Jim Bakker is an American televangelist and former host of "The PTL Club," a popular Christian television program. He gained fame for his charismatic style and large-scale religious events, but his career was marred by scandal and legal issues in the 1980s. Bakker later reinvented himself as a preacher and businessman, continuing to have a presence in religious broadcasting and media. His life story reflects both the highs and lows of televangelism.
"I don't know, examination I guess. And then they put the jump suit back on me again. I went through the compound - I remember somebody shouting, Jim don't let them break you."
"I think - there's always going to be a percentage of people who maybe aren't as good as others."
"My dream became bigger and bigger. And the box got bigger than the message, than the Gospel."
"It was dripping and, you know, and there was a whole line of cameras and microphones. I felt like - you remember the honor guards, only it was a dishonor guard."
"I write about it in the book and, you know, explain that. But that was the technicality that actually got my sentence reduced - that Alan Dershowitz used to have my sentence - it came down eventually to eight years."
"They put chains on me; they chained my waist, my legs. Put me in the back of a squad car, and I literally blacked out. I didn't even - there's whole pieces missing."
"When I first went to prison, I was even questioning where, God, where are you?"
"God's forgiveness is the only thing. And, well, I take full responsibility for the adultery. It was my fault and, you know, no matter what went on, the man has to take responsibility; and I do."