Fort Myers Naples, FL, October 6, 2026 — Jim Bakker, a prominent figure in televangelism whose career was marked by both widespread influence and significant scandals, has died at the age of 86. Bakker was best known for co-founding the ‘PTL Club,’ a Christian television program that grew into a vast media empire.

The news of his death is currently trending in the Fort Myers-Naples area, according to reports from winknews.com. Throughout his career, Bakker became a household name for his energetic preaching and the expansive ministry he built alongside his then-wife, Tammy Faye Bakker.

The ‘PTL Club,’ which stood for ‘Praise the Lord,’ was launched in the 1970s and rapidly expanded. It led to the creation of Heritage USA, a Christian-themed amusement park and retreat center in South Carolina. At its peak, PTL was one of the largest religious media organizations in the United States.

However, Bakker’s public life was later overshadowed by scandals. In the late 1980s, he resigned from PTL amid accusations involving sexual misconduct and financial impropriety. These events led to his conviction on fraud charges, for which he served prison time.

Despite the controversies, Bakker continued to be involved in ministry in various capacities following his release. The specific circumstances surrounding his death were not detailed in the initial reports. The Fort Myers-Naples region has seen this news gain traction, indicating continued public interest in figures from the history of televangelism.


Story summarized from the original created by AP on www.winknews.com, see more information here.

Media gallery

About The Author
SignalNewsAI