Renowned televangelist and gospel music performer Reverend Jimmy Swaggart, aged 90, is currently in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Baton Rouge hospital following a cardiac arrest on Sunday morning, June 15, 2025, which coincidentally fell on Father’s Day. The news has prompted an outpouring of prayers and support from his global following.

According to a statement from Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, the incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. at Swaggart’s home in Baton Rouge. His son, Pastor Donnie Swaggart, shared the harrowing details during an emotional prayer service held Sunday evening at the Family Worship Center.

“A little after eight, Gabe and I rushed to mother’s house. Dad had gone into cardiac arrest.

He never regained consciousness,” Donnie recounted. He and his son Gabriel took turns administering chest compressions until emergency medical technicians (EMTs) arrived. “I’ve never seen so many people arrive at one time, and I want to thank them.

They were able to get a heartbeat back,” he added, noting that paramedics successfully revived Swaggart’s heartbeat before transporting him to the hospital.

Despite the swift response, Swaggart’s condition remains grave. “Right now, he is in ICU, and without a miracle, his time will be short,” Donnie told the congregation, emphasizing the family’s faith and resilience.

“But we believe God. We’re not giving up. We’ve already told the doctors we don’t want to hear anything from them. We will make decisions in our own time, but we’re going to give the Lord an opportunity to work.”

The family has requested privacy and urged supporters to follow official ministry social media pages for updates, asking that people refrain from calling to inquire about Swaggart’s condition.

Jimmy Swaggart, a native of Ferriday, Louisiana, is a towering figure in American evangelicalism. Born on March 15, 1935, he rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s through his television ministry, which at its peak reached over two million households across the United States.

Swaggart founded Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, which operates the SonLife Broadcasting Network and includes the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, where he serves as senior pastor.

He also established the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College, contributing to his extensive legacy in Pentecostal preaching and gospel music. With over 50 Christian books authored and a Grammy nomination for his 1981 album Worship, Swaggart’s influence spans decades and continents.

However, his career was not without controversy. In 1988, Swaggart was defrocked by the Assemblies of God after being photographed with a prostitute in a Baton Rouge motel, leading to his infamous televised “I have sinned” speech.

A second scandal in 1991, involving another encounter with a prostitute, resulted in the cancellation of many of his television contracts.

Despite these setbacks, Swaggart’s ministry endured, albeit on a smaller scale, and his comeback through the SonLife Broadcasting Network, launched in 2009, reaffirmed his resilience.

As ministry spokesperson Megan Kelly told WWLTV, “Yes, we had a rather large bump in the road, but he has come back, and the comeback story has been far greater than anything else. The lives saved. The lives that have been touched through his ministry are endless.”

On Monday, June 16, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries issued an update on social media, stating, “At this time, there has been no change in his condition. We ask that you continue to lift him up in prayer and believe God for a miracle—but above all, we trust in the Lord’s perfect will.”

The post garnered thousands of comments from supporters worldwide, with many expressing hope for a recovery. One commenter wrote, “Praying for a miracle for Brother Jimmy Swaggart.

Heal and restore him for your glory Lord Jesus!” Another added, “God is in control and does miracles every day. Prayers for the family.”

Swaggart’s family, including his wife Frances, son Donnie, and grandson Gabriel, who also serve in the ministry, have gathered by his side.

The Family Worship Center, located off Bluebonnet Boulevard, continues to hold services, with Donnie and Gabriel leading the congregation in prayer for Swaggart’s recovery.

The ministry’s website highlights its reach, broadcasting on 3,000 television stations and 700 radio stations globally, a testament to Swaggart’s enduring impact.

As the Baton Rouge community and Swaggart’s worldwide audience await further news, the focus remains on faith and hope.

“We serve a big God, and we believe God is able to do a miracle here tonight,” Gabriel Swaggart said during Sunday’s prayer service, echoing the family’s unwavering belief in divine intervention.

For the latest updates, the public is directed to Jimmy Swaggart Ministries’ official social media channels. The ministry’s statement concluded, “Thank you, once again, for standing with us in faith and prayer.”