Jimmy Swaggart#Prostitution scandals

{{Infobox person

| birth_name = Jimmy Lee Swaggart

| image = Rev. Jimmy Swaggart 01.jpg

| caption = Swaggart in 2009

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1935|3|15}}

| birth_place = Ferriday, Louisiana, U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|Evangelist|singer|author|pastor|pianist}}

| years_active = 1955–present

| television = The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast (1971–present)
SonLife Broadcasting Network (2007–present)

| spouse = {{marriage|Frances Swaggart|1965}}

| children = Donnie Swaggart

| relatives = Mickey Gilley (cousin)
Jerry Lee Lewis (cousin)

| website = {{URL|jsm.org}}

}}

Jimmy Lee Swaggart ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|w|æ|g|ər|t}}; born March 15, 1935) is an American Pentecostal televangelist.

Jimmy Swaggart Ministries owns and operates the SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN). Swaggart is the senior pastor of the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Early life

Jimmy Lee Swaggart was born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6AJZQuuS6SUC&q=jimmy+swaggart+march+15%2C+1935&pg=PA197 |title=Jesus: Myth or Reality?|isbn=978-0-595-39764-8|last1=Curtis|first1=Ian|date=June 2006|publisher=iUniverse }} to fiddle player and Pentecostal preacher Willie Leon (known as "Sun" or "Son") Swaggart and Minnie Bell Herron, daughter of sharecropper William Herron. Swaggart's parents were related by marriage, as Son Swaggart's maternal uncle, Elmo Lewis, was married to Minnie Herron's sister, Mamie. The extended family had a complex network of interrelationships: "cousins and in-laws and other relatives married each other until the clan was entwined like a big, tight ball of rubber bands".Saved by Song: A History of Gospel and Christian Music, Don Cusic, University of Mississippi Press, 2012, p. 321Roots of the Rich and Famous, Robert R. Davenport, Taylor Publishing, 1998, p. 131Swaggart: The Unauthorized Biography of an American Evangelist, Ann Rowe Seaman, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2001, pp. 33–35

Swaggart is the cousin of rockabilly pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and country music star Mickey Gilley.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120317020714/http://www.unconqueredthebook.com/ Unconquered: The Saga of Cousins Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart, and Mickey Gilley]}} 488 pages Brown Books Publishing Group (May 1, 2012), English {{ISBN|978-1-61254-041-2}} He also had a sister, Jeanette Ensminger (1942–1999). With his parents, Swaggart attended small Assemblies of God churches in Ferriday and Wisner.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

In 1952, aged 17, Swaggart married 15-year-old Frances Anderson, whom he met in church in Wisner, Louisiana while he was playing music with his father, who pastored the Assembly of God Church there. They have a son named Donnie. Swaggart worked several part-time odd jobs to support his young family and also began singing Southern Gospel music at various churches.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

According to his autobiography To Cross a River, Swaggart, along with his wife and son, lived in poverty during the 1950s as he preached throughout rural Louisiana, struggling to survive on an income of $30 a week ({{Inflation|US|30|1957|r=-1|fmt=eq}}). Being too poor to own a home, the Swaggarts lived in church basements, homes of pastors, and small motels. Sun Records producer Sam Phillips wanted to start a gospel line of music for the label (perhaps to remain in competition with RCA Victor and Columbia, who also had gospel lines at the time) and wanted Swaggart for Sun as the first gospel artist for the label. Swaggart's cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, had previously signed with Sun and was reportedly earning $20,000 per week at the time. Although the offer meant a promise for significant income for him and his family, Swaggart turned Phillips down, stating that he was called to preach the gospel.{{cite book|title=To Cross a River|year=1984|publisher=Jimmy Swaggart Ministries |location=Baton Rouge, La.|isbn=978-0-88270-221-6|author=Jimmy Swaggart|edition=3rd |author2=Robert Paul Lamb|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/tocrossriver00swag}}

Career

=Ordination and early career=

Preaching from a flatbed trailer donated to him, Swaggart began full-time evangelistic work in 1955. He began developing a revival-meeting following throughout the American South. In 1960, he began recording gospel music record albums and transmitting on Christian radio stations. In 1961, Swaggart was ordained by the Assemblies of God; a year later he began his radio ministry. In the late 1960s, Swaggart founded what was then a small church named the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; the church eventually became district-affiliated with the Assemblies of God.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

In 1971, Swaggart began transmitting a weekly 30-minute telecast over various local television stations in Baton Rouge and also purchased a local AM radio station, WLUX (now WPFC). The station broadcast Christian feature stories, preaching and teaching to various fundamentalist and Pentecostal denominations and playing black gospel, Southern gospel, and inspirational music. Swaggart sold many of his radio stations gradually throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

=Shifting to television=

By 1975, the television ministry had expanded to more stations around the United States, and he began to use television as his primary preaching forum. In 1978, the weekly telecast was increased to an hour.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

In 1980, Swaggart began a daily weekday telecast featuring Bible study and music, and the weekend, hour-long telecast included a service from either Family Worship Center (Swaggart's church) or an on-location crusade in a major city. In the early 1980s, the broadcasts expanded to major cities nationwide. By 1983, more than 250 television stations broadcast the telecast.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

=Promotion of RENAMO=

Throughout the 1980s, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries was one of many American Evangelical leaders who promoted the South African-backed Mozambican National Resistance, aka RENAMO, which was accused of committing systematic war crimes during Mozambique's 15-year-long civil war. In addition to moral support and publicity, Swaggart Ministries was repeatedly accused of providing funding and material support to the group. In September 1985, government forces supported by Zimbabwe captured RENAMO's main headquarters inside Mozambique, Casa Banana. Among the materials left behind by retreating rebels were piles of Swaggart's 1982 publication, "How to Receive The Baptism in the Holy Spirit", translated into Portuguese.{{cite web |title=The Conflict with Renamo, 1976-1992 «August 1990» Dossier MZ-0020: 126. Rightwing Christian Group Denies Renamo Connection |url=https://www.mozambiquehistory.net/90_08.php |website=Mozambique History Net}} During the 1988 trial of Australian missionary Ian Grey, who coordinated much of the private support to RENAMO, it was claimed by the defendant that Swaggart Ministries worked through Shekinah Ministries to provide support to RENAMO. That year, extensive media coverage of Swaggart and his businesses in the wake of a sex scandal largely excluded these allegations.{{cite book |last1=Diamond |first1=Sara |title=Spiritual Warfare The Politics of the Christian Right |date=1990 |isbn=978-0-921689-64-5 |page=199 |publisher=Black Rose Books |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VRDo9R_FbdUC&dq=Jimmy+Swaggart+renamo&pg=PA199}} In 1991, Covert Action Magazine and the government of Zimbabwe both accused Swaggart ministries of continuing to fund RENAMO.{{cite book |title=Political Developments and Prospects for Peace in Mozambique and Review of the Electorial [sic] Process in Angola Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Second Congress, Second Session, October 8, 1992 · Volume 4 |date=1993 |publisher=USGPO |page=109 |isbn=9780160411410 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=11ijXTSYczYC&q=swaggart}}

=Prostitution scandals=

In 1988, Swaggart was accused of patronizing a prostitute. He was suspended and ultimately defrocked by the Assemblies of God. Three years later, Swaggart was implicated in another scandal involving prostitution. As a result, Swaggart's ministry became non-affiliated, nondenominational, and significantly smaller than it was in the ministry's pre-scandal years.{{cite book|last=Djupe|first=Paul A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=frt7RDOT1PUC&pg=PA430 |title=Encyclopedia of American religion and politics|author2=Olson, Laura R. |publisher=Checkmark Books|year=2008|isbn=978-0-8160-7555-3|page=430|access-date=March 13, 2011}}{{Cite news|title=The Fall of Jimmy Swaggart |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20098413,00.html|date=March 7, 1988 |first=Joanne|last=Kaufman|work=People|access-date=October 18, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jimmy-Swaggart|title=Jimmy Swaggart {{!}} Biography, Ministries, & Scandals|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2020-02-23}}

Swaggart's sex scandals received national media attention.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/02/25/jimmy-swaggart-and-the-snare-of-sin/d07127d2-c412-4738-98d9-3b186d1b92f9/|title=Jimmy Swaggart and the Snare of Sin|newspaper=Washington Post|date=February 25, 1988}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/22/us/swaggart-says-he-has-sinned-will-step-down.html|title=Swaggart Says He Has Sinned; Will Step Down |website=The New York Times|date=February 22, 1988}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-12-mn-202-story.html|title=Woman Riding in Swaggart Car Says She's a Prostitute|date=October 12, 1991|website=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/03/us/scandals-emptied-pews-of-electronic-churches.html|title=Scandals Emptied Pews Of Electronic Churches |website=The New York Times|date=March 3, 1991}}

==1988 prostitution scandal==

Swaggart's first prostitution scandal occurred in retaliation for an incident in 1986 when he accused fellow Assemblies of God minister Marvin Gorman of having several affairs. Gorman was defrocked from the Assemblies of God, and his ministry was all but ended.{{cite news|last=Andrews|first=Travis M.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/09/the-rev-marvin-gorman-who-prompted-jimmy-swaggarts-downfall-in-the-80s-dies-at-83/|title=The Rev. Marvin Gorman, who prompted Jimmy Swaggart's downfall in the '80s, dies at 83|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 9, 2017|access-date=August 28, 2020}} Gorman filed a successful lawsuit against Swaggart for defamation and conspiracy to ruin his reputation; he was awarded damages amounting to $10 million in 1991.{{cite news|last=Marcus|first=Frances Frank|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/13/us/swaggart-found-liable-for-defaming-minister.html|title=Swaggart Found Liable For Defaming Minister|work=The New York Times|date=September 13, 1991|access-date=August 28, 2020}} Following an appeal, the parties settled the matter for $1.75 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-12-26-9912260101-story.html|title=A Fair, Sympathetic Account of the Rise and Fall of Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart|work=Chicago Tribune|date=December 26, 1999|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

As a retaliatory measure, Gorman hired his son Randy and son-in-law Garland Bilbo to watch the Travel Inn on Airline Highway in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans.{{cite book|last=Seaman|first=Ann Rowe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=unT6moT0EE4C&pg=PA331|title=Swaggart: The Unauthorized Biography of an American Evangelist|location=New York City|publisher=Continuum|year=1999 |page=331|isbn=978-1-4411-3645-9 }} At the Travel Inn, the two men photographed Swaggart outside Room 7 with Debra Murphree,{{Cite news|last=Applebome|first=Peter|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/25/us/scandal-spurs-interest-in-swaggart-finances.html|title=Scandal Spurs Interest in Swaggart Finances|work=The New York Times|date=February 25, 1988|access-date=May 27, 2014}} a local prostitute. Gorman arrived at the Travel Inn a short while later and confronted Swaggart.{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Art|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/02/25/jimmy-swaggart-and-the-snare-of-sin/d07127d2-c412-4738-98d9-3b186d1b92f9/|title=Jimmy Swaggart and the Snare of Sin|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 25, 1988|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

According to Swaggart: The Unauthorized Biography of an American Evangelist, Gorman secured a promise from Swaggart that he would publicly apologize to Gorman and start the process of Gorman's reinstatement to the Assemblies of God. Gorman offered to remain silent if Swaggart would state publicly that he lied about Gorman's affairs. Gorman waited almost a year, then hand-delivered a note to Swaggart informing him his time was up; Swaggart did not respond. On February 16, 1988, Gorman contacted James Hamil, one of the 13-man Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God, to expose Swaggart's assignation with the prostitute.Seaman, p.337 The presbytery leadership of the Assemblies of God suspended Swaggart from broadcasting his television program for three months.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

According to the Associated Press, Murphree failed a polygraph test administered by a New York City Police Department polygraph expert.Associated Press. Ocala Star-Banner, February 27, 1988.{{full citation needed|date=January 2014}} The test administrator concluded that Murphree had failed to tell the truth on all key questions concerning her statement. The test was administered after Murphree offered to sell the story to the National Enquirer for $100,000. Murphree failed questions about whether she was paid or promised money to "set up" Swaggart, and whether she made up the story to make money from it.Toronto Star, February 27, 1988.{{full citation needed|date=January 2014}} In place of Murphree's interview, Enquirer editor Levy published an accounting of Swaggart's family where they allegedly expressed their fears over Swaggart's health.{{cite magazine|title= Swaggart Family: We're Terrified Jimmy's Caught AIDS|last=Levy|first=Paul F.|magazine=National Enquirer|date=March 15, 1988}} Murphree, who blamed her failed polygraph on "cocaine use" the day before the test was given, went on to have her interview published by Penthouse magazine.{{cite news|work=Associated Press News|url=https://apnews.com/article/069802454f73a0bb291bcb65649a325b|title=Prostitute Says Swaggart Had Sex With Her|date=26 May 1988}}

File:JimmySwaggart1988.jpeg

{{anchor|I have sinned}}On February 21, 1988, without giving any details regarding his transgressions, Swaggart delivered what came to be known as his "I have sinned" speech on live television. He spoke tearfully to his family, congregation, TV audience, and ended his speech with a prayer: "I have sinned against You, my Lord, and I would ask that Your Precious Blood ... would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God's forgetfulness never to be remembered against me anymore."{{cite web |last=Swaggart |first=Jimmy |title=Reverend Jimmy Swaggart: Apology Sermon |url=https://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jswaggartapologysermon.html |access-date=January 25, 2007 |work=americanrhetoric.}}

The national presbytery of the Assemblies of God extended Swaggart's suspension to their standard two-year suspension for sexual immorality. His return to the pulpit coincided with the end of the three-month suspension originally ordered by the denomination. Believing that Swaggart was not genuinely repentant in submitting to their authority, the hierarchy of the Assemblies of God defrocked him, removing his credentials and ministerial license.{{cite news|last=King|first=Peter H.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-09-mn-803-story.html|title=Swaggart Rejects Terms of Penance, Is Defrocked|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 9, 1988|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

Swaggart then became an independent and non-denominational Pentecostal minister, establishing Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, based at the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN) which can be seen in the United States and other countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.jsm.org/family-worship-center.html|title=Family Worship Center – Jimmy Swaggart Ministries – Baton Rouge|first=JSM Web|last=Dept.|access-date=April 15, 2017}}{{better source needed|date=July 2023}}

==1991 prostitution scandal==

On a cold October 11, 1991, Swaggart was found in the company of a prostitute for a second time. He was pulled over by a police officer in Indio, California, for driving on the wrong side of the road. With him in the vehicle was a woman named Rosemary Garcia. According to Garcia, Swaggart had stopped to propose sex to her on the side of the road. She later told reporters: "He asked me for sex. I mean, that's why he stopped me. That's what I do. I'm a prostitute."{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/04eb9b770c0dee7f630ecbd30dc0255e|title=Prostitute Says Swaggart Picked Her Up For Sex|work=Associated Press|date=October 12, 1991|access-date=August 28, 2020}} This time, rather than confessing his sins to his congregation, Swaggart told those at Family Worship Center, "The Lord told me it's flat none of your business."{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19911017&slug=1311458|title=Swaggart: God Says 'It's None Of Your Business'|work=Seattle Times|agency=Associated Press|date=October 17, 1991|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219033627/https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19911017&slug=1311458|archive-date=February 19, 2020}} Swaggart then temporarily stepped down as head of his ministry for "a time of healing and counseling".{{cite news| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE5DA1E3BF936A25753C1A967958260 |title=Swaggart Plans to Step Down|work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press|date=October 15, 1991|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

=Later career=

{{As of|2007}}, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries mainly comprised Family Worship Center, The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast,{{cite web|url=http://www.jsm.org/explore.cfm/tvprogramming/cablesatellites |title=Jimmy Swaggart Ministries – TV Programming |access-date=January 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070123133753/http://www.jsm.org/explore.cfm/tvprogramming/cablesatellites |archive-date=January 23, 2007 |url-status=dead }}{{better source needed|date=July 2023}} radio and television programs called A Study in the Word, SonLife Radio Network,{{cite web|url=http://www.jsm.org/explore.cfm/sonliferadio/programminglog |title=Jimmy Swaggart Ministries – SonLife Radio |access-date=February 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202204930/http://www.jsm.org/explore.cfm/sonliferadio/programminglog |archive-date=February 2, 2007 |url-status=dead }}{{better source needed|date=July 2023}} a website, and a 24/7 cable and satellite television network, SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN).{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

File:Rev. Jimmy Swaggart 02.jpg

Swaggart's wife Frances hosts a television program, Frances and Friends, shown daily on SBN.{{Cite web |title=Frances & Friends |url=https://www.francesandfriends.com/ |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=Francesandfriends.}}{{better source needed|date=July 2023}} Swaggart also hosts a daily Bible study program on SBN, The Message of the Cross.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} His son, Donnie Swaggart, preaches at Family Worship Center and also preaches in churches across America and abroad.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Swaggart - Evangelist |url=https://donnieswaggart.org/ |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=Donnieswaggart.}}{{better source needed|date=July 2023}} Donnie's son, Gabriel Swaggart, has served as the ministry's youth pastor who leads Crossfire, Family Worship Center's youth ministry.{{cite web |title=CrossFire |url=http://www.crossfireyouthministry.org |website=Crossfireyouthministry.}}{{better source needed|date=July 2023}} SBN also delivers live broadcasts of all of its weekly services at Family Worship Center, as well as live broadcasts of all of its camp meetings.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

File:Donnie Swaggart.jpg

As of 2024, Swaggart remains senior pastor of Family Worship Center.{{Cite web |title=JSM Ministers - Family Worship Center |url=https://www.jsm.org/jsm-ministers |website=jsm.}}

Ministries

=Radio=

Swaggart started SonLife Radio on the noncommercial FM band. Unlike his previous stations, SonLife was commercial-free and it did not sell time to outside ministries; the preaching and teaching were all produced in-house. The music which it played was primarily Southern Gospel. SonLife Radio is also streamed on the Internet.{{cite web |title=SonLife Broadcasting Network {{!}} SBN {{!}} Jimmy Swaggart Ministries |url=http://sonlifetv.com/station_list.html |access-date=28 March 2019 |website=sonlifetv.}}{{better source needed|date=July 2023}}

==List of radio stations==

The network's flagship station is WJFM in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WJFM WJFM] fcc government. Accessed September 6, 2016

Call sign ! data-sort-type="number" \| Frequency ! City of license ! State ! data-sort-type="number" \| Power (W) ! data-sort-type="number" \| ERP (W) ! data-sort-type="number" \| Height (m (ft)) ! Class ! class="unsortable" \| FCC info
class="wikitable sortable"
{{rh}} \| WJIK	89.7 FM	Fulton	Alabama	{{sdash}}	2,100	{{Convert\|166\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|90846\|WJIK\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WQUA	102.1 FM	Citronelle	Alabama	{{sdash}}	15,000	{{Convert\|130\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C3	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|39293\|WQUA\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KJSM-FM	97.7 FM	Augusta	Arkansas	{{sdash}}	100,000	{{Convert\|189\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C1	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|26390\|KJSM-FM\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KNHD	1450 AM	Camden	Arkansas	1,000	{{sdash}}	{{sdash}}	C	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|27124\|KNHD\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KUUZ	95.9 FM	Lake Village	Arkansas	{{sdash}}	20,000	{{Convert\|92\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C3	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|15961\|KUUZ\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KSSW	96.9 FM	Nashville	Arkansas	{{sdash}}	6,000	{{Convert\|100\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|88051\|KSSW\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KPSH	90.9 FM	Coachella	California	{{sdash}}	230	{{Convert\|190\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|87604\|KPSH\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WGSG	89.5 FM	Mayo	Florida	{{sdash}}	20,000	{{Convert\|76\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C3	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|68201\|WGSG\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WFFL	91.7 FM	Panama City	Florida	{{sdash}}	310 H 304 V	{{Convert\|63\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|85581\|WFFL\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WBMF	88.1 FM	Crete	Illinois	{{sdash}}	90	{{Convert\|114\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|89339\|WBMF\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WAWF	88.3 FM	Kankakee	Illinois	{{sdash}}	1,250	{{Convert\|87\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|78927\|WAWF\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WWGN	88.9 FM	Ottawa	Illinois	{{sdash}}	4,100 H 1,400 V	{{Convert\|148.4\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	B1	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|13926\|WWGN\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KBDD	91.9 FM	Winfield	Kansas	{{sdash}}	48,000	{{Convert\|150\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C2	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|86319\|KBDD\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KJGM	88.3 FM	Bastrop	Louisiana	{{sdash}}	63,000	{{Convert\|82\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C1	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|174146\|KJGM\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WJFM{{Efn\|group="sta"\|Flagship station; for WJFM translators, see {{section link\|WJFM\|Translators}}}}	88.5 FM	Baton Rouge	Louisiana	{{sdash}}	25,500	{{Convert\|85\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C2	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|31171\|WJFM\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KTOC-FM	104.9 FM	Jonesboro	Louisiana	{{sdash}}	25,000	{{Convert\|72\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C3	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|15064\|KTOC-FM\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KCKR	91.9 FM	Church Point	Louisiana	{{sdash}}	12,500	{{Convert\|141.9\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C3	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|83852\|KCKR\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KDJR	100.1 FM	De Soto	Missouri	{{sdash}}	2,000	{{Convert\|106\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|5279\|KDJR\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WTGY	95.7 FM	Charleston	Mississippi	{{sdash}}	6,000	{{Convert\|100\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|10579\|WTGY\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WJNS-FM	92.1 FM	Bentonia	Mississippi	{{sdash}}	4,800	{{Convert\|111.3\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|72816\|WJNS-FM\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KNBE	88.9 FM	Beatrice	Nebraska	{{sdash}}	7,500	{{Convert\|146\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C3	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106561\|KNBE\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KNFA	90.7 FM	Grand Island	Nebraska	{{sdash}}	1,300	{{Convert\|58.3\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|91196\|KNFA\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WJCA	102.1 FM	Albion	New York	{{sdash}}	3,700	{{Convert\|129\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|86922\|WJCA\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WYRR	88.9 FM	Lakewood	New York	{{sdash}}	420	{{Convert\|102\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|175899\|WYRR\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WJYM	730 AM	Bowling Green	Ohio	1,000 day 359 night	{{sdash}}	{{sdash}}	D	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|31170\|WJYM\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KAJT	88.7 FM	Ada	Oklahoma	{{sdash}}	31,000	{{Convert\|73\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C2	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|81301\|KAJT\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KMFS	1490 AM	Guthrie	Oklahoma	1,000	{{sdash}}	{{sdash}}	C	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|50165\|KMFS\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KREK	104.9 FM	Bristow	Oklahoma	{{sdash}}	5,000	{{Convert\|107\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|5218\|KREK\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KSSO	89.3 FM	Norman	Oklahoma	{{sdash}}	5,600	{{Convert\|50\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|77089\|KSSO\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| WAYB-FM	95.7 FM	Graysville	Tennessee	{{sdash}}	6,000	{{Convert\|100\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|71148\|WAYB-FM\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KNRB	100.1 FM	Atlanta	Texas	{{sdash}}	50,000	{{Convert\|150\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	C2	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|2765\|KNRB\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| KYTM	99.3 FM	Corrigan	Texas	{{sdash}}	6,000	{{Convert\|86\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}	A	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|164271\|KYTM\|FCC}}

Notes:

=Translators=

Call sign ! data-sort-type="number" \| Frequency (MHz) ! City of license ! State ! Class ! data-sort-type="number" \| ERP (W) ! class="unsortable" \| FCC info
class="wikitable sortable"
{{rh}} \| W209CN	89.7	Andalusia	Alabama	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93630\|W209CN\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W205BX	88.9	Eufaula	Alabama	D	13	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|122238\|W205BX\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K250BQ	97.9	Camden	Arkansas	D	250	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106622\|K250BQ\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K209DT	89.7	El Dorado	Arkansas	D	38	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93576\|K209DT\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K219AO	91.7	Fairmont	California	D	89
{{rh}} \| W213BF	90.5	Key West	Florida	D	50	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|94012\|W213BF\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W215BM	90.9	Dublin	Georgia	D	13	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93572\|W215BM\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W212BL	90.3	LaGrange	Georgia	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106562\|W212BL\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W214BG	90.7	Waycross	Georgia	D	38	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93578\|W214BG\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W206AN	89.1	Carlinville	Illinois	D	80	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|83545\|W206AN\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W204BG	88.7	Effingham	Illinois	D	19	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|81356\|W204BG\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W217BJ	91.3	Freeport	Illinois	D	55	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|94160\|W217BJ\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W201BL	88.1	Jacksonville	Illinois	D	27	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|83550\|W201BL\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K208DW	89.5	DeSoto Parish	Louisiana	D	20	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93101\|K208DW\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K220ID	91.9	Grayson	Louisiana	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|121819\|K220ID\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K232FN	94.3	Many	Louisiana	D	250	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|140643\|K232FN\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K216EX	91.1	Minden	Louisiana	D	38	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93095\|K216EX\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K218EY	91.5	Morgan City	Louisiana	D	160	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93099\|K218EY\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K211DY	90.1	Natchitoches	Louisiana	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93102\|K211DY\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K219FA	91.7	Alexandria	Minnesota	D	50	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93851\|K219FA\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K213DN	90.5	Morris	Minnesota	D	27	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|122182\|K213DN\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K201GD	88.1	Kirksville	Missouri	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93850\|K201GD\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K219FD	91.7	Mountain Grove	Missouri	D	50	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106630\|K219FD\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K207DG	89.3	Rosati	Missouri	D	140	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|94010\|K207DG\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K218DC	91.5	Springfield	Missouri	D	250	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93204\|K218DC\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K213DK	90.5	Willow Springs	Missouri	D	50	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106575\|K213DK\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W202BS	88.3	Columbia	Mississippi	D	13	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93635\|W202BS\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W208BC	89.5	Corning	New York	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106548\|W208BC\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W220DD	91.9	Morehead City	North Carolina	D	50	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106551\|W220DD\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W202BR	88.3	Rockingham	North Carolina	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106479\|W202BR\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W209BN	89.7	Chambersburg	Pennsylvania	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106565\|W209BN\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W212BK	90.3	Franklin	Pennsylvania	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106553\|W212BK\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W207BM	89.3	Lock Haven	Pennsylvania	D	55	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106572\|W207BM\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W218BN	91.5	Mansfield	Pennsylvania	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106481\|W218BN\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W204BQ	88.7	Andrews	South Carolina	D	55	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106455\|W204BQ\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W202CG	88.3	Clinton	South Carolina	D	27	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|94256\|W202CG\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W204BR	88.7	Manning	South Carolina	D	50	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106568\|W204BR\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W215CK	90.9	Winnsboro	South Carolina	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|106546\|W215CK\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K209DX	89.7	Brookings	South Dakota	D	250	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|94117\|K209DX\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K207EW	89.3	Mitchell	South Dakota	D	250	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93575\|K207EW\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K211EC	90.1	Watertown	South Dakota	D	100	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93573\|K211EC\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K214FC	90.7	Yankton	South Dakota	D	92	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93574\|K214FC\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| W217BG	91.3	Pikeville	Tennessee	D	10	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|122254\|W217BG\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K216DN	91.1	Bonham	Texas	D	45	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|86117\|K216DN\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K216FD	91.1	Columbus	Texas	D	40	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|94030\|K216FD\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K219FH	91.7	Midland	Texas	D	50	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93634\|K219FH\|FCC}}
{{rh}} \| K216FC	91.1	Palestine	Texas	D	170	{{FCC-LMS-Facility\|93982\|K216FC\|FCC}}

=Television=

In 1973, Swaggart proposed to television producers in Nashville, Tennessee a television program including a fairly large music segment, a short sermon, and time for talking about current ministry projects. They accepted, and within weeks the Jimmy Swaggart Telecast was being broadcast around the United States.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

In 1981, Swaggart launched a daily television program titled A Study in the Word. From the beginning, the primary cable channels which the program was aired on were CBN Cable (now Freeform), TBN, and the old PTL Network (now the Inspiration Network).{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

In 1988, Swaggart lost some of his broadcast and merchandise rights following his first prostitution scandal.{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-14-mn-715-story.html |title = Ministry Makes $150 Million a Year : Rich Life Style Reflects Swaggart Empire's Wealth|website = Los Angeles Times|date = March 14, 1988}}

In 1991, Swaggart's career as a standard televangelist came to an end after more local TV stations cancelled their contracts with him following his second prostitution scandal.{{cite web |date=October 27, 1991 |title=Can Jimmy Swaggart Survive His Second Fall from Grace? |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1991-10-27-9110270647-story.html |website=Orlandosentinel}}{{cite web | url=https://www.apnews.com/2627f1b21a50de7edb48e568e4ddca05 |title = Jimmy Swaggart Losing International Television Ministry|website = Associated Press}}{{cite web | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/10/26/Jimmy-Swaggarts-television-broadcast-empire-going-dark/1455688449600/ |title = Jimmy Swaggart's television broadcast empire going dark|website=Upi.com}}

=Jimmy Swaggart Bible College=

In autumn 1984, Swaggart opened Jimmy Swaggart Bible College (JSBC). The college originally provided education and communication degrees.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

JSBC enrollment dropped drastically in 1988 when students left as a result of Swaggart's scandal, followed by accreditation issues.{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-23-me-6426-story.html |title = Enrollment Expected to Drop 72% at Jimmy Swaggart Bible College|website = Los Angeles Times|date = July 23, 1988}}

In 1991, JSBC was renamed the World Evangelism Bible College and enrollment dropped to 370 students. The college shut down programs in music, physical education, secretarial science, and communications that October and disbanded its basketball team. In November "the college laid off three Bible professors and an English professor, effective at the end of the fall semester".{{cite news | url=https://apnews.com/article/50f9993c6ddeda5b78d0afdefbd6508f|title=Jimmy Swaggart Bible College May Shed Evangelist's Name|date=December 13, 1991|work=Associated Press}}

=Print=

Swaggart has written about 50 Christian books offered through his ministry.{{cite web |title=Books by Jimmy Swaggart (Author of The Expositor's Study Bible KJVersion/Concordance) |url=http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/268010.Jimmy_Swaggart |access-date=March 15, 2012 |publisher=Goodreads.}} He is the author of the Expositor's Study Bible,{{cite book|last=Swaggart |first=Jimmy |title=The Expositor's Study Bible KJVersion/Concordance|publisher=Jimmy Swaggart Ministries |date=August 9, 2005 |isbn=978-0-9769530-0-5}} 13 study guides and 38 commentaries on the Bible. The ministry also publishes a monthly magazine, The Evangelist.https://web.archive.org/web/20010724151753fw_/http://www.jsm.org/html/january/e2a.htm

Swaggart published Religious Rock n Roll: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, in 1985.{{cite web |date=2005-01-26 |title=Religious Rock n Roll: Wolf In Sheep's Clothing |url=http://religiousrock.blogspot.com// |access-date=2022-02-22 |website=Religiousrock blogspot.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206140809/http://religiousrock.blogspot.com// |archive-date=December 6, 2023 }}

=Music=

In 1981, Swaggart received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Gospel Performance, Traditional for his album Worship.{{cite web |title=Jimmy Swaggart : One Nomination |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/jimmy-swaggart/12651 |access-date=2022-02-22 |website=Grammy}}

Family

Since October 10, 1952, Swaggart has been married to Frances Swaggart ({{née}} Anderson, born August 9, 1937). They have one son, Donnie (born October 18, 1954), named after Jimmy Swaggart's brother who died in infancy. He has three grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.[http://www.jsm.org/jimmy-swaggart.html About Jimmy Swaggart Ministries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624034539/http://www.jsm.org/jimmy-swaggart.html |date=June 24, 2017 }} jsm. Retrieved July 31, 2013.

Donnie Swaggart and his son, Gabriel Swaggart, are also preachers, making four generations of the Swaggart family to have become involved in ministerial work.{{cite web |title=SonLife Broadcasting Network – SBN – Jimmy Swaggart Ministries |url=http://sonlifetv.com/aboutsbn.html |access-date=April 15, 2017 |website=Jsm}}{{cite web |title=JSM Ministers – Pastors – Jimmy Swaggart Ministries – Family Worship Center |url=http://www.jsm.org/jsm-ministers.html |access-date=April 15, 2017 |website=Jsm.}}

In popular culture

The liner notes to the album D&K (1987) by Christian rock band DeGarmo & Key, included the words "dedicated to Jimmy Swaggart" blacked out but still visible on close inspection, for the song "Brother Against Brother" {{Cite web |title=DeGarmo and Key |url=https://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/DeGarmo_and_Key |website=WikiChristian}}

Swaggart's prostitution scandals inspired the Ozzy Osbourne song "Miracle Man" on Osbourne's fifth studio album No Rest for the Wicked (1988).{{cite book |editor-last=Häger |editor-first=Andreas |title=Religion and Popular Music: Artists, Fans, and Cultures |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=koFnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA73 |date=September 6, 2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-350-00371-2 |page=73 |chapter=Biblical Language in Ozzy Osbourne's Solo Albums}}

During his 1988 concerts, Bruce Hornsby would begin his song "Defenders of the Flag" from Scenes from the Southside with a tongue-in-cheek dedication to Swaggart.{{cite web |date=July 15, 1988 |title=Hornsby's Musicianship Wins Over Miami Crowd |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1988-07-15-8802110335-story.html |access-date=2020-11-08 |website=sun-sentinel}}

The song "Hexonxonx" on Skinny Puppy's 1989 album Rabies features a repeating audio sample of Swaggart saying "I am clean..." from his forgiveness speech.{{cite web | url=https://www.scribd.com/document/90136542/Skinny-Puppy-Sample-Sources | title=Skinny Puppy Sample Source List | accessdate=29 December 2024 | pages=9}}

Similarities were noted between heel World Wrestling Federation character Brother Love and Swaggart.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19881028&id=0vAvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A_wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1086,7233545|title=Wrestlers having grudge match|publisher=Lakeland Ledger|date=28 October 1988|access-date=2 December 2021}}

"Jesus He Knows Me", a 1991 song by Genesis, is a satire on televangelists such as Swaggart, Robert Tilton, and Jim Bakker.{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/genesis-jesus-he-knows-me/|title=When Genesis Skewered Televangelism With 'Jesus He Knows Me'|first=Corey |last=Irwin|date=April 9, 2023|website=Ultimate Classic Rock}}

During his 1988 tour, American rock artist Frank Zappa changed the lyrics of several of his songs to reference Swaggart. Several of these appear on The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life.

American avant-garde musician Kristin Hayter (as Lingua Ignota) released the EP Epistolary Grieving for Jimmy Swaggart on the 5th of November in 2021.