Departures of note

Jim Bakker was an American televangelist who rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s by building a vast Christian media empire together with his then-wife Tammy Faye Bakker. Their PTL (Praise the Lord) ministry and the Heritage USA theme park made them flamboyant fixtures of American evangelicalism, reaching millions of viewers through their daily television program. The empire collapsed amid scandal in the late 1980s when Bakker became embroiled in sexual misconduct and fraud allegations, leading to his conviction on federal charges and a prison sentence. After his release he returned to ministry, hosting JIM BAKKER's show for years. He died in 2026 at age 86.