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

Ok last post for this subject(yawn). Jim Banker, oops Bakker paid himself in 1986 2.8 million dollars. At that time he and Tammy Faye owned six luxurymansions, 47 bank accounts. On the PTL program he was raising about 1 million dollars every two days. Then in 1989 he was charged and convicted on 24 counts of fraud and conspiracy for stealing 3.7 million from his flock. Jim admitted to many sexual partners in those days. He paid 265,000 dollars to buy silence of the church secretary whom I will not mention by name. Bakker was sentenced to 45 years in prison but only served five years. Shorly after his release he told an interviewer that he would never preach on television again, well guess what he was Wrong Again! He can be found in front of cameras again in at the Studio City Cafe in Branson, Missouri. Before his death, Jerry Falwell publicly declared Bakker a " sexual deviant, an embezzler and a liar". Falwell also said of the Heritage USA founder "a scab and cancer on the face of Christianity". Yes Tammy Faye got a pass for some reason, not sure why. She also found her way back to television via the Surreal Life,(enough said). She also hosted a local cable show which she talked hollywood and glamour not anything about God. If one looks closely at the set of the New Jim Bakker show, one can see the paintings that once dawned the halls of Heritage USA(tasteless). After watching his new show, I realized he is up to no good again, looking deep down the camera and saying we cant stay on the air without your money. Most disappointing of all is the B gospel singers and preachers that appear on his show.(have you no shame? Yes God has forgiven Jim and Tammy and now Lorrie, his forgiveness is really the only one that matters. But I will say shame on those who support and contribute to his program. F.Y.I. you can go to his web-site and on the homepage, you can make a donation.(arent we smarter than this?)

****edited by the administration

Commented by On 08/23/2007

I don't think that anyone ever suggested that Jim and Tammy didn't fall. The point that is being missed here is that God's Grace even applies to Jim and Tammy. In reality, in God's sight, is what Jim and Tammy did any worse than than many of the sins that we all commit everyday. Maybe they are more extreme in mans eyes, but if we get real, sin is still sin and will get you to hell in a heartbeat (meaning your final heartbeat).
So, God's Grace is just as saving and forgiving for the sins that Jim and Tammy made as they are in our lives.
If God has forgiven them, just as He has forgiven us, then who are we to say that they cannot continue in Ministry.
And.... my I will not accept any shame for singing on the Jim Bakker Show if I get a chance. The shame would be in not taking the opportunity to reach all the people that Jim reaches with the Gospel message.

Commented by On 08/23/2007

Tennessean,

Regardless of what the media reported, regardless of what you think you know, regardless of how bad some want to believe the Bakkers are/were, and in spite of any sin or wrong committed, this article was intended to reflect on the goodness Tammy Faye did bring to the lives of many worldwide.

It also provides an opportunity for those who knew and/or loved Tammy Faye to respond with expressions of love and wonderful memories of a lady who positively touched so many hearts and lives.

You don't seem to have a hard time at all believing the worst of these people. Is it really THAT inconceivable to you that they actually may have done anything good???

I appreciate the owners of this website for their fairness in allowing both negative and positive perspectives to be posted. But really, if you insist on trashing and bashing, stick with other blogs. Or go start a Bakker bashing thread elsewhere. But to do it here where people are greiving the loss of someone they loved is, in my humble opinion, inconceivably disgusting and innapropriate.

Your motives and intentions are made clear by your comments here. God help you.

I have nothing else to say to you.

***edited by the adminstration

Commented by On 08/23/2007

Personal attacks to or about individual commenters will be deleted. Please refrain from those type of comments.

Commented by SGN On 08/23/2007

Hey look we agree, a big "Thank You" to SGN for allowing the debate. Next?

Commented by On 08/23/2007

Thank you John for your comments. Please let us grieve for Tammy in peace. What a loving gracious woman. It appears that anyone who ever really knew her loved her. To know her was to love her.

I pray that God will show the doubters more mercy than they show Tammy.

Rest in peace, sweet Lady!

Commented by On 08/23/2007

Tennessean,

I wasn't going to comment any more but when you said that the guests that appeared on Jim's show were "B" artists. I have a problem with that. I don't think Paula White is a "B" list preacher, I don't think Kenneth Copeland is either. Do you really feel that Dino is a "B" list guest? If you think that Dottie Rambo, The Mckameys or Mark Lowry are "B" list guests then I daresay you don't think to highly of Southern Gospel music because these are the cream of the crop. I think you have the right to believe anything you want to about Jim Bakker but that has nothing to do with Tammy Faye or her passing. Also, you mentioned that Jim admitted to several sexual encounters, he only admitted to one. Finally in so many of your posts you say that people sent "her" (meaning Tammy Faye) money. I thought people sent PTL love gifts not Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. Once our gift leaves our hands and it is given in good faith then we have done our part. Tammy Faye touched millions of people's lives, mine included. I am proud to call her a friend and I will miss her. You have a right to think what you want but even if you are right in your thinking about Jim, that has nothing to do with Tammy.

Commented by Larry Ferguson On 08/23/2007

She was a Jezebel

Commented by buzzie On 08/23/2007

Ok..the comment above...all I can see is buzzie bless you heart. Any more sinless folks that have some stones to cast? Ooops that's the part of the bible we forget about when we are busy worrying about who has on some makeup and who doesn't. I mean it's not we don't have important things to do in this world like lead people to christ, make up patrol always comes first!

Commented by Larry Ferguson On 08/23/2007

Ok, now to pick on myself and my comment...believe it or not I did get through 1st grade. However you can't prove that by my post above. It should say:

Ok..the comment above...all I can say is buzzie bless your heart. Any more sinless folks that have some stones to cast? Ooops that's the part of the bible we forget about when we are to busy worrying about who has on some makeup and who doesn't. I mean it's not like we don't have important things to do in this world like lead people to christ, makeup patrol always comes first!

Commented by Larry Ferguson On 08/23/2007

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