WATCH: Funeral service for Jim Bakker held in Missouri: news
12-10-2026
Jim Bakker Funeral Service Held in Missouri Following Death of Televangelist at 86
The funeral service for controversial televangelist and Christian broadcasting pioneer Jim Bakker was held in Blue Eye, Missouri, following his death at age 86. Friends, family members, ministry partners, and followers gathered near Branson to commemorate Bakker’s decades-long career in religious media.
WSOC TVFuneral Arrangements and Memorial Service Details
The public viewing and memorial services took place at Morningside Church in Blue Eye, Missouri:
WSOC TVLocation: Blue Eye, Missouri (near Branson)
WSOC TVViewing & Service: A public morning viewing preceding the afternoon memorial ceremony
WSOC TVPresiding Speakers: Family members, including his wife Lori Bakker, along with longtime ministry colleagues and guest pastors
TMZBroadcast Availability: Live-streamed online and aired via Christian television networks, allowing international supporters and viewers of The Jim Bakker Show to watch the tribute
The Legacy of Jim Bakker: From PTL Club to Modern Ministry
Jim Bakker’s funeral closes a chapter on one of modern Christian television’s most visible and polarizing figures:
Rise of PTL Network: Alongside his first wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, Jim Bakker launched The PTL Club (Praise The Lord) and built the Heritage USA Christian theme park into an international broadcasting powerhouse during the 1970s and 1980s.
TMZScandal and Imprisonment: The PTL empire collapsed in the late 1980s amid widespread financial investigations, accounting irregularities, and a high-profile personal scandal involving Jessica Hahn. In 1989, Bakker was convicted on federal fraud and conspiracy charges, serving nearly five years in federal prison before his release.
TMZ+ 1The Missouri Comeback: Bakker mounted a television comeback in 2003, moving to the Ozarks in Missouri to launch The Jim Bakker Show at Morningside. The latter portion of his career focused heavily on end-times prophecies, survivalist preparation, and faith-based commentary.
The Guardian