Jimmy Swaggart, the well-known televangelist who led millions in worship and sparked national headlines with scandal, has died at the age of 90. His death comes just weeks after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Baton Rouge home, where he was found unconscious by his son and grandson on June 15.

“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,” his family announced on his official Facebook page Tuesday morning. “Today was the day he has sung about for decades.”

Swaggart was born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana. At just 8 years old, he felt a strong calling to preach, later describing it as a moment that changed him forever. At 17, he married 15-year-old Frances Anderson, and the two built a family together, welcoming their son Donnie.

Swaggart was part of a talented family, with famous cousins Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, and he also made his mark in music, reportedly selling over 17 million gospel recordings throughout his life.

He was ordained in the Assemblies of God in 1961 and began spreading the gospel through radio in 1969, with his “Campmeeting Hour” program. Soon, he expanded to print media with The Evangelist magazine, and by 1973, Swaggart took his ministry to television, where his passionate preaching style reached millions across the nation and beyond.

His ministry grew rapidly, and in the 1980s, Swaggart led massive evangelistic crusades, including one in Rio de Janeiro in 1987 that reportedly drew around 125,000 people. His sermons were known for moving people to tears, encouraging them to stand, speak in tongues, and seek a deeper faith.

But Swaggart’s success was overshadowed in 1988 when he was caught with a prostitute in New Orleans, a scandal that rocked the evangelical world. In a tearful public confession, he said, “I have no one but myself to blame… For no one is to blame but Jimmy Swaggart. I take the responsibility. I take the blame. I take the fault.”

The Assemblies of God defrocked Swaggart, but he continued to preach as an independent Pentecostal pastor. More controversy followed in 1991 when he was again caught with a prostitute in California.

Despite these scandals, Swaggart’s ministry continued. In 1995, he launched SonLife Radio Network, expanding his reach to dozens of stations, and in 2010, he launched SonLife Broadcasting Network, bringing his preaching and worship services to a new generation.

Swaggart continued preaching alongside his son Donnie and remained active until his final days. In November 2022, he conducted the funeral service for his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis, sharing, “He always had a heart for God, always. Even in his lowest times, he had a heart for God.”

Swaggart’s family described him as “a worshiper, a warrior, and a witness to the grace and mercy of God,” and said his faith was steadfast, trusting God’s will to the very end.

As Swaggart once sang and preached about meeting Jesus face-to-face, his family now believes that day has come for him, expressing hope that, one day, they will see him again in glory.