Oral Roberts (1918- 2009)

Granville Oral Roberts was born in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, USA. He was a Choctaw American Charismatic Christian televangelist ordained in both the Pentecostal Holiness and United Methodist churches. He is recognized as the godfather of the charismatic movement and was one of the most recognized preachers in the USA at the height of his fame. He founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association (OREA) and University (ORU).

He was the fifth and youngest child of Revd. Ellis Melvin and Claudia Priscilla Roberts. He was of Cherokee descent. He began life in poverty and nearly died of tuberculosis aged 17. He a conversion experience in 1935

He studied for 4 years, 2 at Oklahoma Baptist University, 2 at Phillips University.
In 1938 he married Evelyn Lutman Fahnestock -they were married for 66 years.

He left college without a degree and became a travelling faith healer. He made a name for himself by using a mobile tent which sat 3,000 on metal folding chairs.
(TIME magazine 1972)

Oral spent 12 years as a pastor in several towns in the South and built up his own organization, the Pentecostal Holiness Church (PHC).

1947 was a turning point. He read *I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth * 3 John v 2 .

He resigned from PHC to found OREA. He conducted evangelistic and faith healing crusades across the USA and around the world, claiming he could raise the dead. Through the years he held over 300 crusades on 6 continents and personally laid hands on more than 2 million people. At its peak he was leader of a $120 million a year organization, employing 2,300 people

In 1963 he founded OTU in Tulsa.First students arrived in 1965. Prayer Tower opened in 1967

Oral was a pioneer televangelist. The radio in 1947, the television in 1954
Golden Eagle Broadcasting was founded in 1996. By 1957 The Abundant Life reached 80% of the USA.

In 1977 Oral had a vision of a 900 foot Jesus to build a hospital. The City of Faith Medical and research Center opened in 1981. Losing money it closed in 1989. Today the orthopedic Hospital of Oklahoma operates on the site.

Oral fund raising was controversial. In 1987 he announced to a televison audience that God would ‘call him home’ - he would die - if he did not raise enough money. Jerry Collins as a result denoted $1.3 million.

Oral died of complications from pneumonia, in 2009 aged 91, He had semi-retired and was living in Newport Beach, California.

Oral was one of the most well known American religious leaders of the 20 th century.His preaching emphasized seed-faith His ministries reached millions of followers world wide. According to one authority his ministry’s influence was second only to that of Bill Graham.

Source
wikipedia
New York Times