According to one of his estranged sons, Fred Phelps, the founder and longtime leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, is in gravely ill health. Here is a look back at some of the milestone moments in his controversial church’s history:

1929-2014 : Fred Waldron Phelps is born, beginning a period of nearly 85 years during which not a single moment of doubt passes through his mind

: Fred Waldron Phelps is born, beginning a period of nearly 85 years during which not a single moment of doubt passes through his mind 1951 : Margie Simms, the future Mrs. Phelps, meets the love of her life

: Margie Simms, the future Mrs. Phelps, meets the love of her life 1955-2014 : Nobody cracks open a Bible

: Nobody cracks open a Bible 1968 : Jesus Christ personally visits Fred Phelps in one of his dreams and asks what the fuck is wrong with him

: Jesus Christ personally visits Fred Phelps in one of his dreams and asks what the fuck is wrong with him 1972-1979 : The disco years

: The disco years 1991 : Westboro Baptist Church blasted after adopting slogan expressing what dozens of churches actually believe

: Westboro Baptist Church blasted after adopting slogan expressing what dozens of churches actually believe 1994 : Topeka residents admit they must hand it to Westboro Baptist Church for ending all that gay cruising in Gage Park

: Topeka residents admit they must hand it to Westboro Baptist Church for ending all that gay cruising in Gage Park 1999 : In return for years of loyal patronage, church receives 200 free “God hates fags” posters from local Kinko’s

: In return for years of loyal patronage, church receives 200 free “God hates fags” posters from local Kinko’s 2010 : An increasingly paranoid Fred Phelps becomes convinced God may be a fag

: An increasingly paranoid Fred Phelps becomes convinced God may be a fag 2013 : Phelps excommunicated after advocating for more compassionate hatred

: Phelps excommunicated after advocating for more compassionate hatred 1955-2014: Gets a whole lot of undeserved attention