Jan Crouch

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Janice Crouch
Born Janice Wendell Bethany
(1938-03-14)March 14, 1938
New Brockton, Alabama, U.S.
Died May 31, 2016(2016-05-31) (aged 78)
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Cause of death Complications of a stroke
Occupation Co-founder of Trinity Broadcasting Network
Title Vice President and Director of Network Programming/TBN, Director/CEO of Holy Land Experience
Religion Christianity (Pentecostal)
Spouse(s) Paul Crouch (m. 1957; d. 2013)
Children

Janice Wendell "Jan" Crouch (née Bethany; March 14, 1938 – May 31, 2016) was an American religious broadcaster. Crouch and her husband, Paul, founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) in 1973.

Early life and ministry[edit]

Crouch was the daughter of Reverend and Mrs. Edgar W. Bethany, and grew up in Columbus, Georgia. Her father served as a pastor in the Assemblies of God denomination, and was the founding president of Southeastern University (Florida). While attending Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri, Crouch met Paul F. Crouch. They married in 1957, and have two sons, Paul Jr. and Matthew, both of whom are high-ranking officials and program hosts on TBN.

TBN[edit]

Founding[edit]

In 1973, Paul and Jan Crouch co-founded Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). In 1974, TBN purchased its first TV station, KLXA-TV (channel 40, now KTBN-TV) in Southern California, and began distribution through cable systems in 1978. Under the Crouch family, TBN grew to become the United States' largest Christian television network, offering 24-hour commercial-free programming,[1][2] and TBN is currently third largest over-the-air Station Group in the United States (measured as percentage of homes reached), with CBS, Fox, and NBC holding the 4th, 5th and 6th place, according to TV News Check's annual listing of the Top 30 Station Groups.[3] TBN owns and operates five independent TV networks, each of which adheres to a faith-based message, but reaching separate demographics. TBN networks include TBN itself, JUCE TV, TBN Enlace, Smile of a Child, and The Church Channel.[citation needed]

Growth of TBN[edit]

Since its founding, Crouch served as TBN's vice president and director of network programming, as well as the director of programming for TBN's affiliated networks, such as the Smile of a Child children's channel,[4] the JUCE TV youth network,[5] The Church Channel,[6] the TBN Enlace USA Spanish language network,[7] and others. She was also the President and manager of The Holy Land Experience theme park in Orlando, Florida.[8][9]

Controversy[edit]

In March 2012, Crouch was accused by her granddaughter, a former employee and chief finance director of the network (a registered charity), of misappropriating network funds to spend on a lavish lifestyle. Expenditures included expensive homes, private jets, massive custom wigs, and a $100,000 air conditioned mobile home solely for her dogs.[10] The New York Times wrote that Crouch, for nearly two years, rented adjoining rooms for herself and her two Maltese dogs at the deluxe Loews Portofino Bay Hotel while she was building the Holy Land Experience theme park in Orlando, Florida.[11]

Illness and death[edit]

Crouch suffered a massive stroke on May 25, 2016, and was hospitalized.[12][13] She died in Orlando, Florida, on May 31, 2016, at age 78.[14]

Awards and honors[edit]

  • 1990: Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Oral Roberts University
  • Golden Angel Award – Excellence in Media
  • Two-time Parents Television Council Entertainment Seal of Approval recipient (for TBN and Smile of a Child).[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The BRIDGE – March 2009 – Programming Trends & Top 10s". Mediabiz.com. Retrieved February 8, 2013. 
  2. ^ "Heavenly success: TV's largest religious network continues to expand around the world, while adding shows aimed at reaching a much wider audience (30th Anniversary)". Highbeam.com. Retrieved February 8, 2013. 
  3. ^ "Top Station Groups Stay The Course". TVNewsCheck.com. April 7, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2013. 
  4. ^ "Smile of A Child TV". Smile of A Child TV. Retrieved February 8, 2013. 
  5. ^ http://www.jctv.org/flashindex.php
  6. ^ "A New Digital Network From TBN, the Leader in Religious Television". The Church Channel. Retrieved February 8, 2013. 
  7. ^ http://www.enlace.org/#/inicio/
  8. ^ "Florida Department of State Division of Corporations Detail by Entity Name". Retrieved 1 August 2011. 
  9. ^ "TBN Networks Affiliates – TBN". Tbnnetworks.org. December 10, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2013. 
  10. ^ Nina Golgowski (March 23, 2012). "Private jets, 13 mansions and a $100,000 mobile home just for the dogs: Televangelists 'defrauded tens of million of dollars from Christian network". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved February 8, 2013. 
  11. ^ "A Path Appears", p. 177, Nicholas Kristof and Cheryl WuDunn
  12. ^ Update on Condition of TBN Co-Founder Jan Crouch
  13. ^ Shawn A. Akers (May 27, 2016). "TBN's Jan Crouch Suffers Massive Stroke, Family Praying for a Miracle". CharismaNews. Retrieved May 27, 2016. 
  14. ^ Trinity Broadcasting Network Co-Founder Jan Crouch Dies at 78 After Suffering Massive Stroke, christianpost.com; accessed June 6, 2016.
  15. ^ "TBN Awarded Seal of Approval by Parents Television Council". Parentstv.org. February 28, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2013. 

External links[edit]

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