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Article: Forgiven: The Rise and Fall of Jim Bakker and the PTL Ministry.
- Article from:
- The Washington Monthly
- Article date:
- April 1, 1990
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1990 Washington Monthly Company. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Forgiven: The Rise and Fall of Jim Bakker and the PTL Ministry
In the spring of 1986, PTL needed cash desperately. The television ministry had built up an $8.4 million debt to the builder of its Christian amusement park, Heritage USA. Jim Bakker figured that he needed to do something fast, so he decided to hold a telethon to raise at least $1 million for the builder. He made this decision on a feeling, a feeling of faith.
"Well, Lord, I know I felt faith," said Bakker to God and then to his studio audience. He explained to his followers that the Lord seemed to speak in his heart, saying, "Well, you're on television all day; just mention it to the ...