Gabriel Swaggart Exposes Secret Will Left by Jimmy Swaggart
Baton Rouge, LA — In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the Pentecostal community and beyond, Gabriel Swaggart, grandson of the late televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, revealed today that a previously unknown handwritten will — allegedly authored by his grandfather — has come to light just days after the preacher’s passing.
According to Gabriel, the “secret will” was discovered inside a sealed manila envelope hidden in Jimmy’s personal study, behind a bookshelf lined with well-worn Bibles and ministry archives. Dated March 2023, the document was reportedly handwritten, initialed on each page, and marked “To be opened when the music stops.”
What’s Inside?
In a press conference held this morning at Family Worship Center, Gabriel stood visibly shaken but composed as he addressed the congregation and livestream audience:
“This document changes everything. My grandfather left behind instructions — not just for the ministry, but for our family. And some of what’s written… may come as a surprise.”
Sources close to the family report that the will includes:
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A detailed confession about internal power struggles within the ministry.
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A shocking revision of inheritance plans, reportedly excluding certain longtime associates and redistributing control of Swaggart’s media assets.
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A final plea that Gabriel, not Donnie, take full leadership of both the church and its global broadcasting arm.
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A personal letter to Frances Swaggart, handwritten and tucked inside the will, described by one source as “heartbreaking, remorseful, and full of unfinished apologies.”
Conflict Within the Family?
While Gabriel insists the document reflects his grandfather’s true final wishes, insiders suggest not everyone in the Swaggart family agrees.
“Donnie is furious,” said a source close to the ministry. “He was expected to inherit full leadership. Now, suddenly, Gabriel is stepping forward with a handwritten will? There are questions… big ones.”
Legal experts are already weighing in on whether the will can override previous estate documents filed by Jimmy Swaggart in earlier years. Some are predicting a potential court battle between family members — a public unraveling of one of the most powerful and controversial evangelical dynasties in American history.
The Public Reaction
Reactions from followers have been mixed. Thousands of supporters have taken to social media to express their disbelief, their support for Gabriel, or their concerns about internal conflict in a ministry built on family unity and faith.
“It’s hard to know what to believe,” one longtime viewer commented. “But if Jimmy really wrote that, and meant for Gabriel to lead — maybe it’s time for a new chapter.”
What Happens Now?
Gabriel announced that the full contents of the will would be read aloud in a special service this Sunday, streamed live from Baton Rouge.
“I loved my grandfather,” Gabriel said, voice trembling. “And I will honor his last wishes — no matter the cost.”
This revelation marks not just a shift in leadership, but potentially the most dramatic reckoning yet for a family that has lived for decades in the spotlight — now facing its greatest test in the silence that follows Jimmy Swaggart’s final amen.