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. By 1969, Swaggart's radio program, “The Camp Meeting Hour,” was being aired over numerous radio stations throughout the American Bible Belt. In 1961, after graduating from Bible college, Swaggart was ordained by the Assemblies of God one year later, Swaggart began his radio ministry. In 1960, he began recording gospel music record albums while building up another audience via Christian radio stations. Swaggart began attending Bible college in 1957. It was then that Swaggart began developing a revival-meeting following throughout the American South. Preaching from a flatbed trailer donated to him, Swaggart began full-time evangelistic work in 1955. Although the offer meant a promise for significant income for his family, Swaggart turned him down, stating that he was called to preach the gospel. Swaggart's cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, who had previously signed with Sun, was reportedly making $20,000 per week at the time. Sun Records producer Sam Phillips wanted Swaggart to take part in a gospel line of music for Sun as the label's first gospel artist. Being too poor to own a home, the Swaggarts lived in church basements, pastors' homes, and small motels. Swaggart worked several part-time odd jobs in order to support his young family and also began singing Southern Gospel music at various Baptist and Pentecostal churches.Īccording to his biography, Swaggart, along with his wife and son, lived in poverty during the 1950s as he preached throughout rural Louisiana, struggling to survive on US$30 a week. On October 10, 1952, Swaggart married Frances Anderson. At the age of nine, he began to preach on street corners and lead congregations in singing. With his parents, Swaggart attended a small, 25-member Assemblies of God congregation in Ferriday. He is the cousin of rock'n'roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and country music star Mickey Gilley. Swaggart was born in Ferriday, Louisiana, to Willie Leon (a.k.a., "Son") and Minnie Belle (née Herron) Swaggart. He later apologized for the acts in a televised broadcast. Initially, Swaggart denied the accusations but, as a media investigation proceeded, he acknowledged that some allegations were true. In February 1988, Swaggart stirred controversy after a private investigation found he had solicited a prostitute. The weekly Jimmy Swaggart Telecast and A Study in the Word programs are seen nationwide and abroad on 78 channels in 104 countries as well as live over the Internet. Swaggart's television ministry, which began in 1975, continues (as of May 2011) airing nationally and internationally. According to the official website for Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, his 1980s telecast was transmitted to over 3,000 stations and cable systems each week He has preached to crowds around the world through his weekly telecast. Jimmy Lee Swaggart (born March 15, 1935) is a Pentecostal American pastor, teacher, musician, television host, and televangelist.
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