Paul Crouch, the pioneer of televangelism, died Saturday at the age of 79, his son confirmed. The cause of death is not yet known. Crouch began by trying to spread the Gospel through a small television station in Tustin, but he expanded after he said God told him to spread through satellite television. He built his empire until Trinity Broadcasting Network, the world’s largest Christian television system. The son of a poor missionary, Crouch believed strongly in a lavish lifestyle, living in two dozen ministry-owned homes and using the TBN-owned private jets—although he did donate much of his revenue into charity. In 2012, granddaughter Brittany Koper, the network’s finance director publicly accused the church of fiscal improprieties, including excessive salaries.
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