This is a day that will go down in history as the Jim Bakker Show was broadcast live from the Upper Room at Heritage International for the first time in over 25 years.
There was a standing ovation in the Upper Room for Pastor Jim Bakker as he was introduced as host of the Jim Bakker Show by the posthumus voice of Henry Harrison, the co-host of PTL for many years, who passed into Glory in 1995! The Upper Room was filled with old friends from long ago in the history of Heritage USA, and others who came to witness this historic event.
“Wow! We have been overwhelmed! I’m speechless, which is not often I guess. The place is packed and I’m shaking inside. I’m excited! It’s like I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Pastor Jim said in his opening statements.
Many people have called the Upper Room the “heart” of Heritage USA, and after years of abandonment and neglect, it has been beautifully restored by Russell James, a former PTL cameraman Pastor Jim fondly refers to as “bad boy James,” who earned the name as a teenager. The Upper Room reopened for services in 2010 and now hosts weekly services with Rev. Randy Hill. Rev. Hill was part of the broadcast crew for PTL. “I always knew God had a purpose for the Upper Room,” Rev. Hill said. “It was dedicated to God and God holds it dear. There was peace in my heart. I knew God would have His way.”
The Upper Room was built by Pastor Jim to be a replica of the original upper room in Israel.
Jim was joined by Rick Joyner, Philip Cameron, Kevin Shorey, Cindy and Mike Jacobs and a room full of other special guests that Jim lovingly called his friends. He greeted folks like Helen Headley who was the head greeter at Heritage USA, and Sara Morgan who was the first person to buy a house on the property. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place as Jim recalled how the last face he saw as they were hauling him off to prison, was Helen’s as she blew him kisses from atop a knoll. He said, “this room is filled with the biblical meaning of friendship. The Bible says a friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity.”
Jim honored Rick Joyner as one who has helped in his own restoration and has restored more people in the Body of Christ “than anybody else I know.” “There is no one who is beyond the restoration of Jesus,” Rick Joyner said during the show’s taping. He continued to speak about the power of restoration that has come to so many as the Upper Room itself was restored into service as a house of the Lord.
Cindy Jacobs said that the restoration of Jim Bakker, Heritage International, the Upper Room, and the Big Barn is a symbol of the restoration that God wants to do in His church in the Last Days. She told Pastor Jim that “many will be restored if you’ll go back to the Upper Room and show them what God does,” and she quoted Isaiah 61. “The buildings are a sign of God’s redemption and restoration – but any one person is more important,” said Jim.
Rick Joyner honored Jim as the Father and Founder of Heritage USA and Jim recalled how Rick had called him to “ask my permission to use Heritage USA when I was in prison.” Even though Jim did not own it, Rick said there is a spiritual authority that had to be honored. Others had the physical rights to the property, Rick said “but you were the one God used to give birth to this – so I wasn’t going to use it without your permission!” He then went on to teach about honoring Fathers, stating that it is the only command with a promise for blessing.
“You can say ‘you’re a fallen preacher’ but I say ‘no, I’m a restored man!’” said Pastor Jim. “We’ve got to have a homecoming in the Church! I’m talking about anyone who has ever been a member of your church – denominations have to have a homecoming! We’ve got more people that have fallen than those who are left. If I can come back – you can come back!”
Cindy Jacobs then prophesied, “The Lord is reaching back into a time of something that was broken in your life and He says I’m going to make you a sign of restoration.” She went on to say, “those who gave money to the Upper Room – you cast your bread on the waters and it is coming back to you!” Cindy prophesied “I will restore – families restored – restoring relationships that look irrevocably broken – This IS the great homecoming – this is the great homecoming!”
Pastor Jim then gave a rousing plea to all who have been hurt and wounded – come home! This is the message of this whole week – come home! God is not through with you!
Rick Joyner then said, “one of the greatest restorations will be the Bride of Christ. If we are true friends of the Bridegroom, we will do everything we can to help her.”
Rick went on to say, “Jim, you were the father of the ministry that remains on this property. There’s a heritage here and we think you were a great Father and we are honored to have you back here,” and the audience gave Pastor Jim yet another standing ovation.
On Thursday, Pastor Jim and Lori will be broadcasting from their old studios at Heritage International.
