Evangelist’s aide testifies

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 8

Evangelist’s aide testifies

NZPA-Reuter Charlotte, N.C. The disgraced evangelist, Jim Bakker, enjoyed an extravagant millionaire’s lifestyle but believed he lived poorly compared with other rich United States television preachers, a former aide testified yesterday. David Taggart, who was Mr Bakker’s personal assistant, has been describing the preacher’s opulent way of life during the first two days of a trial in which the founder of the P.T.L. ministry is accused of criminal fraud. Mr Bakker was forced to leave the P.T.L. — which stands for Praise The Lord or People That

Love — in 1987 after admitting adultery with a church secretary and amid charges of homosexuality. During his two days of testimony, Mr Taggart said he bought lavish homes, luxury cars, jewels and furs for Mr Bakker and his flamboyant wife and TV co-host, Tammy Faye Bakker, at the preacher’s instruction. He also described expensive tropical vacations and shopping sprees that they took. Free vacations were among perks given to the couple by the directors of their religious empire, which raked in SUSI29M (S2I9M) a year at its height, Mr Taggart said. Despite this, Mr Taggart testified:

“Mr Bakker said that he lived shabbily compared with Oral Roberts. .i. and other ministers.” He said Mr Bakker’s hand-picked directors, including the actor, ■Efrem Zimbalist, Jun., wanted to insure the evangelist’s life for SUSSOM (SB4M), but settled on a SUS29M (S49M) insurance policy for which the P.T.L. ministry paid yearly premiums of almost SUSI million (51.69 M The defrocked minister, aged 49, faces up to 120 years in jail and more than SUSSM ($8.49M) in fines if convicted on all 24 charges involving allegations that he swindled his followers out of millions of dollars.