Paul F.
Crouch, a televangelist who co-founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network and
turned it into one of the world’s largest Christian television networks, died
on Saturday. He was 79.
He died after struggling with degenerative heart disease for a
decade, the network said in a statement.
Mr. Crouch served as the face of the television network, along
with his wife, Janice, known for her large pink wigs and heavy makeup,
expanding it from one station in Southern California to thousands of stations
across the world. He often appeared on camera, microphone in hand, quoting from
the Bible and delivering his upbeat brand of Christianity.
But he had also faced criticism over lavish spending of the
millions of dollars in donations collected through the network. Last year, his
granddaughter accused the network of financial improprieties, and her father,
Paul Crouch Jr., was forced off the staff.
Paul Franklin Crouch was born in St. Joseph, Mo., on March 30,
1934. His parents were missionaries who had lived in Egypt. He graduated from
the Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Mo., and began working in radio.
He and his wife founded Trinity Broadcasting Network in 1973, and
bought their first station, now called KTBN-TV 40, in Santa Ana. They embraced
satellite technology, broadcasting to more states and eventually overseas.
In a video tribute by the network on Saturday, Mr. Crouch could be
seen on camera celebrating the network’s expansion to new cities. “All over the
country, they’re coming to know Jesus,” he said. “Church, I think we ought to
rejoice ’cause the whole world is getting saved.”
TBN now runs on 84 satellite channels and more than 18,000
television and cable affiliates, according to the company. Mr. Crouch was the
host of a show called “Behind the Scenes” that aired until recently.
The network runs sermons from prominent preachers like Joel Osteen
and aired a special this month featuring the Rev. Billy Graham. Earlier this
year, Mr. Crouch interviewed Rick Santorum, the Republican former presidential
candidate, on his show.
The network also owns the Holy Land
Experience theme park in Orlando, Fla.
Some Christian leaders have criticized the couple for preaching
the “prosperity gospel” — the message that if you have faith in God and donate
generously, you will profit in return. In 2010, donations to TBN totaled $93
million. The Crouches had two mansions in Newport Beach, Calif., and used
corporate jets valued at $8 million and $49 million each.
In 2012, Mr. Crouch’s granddaughter Brittany Koper went public
with allegations of financial improprieties. Ms. Koper told The New York Times
that her job had been to label extravagant personal spending as ministry
expenses. But a lawyer for the network said that Ms. Koper and her husband had
been fired by TBN and accused them of stealing $1.3 million.
The dispute took a toll on the family. Her father left the
network, where he had served on the board, saying that getting caught in the
middle of the dispute was “one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to endure.”
Mr. Crouch is survived by his wife; two sons, Paul Jr. and
Matthew; and several grandchildren.
Mr. Crouch often traveled overseas with the network and filmed
episodes of his “Behind the Scenes” show in London and Rome. In one episode
this year, he reminisced about how the network found an audience in Africa,
noting that one time when he arrived at the airport in Nairobi, Kenya,
immigration officials recognized him. They “praised the Lord” and patted him on
the back, he said.
“That’s
God,” he said. “He’s opening these doors, and we’re going through them.”
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