Controversial televangelist Jim Bakker dies at 86

(Gray News) - Televangelist Jim Bakker has died at 86.

“It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord this evening,” his wife, Lori Bakker, wrote in an Instagram post on Oct. 5.

Bakker was known for hosting “The PTL Club” and developing the PTL Satellite Network, as well as developing the defunct Christian theme park Heritage USA.

FILE - In this March 2, 2018 file photo, Televangelist Jim Bakker, right, walks with his wife... — FILE - In this March 2, 2018 file photo, Televangelist Jim Bakker, right, walks with his wife Lori Beth Graham after a funeral service at the Billy Graham Library for the Rev. Billy Graham, in Charlotte, N.C. Jim Bakker and his southwestern Missouri church will pay restitution of $156,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused the TV pastor of falsely claiming that a health supplement could cure the coronavirus. Missouri court records show that a settlement agreement was filed Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton File)(Chuck Burton | AP)

He resigned from the ministry in 1987 after paying hush money to a church secretary who said she had been sexually assaulted by Bakker.

The next year, he was indicted on several counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy, related to PTL’s finances. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison, but was paroled in 1994.

Since then, he began hosting “The Jim Bakker Show” and selling survivalist products.

“Jim loved people deeply. He loved this ministry, and he loved the friends and partners who stood with him throughout the years,” Lori wrote.