Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart Dies at 90 Following Cardiac Arrest

Renowned Pentecostal preacher and televangelist Jimmy Swaggart has passed away at the age of 90 after suffering a cardiac arrest. His death was announced Tuesday via a post on his official Instagram account.

The statement read, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

The post continued: “Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of his Saviour, Jesus Christ. For more than seven decades, Brother Swaggart preached the gospel, sang songs of faith, and pointed millions to the saving power of Jesus Christ and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. His voice echoed through nations, his music softened hearts, and his message never changed: Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

“Please keep Sister Frances, Donnie, Debbie, Gabriel, Jill, and the entire family in your prayers.”

Born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, Swaggart felt a calling to ministry at the age of eight following a profound religious experience. At 17, he married Frances Anderson, and together they had a son, Donnie.

Ordained in 1961 by the Assemblies of God—the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States—Swaggart went on to build a global ministry. His musical talent, influenced by his cousin, rock ’n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, helped him sell more than 17 million gospel albums.

Swaggart’s media outreach began with The Campmeeting Hour radio program in 1969, followed by The Evangelist magazine in 1970. In 1973, he launched The Jimmy Swaggart Evangelistic Association Presents Jimmy Swaggart on television, eventually broadcasting church services worldwide in multiple languages.

During the 1980s, Swaggart led major evangelistic crusades across the U.S. and abroad, including a 1987 rally in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that drew an estimated 125,000 people.

Though his ministry was at times overshadowed by scandals, Swaggart remained a prominent voice in Pentecostal circles, known for his preaching, music, and unwavering message.