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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

Tennesean,

Just a few of your comments:

"Jim Banker".....

"After watching his new show, I realized he is up to no good again....",

"But I will say shame on those who support and contribute to his program...."

"Tammy Faye was nothing more than an opportunist and would compromise any values to be seen on television....."

Tennesean -

If you truly mean what you have said - that you believe that Jim and Tammy were forgiven by God - than you are in direct violation of Scripture in bringing these present-day accusations against them.

"Judge not - that ye be not judged."

Then again - it's only Scripture.

When a person will not come under the authority of Scripture, we are not able to help him. But, again, God requires that we warn such an individual of the danger he is exposing himself to, and warns us we will give account for failing to warn him of the consequences of his actions. I do not think you realize the seriousness of the words you are so carelessly tossing around.

In Matthew 12:36, Jesus said, "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

You have accused Tammy of wrong-doing right up to the end of her life - and are accusing Jim of the same now. If you are tellingthetruth when you say you believe God has forgiven them, you are willfully sinning - and persecuting those forgiven by God is no less serious than anything the Bakker's ever did.

Cliff Cerce
The Cerces, PO Box 8525, Springfield, MO 65801
417-863-8440
http://www.thecerces.com