We recently celebrated my 50 year Anniversary in Ministry and what a celebration it was! There were many people from years gone by that surprised and delighted me on the show! It seems nearly impossible that it’s been that long, yet I can remember some things as if they were yesterday. As a young Evangelist, I would hold revivals from Tuesday through Sunday night and then travel on Monday to the next location.
Quite often, after preaching and being in the anointing at church, I would turn on late-night TV to unwind. There was very little to watch at that hour except Johnny Carson. I remember listening to everything they would talk about; most of it gossip, politics or entertainment news of some variety. It didn’t take long for me to be completely annoyed by all of the frivolous things that passed for late-night talk show content. I remember thinking “why doesn’t someone talk about Jesus?”
It was this small, yet profound inspiration that led me to break new ground in a revolutionary Christian talk show – so that Christians could have an alternative to the world’s ‘babble’ and more people could participate in talking about Jesus! I began on “The 700 Club” and eventually moved into pioneering “The PTL Television Network.” PTL inspired the birth of countless other Christian talk shows.
Before long, there was an abundance of Christian programming and those who knew Jesus could now rejoice because they had an alternative to the world’s ‘babble’. Now that’s what I had been inspired to do as a young Evangelist! To see and hear so many people talking about Jesus on television was the height of my life’s dream – not only for the Christians, but for those who were to become Christians by hearing the Gospel!
Today, the dream lives on. The times we are living in have brought many people to Christian television seeking answers for this prophetic age just before Jesus returns again. Even the unbelievers are looking for hope. While a large part of the world still fiddles away their time in the mindless, meaningless pursuit of trivial things, there is a beacon of light being broadcast through the darkness. The Gospel is still being preached, the lost are still finding their way to Jesus, and the dreams of a once-young Evangelist are still coming true.
I lost my business & almost all I had 2 years ago. I hurt so bad that I never knew I could feel such loss. I read your book “I Was Wrong” & was amazed that you went through a lot of the same things in the grieving process over Heritage & PTL!! I never cried so hard in my life, both at what you went through & reliving what I had been through. It was a healing experience I will never forget! It brought me to the realization that God WILL bles us abundantly, but as soon as the blessing becomes more important than HIM, he will allow us to lose it all again to bring Himself back into focus as the most IMPORTANT thing in our lives! I ached for you, Jim, when everything went down at PTL. I had just graduated High School & watched in dis-belief when the courts ruled against you! I had watched you since the very beginning of PTL every morning blaring from our old black & white TV in the living room of our trailer. My Mom bought ALL of Tammy Faye’s records & I still listen to them to this day! Anyways, I guess what I’m trying to say, is that God, working through YOU helped me through a VERY difficult time in my own life, when I was suicidal over losing it all & NEVER THOUGHT I would heal…..but I figured if YOU could make it through the refining fire, so could I! Your life has been such an inspiration to me, Jim, & you are SO blessed! I am THRILLED you & Lori are back on TV & pray that God will richly bless you for your courage! Congrats on the 50th anniversary of your ministry! I love you both in Christ! Regards, Ross
Ross,
When we get to the end of the race, I want to say like Paul “I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.” A little while longer and we will see Him.
Jim
Pastor Jim, A true blessing is my association with the call that God has giving you. I have been eagerly paying attention to your teachings for 30 years. I can remember the day my wife, mom, and I drove onto the grounds of Heritage USA. We spent three days there and it is a wonderful experience I will never forget. There was such an annointing and I could sense the presence of God everywhere. Keep doing what Lori and you are doing. The ministry is bearing much fruit. I know God is nodding his head in approval and smiling. God Bless! Mike
You were born to open a door, that would bring countless souls
otherwise lost to Christ. I wonder Jim, since it was you God
chose to open that door, if the countless souls saved through
television ministries will be credited to your account. If so
what a great reward for such a humble, compassionate man.
God Bless