US Christian broadcaster Paul Crouch passes away at 79

Paul Crouch, the US televangelist who founded one of the world's largest Christian broadcasting networks, died on Saturday aged 79. Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) — the company he set up with his wife Jan — beamed Christian programmes over 84 satellite channels and more than 18,000 television and cable affiliates, according to its website.

Crouch left his job as general manager of a San Bernardino broadcaster in 1973, then bought and expanded a Californian California television station. TBN went on to broadcast over, among others, Smile of a Child children's channel,

The Church Channel, TBN Asia, TBN Europe, TBN Russia, TBN Africa, Al-Horreya TV and Arabic language network and TBN Nejat TV, a Farsi language channel. His books included "I Had No Father But God," "Hello World," "Omega Code," "Megiddo" and "The Shadow of the Apocalypse."

"His passing followed a decade-long fight with degenerative heart disease," TBN said on its website.