Jimmy Swaggart, the globally renowned American evangelist and gospel musician, has suffered a medical emergency, leaving his family, friends, and followers in great concern.
Ever since the news emerged that the legendary American televangelist was ill, Swaggart has begun trending online as more people try to find out what the exact problem with the preacher.
What Is Wrong With Jimmy Swaggart?
As we have already mentioned, Jimmy Swaggart suffered a medical emergency recently. Our findings show that the preacher is currently in critical condition following a sudden cardiac arrest on the morning of June 15, 2025.
The incident was publicly disclosed by his son, Donnie Swaggart, during a heartfelt prayer service at the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. According to Donnie, his 90-year-old father was found unresponsive around 8:00 a.m. and immediately suffered cardiac arrest.
Though he never regained consciousness at the scene, emergency medical personnel were able to restore a heartbeat before rushing him to a nearby hospital, where he remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
During the service, Donnie stated:
“Right now, he is in ICU, and without a miracle, his time will be short. We’re going to give the Lord an opportunity to work”.
He later took to Instagram and other social platforms to urge the public and Jimmy Swaggart’s global followers to join in prayer for a divine intervention.
He wrote:
“On this Father’s Day, we urgently ask you to pray for Brother Swaggart. He needs a miracle from heaven right now. We must have the Lord intervene in this situation.”
Swaggart’s Family Shared Touching Update Through SonLife Broadcasting Network
As the Jimmy Swaggart family navigates this emotional moment, Donnie assured viewers of SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN) that while they are a private family, they will provide ongoing updates concerning his father’s condition.
In a touching moment during the service, Swaggart’s grandson, Gabe Swaggart, shared an emotional update he received via text from his mother, Debbie. She had placed a phone playing gospel music near Jimmy Swaggart’s ear.
“She said Brian was singing. She put the phone up to his ear, and she said that tears were rolling down his face. He hears the music. He hears what we say,” Gabe shared, fighting back tears.
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The Life and Work of Jimmy Swaggart: A Legacy of Ministry
Jimmy Swaggart has been involved in the work of the church all his life. The televangelist was born on March 15, 1935, in Louisiana to W.L. and Minnie Bell Swaggart. His spiritual journey began early—at just eight years old, he experienced what he described as a “dramatic salvation encounter” and soon felt called to a life of ministry.
Swaggart would then go on to become one of the most recognized names in the Christian world around the globe. His messages have been heard by millions of people around the world and countless people have been touched personally and otherwise through his ministry over the years.
Jimmy Swaggart Has Been A Trailblazer in Gospel Evangelism
Swaggart’s ministry has spanned over six decades and positioned him as one of the most recognizable evangelists in American history. According to his official website, Jimmy Swaggart has preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ longer on television than any other American evangelist.
His musical debut came in 1958 with the album Some Golden Daybreak, which quickly garnered widespread acclaim and went on to sell over 17 million copies globally. By 1973, Swaggart had launched The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast, a 30-minute weekly television program that later expanded to a full-hour broadcast, reaching millions of viewers across the world every Sunday.
In 1981, he introduced a new daily TV show titled A Study In the Word, which continues to air internationally. The success of these programs led to the creation of SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN) in 2010, a full-fledged Christian network owned and operated by Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.
His Ministry Was Marked by Controversy and Resilience
Despite his far-reaching influence, Jimmy Swaggart faced a significant personal and professional setback in 1988, when he publicly confessed to misconduct involving a prostitute in New Orleans. The confession followed intense scrutiny and criticism, particularly because Swaggart had previously denounced other evangelists caught in similar scandals.
The backlash was swift and widespread. Nonetheless, Swaggart chose to continue his ministry, maintaining a dedicated following and rebuilding trust through transparency and persistence.
Swaggart Built A Family Devoted to the Gospel
Jimmy Swaggart and his wife, Frances Swaggart have together built a family that is completely devoted to the gospel. The couple shares one son called Donnie Swaggart. Donnie was raised by his parents to love and serve God and he has since grown into a man devoted to the gospel.
Donnie did not have an average childhood. He actually grew up on the evangelistic field as he was always traveling across the United States with his father who was on his evangelistic mission. As his father’s ministry continued to expand to include national and international crusades, Donnie began to get more involved in the ministry and even served as Crusade Director at different points.
Today, Donnie now serves as the Executive Vice President of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. He has followed closely in his father’s footsteps, devoting his life to preaching and ministry. The Swaggart legacy continues through Donnie’s children and extended family, who are actively involved in the church and media outreach efforts.
It goes without saying that Jimmy Swaggart is a happy man having seen that family has become so close-knit and so interested in carrying on his legacy. As he battles for his life in intensive care, the world watches with hope and prayer.
From his early days as a gospel singer to his global influence as a televangelist, Swaggart’s legacy continues to resonate deeply with millions. His family remains steadfast in their faith, believing in the power of prayer and the possibility of a miracle.
Today, we join countless other people around the world in praying for Jimmy Swaggart, who is widely regarded to be a titan of Christian evangelism, and whose voice, music, and message have inspired generations for decades.
