Televangelism
Definition The use of television as a medium to
communicate Christianity
Scandals caused the rapid downfall of some of the most fa-
mous televangelists in the 1980’s. Many Americans saw
these events as confirmation of their suspicions that tele-
vangelists were corrupt and out of touch with mainstream
religious views.
The technology of television, which became a popu-
lar form of news and entertainment in American
homes in the 1950’s, had long been ignored by reli-
gious groups. While some saw the television as a sym-
bol of modernism and secularism, most simply did
not develop the tools and technology necessary to
transfer their message to television until the late
1970’s and early 1980’s. Partly because of a new re-
sponsiveness by religious groups to the potential
power of television and partly because of a broader
engagement by many Christians in the realm of
American popular culture, many enthusiastic preach-
ers moved their ministries to the television airwaves
during the 1980’s. Still others launched their careers
with local, regional, and even national program-
ming plans that grew into vast media communica-
tions networks and broadcast empires.
The Rise of Televangelism American Christianity
has a long history of utilizing the most efficient and
effective communications strategies of each genera-
tion in order to carry out the “Great Commission,”
Jesus Christ’s instruction to his disciples to spread
the gospel teachings throughout the world. Evange-
list Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of the Inter-
national Church of the Foursquare Gospel, was criti-
cized in the early twentieth century for her use of the
relatively new medium of radio as a tool for “winning
souls for Christ.” In subsequent years, however, min-
isters embraced not only radio but also television as a
viable method of communicating their message.
One of the earliest to do this was Pat Robertson,
who founded the Christian Broadcasting Network
(CBN) in 1961. Its flagship show,The 700 Club,be-
gan broadcasts in the mid-1960’s. Part news report-
ing and part talk show,The 700 Clubcontinued to
broadcast into the early twenty-first century, featur-
ing popular hosts and guests from a variety of back-
grounds. Though Robertson became known for his
controversial and outspoken views, he remained a
strong voice for followers of Judeo-Christian tradi-
tional values.
Another controversial televangelist was Oral Rob-
erts, the son of a midwestern preacher and an evan-
gelist and faith healer in the charismatic tradition.
Roberts began his ministry in the 1950’s and
launched a series of television specials during the
1970’s. His Oral Roberts Ministries continued to
broadcast into the early twenty-first century. In the
1980’s, however, Roberts became the target of jokes
and criticism when he claimed to have had visions of
God about raising money for his ministries, includ-
ing the City of Faith Medical and Research Center,
which was open from 1981 to 1989.
Like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell became well
known for his television ministries in the 1980’s.
Though he had established the Thomas Road Bap-
tist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, and theOld Time
Gospel Hourradio program in 1956, he became a
mobilizing force when his Moral Majority coalition
(founded in 1979) endorsed Ronald Reagan in his
1980 election bid.The Decline of Televangelism Roberts and Falwell
spent the 1980’s building ministries that continued
to play a role in national religious and political life
in later decades. However, in many ways, their ca-
reers—at least during the 1980’s—were eclipsed by
two other figures.
In 1987, Assemblies of God minister Jim Bakker
resigned from his position as head of the PTL televi-
sion network and as host of its popular television
show of the same name. Bakker’s resignation came
in the wake of scandals involving a sexual encounter
with a church secretary named Jessica Hahn and al-
legations of massive fraud. During their heyday, Jim
and his wife, Tammy Faye, lived an excessive lifestyle,
even while asking viewers to maximize their finan-
cial contributions to their ministry. After serving five
years in prison for charges related to fraud and tax
evasion, Bakker continued to minister, though on a
much smaller scale.
The year after Bakker’s resignation, Jimmy Swag-
gart, another Assemblies of God preacher, was forced
to resign as head of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries (then
worth more than $100 million) when allegations
surfaced that he had met with prostitutes. Swaggart
became another target of critics and skeptics, in part
because of his tearful videotaped apology to his fol-
lowers.950 Televangelism The Eighties in America