Jimmy Swaggart, televangelist ousted from ministry for prostitution scandal, dies at 90

BATON ROUGE, La. (TNND) — Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who was ousted from his multi-million dollar evangelical ministry by a prostitution scandal, has died. He was 90.

His death was announced on Tuesday on his public Facebook page, but the cause of death was not provided.

"Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ," the post read. "Today was the day he has sung about for decades. He met his beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory. At the same time, we rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day."

"For over seven decades, Brother Swaggart poured out his life preaching the gospel, singing songs of the faith, and pointing millions to the saving power of Jesus Christ and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit," the post continued. "His voice echoed through nations, his music softened hearts, and his message never changed: Jesus Christ and Him crucified."

Born in Louisiana, the Pentecostal preacher had a massive following before being caught on camera with a prostitute in New Orleans in 1988. He continued preaching for decades, but with a reduced audience.

Swaggart apologized during a tearful sermon in February 1988, begging for forgiveness without specifically mentioning the prostitute.

“I have sinned against you, my lord,” Swaggart said in a televised speech. “I beg you to forgive me.”

He announced his resignation from the Assemblies of God later that year, shortly after the church said it was defrocking him for rejecting punishment it had ordered for “moral failure.” The church had wanted him to undergo a two-year rehabilitation program, including not preaching for a full year.

Swaggart said at the time that he knew dismissal was inevitable but insisted he had no choice but to separate from the church to save his ministry and Bible college.

In 1991, Swaggart was found with another prostitute in California and charged with driving on the wrong side of the road in an unregistered Jaguar.

The evangelist largely stayed out of the news in later years but remained in the pulpit at Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, often joined by his son, Donnie, a fellow preacher. His radio station broadcast church services and gospel music to 21 states, and Swaggart's ministry boasted a worldwide audience on the internet.

He caused another stir in 2004 with remarks about being "looked at" amorously by a gay man.

“And I'm going to be blunt and plain: If one ever looks at me like that, I'm going to kill him and tell God he died,” Swaggart said, to laughter from the congregation. He later apologized.

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.