Ep. - 1595 - SATURDAY SERIES: BILL LOBDELL INVESTIGATING THE FIRST FAMILY OF TELEVANGELISM
4/25/202647 min
Investigative journalist Bill Lobdell joins Kate to discuss the rise and controversy surrounding Paul and Jan Crouch, founders of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).
Paul, born in Missouri in 1934 to Pentecostal missionary parents, was an early radio enthusiast, while Jan, raised in Alabama in a strict religious household, brought a rebellious, charismatic energy to their partnership. After marrying in 1957 and moving to Los Angeles, they joined Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker to launch TBN in 1973 as a small, six-hours-a-night Christian station that would grow into the largest religious network in the world, reaching more than 175 countries. Through their flagship show Praise the Lord, Paul—“Poppa”—and Jan—“Momma,” known for her towering wigs, heavy makeup, and emotional on-air presence—became defining figures of televangelism, promoting the prosperity gospel: the belief that giving financially would bring material blessings from God. But behind the scenes, reporting and lawsuits alleged a far more complicated reality, including a strained marriage, separate lives, and accusations that donations funded an extravagant lifestyle—claims the network has denied. Lobdell’s Los Angeles Times investigation brought national attention to these tensions, raising enduring questions about faith, money, and influence.
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