Jim Bakker’s ministry was rocked by two significant crises that ultimately led to his downfall. In March 1987, Jim resigned from PTL after it was revealed that he had an affair with church secretary Jessica Hahn at a hotel in Florida. She accused him of sexually assaulting her, and he subsequently admitted to paying her a large sum of money to conceal their affair.
Federal records revealed that Jim had utilized viewer donations for his own benefit, spending a lot of money on a sports car, a houseboat, and mink coats. Almost $350K was donated by viewers who thought their money was going to religious shows in South Korea and Brazil. Theme park construction was funded in part by this sum as well. In 1988, a former employee who claimed to have had sex with Jim Bakker testified, but Jim denied the allegations.
In the same year, Jim faced various fraud and conspiracy charges. He oversold vacations at his park and used corporate assets for personal use. He also closed on over 70,000 hotel venture partnerships and ultimately defrauded more than $150 million. Jim received a 24-count fraud and conspiracy conviction in October 1989 and was given a 45-year prison term the same year.
Jim apologized for his actions, saying, “I am sincerely sorry for the people who have been hurt, the partners and the people who worked at Heritage USA. I’m guilty of sin. I am human and have made some blunders, but it was never my intention to cheat anyone.” However, his sentence was lowered by an appeals court because of improper comments made by the original judge. Jim was released from prison in December 1994, after serving almost five years.
After roughly 30 years of marriage, Tammy had already filed for divorce. Jim eventually found love again and is now married to his co-host on “The Jim Bakker Show,” Lori Bakker. In 2003, the first episode aired. He also claims the Rapture is imminent and markets freeze-dried food. In Blue Eye, Missouri, he established a new ministry under the name Morningside.
In 2020, when a coronavirus epidemic was sweeping the globe, 81-year-old Jim once again found himself at the center of controversy. He marketed Silver Solution as a panacea for the coronavirus outbreak. Jim spoke with Sherrill Sellman, a self-described “natural health specialist” and “naturopathic doctor,” who vouched for Silver Solution. The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to Bakker saying that his medicine was illegal and could hurt patients. Jim persisted in pushing Silver Solution, although knowing it was a fraud and spreading bogus claims that it could treat coronavirus and improve the immune system.
Jim lost $156,000 due to his promotion of the fraudulent miracle medicine, but he maintains his innocence. Jim and his church were forbidden by the settlement agreement from promoting Silver Solution as a medical treatment.
In conclusion, Jim Bakker’s life has been marked by controversies. From his rise as a televangelist to his fall from grace due to fraud and conspiracy charges, Jim has had a tumultuous journey. Despite his past, he continues to preach and market his products through his show “The Jim Bakker Show” and his ministry Morningside.