This week in Christian history: ‘Jesus Revolution’ leader dies, Pope John Paul II holds Mass at Yankee Stadium

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, October 01, 2023

Largest Jimmy Swaggart crusade takes place in Brazil – Oct. 4, 1987

Jimmy Swaggart preaching at a soccer stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in October 1987. | Screengrab: YouTube/Primeira Parte da Crusada -Louvores-

This week marks the anniversary of when televangelist Jimmy Swaggart preached to a crowd of around 125,000 as part of a crusade event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The event was part of a multi-day crusade gathering held at the Maracana soccer stadium, with Jimmy Swaggart Ministries claiming that it was the largest Swaggart-led crusade in history.

“I walked into the stadium Friday night for the opening of service in the midst of a torrential rain. It had rained all day, and I’m talking about hard rain. The Spirit of God more than compensated for Satan’s efforts to hinder,” recounted Swaggart, as quoted by JSM in a 2020 Facebook post.

“When I gave the altar call that Sunday morning, the people literally ran to the front. An electrifying move of the Holy Spirit swept through that stadium as multiple thousands came to Jesus Christ.”