Introduction
**LEGACY SEALED IN SONG: Jimmy Swaggart Sings “There Is a River” One Last Time in Final Broadcast to His Followers — One Line Left the Audience Weeping**
In a moment that now feels almost prophetic, the late evangelist Jimmy Swaggart offered what would become his final musical testimony to millions of followers around the world. During his last televised broadcast, Swaggart sat quietly at the piano and sang the beloved hymn **“There Is a River”**—a song long associated with his ministry and message of redemption. Few watching that day realized they were witnessing a farewell.
The setting was simple. There were no sweeping camera movements, no dramatic lighting, no extended sermon. Instead, viewers saw an aging preacher, visibly weakened yet spiritually resolute, gently placing his hands on the keys. As the first notes filled the sanctuary, the atmosphere shifted from routine broadcast to something deeply sacred.
Those close to the ministry say Swaggart personally chose the song. “He knew exactly what he was doing,” one longtime staff member shared. “That song speaks of healing, cleansing, and grace. It was his way of pointing people back to hope.”
As Swaggart sang, his voice—though softer than in years past—carried a profound sincerity. But it was one particular line that left the audience weeping: *“There is a river that flows from God above.”* Witnesses say he paused briefly after singing it, closing his eyes as if absorbing the weight of the words. For many, that pause spoke louder than any sermon.
Social media and ministry inboxes were soon flooded with messages from viewers who sensed something final in the performance. “I felt like he was singing himself home,” one follower wrote. Another said, “It didn’t feel like a broadcast. It felt like a goodbye.”
Family members later confirmed that Swaggart’s health had been declining and that the broadcast required great physical effort. Yet he insisted on singing live. According to his son, Donnie Swaggart, the moment was intentional. “Music was how my father prayed when words weren’t enough,” he said. “That song was his faith in its purest form.”
In the days following Swaggart’s passing, the clip has been replayed countless times, now viewed through the lens of legacy. While opinions about his life and ministry may vary, this final song has united listeners in shared emotion.
In the end, Jimmy Swaggart did not leave with thunder or spectacle. He left with a hymn, a piano, and a river of grace—flowing, as he believed, all the way home.