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 him and his family, Swaggart turned Phillips 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 to start gospel line of music for the label (undoubtedly to remain in competition with RCA Victor and Columbia, who also had gospel lines) and wanted Swaggart 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. According 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. Swaggart worked several part-time odd jobs in order to support his young family and also began singing Southern Gospel music at various churches. On October 10, 1952, Swaggart married Frances Anderson. With his parents, Swaggart attended a small, 25-member Assemblies of God church 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.
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 airing nationally and internationally. Sexual scandals in the late 1980s and early 1990s led the Assemblies of God to defrock him, and to his temporarily stepping down as the head of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. 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 Swaggart (1935-present) is an American Pentecostal pastor, teacher, musician, author, and televangelist.
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