You probably remember the mascara. Everyone does. Tammy Faye Bakker’s weeping eyes became the visual shorthand for the most spectacular religious collapse of the 1980s. But that was forty years ago. Today, if you stumble across The Jim Bakker Show while channel surfing or scrolling through Roku, you aren't seeing a man preaching about gold-plated faucets or the "prosperity gospel" that built Heritage USA.
Instead, you’re seeing buckets. Giant, 50-pound plastic tubs of "tasty" potato soup and freeze-dried broccoli.
Jim Bakker is 86 years old now. He’s survived multiple strokes, prison time, and a total cultural excommunication. Yet, he is still there, broadcasting from a log-cabin-style studio in the Ozarks called Morningside. It’s a bizarre, fascinating, and honestly kind of surreal corner of American media that most people haven't checked in on since the Reagan administration.
The Jim Bakker Show and the Pivot to Doomsday
The biggest misconception about the modern show is that it’s just a repeat of the old PTL Club. It really isn't. When Bakker returned to the airwaves in 2003, he brought a completely different vibe. Gone was the talk of "God wants you to be rich." In its place? "The world is ending, and you need a solar generator."
Bakker basically swapped the luxury lifestyle for survivalism. He spent five years in federal prison studying the Book of Revelation, and he came out convinced that the apocalypse isn't just a metaphor—it's a logistical challenge. This shift created a unique business model. Rather than just asking for straight donations, The Jim Bakker Show operates like a high-stakes, spiritual QVC.
You’ve probably seen the memes. They usually feature Bakker standing next to a massive bucket of "creamy stroganoff" that supposedly lasts 25 years. He calls them "Love Gifts." You give the ministry $1,000, and they send you enough food to survive the Great Tribulation. Or a water filtration straw. Or a "Victory Cross" necklace. It’s a blend of Pentecostal prophecy and "prepper" culture that finds a very specific, very dedicated audience.
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Why the "Silver Solution" Almost Ended Everything (Again)
If you haven't followed the show lately, you might have missed the 2020 disaster. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bakker hosted a guest, Sherrill Sellman, who claimed that a product called "Silver Solution" sold on the show could basically "deactivate" the virus.
Bad move.
The FDA and the FTC weren't exactly thrilled. Neither was the Missouri Attorney General. They sued. They sent cease-and-desist letters. They pointed out that there was zero scientific evidence that gargling silver would stop a global pandemic. Bakker eventually had to settle, agreeing to pay $156,000 in restitution and stop claiming his supplements could cure COVID.
It felt like a "here we go again" moment for his critics. For his followers, though? It was just another "persecution" of a man they believe is a modern-day prophet. That’s the thing about The Jim Bakker Show—it exists in a bubble where the outside world’s skepticism only serves as proof that they’re right.
What it's Actually Like to Watch
It’s weirdly domestic. Bakker’s second wife, Lori, is often by his side. They sit at a long wooden table. They talk about the news—wars, rumors of wars, digital currencies—and then they pivot to the "Big Debt" the ministry is facing.
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Just recently, in May 2025, Bakker made a pretty desperate plea. He told his audience that if they didn't raise $1 million quickly, the show would go dark. He claimed he’d be "on the street." It’s a heavy, high-pressure environment mixed with a strange kind of grandfatherly warmth. One minute he’s crying about the state of the world; the next, he’s laughing while a chef tries to make a gourmet meal out of dehydrated pancake mix.
Does the Food Actually Taste Good?
Honestly? The reviews are... mixed.
A few years back, the guys from Good Mythical Morning did a taste test of the Bakker buckets. They described the "cheese pizza" as something that requires a fully functioning kitchen to even make, which seems counterintuitive for the apocalypse. A New York chef once described the potato soup as tasting like "a bathroom at a bar at the end of the night."
But if you look at the Better Business Bureau (BBB) complaints, people aren't usually complaining about the taste. They’re complaining about the shipping. People send hundreds of dollars and then wait months for their "survival seeds" or "emergency blankets." The ministry usually responds by saying they’re overwhelmed by demand or waiting for stock. It’s a messy, logistical nightmare that feels very much like a small operation trying to run a national retail empire.
The Reality of 2026: The End of an Era?
As of early 2026, the future of the show is shaky. Bakker is 86. He’s had at least seven strokes. His son, Ricky Bakker, and co-host Mondo De La Vega are taking on more of the heavy lifting. The "Morningside" dream—a village in Blue Eye, Missouri, where people can live out the end times together—is still there, but it feels more like a retirement community than a revolution.
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Whether you see him as a survivor who found redemption or a salesman who never stopped selling, you can't deny his staying power. He’s been "canceled" by the American public more times than almost anyone in history, yet he still finds a way to get back in front of a camera.
How to Navigate the World of Televangelism Today
If you’re interested in this world, or if you have a family member who is starting to buy into "prophecy" products, here are a few ways to keep a level head:
- Check the FDA Database: Before buying any "miracle" supplement from a TV show, search the FDA’s warning letters. If they've been told to stop making medical claims, they probably aren't being honest about the product.
- Compare Survival Prices: Most "survival buckets" sold on religious shows are marked up significantly. You can usually find the exact same calorie counts at camping supply stores for 40% less.
- Look for Transparency: Real non-profits provide clear, easily accessible financial audits. If a ministry spends more time talking about their "debt" than their actual charitable work, that’s a red flag.
- Verify "Prophecies": Many of these shows use "vague-booking" tactics—predicting a "great shaking" or "trouble in the East." These are so broad they’re almost always "true" in some sense, but they don't actually offer specific, actionable guidance.
The world of The Jim Bakker Show is a mix of genuine faith, extreme anxiety, and very clever marketing. It’s a relic of a different time that managed to survive by pivoting to the fears of the present. Whether the buckets are worth $1,000 is up to the buyer, but the history behind the man selling them is a reminder that in American media, there is always a second—or third, or fourth—act.
Next Steps
If you want to understand how televangelism changed from the 80s to now, you should look into the "New Apostolic Reformation." It’s the movement that replaced the old-school denominations Bakker used to belong to. Alternatively, you can check the BBB profile for Morningside Church Inc. to see the most recent customer resolutions regarding their survival gear.