Famous 20th Century Televangelists

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.

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.  

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.

Israeli televangelist Benny Hinn gained fame with his Miracle Crusades held in stadiums across major cities and broadcast worldwide on his show This Is Your Day. He incorrectly predicted twice that the world would end. He has also authored several books, such as Lord, I Need a Miracle.

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.

Televangelist Jim Bakker gained much prominence for hosting the TV program The PTL Club with 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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, and is also known for his controversial concepts, such as the blood moon prophecy.

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.

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.

Turkish sex cult leader Adnan Oktar is an advocate of Islamic creationism and opposes Darwinism. He has previously been arrested for several crimes, such as financial fraud and sexual abuse. He once sent copies of his book The Atlas of Creation, penned as Harun Yahya, to several French and American institutes, unsolicited.

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.

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.  

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Edir Macedo is a Brazilian evangelical bishop, writer, and billionaire businessman. He is the founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) and the co-owner of RecordTV, the third-largest TV network in Brazil. He began his career as a civil servant before moving to a religious career. He has been accused of racism and misogyny. 

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.

Richard Roberts is an American author and executive who is currently serving as 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).

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.

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.

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.

Egyptian televangelist Amr Khaled is one of the most popular Islamic preachers in English-speaking countries. Named in TIME 100 in 2017, he has often openly denounced religious extremism. While he initially worked for KPMG in Cairo, he later gained popularity for his sermons. He eventually had to flee Egypt to avoid extremists.

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. 

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.