The Greatest American Televangelists Every Geek Will Recognize (2024)

Birthdate: July 14, 1952

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Asheville

The son of evangelist Billy Graham, Franklin Graham followed in his father's footsteps to become a missionary and an evangelist. He now heads both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse. He has also produced Christian-themed movies and docu-dramas such as Second Chance and Facing Darkness.

Birthdate: March 15, 1935

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Ferriday, Louisiana, United States

Jimmy Swaggart is a Pentecostal evangelist. He began his TV ministry in the early 1970s and soon became a household name in US. He is also popular on a global level and his programs are telecast in 105 countries. He was involved in sex scandals in the late 1980s and early 1990s and suffered a temporary setback.

Birthdate: June 9, 1957

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: South Charleston, West Virginia, United States

Known for his baritone voice and his signature goatee, T. D. Jakes is a bishop at The Potter's House and a filmmaker, too. He has produced and appeared in films such as Jumping the Broom and Not Easily Broken, the latter being based one of his novels.

Birthdate: March 5, 1963

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Houston

Joel Osteen is an American pastor, author, and televangelist. He is one of the most popular televangelists in the world, with his televised sermons being watched by millions of people every week in over 100 countries, including 10 million viewers in the US alone. In 2006, he was named in the 10 Most Fascinating People list published by Barbara Walters.

Birthdate: January 2, 1940

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Muskegon

Televangelist Jim Bakker gained much prominence for hosting the TV program The PTL Clubwith his then-wife, Tammy Faye in the 1970s and 1980s. In the late 1980s, he was accused of a series of unethical and illegal behaviors, including sexual misconduct and accounting frauds. However, he was able to salvage his image and returned to televangelism.

Birthdate: January 24, 1918

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Ada, Oklahoma, United States

Died: December 15, 2009

Oral Roberts was an American televangelist who was ordained in United Methodist churches as well as the Pentecostal Holiness. Regarded as one of the precursors for the charismatic movement, Roberts was one of the most recognized and controversial preachers of the 20th century. Oral Roberts is also credited with founding Oral Roberts University (ORU) and the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association.

Birthdate: December 6, 1936

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Lubbock

Kenneth Copeland is an American author and televangelist known for his association with the charismatic movement. Copeland, whose sermons are broadcast around the world, was criticized during the Covid-19 pandemic for claims that he had destroyed the virus and that the pandemic would end soon. He has also been criticized for using donations to purchase private jets and a mansion.

Birthdate: July 2, 1946

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: East Berlin, Germany

Peter Popoff is a German-born American faith healer, debunked clairvoyant, and televangelist. Popoff used a concealed earpiece to receive information about people suffering from ailments during his religious services and claimed that God divulged the information to him. The scam was exposed in 1986 and led to the creation of several works of art, including the film Leap of Faith.

Birthdate: January 28, 1962

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: College Park

Creflo A. Dollar, Jr. is an American televangelist and pastor. He is credited with founding the Christian World Changers Church International, a non-denominational church based in College Park, Georgia. He also heads the Creflo Dollar Ministries, Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association, and Arrow Records.

Birthdate: April 12, 1940

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Baytown, Texas, United States

The founder of the John Hagee Ministries and the Christians United for Israel, John Hagee has also established the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. He has penned several bestsellers, such as Absolute Power, andis also known for his controversial concepts, such as the blood moon prophecy.

Birthdate: February 9, 1931

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Freeport, Michigan, United States

Died: January 18, 2020

Jack Van Impe was an American televangelist best remembered for his weekly TV series Jack Van Impe Presents. Dubbed the Walking Bible, Van Impe had memorized most of the Authorized Version of the Bible. He is credited with founding the Jack Van Impe Ministries International, which strives to preach the teachings of Christ around the world.

Birthdate: August 11, 1933

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Lynchburg

Died: May 15, 2007

Televangelist and religious leader Jerry Falwell Sr. was also a co-founder of the Moral Majority, a political platform for the promotion of conservative Christian ideals. He also established the Liberty University and later tried to revive the PTL after its leader Jim Bakker was accused of rape.

Birthdate: July 31, 1892

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Des Moines

Died: January 16, 1986

Herbert W. Armstrong was an American evangelist who pioneered TV and radio evangelism. Armstrong is credited with founding the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), which currently has 30,000 members and 550 churches across 70 countries. Although Herbert W. Armstrong's teachings have remained popular over the years, they have also been criticized by the greater Christian community and former followers.

Birthdate: June 7, 1946

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Dallas

Robert Tilton is an American televangelist best known for his TV program Success-N-Life, which was aired in 235 American television markets during the peak of his ministry in 1991. The show, which brought in almost $80 million annually, was named America's fastest-growing television ministry. The show was taken off the air when ABC's Primetime Live questioned Robert Tilton's fundraising practices.

Birthdate: May 2, 1870

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Louisiana

Died: September 28, 1922

William J. Seymour was an African-American holiness preacher. He is credited to have initiated the Azusa Street Revival, an influential event in the rise of the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements. He was a student of the early Pentecostal minister Charles Parham. He played a major role in the spread of Pentecostalism to various parts of America.

Birthdate: April 18, 1946

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States

Mike Murdock had delivered his first sermon at age 8 and begun full-time evangelism at 19. The author of bestsellers such as Wisdom for Winning and Dream-Seeds, he has also writte the Topical Bible series and released gospel tracks. His show Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock has been a hit.

Birthdate: March 14, 1938

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: New Brockton

Died: May 31, 2016

Jan Crouch was an American media personality and religious broadcaster. She is credited with co-founding the Trinity Broadcasting Network along with her husband Paul Franklin Crouch. An ardent propagator of Prosperity Theology, Jan Crouch played a major role in the development of the Trinity Broadcasting Network for which she was honored with the Golden Angel Award for Excellence in Media.

Birthdate: November 23, 1929

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Houston

Hal Lindsey is an evangelist and Christian writer. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary, following which he worked with Campus Crusade for Christ. He was also a Sunday school teacher. He has authored many books, including The Late, Great Planet Earth and Apocalypse Code. He serves on the executive board of Christian Voice and has hosted many Christian TV shows.

Birthdate: August 9, 1921

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Gastonia

Ernest Angley was an American evangelist, television station owner, and author. One of the most controversial evangelists of his generation, Angley received several criticisms for his claims and theories. He was also accused of sexual abuse by Rev. Brock Miller who filed a lawsuit against Ernest Angley, claiming that he was sexually abused for nine years.

Birthdate: March 27, 1911

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Sulphur Rock

Died: June 11, 1970

A. A. Allen was an American evangelist best remembered for his deliverance ministry and faith healing programs. Allen enjoyed a large following and was one of the first evangelists to develop a national television ministry. A. A. Allen also propagated racial integration and encouraged the musical skills of African-Americans in his television programs.

Birthdate: October 7, 1954

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Blue Island

Robert A. Schuller is an American televangelist, author, and pastor. The only son of Arvella Schuller and Robert H. Schuller, who founded the Crystal Cathedral, Schuller served as a minister on the weekly television program Hour of Power, which was aired from the Crystal Cathedral. He was made the senior pastor in 2006 but resigned from his position in 2008.

Birthdate: November 12, 1948

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Tulsa

Richard Roberts is an American author and executive who is currently servingas the chief executive officer and chairman of the popular Pentecostal ministry Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association (OREA), which was started by the famous televangelist and faith healer Oral Roberts. For 15 years, Richard Roberts served as the president of the private evangelical university Oral Roberts University (ORU).

Birthdate: October 9, 1943

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Pasadena

James Robison is an American televangelist best known for hosting the daily TV program, LIFE Today, along with his wife Betty Freeman. The show has hosted several celebrities like Steven Curtis Chapman, Robert Selden Duvall, and George W. Bush. James Robison is credited with founding a Christian relief organization called Life Outreach International where he also serves as the president.

Birthdate: January 13, 1957

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Cleveland

Birthdate: February 9, 1930

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Portland

Died: September 12, 2003

Garner Ted Armstrong was an American evangelist who succeeded his father Herbert W. Armstrong and took over the operations of the Worldwide Church of God. After his father's demise, Armstrong became the voice of the church's radio program The World Tomorrow, which was aired around the world.

Birthdate: July 8, 1945

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Richmond, Indiana, United States

Died: November 3, 2020

Birthdate: August 13, 1919

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

Died: September 21, 2007

Rex Humbard was an American televangelist remembered for hosting the Cathedral of Tomorrow show, which was aired on over 600 stations. In 1991, he was made an inductee of the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In 1993, Humbard was inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was made an inductee of the Arkansas Walk of Fame.

Birthdate: May 28, 1944

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Westwood

Bob Larson is an American television and radio evangelist. Larson, who serves as a pastor at the Spiritual Freedom Church in Arizona, has written several books criticizing Satanism and rock music. He is also renowned for performing exorcisms over Skype and on calls.

Birthdate: August 30, 1957

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: United States

The wife of televangelist Jim Bakker and The Jim Bakker Show co-host, Lori Bakker had previously led a reckless life. Following five abortions, she switched to spirituality and joined the Phoenix First Assembly. She later formed the Mourning to Joy Ministry, to help women survive post-abortion trauma.

Birthdate: August 3, 1925

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Texarkana, Arkansas, United States

Died: November 27, 2004