Jan Crouch, co-founder of Trinity Broadcasting Network, has passed away at the age of 78 and entered into the arms of Jesus after suffering a massive stroke last week.
"Laurie and I have just watched the transition of our precious Mother from this world to the next; watched her step into the presence of Jesus and into her heavenly reward," Jan Crouch's son Matthew and other family members announced early Tuesday. "Jan Crouch, known around the world as Momma Jan, has gone home."
The family added, "Those who battled for the Kingdom of God knew her as a fighter - someone who didn't give up, someone who fought relentlessly to get the Gospel around the world... To thousands of orphans around the world, and those orphaned in spirit, she was Momma Jan, quick with a smile, a gift, and a word of encouragement."
They continued, "Jan Crouch loved many things, but most of all she loved Jesus, and now has seen Him face to face and has experienced His grace in fullness," the family said Tuesday. "She has taken a piece of our hearts with her, but it's so wonderful to know that Paul and Jan Crouch are together again, in the arms of Jesus."
As earlier reported, TBN shared the news of Crouch's failing health on its website last week: "Our sister and TBN co-founder Jan Crouch was taken to the hospital on Wednesday evening, May 25th, after suffering a stroke in the Orlando, Florida area. She is resting comfortably as her physicians and family care for her."
Crouch, the daughter of two pentecostal pastors, married Paul Crouch in 1957, and had two sons, Paul Jr. and Matthew, both of whom are high-ranking officials and program hosts on TBN. Paul died in 2013 at age 79.
The couple founded TBN in 1973, and the next year purchased the network's first station, KTBN-TV 40 in Southern California. It grew to become the most watched faith network in the country and the seventh largest owner of broadcast TV stations.
Since TBN's founding, Jan Crouch served as the network'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, the JUCE TV youth network, The Church Channel, and the TBN Enlace USA Spanish language network.
She also served as the president and manager of The Holy Land Experience theme park in Orlando, Fla.
On Monday, Crouch family wrote on Facebook, "The outpouring of love and affection for Mom (and our family) has been a warm security blanket in which we wrap ourselves up in this room and rest in as momma moves quietly towards eternity.
"Besides being under the care of an incredible medical team, Mom remains under the watchful eye of her caring family and our loving Heavenly Father, one preparing to let go and say to her 'see you soon' and the other ready to say 'welcome home, my sweet child.'"
They added, "She continues to place her trust in God, and draws strength from the promise of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, the family said Monday, quoting the verse: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
