Bakker son builds faith of acceptance

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DAYTON, Ohio

When a loved one falls morally, the pain experienced by the family can be overwhelming. In some cases, it can take a lifetime to pick up the pieces. At least that's what Jay Bakker discovered.

The son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker (now Messner), Mr. Bakker grew up in the media spotlight of his parents' Praise the Lord ministry.

Because of an illicit affair with the church secretary, Jessica Hahn, Jim Bakker stepped down from PTL ministries in 1987. He was later convicted of fraud and tax evasion and sentenced to prison in 1989.

Eleven-year-old Jay experienced the trauma of his father's public descent, the relentless media coverage of the scandal and the pain of his parents' divorce.

"It was quite a devastating time," Mr. Bakker says.

"It was one thing to know that your parents made mistakes and that my dad had an affair, but it seemed like all the criticism and negativity really overshadowed that. You get to a point where you accept that. But people don't stop attacking -- especially when it's other believers. It made it very hard."

The church can be a burdensome place when your family is marked by scandal.

Mr. Bakker recalls visiting a church in Arizona after his father went to prison: "The first thing that happens is the youth pastor starts telling jokes about my parents. He didn't know I was there," Mr. Bakker says.

The effects of his father's sins would set him on a pilgrimage filled with alcohol, drugs and a search for acceptance.