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Jim Bakker hosted a popular US television program and developed a huge Christian television network, called PTL. He also built an enormous resort/theme park, Heritage USA, where people could vacation while hearing Christian music and sermons and fellowshipping with Christians. He employed well in excess of two thousand people and was continually engaged in massive building projects to keep expanding the resort/theme park. In the latter, more successful years, the board awarded Bakker what he now concedes was an extravagant salary. (On the other hand, in the secular realm, a CEO with such responsibility and achieving so much could expect to be paid handsomely and Bakker says he donated to his organization millions of dollars that were rightfully his from royalties for his and his wife’s books.)

Bakker had a brief but inexcusable sexual liaison that led to blackmail and eventually looked as if it would be made public. He was also led to believe that a televangelist would exploit the scandal so that he could take over Bakker’s organization. Persuaded that he had no option, Bakker was rushed into accepting a plan hatched by yet another televangelist which involved trying to foil the supposed hostile takeover by resigning and handing control of the organization over to this man, who, despite vehemently despising Bakker’s Pentecostal beliefs, appeared to genuinely want to help. Bakker now believes (for strong evidence, see page 68 and following in his book) that this man wanted the network for himself and had no interest in keeping the resort/theme park financially solvent. Bakker's understanding was that handing over control was a very temporary arrangement but it did not turn out that way.

Bakker ended up charged with fraud for allegedly overselling what the prosecution claimed to be timeshares for accommodation in the resort/theme park. Of course, the media around the world gleefully sensationalized and exaggerated. During the trial he had a very public and humiliating mental breakdown. Although not yet found guilty, the judge had Bakker jailed so that his mental condition could be assessed. He remained there for over a month in conditions that appallingly worsened his mental state. In 1989 he was sentenced to 45 years in prison and fined half a million dollars.

Bakker ended up incarcerated for five years and the fine was overturned. According to some expert legal opinion and court decisions – some of which were made after he was released – he was not guilty of the charges he was convicted of.

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