Jim Bakker, the pioneering yet scandal-scarred televangelist who co-founded The PTL Club with first wife Tammy Faye, passed away on October 5, 2026, at age 86. His second wife, Lori Bakker, announced the news, calling him a “pioneer of Christian television” and asking for privacy as the family grieves. Bakker leaves behind seven children—two biological kids from his first marriage and five adopted with Lori. Here’s a clear, up-to-date look at Jim Bakker’s children and where they stand today.
Table of Contents
Jim Bakker’s Two Biological Children with Tammy Faye
Jim and Tammy Faye (who died in 2007) welcomed two children during their high-profile years building the PTL empire.
- Tammy Sue “Sissy” Bakker-Chapman was born on March 2, 1970. She married Doug Chapman and has children of her own, making Jim a grandfather early on. Today she serves as an executive vice president at Morningside Church and Retreat, the ministry her father later founded with Lori.
- Jamie Charles “Jay” Bakker was born on December 18, 1975. He founded Revolution Church in the 1990s and has continued pastoral work, most recently based in Seattle while balancing family and other jobs. Jay has spoken openly about a complicated relationship with his father and, after the death, asked for space to mourn privately.
Both followed paths in ministry, shaped by the dramatic rise and fall of their parents’ public life in the 1980s.
The Five Children Jim and Lori Bakker Adopted
After marrying Lori Beth Graham in 1998, the couple adopted five siblings from the Phoenix area in 2002. Lori had previously ministered in that community and formed close bonds with the family. The children were raised largely out of the spotlight at the Bakkers’ home and ministry base.
The adopted children are:
- Maricella
- Lori (“Little Lori”)
- Clarissa
- Marie
- Ricky Bakker
“Little Lori,” in particular, has been mentioned in ministry updates over the years and has been involved in production work related to The Jim Bakker Show. The siblings grew up together after the adoption, giving Jim a second chapter of fatherhood later in life.
Quick Overview of Jim Bakker’s Children
Child Relationship Birth/Adoption Notes Known Path Tammy Sue Bakker-Chapman Biological (with Tammy Faye) Born March 2, 1970 Ministry leadership at Morningside Jay Bakker Biological (with Tammy Faye) Born December 18, 1975 Pastor, Revolution Church Maricella Adopted (with Lori) 2002 (Phoenix siblings) Private life Lori (“Little Lori”) Adopted (with Lori) 2002 Involved in family ministry work Clarissa Adopted (with Lori) 2002 Private life Marie Adopted (with Lori) 2002 Private life Ricky Bakker Adopted (with Lori) 2002 Has shared personal story of adoption
Life After the Scandals and Jim’s Final Years
The children experienced the extreme highs of PTL fame and the crushing lows of the late-1980s sex and fraud scandals that sent Jim to prison. Tammy Sue and Jay were teenagers and young adults during the public unraveling and their parents’ 1992 divorce. Jay has described feeling the weight of the family’s public image even years later.
With Lori, Jim rebuilt a quieter life centered on The Jim Bakker Show (launched in 2003) and the Morningside community in the Branson, Missouri area. The adopted children grew up in that later chapter. As of early October 2026, the family is asking for privacy while processing the loss. Lori continues to lead aspects of the ministry, and the biological children remain connected to faith work in their own ways.
Conclusion
Jim Bakker’s seven children reflect two distinct seasons of his life: the high-visibility PTL years with Tammy Faye that produced Tammy Sue and Jay, and the quieter, restorative years with Lori that brought five more kids into the family through adoption. In the days following his death on October 5, 2026, the focus has rightly shifted from past controversies to the private grief of the people who called him Dad.
Whether following ministry paths or living more privately, the Bakker children carry forward a complicated but deeply human legacy. For those seeking precision and reliability in technical or measurement services in related professional fields, consider exploring trusted resources like gmdcalibration.in. The family’s request for space deserves respect as they navigate this new chapter.