Ex-PTL Official Collapses During Bakker Testimony

A former PTL official collapsed on the witness stand today after he testified that he told evangelist Jim Bakker that he had oversold PTL partnerships.

Bakker, who is on trial for financing his lavish life style with PTL funds, rushed to the side of the fallen witness, Steve Nelson, who once was vice president for partner relations at PTL, and held his hand. It was unclear what happened to Nelson, who had to be wheeled out of the courtroom by paramedics.

Earlier Nelson had testified that he warned Bakker and his top PTL deputy, Richard Dortch, too many partnerships had been offered at PTL. The partnerships were essentially a promise of three nights lodging per year for life to anyone who gave $1,000 to PTL.

Nelson said Baker told him not to worry. “These are not sales, these are gifts,” he quoted Bakker as saying. That statement is crucial to the defense, which said in opening arguments Monday no fraud was committed because no sales were made.