Jimmy Swaggart Ministries

Last updated

Jimmy Swaggart Ministries
Formation1984
Founder Jimmy Swaggart
PurposeEvangelical Ministry
Headquarters Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
LeaderGabriel Swaggart
Subsidiaries
  • SonLife Broadcasting Network
  • Jimmy Swaggart Bible College
  • Family Worship Center
  • WJFM
Website https://www.jsm.org/

Jimmy Swaggart Ministries is an evangelical Christian organization based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded in 1984 by televangelist Jimmy Swaggart. It oversees entities such as Jimmy Swaggart Bible College and Family Worship Center. The latter, now led by his son Donnie and grandson Gabriel, functions as a megachurch. The ministry also maintains an international outreach. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Following a highly publicized sex scandal, Jimmy Swaggart was stripped of his Assemblies of God ministerial credentials and continued as an independent, non-denominational minister. He subsequently established Jimmy Swaggart Ministries as the administrative organization for his church, radio station (WJFM), and television programs. [3] [4]

Jimmy Swaggart Bible College

Jimmy Swaggart Bible College
World Evangelism Bible College & Seminary.jpg
Location
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries
7320 Bluebonnet Blvd.

70810

United States
Coordinates 30°23′6.2″N91°5′44.7″W / 30.385056°N 91.095750°W / 30.385056; -91.095750
Information
Other nameWorld Evangelism Bible College
Type Private Christian
Religious affiliation(s)Christian
Established1984(41 years ago) (1984)
FounderJimmy Swaggart
PresidentGabriel Swaggart
Faculty10
Enrollment370 (1991)
Student to teacher ratio37:1
Campus100 acres (400,000 m2)
Revenue$150 million (1987)
Website www.jsbc.edu

Jimmy Swaggart Bible College, located on Bluebonnet Boulevard in Baton Rouge, once reached a peak enrollment of approximately 1,451 students[ citation needed ]. Enrollment then declined by approximately 72% following the 1988 sex scandal involving Jimmy Swaggart. [5] [6] In response, the institution was renamed World Evangelism Bible College in 1991. At one point, enrollment had fallen so sharply that classes were relocated to facilities originally used for the ministry’s high school program. [7] The college remains operational today, maintaining a seminary on campus and offering degrees primarily in ministry, though current enrollment figures are unavailable.

Family Worship Center

Family Worship Center, the flagship church of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, was originally established by Swaggart in the late 1960s as an Assemblies of God congregation. [8] Since the 2010s, leadership transferred to his son Donnie and grandson Gabriel. The church is considered a megachurch[ citation needed ].

References

  1. "JSM Ministers". Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  2. Kellner, Mark A. (June 17, 2025). "Jimmy Swaggart, Televangelist Tarnished in Sex Scandal, Clinging to Life After Coronary". The Roys Report. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  3. Jackson, Robert L. (March 14, 1988). "Ministry Makes $150 Million a Year : Rich Life Style Reflects Swaggart Empire's Wealth". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  4. Archives, L. A. Times (June 4, 1994). "Swaggart's Empire Shrinks--and so Do the Donations : Televangelism: Preacher has been unable to maintain his ministry's onetime prosperity after a highly publicized scandal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  5. Archives, L. A. Times (July 23, 1988). "Enrollment Expected to Drop 72% at Jimmy Swaggart Bible College". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  6. Archives, L. A. Times (March 16, 1991). "Swaggart Faces Suits by Creditors, Seeks Members for His New Group : Cash problems: The minister who left the Assemblies of God after a sex scandal has sold off some of his holdings while trying to build his World Evangelism Fellowship". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  7. "President of Jimmy Swaggart's bible college resigns - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  8. Freiman, Jordan (June 16, 2025). "Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart in critical condition after cardiac arrest, family says - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved June 21, 2025.