PTL Moves to Calif. With New Title, Couple as Hosts

The remnants of the PTL television ministry officially moved to California today, ending another chapter for the scandal-scarred empire founded by imprisoned evangelist Jim Bakker.

“Heritage Today,” called “The Jim and Tammy Show” before Bakker’s cataclysmic fall from grace three years ago, aired for the first time from the studios of Channel 42 in Concord with the Rev. Sam Johnson introducing the program’s new hosts.

Johnson is expected to step down as president of Heritage Ministries--formerly PTL--within the next few days, although he plans to continue as pastor of Heritage Church. He is under indictment on perjury charges for allegedly lying to a federal grand jury that investigated Bakker.

Johnson made no mention of his indictment in a rambling monologue that introduced today’s telecast. He talked instead about his call to become a missionary in 1966 and then another call from God to join PTL in 1985.

“We believed God would be pleased if we joined PTL,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t begin to see what God had in store for us at that time or what would unfold so dramatically--but that’s ancient history.”

Johnson then introduced the program’s new hosts, Rich and Robin Wilkerson of Tacoma, Wash.

“God has brought to Heritage Ministries new hosts to lead us from this day on,” Johnson said.