Jim Bakker, who built ‘PTL Club’ televangelism empire, has died at 86
Jim Bakker, the co-founder of the popular "The PTL Club" television program alongside his first wife Tammy Faye, has passed away at the age of 86, according to a statement released by his second wife Lori Bakker. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Bakker and Tammy Faye, a married couple, built an evangelical empire centered around their successful TV show. At its peak in the mid-1980s, their ministry included a TV show with up to 13 million nightly viewers, a Christian-themed theme park and hotel, and other associated ventures.
The Bakkers' ministry began in the early 1960s, with Bakker preaching and Tammy Faye playing the accordion while traveling across the country. They later caught the attention of televangelist Pat Robertson and launched their own children's show on Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network in 1965. Bakker eventually left CBN in 1972 and formed the PTL Satellite Network, where "The PTL Club" became their signature show.
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