Famous American Televangelists

Franklin Graham is a prominent figure in the evangelical movement, serving as an evangelist and missionary. He is actively involved in organizing Christian revival tours and offering political commentary. As the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, he plays a key role in leading these organizations' efforts. Graham's journey as a public speaker and author began after he became a committed Christian and was ordained in 1982. His professional life is characterized by his dedication to spreading the Christian faith and providing humanitarian relief globally.

T. D. Jakes is a prominent American non-denominational Christian pastor and motivational speaker known for his leadership at The Potter's House, a megachurch in Dallas, Texas. He delivers inspiring sermons through The Potter's Touch broadcasting platform, reaching a wide audience. Jakes is a prolific author with numerous published books on faith and spirituality. Additionally, he is involved in film production, contributing to various projects. Overall, Jakes is recognized for his impactful preaching, writing, and media presence within the Christian community.

William Joseph Seymour was a Holiness Pentecostal preacher known for initiating the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California in 1906. He preached the Pentecostal message, emphasizing the baptism in the Holy Spirit marked by speaking in tongues. Seymour's leadership at the Azusa Street Revival, along with publishing The Apostolic Faith newspaper, propelled him to prominence in the Pentecostal movement. Despite conflict with other ministers, Seymour continued to pastor the Apostolic Faith Mission and his work contributed to the global spread of Pentecostal practices.

Jimmy Swaggart is an American Pentecostal televangelist with a prominent professional background. He is the senior pastor of the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Additionally, Swaggart owns and operates the SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN), showcasing his influence in the media industry. Through his ministry, he has reached a wide audience with his religious teachings and messages. Swaggart's dedication to his faith and leadership within the Pentecostal community have solidified his reputation as a respected figure in the religious world.

Herbert W. Armstrong was an American evangelist known for founding the Worldwide Church of God and pioneering radio and television evangelism. He preached a comprehensive combination of doctrines from the Bible, claiming to present the restored true Gospel. His teachings emphasized observance of the Mosaic Law, including the seventh-day Sabbath, dietary prohibitions, and "Holy Days." Armstrong interpreted contemporary world events through Biblical prophecies, often in the context of British Israelism. He also engaged in diplomatic efforts, describing himself as an "ambassador without portfolio for world peace."

Oral Roberts was an influential American televangelist known for his role in popularizing Prosperity Gospel Theology. Ordained in the Pentecostal Holiness Church and briefly in the United Methodist church, he was a forerunner of the charismatic movement. Founding the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University, he emphasized seed-faith in his preaching, reaching millions of followers worldwide over six decades. Roberts' impact on mainstream American Pentecostalism, televangelism, and the prosperity gospel was significant, making him a subject of both criticism and support.

John Hagee is an American pastor and televangelist known for founding John Hagee Ministries, which broadcasts to the United States and Canada. He is also the founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, a Christian Zionist organization. Hagee has stirred controversy with his statements about the Catholic Church, Jewish people, and Islam, as well as his promotion of the blood moon prophecy. Through his ministry and advocacy work, he has made a significant impact on the world of evangelical Christianity and pro-Israel activism.

Creflo A. Dollar, Jr. is an American pastor and televangelist known for founding the non-denominational Christian World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia. He also leads the Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association, Creflo Dollar Ministries, and Arrow Records. Dollar has established himself as a prominent figure in the Christian community, reaching a wide audience through his ministry work and television broadcasts. His organizations focus on spreading the message of Christianity and providing support to believers worldwide.

Jack Van Impe was an American televangelist known for his half-hour weekly television series, Jack Van Impe Presents, where he provided eschatological commentary on current events through a Biblical lens. He earned the nickname "Walking Bible" for memorizing a significant portion of the King James Version of the Bible. His program reached a global audience through religious broadcasters and paid programming on commercial TV stations. Van Impe collaborated with his wife, Rexella, who co-hosted their television ministry.

Robert Anthony Schuller is an American author, televangelist, and pastor. He was a minister on the Hour of Power television program broadcast from the Crystal Cathedral in Orange County, California for over three decades. He served as the senior pastor from January 2006 until his resignation in November 2008. Despite this, he continues his ministry through Robert Schuller Ministries, where he shares his message with a wide audience through various mediums.

Irvin Baxter Jr. was an American Oneness Pentecostal minister, televangelist, author, and biblical scholar known for his work in Christian eschatology. He founded Endtime Ministries, a Christian organization dedicated to sharing his views on biblical prophecy. Baxter was the host of the internationally syndicated television program, End of The Age, where he discussed various aspects of Christian eschatology. Prior to his work with Endtime Ministries, he served as a pastor at Oak Park Church. Baxter passed away due to complications from COVID-19 during the pandemic in Texas.

Hal Lindsey is an American evangelical writer and television host known for his popular apocalyptic books, starting with The Late Great Planet Earth in 1970. He asserts that current events align with biblical prophecy, suggesting the imminent arrival of the Apocalypse and the rapture. Lindsey is recognized as a Christian Zionist and dispensationalist, with a focus on exploring the relationship between biblical teachings and contemporary world events. Through his writings and television appearances, Lindsey has gained a significant following and influence within evangelical circles.

Garner Ted Armstrong was an American evangelist known for his involvement with the Worldwide Church of God, a Sabbatarian organization emphasizing Sabbath observance. He gained recognition as the successor to his father as the voice of The World Tomorrow radio program, which later evolved into a television program. Armstrong's broadcast, which combined news and biblical commentary, set him apart from other religious broadcasters of his time. His polemical message and unique approach made him a distinctive figure in the religious media landscape.

James Robison is an American televangelist known for founding and leading the Christian relief organization Life Outreach International. With a career spanning several decades, he has been actively involved in spreading the message of Christianity through television programs and various outreach efforts. Robison has dedicated his professional life to advocating for humanitarian causes and providing assistance to those in need around the world. Through his work with Life Outreach International, he has impacted numerous lives and continues to inspire others to help those less fortunate.

Rod Parsley is an American Christian minister, author, television host, and evangelist known for his leadership at World Harvest Church in Ohio. As the senior pastor, he oversees a large nondenominational congregation and a sister campus in Indiana. Parsley is also the founder and chancellor of Valor Christian College, as well as the president of The Center for Moral Clarity. He has established various organizations including Breakthrough, the Bridge of Hope missions group, and The Women's Clinic of Columbus, showcasing his commitment to Christian advocacy and outreach. Additionally, his media ministry and online streaming channel provide spiritual content to a wider audience.

A. A. Allen was an American Pentecostal evangelist renowned for his faith healing and deliverance ministry. He played a significant role in the "Voice of Healing" movement, established by Gordon Lindsay. Allen's professional life was marked by his dedication to spreading the message of faith and conducting healing services. He was known for his impactful sermons and ability to draw large crowds to his events. Despite his success in ministry, his life was tragically cut short due to alcoholism and liver failure.

Peter George Popoff is a German-born American televangelist known for his controversial practices. He was exposed in 1986 for using a concealed earpiece to receive information about audience members during religious services, falsely claiming it came from God for faith healing. After going bankrupt, he made a comeback in the late 1990s and began promoting "Miracle Spring Water" on late-night infomercials. Popoff referred to himself as a prophet and continued running promotions into 2024, featuring testimonials of financial gains attributed to his product.

Rex Humbard was a prominent American television evangelist known for his show, Cathedral of Tomorrow, which reached widespread popularity by airing on over 600 stations. His dynamic preaching style and incorporation of music and technology helped him attract a large audience. Humbard's ministry focused on spreading the message of Christianity to a broad audience through television, and he became a significant figure in the religious broadcasting world. His impact on the field of evangelism and television ministry was substantial during his career.

Bob Larson is an American radio and television evangelist and pastor of Spiritual Freedom Church in Phoenix, Arizona. He is known for his critical stance on rock music and Satanism, authoring several books on these topics. Larson has built a career around evangelism through various media platforms, using his voice to spread his message. With a focus on spiritual matters and religious teachings, he has garnered a following for his provocative and controversial views on popular culture and the occult.

Michael Dean Murdock is an American Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter, televangelist, and pastor of The Wisdom Center ministry in Texas. He is a prominent figure in prosperity theology, known for his School of Wisdom program. Murdock gained national attention during the PTL Club scandal and has been featured on various television networks. He has faced scrutiny for his financial practices, including using donations for personal expenses. Despite controversies, he continues to lead The Wisdom Center church and maintain a presence in Christian media.

Jerry Falwell Sr. was a prominent American Baptist pastor, televangelist, and conservative activist. He founded the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, which grew into a megachurch. Additionally, he established Lynchburg Christian Academy (now Liberty Christian Academy) and founded Liberty University, a prominent evangelical institution. Falwell was also a key figure in the founding of the Moral Majority, a prominent conservative political organization. Through his various endeavors, Falwell had a significant impact on American evangelicalism and conservative politics.

Jim Bakker is an American televangelist known for hosting The PTL Club and developing the PTL Satellite Network and Heritage USA, a Christian theme park. He faced controversy in the late 1980s over a hush money scandal and was convicted of accounting fraud, leading to imprisonment and divorce. After reentering televangelism, Bakker founded Morningside Church, revived the PTL ministry, and hosts The Jim Bakker Show, focusing on apocalyptic themes and promoting emergency survival products. He is also a published author of books related to faith and preparedness.

Joel Osteen is an American pastor, televangelist, businessman, and author based in Houston, Texas. He is known for his weekly televised services and best-selling books. Osteen is a prominent figure associated with prosperity theology and the Word of Faith movement. Through his work, Osteen has garnered a wide audience and following. He has used his platform to spread messages of positivity, faith, and motivation to inspire individuals to live their best lives.

Robert Tilton is an American televangelist known for his former role as the pastor of the Word of Faith Family Church in Texas. He gained fame through his infomercial-style program, Success-N-Life, which reached a peak in 1991 by airing in all American television markets and generating close to $80 million annually. However, his fundraising practices came under scrutiny after ABC's Primetime Live investigations, leading to the show's removal from the air. Tilton later returned to television with a revamped version of the program on BET and The Word Network.

Kenneth Copeland is a prominent American televangelist well-known for his association with the charismatic movement. He is the founder of Eagle Mountain International Church Inc. and has authored numerous books. Copeland is recognized for his broadcast "Believers Voice of Victory" and is a proponent of prosperity theology within the Word of Faith movement. He teaches that divine favor manifests in material and financial blessings, emphasizing the concept that giving to ministries can unlock this favor.

Ernest Angley was a prominent American Christian evangelist, author, and television station owner known for his work in spreading the message of Jesus Christ. He began his professional career as a traveling Pentecostal evangelist in the early 1950s, focusing on salvation and healing. Based in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, he built a successful ministry that reached a wide audience through his television programs and publications. Angley was recognized for his charismatic preaching style and his commitment to sharing the teachings of the Christian faith.

Richard Lee Roberts is a prominent American television evangelist and faith healer known for his leadership role as the chairman and CEO of the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. With a strong background in academia, he also held the position of president at Oral Roberts University for a notable fifteen-year period. Roberts has dedicated his career to spreading the message of faith and healing through various media platforms and educational institutions, leaving a lasting impact on the religious community.

Jan Crouch was an American religious broadcaster who, along with her husband Paul, co-founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) in 1973. Through TBN, she played a pivotal role in expanding the network's reach and influence as a prominent platform for Christian programming worldwide. Crouch's dedication to broadcasting Christian content and her active involvement in TBN's operations helped shape the network into one of the largest Christian television networks globally, solidifying her legacy as a trailblazer in religious broadcasting.

Lori Bakker is an American televangelist, author, and motivational speaker who has dedicated her life to spreading positivity and providing spiritual guidance to distressed individuals, particularly women. She founded 'Lori’s House,' an organization that offers support to pregnant women and those who have experienced the pain of abortion. Alongside her husband, she hosts 'The Jim Bakker Show' and works towards the spiritual upliftment of others through her involvement with the 'Phoenix First Assembly of God.'

Billy James Hargis was an American Christian evangelist known for his popular Christian Crusade ministry in the 1950s and 1960s. He spread an anti-Communist and segregationist message through over 500 radio stations and 250 television stations. Hargis also founded a radio station, monthly newspaper, and a college in Tulsa, Oklahoma to support his ministries. Despite facing allegations of sexual misconduct in 1974, he continued to publish his newspaper, write books, and maintained his evangelistic efforts until his partial retirement.