Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart dies at 90

From 1988: Jimmy Swaggart admits "sin"

The Rev. Jimmy Swaggart tells his wife and congregation that he has sinned as rumors of scandal swirl. Originally reported by FOX 11's Pat Riddle, February 22, 1988.

Famed televangelist, gospel recording artist and author The Rev. Jimmy Swaggart died at the age of 90.

His death was announced Tuesday morning on his public Facebook page.

"Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ. Today was the day he has sung about for decades. He met his beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory. At the same time, we rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day," the post reads.

Swaggart oversaw Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. At the height of his popularity in the 1980s, Swaggart’s television ministry drew millions of watchers from around the world. But much of it shrank after a sex scandal involving a prostitute.

Jimmy Swaggart’s early days

FILE - Pentacostal preacher Jimmy Swaggart speaking at convention of religions broadcasters. (Photo by Cynthia Johnson/Getty Images)

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Swaggart was born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana. He came into the Christian faith at 8 years old and "spent hours reading the Bible, praying, and, after a certain revival meeting, decided to ask God for the talent to play the piano," according to his ministry’s website.

After learning how to play the piano, Swaggart started to release a series of gospel albums in 1958 and went on to sell more than 17 million recordings.

Radio and TV

The Jimmy Swaggart Ministries also launched a radio program, "The Campmeeting Hour" on January 1, 1969, in Atlanta, Georgia. The program grew to 700 radio stations in the U.S. Today, the organization owns and operates 75 radio stations.

In 1973, Swaggart produced a 30-minute weekly television program titled, "The Jimmy Swaggart Evangelistic Association Presents Jimmy Swaggart," also known as the Jimmy Swaggart telecast. His program broadcasted to over 3,000 television stations plus multiple cable systems each week.

At his peak in the mid-1980s, Swaggart was the country’s top-rated TV preacher. His services were broadcast to over 2 million households.

Swaggart scandals

In 1988, the Assemblies of God church launched an investigation into Swaggart. Media outlets reported that church officials met after photographs showed Swaggart and a known prostitute going into and out of a motel room.

Swaggart never confessed to anything more than an unspecified sin during a televised apology in which he tearfully delivered his "I have sinned speech."

A few years later, he was stopped by police while driving in California with a suspected prostitute in his car.

Swaggart also made headlines for saying in a televised worship service that he would kill any gay man who looked at him romantically. Swaggart said he made the comment jokingly and did not mean any harm.

Swaggart’s ministry, once worth $150 million a year, shrank under the weight of the earlier scandal, and Swaggart dropped from first to seventh in national television rankings of evangelists.