To try to raise a son from inside the prison walls is a very difficult thing. But I want to say to the world my son at 16 was the one who tried the most to get me out of prison.

From 1984 to 1987 Bakker and his PTL associates sold $1000 "lifetime memberships" which entitled buyers to a three-night stay annually at a luxury hotel at Heritage USA. Bakker "sold" more "exclusive partnerships" than could be accommodated while raising more than twice the money needed to build the actual hotel. On April 1 1961 Bakker and Tammy Faye were married.

He later remarried and returned to televangelism. A sex scandal led to his resignation from the ministry.