In 1961, Swaggart was ordained by the Assemblies of God a year later he began his radio ministry. In 1960, he began recording gospel music record albums and transmitting on Christian radio stations. He began developing a revival-meeting following throughout the American South. Preaching from a flatbed trailer donated to him, Swaggart began full-time evangelistic work in 1955.

Although the offer meant a promise for significant income for him and his family, Swaggart turned Phillips down, stating that he was called to preach the gospel. Swaggart's cousin Jerry Lee Lewis, who had previously signed with Sun, was reportedly making $20,000 per week at the time. Sun Records producer Sam Phillips wanted to start a gospel line of music for the label (perhaps to remain in competition with RCA Victor and Columbia, who also had gospel lines at the time) and wanted Swaggart for Sun as the label's first gospel artist. Being too poor to own a home, the Swaggarts lived in church basements, pastors' homes, and small motels. Swaggart worked several part-time odd jobs to support his young family and also began singing Southern Gospel music at various churches.Īccording to his autobiography, Swaggart, along with his wife and son, lived in poverty during the 1950s as he preached throughout rural Louisiana, struggling to survive on US$30 a week (equivalent to $280 in 2020). In 1952, aged 17, Swaggart married 15-year-old Frances Anderson whom he met in church while he was playing music with his father. With his parents, Swaggart attended a small, 25-member Assemblies of God church in Ferriday.

He also had a sister, Jeanette Ensminger (1942–1999). The extended family had a complex network of interrelationships: 'cousins and in-laws and other relatives married each other until the clan was entwined like a big, tight ball of rubber bands.' He is the cousin of rock'n'roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and country music star Mickey Gilley. They were related by marriage, as Willie's maternal uncle, Elmo Lewis, was married to Minnie's sister Mamie. Jimmy Lee Swaggart was born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, to fiddle player and Pentecostal preacher Willie Leon (known as 'Sun' or 'Son') Swaggart and Minnie Bell, daughter of sharecropper William Herron. 4.2 Swaggart's confession and defrocking.

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