The 85-year-old Bakker, joined by co-hosts Mondo De La Vega and Ricky Bakker, framed the plea within a discussion of biblical End Times prophecies on a May 6 episode of “The Jim Bakker Show.”
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He then pointed to his medical challenges in recent years — including multiple strokes — and how, because he lives off of his Social Security check, he needs his viewers to send in $1,000 or “we’re at the end.”
“I believe if everyone who watches this program will give a thousand dollars, we’ll be able to pay our bills and stay on the air,” said Bakker. “… Otherwise, we’ve got about another month, I don’t know, to stay on the air. We’re at the end. God doesn’t have an end, He’s the same yesterday, today and forever.”
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“I don’t have money. For 40 years, I have not made a salary,” he said. “… What we need is a miracle, and it’s gonna happen if a thousand people give a thousand dollars.”
Bakker blamed what he called “big debt” for the financial crunch and warned he could lose his home if viewers don’t contribute. “If they foreclose on this ministry, they will take my house too, so I will be on the street,” he said. “But I don’t care. I mean, I’ve never been on the street, but I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken or His seed out begging for bread. That’s you. That’s you. God will stand with you if you stand with Him.
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Bakker’s appeal comes against the backdrop of a televangelist career marked by both prominence and controversy. In the 1980s, he built a media empire with the PTL Ministry, including a TV network and the Heritage USA resort. He was indicted in 1988 on eight counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. According to The New York Times, government prosecutors argued that Bakker bilked followers of his PTL Ministry out of $158 million by offering promises of lifetime vacations he could not provide.
He was also accused of diverting about $3.7 million to support a lavish lifestyle, including an air-conditioned dog house and a fleet of luxury vehicles.
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Today, Bakker has rebranded as a voice for End Times preparation, selling survival products and preaching about biblical prophecies. On the May 6 episode, he connected current events to Matthew 24, stating, “We’re in the End Times. … Nations and kings of nations are fighting against each other, and there are earthquakes in diverse places.” He urged viewers to “go preach the Gospel in all of the world, then the end will come,” reinforcing the ministry’s mission.
* Original Articles:
https://www.christianpost.com/news/televangelist-jim-bakker-pleads-for-viewers-to-send-1-million.html