The End of an Era

Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, a powerful evangelist, soul-winner, pianist, singer, recording artist, and gospel songwriter has passed away. He had suffered a heart attack at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Jimmy was 90 years old. Jimmy had two cousins who shared his love of music, Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilly. His ministry (JSM) has a television network and broadcasting company that reaches the world.

When I was young and began to pastor my first church, Lana and I met Jimmy and his wife. Lana went to work for him in his office. I encouraged Rev. Swaggart to use radio and TV. His preaching was powerful. Jimmy and I would meet often for fellowship over lunch. I have some reflections about his death. History has lessons for us. Jimmy was perhaps the last of the great TV preachers and gospel crusaders. He was as well-known in his day as Billy Graham or Oral Roberts. He filled up arenas with massive crowds.

I remember Bro. Swaggart well. His personality was larger than life. His voice or laughter would fill up a room. He loved to tell jokes at the lunch table. He became a fine friend. He encouraged me when I was a novice pastor. In his prime, at the peak of his ministry, Jimmy was an anointed preacher and a talented musician and singer. He touched millions of people around the world and brought multitudes to salvation.

Sadly, Jimmy became infamous because of moral failure. He publicly confessed and repented. I choose to recall the best and honor him for the good that he did. May the Lord grant mercy as we remember him. It is easy for people to throw stones. But if God remembered all of our sins, where would any of us be? If we sow mercy, we will reap mercy, right? We all need God's undeserved grace. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. Mercy triumphs over judgment. What saves us is what Jesus did for us on the cross, not our sinlessness. I choose to be an intercessor, not an accuser.

Having worked professionally in radio, I helped Jimmy right after he bought his first radio station, WLUX, before he had a manager in place. Later, I produced a daily radio show, Christian Renewal, and I hosted Quiz the Pastor, a weekly live call-in show. Jimmy acquired WLUX from a bankruptcy judge when he out-maneuvered other bidders. He used a bold move that involved proving he could afford the purchase by opening up a suitcase filled with cash. On the spot, the judge awarded him the radio station!

Jimmy knew I liked to write. His ministry published and distributed 10,000 copies of my first book, The Charismatic Christ (now out of print). Jimmy was an innovative Christian businessman who never borrowed money to build anything. His church campus and offices were free of debt.

I remember evangelist Jimmy Swaggart’s huge crusade at Reunion Arena in Dallas, TX. Thousands of people were present. The power of God to convict of sin was strong. The air was thick with God’s presence. Hundreds and hundreds of people were saved. Scores of believers were filled with the Holy Spirit. This was not an uncommon occurrence for Pentecostal meetings during that era of anointed preachers, especially in the giant healing crusades that went across America in the 50’s and 50’s. The Pentecostal movement, like the divine healing movement and the charismatic movement after it, left a lasting grace deposit in the body of Christ that informs us and shapes us until this present day.