Tammy Faye Messner, the former wife of Jim Bakker of PTL fame, has passed away after struggling against colon and lung cancer for several years.
On July 17, just three days before her death, Messner’s last message on her website announced that she had gained 5 pounds: up from her recent low of 65. In that same message she extolled the virtues of a good hamburger:
I crave hamburgers and french fries with LOTS of ketchup! When I can eat that again, it will be a day of victory!
Friday, July 20, was a day of victory for Tammy Faye.
More…
- TammyFaye.com (cached view of last message)
- CNN: “Tammy Faye Messer Dies“
- Reuters: “Televangelist Tammy Fay Bakker Messner dies“
- New York Times: “Tammy Faye Bakker, 65, Emotive Evangelist, Dies“
- Chicago Tribune: “Tammy Faye Messner Dies at 65“
[tags]bakker, blogrodent, colon-cancer, lung-cancer, obit, obituary, pentecostal, tammy-faye, tammy-faye-bakker, tammy-faye-messner[/tags]
Sad, sad, sad….
Quote from Tammy Faye:
Sometimes God’s Light comes through the least likely vessels. God Bless you Tammy Faye.
Tammy Faye was a financial predator preying on the elderly, the gullible, the vulnerable, seeking their assets to support her own lavish lifestyle.
Her husband Jim was indicted, not her. She had nothing to do with the day to day financial “juggling” that was going on at PTL. In her case, ignorance WAS bliss.
Tammy Faye was very lucky that she was not indicted. She claimed ignorance of where the money was coming from, but she had no trouble spending it. Only the weak-minded are taken in by televangelists like the Bakkers.
Not weak-minded, trusting. I trust my Pastor not to buy solid gold toothpicks, but do I know if he does when I’m not around?
That kind of “trust” is evidence of a weak mind. Children are trusting because they have not matured; their minds are still developing. Adults with the minds of children, for lack of a better term, suffer from mental retardation.
I understand your anger against shyster Televangelists, no one likes a crook, but even Paul had to deal with the like in his day. Watcha gonna do? Kill em all and let God sort them out? …oh, wait…
Patty, stop it, please.
I’ve read your blog where you have the temerity to judge the fate of Tammy’s soul and the audacity to suggest she’s fornicating with Jerry Falwell.
Knock it off. I’ll allow these posts to remain, but you’re my guest here and this rudeness must stop now. Carry on at your own site however you wish, but not here.
I’m no fan of either Tammy Faye or Jim Bakker or of any of the financial, sexual, or narcissistic shenanigans that went on around that ministry. But the announcement of her death is not a cause for pissing on her grave.
Not here anyhow.
I don’t know how I ended up Tammy’s advocate here, but SHE was the first one to have a gay man with AIDS on a religious broadcast (at her personal request) and asked that we pray for such people. The Church at the time was either burying it’s head or screeching that this was a curse from God.
I saw Tammy Faye’s interview with Larry King just days prior to her death, and my heart was moved. Whatever she or Jim Bakker did in the past, is in the past. She gave sweet testimony to the love of Jesus, that’s all I can say. God forgives – why can’t we?
Not sure how I stumbled upon your blog, but glad for my visit.
Beautiful family and great blog Vicki.
Thank God for the grace and forgiveness God gives, cause people sure are stingy with theirs. You guys amaze me. The things that we all do, repeat that we all do, need forgiveness and God’s grace. So Tammy had to find out the hard way how to come back to Jesus just like she came to Jesus the first time, knowing she needed Him. I’m glad you’re letting your judgemental attitudes shine so brightly and be so apparent, so that maybe God can let you see that you need forgiveness, too.