Tammy Faye Messner - The World Lost a Friend, Feature Article

Aug

2007

Tammy Faye Messner - The World Lost a Friend

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When I was asked to write this, I wasn't exactly sure how I wanted to go about it. From a writer's standpoint, you always try to find a certain slant to write from. The only way I felt I could adequately write this was to just write my thoughts and let you, the reader, read them and make your own decisions as to how you felt about Tammy Faye Messner. In my years of observing Tammy Faye, I've come to truly respect and admire her. Tammy Faye was a friend to all she came in contact with. Even to those who brought her strife, she was their friend. When you look beyond all the glamour and glitz of PTL (and all of its pitfalls) and you look beyond the make-up and giddiness, I think you found someone who was warm and caring. Love her or hate her, she demanded respect.and she deserved it.

I grew up in the 1980's watching PTL. I longed for the summer time, snow days and holidays so I could stay at home and watch my two favorite TV shows.The Price is Right and Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker. It was neat to see who made guest appearances to either talk or sing. I watched a ton of people come across that stage from all walks of life be it in music (Gospel or otherwise), ministry or even some TV star. Being the Goodman fan that I was, I naturally loved it when Howard and Vestal sang or hosted the program. The Bakkers were staunch supporters of Southern Gospel Music and they had many gospel groups passed through PTL's stage.Doug Oldham, Jesse Dixon, Hinsons, Rambos, Imperials, Blackwood Brothers, Happy Goodman Family and so many others. But to me, in so many ways, the star was always Tammy Faye.not because of the make-up, glitz, glamour, crying, or the singing.but because she always came across to me as genuine.

I was naturally upset when things turned sour in the mid to late 1980s for PTL and the Bakkers, as I suppose many of us were. But, through time and through a lot of prayer and soul searching, Jim and Tammy came back, though not as one. I can only imagine the insurmountable stress that time in their lives took on their marriage and I dare say not many marriages would have lasted. But over time, they both came back into ministry in some fashion. Tammy Faye came back with a stronger faith in God and vowed to be a shining light for Christ for anyone would who looked her way.
I remember watching her on the Surreal Life television show a few years ago. She stood strong for what she believed in and never wavered from her convictions. Tammy Faye was an awesome witness for Christ as she showed everyone in that house and everyone around the world what a true Christian is. She proudly wore the Name of Christ and she wasn't judgmental or condemning about it at all; but rather she just loved on people and was their friend, no matter what they had done in or with their life. Tammy Faye lived her faith.and that is a life well preached; she lived a life you believed.

Sadly though, life for Tammy Faye was cut short by cancer. But throughout the entire ordeal, she declared her undying faith in God to anyone who would lend an ear. Through her honesty and humor, we saw ourselves and we could laugh right along with her. Even when the end was near, watching her on Larry King and seeing her faith in action, she was such an awesome testament of what being a Christian and being Christ-like was all about. No, Tammy Faye wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we all fall short, so there are no pointing fingers coming from this writer. But when we look back on the life of Tammy Faye, I believe we'll find that through it all, we've always had a friend. She'd been there, done that.and had seen all of life's biggest ups and downs and she was willing to share those experiences with the world, all the while telling us that "you can make it!" God used Tammy Faye to shine His Light to a dark world and to be a friend to all, and on July 20, 2007, the world lost that friend. But for Tammy Faye, that journey met it's end at the Throne and her faith has become sight.

Tammy Faye website: http://www.tammyfaye.com

Pictures of Tammy Faye throughout the years

Reader Comments

I believe Tammy Faye had a lot more depth than most people gave her credit. To have withstood the stress that she did and still declare the glory of God took real courage. Many times when something happens, we want to villify people and denounce everything they ever did. I personally do not believe that PTL was in the shape it was projected to be, but certainly believe that Jim and Tammy did an awful lot of good that people forget.

Rest in peace, Tammy Faye

Commented by On 08/16/2007

Tammy Faye was a genuine and sweet person. If you ever met her or worked with her she changed your life. I'm so sorry to see her go. I only wish I was I could love 1/2 as much as she did.

Commented by Larry Ferguosn On 08/16/2007

Nice job James. I think you showed much compassion towards a remarkable woman.

I have all of those wonderful memories as well during my time as a teenager at PTL. Although I do regret never getting to actually meet and speak with Tammy Faye personally.

My sincerest hope is that she will be remembered as a loving and deovoted servant of Jesus Christ. That the world who teased her relentlessly would be impacted by those last images of her on TV. (at least enough so that they will consider the 'heart' that led her to do it)

Tammy Faye left this world proclaiming in those gasping breaths how genuinely she cared and how much she genuinely wanted to see us in Heaven.

She showed her heart every step of the way in her life.

I will not forget her.

Commented by LKennedy On 08/20/2007

In my opinion Tammy Faye, as she got older seemed to be a sincere Christian. However we must not forget that she was a co-conspirator with Jim Bakker in taking monies from people all across this country. She never served any jail time nor did she ever apologize to the body of Christ for her sin. Thousands upon thousands of christians sent her money. Jim and Tammy set the television ministry of the church back twenty years when the crime was uncovered. Yes she did a reality t.v. show which was one of the sickest shows ever to be broadcast across the air. Jim Bakker is back on television these days doing what he does best raising money. The only difference is a new wife, and the name of the facility is Morning Star not Heritage Park.

Commented by On 08/20/2007

There's always one in every crowd. UGH...I figured this would come up before it was overwith.

Tennessean,

What is your purpose for 'reminding' us all of someone's past sins/mistakes?? How is it your job to make sure we don't forget what GOD has already forgiven and forgotten? How much longer do you want The Bakkers to "pay for their crimes" for God's sake? Tammy Faye battled cancer for 11 years, and now she is dead. Are you still not satisfied?

Yes, quite frankly, this offends me and I am sick of so-called Christians acting like they are God's righteous church police when they don't have a clue in hell what they're talking about.

I do understand your perspective and I acknowledge your right to your own opinion, and your liberty to post it here. But this is disgusting.

Obviously, you did not have the pleasure of knowing this lady as I did. And obviously, your perspective of The Bakkers has been tainted by what the secular news media fed us about them. Or, perhaps you were once a PTL supporter who is still bitter over the whole thing??

Yes, there was fault, there was pain...and yes, there were consequences. I can't and won't deny that.

But I KNEW Tammy Faye. My life has been deeply enriched by her. I also know Tammy Sue and Jim Bakker. (I just spent an entire day with Jim last week.) None of them, like we, are perfect. But, from personal experience, I can tell you these are precious people. And by the fruit they bear, they are most certainly sincere Christian people. I see NO evidence to the contrary.

This family has gone through hell on earth, and still, 20-something years after "the great fall", people like you still can't let it go, and still want them to suffer.

People didn't send "her" money. People sent support to PTL/Heritage USA.

The Bakkers spent their lives doing good...building churches, supporting missions, preaching the gospel, feeding the hungry, ministering to families and broken homes, etc.

But nevermind all that. Thank you, Tennessean for reminding us of the one BAD thing they (supposedly) did.

By the way, it wasn't Heritage Park. It was Heritage USA. Oh, and it's MorningSide, NOT Morning Star. If you're gonna publicly judge and condemn people, do it right.

How grateful I am today that my Lord doesn't judge and condemn me unrighteously.

Sir/Maam...doesn't God cast YOUR sin, by HIS grace into the sea of forgetfullness???

Commented by On 08/20/2007

By the way...Thank you James and SoGospelNews for remembering Tammy Faye.

James, thanks for sharing your thoughts and memories of the old PTL days, and for looking into the heart of Tammy Faye. God bless you.

Commented by On 08/20/2007

John, My perspective is this, " Those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it"
John Im glad you shared with the readers the company you keep, thats very interesting and it kinda puts your comments into perspective. Yes I do want the viewers to know that Jim Bakker is doing exactly what he did before, and that is use the television as a tool to raise money to build a facility for....... F.Y.I, I was to young to invest. I would dare to guess you went on the show to sing? Theres nothing worse than a gospel singer lowering his or her standards to be seen and heard. From the tone of your comments I detect a future appearance on the show.

Commented by On 08/20/2007

Tennessean,

I understand your philosophy that "those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it", and I even agree with that to a great degree. But, what exactly are you referring to...the idea that Jim has returned to ministry and to TV, and he is destined for a "PTL fall" repeat? If that IS what you're getting at, again, that is unfair and unjust judgement.

Do you not believe in restoration or forgiveness? How do you know that Jim hasn't learned from past mistakes?? Just how do you know what Jim's relationship with God is? How do you know what God has or hasn't done in Jim's life or the lives of his family in the past 20 years?

Do you judge everyone the way you've judged Jim and Tamnmy Faye?

Again, I'm so glad God doesn't just trash me when I sin or make bad choices, no matter how "big" some of them may have been. If that were the case, I would have been doomed for hell a long time ago. I dare say, so would you.

Jim Bakker is back in ministry. He has returned to television. SO WHAT?? If you do not wish to support his efforts, then by all means...don't. But don't be condemning him for his past either.

Furthermore...and believe me when I say this because I have been in full time ministry for 18 years now...there were a LOT of things I could have done and/or participated in to "be seen and heard". Opportunities have come to me over the years that you'll never know about. I'm not at all perfect, and yes, I have made my share of bad choices. But not once have I ever lowered my standards just to be seen or heard. Not once...including my appearances on Jim's TV show.

I have appeared on Jim's TV program on numerous occasions. I am scheduled to be there again in October. I do not consider that to be lowering my standards. But you have a right to your opinion.

However, Dottie Rambo, LuLu Roman, Dino, Kenneth Copeland, Gary McSpadden, The McKameys, Dave Roever, Gary Smalley, Tommy Tenney and countless other highly respected names in music, ministry and Christian entertainment have also appeared on his program. Are you saying that these, too, have lowered their standards because they have appeared on Jim's show???

God's grace is still sufficient, and His mercy still endures...thank God.

Commented by On 08/21/2007

I thank God that when he forgave my sins that he forgot them - as far as the east is from the west. Would that we all could love and forget the way that God does. And no, I am not a personal friend of the Bakkers. I just love the Lord, and want to do his will.

Commented by On 08/21/2007

John, there are many tele-evangelist on t.v. everyday some beg for money some dont. Jim Bakker just happens to one who does. My original post had nothing to do with judging anyone. It was only my opinion of Tammy Faye. This obviously angered you, it was just my perspective. When you attacked me as Ive seen you do other bloggers, I responded. Let it go brother. Are you going to respond this way to every blogger whom you disagree with?

Commented by On 08/21/2007

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