Richard Roberts (evangelist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Roberts
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| Born | November 12, 1948 |
| Education | Oral Roberts University (BA, MA, DMin) |
| Occupation | Evangelist, broadcaster, educator |
| Title | President and CEO of Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association |
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| Children | Christi, Juli, Richard Oral (deceased 1984), Jordan, Olivia and Chloe |
| Parent(s) | Oral Roberts (deceased) Evelyn Roberts (deceased) |
Richard Lee Roberts was born on November 12, 1948. He is an American television evangelist and faith healer. He leads the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association as its chairman and chief executive officer. Before this, he was the president of Oral Roberts University for fifteen years.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Richard Lee Roberts was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His father was the evangelist Granville Oral Roberts, and his mother was Evelyn Lutman Roberts, a schoolteacher. Richard was the third of four children. His older sister, Rebecca Ann, passed away in a plane crash in 1977. His older brother, Ronald David, also passed away in 1982. Richard's younger sister, Roberta Jean Potts, is a lawyer in Tulsa.
Growing Up with a Ministry
As a young boy, Richard watched his father travel across the United States and the world. His father held healing meetings where he would preach and pray for people who were sick. Sometimes, his parents were away for up to six weeks. When school allowed, Richard would go with his father on these trips. He dreamed of having his own healing ministry one day. He often walked beside his father as he prayed for people. During these services, Richard would often stand on his chair, clapping when people were healed.
At age 5, Richard first performed publicly at a crusade in Baltimore, Maryland. He stood on a chair and sang "I Believe." Around the same time, his father started teaching him golf. The first time he swung the club, Richard sent a ball through the family's living room window. His father, Oral Roberts, wrote in his book Expect A Miracle: My Life and Ministry about the special bond they built through playing golf.
Finding His Path
Even though he was drawn to ministry, the attention his father received made Richard uncomfortable. He was sometimes teased at school. Richard wrote that he often came home with his shirt torn and nose bleeding from fights. These fights were with kids who made fun of him and his father's ministry. As a teenager, with negative news about his father and pressure to sing at crusades, Richard started to step away from the ministry. He began to explore other talents, like singing.
Richard learned to play the guitar and performed around Oklahoma. He even dreamed of becoming a nightclub singer. In 1966, he played the main role in his high school's play, The Sound of Music. He was offered a scholarship to Interlochen Arts Academy.
After graduating from Memorial High School in May 1966, Richard went to the University of Kansas to study music.
During the summer after his first year, he worked at the Starlight Theater in Kansas City. He performed with many artists, including Shirley Jones. He also worked in several nightclubs and was offered a contract to sing in Las Vegas.
While at the University of Kansas, Richard became ill and had to go to the hospital. When he returned home, he felt a strong calling that he was in the wrong place. He felt he belonged at Oral Roberts University. The next year, Richard left Kansas and enrolled at ORU. In 1968, Richard dedicated his life to Jesus Christ and joined his father’s ministry as a singer.
Richard Roberts earned three degrees from Oral Roberts University. He received a BA in communications in 1985, a master's degree in 1992, and a DMin degree in 2002.
Family Life
Richard Roberts married Patricia "Patti" Holcombe on November 27, 1968. They had two children, Christi (born 1971) and Juli (born 1972). Their marriage ended in 1978.
On January 11, 1980, Richard married Lindsay Salem at the campus chapel of Rollins College. Richard and Lindsay had four children together. Their first child, Richard Oral, was born on January 17, 1984, but passed away shortly after birth. Their other children are Jordan (born 1985), Olivia (born 1987), and Chloe (born 1989). Richard Roberts also has three grandchildren.
Career Highlights
Starting in Ministry
At 19, Richard joined his father's ministry. He quickly became involved in many parts of the work, including radio, television, and traveling with his father. His first trip was in December of that year to Haiti, where he sang with the music team, Oral Roberts Collegians. He helped organize and develop this group into the World Action Singers. Richard and this group were featured on a new Sunday morning television program and prime-time TV specials.
Over the next ten years, Richard sang on television and produced more than 15 music albums.
When he wasn't working on TV, Richard traveled across the U.S. and around the world. He performed concerts and spoke at ministry events. He also traveled and sang in healing meetings with Kathryn Kuhlman from 1973 to 1975.
Leading the Ministry
After his first marriage ended, Richard continued to travel, perform concerts, and sing on television. His concerts grew to include music, preaching, and ministry events where he prayed for people. Many people shared stories of being healed. In 1982, Richard held his first international crusades, starting in South Africa. According to the ministry's website, oralroberts.com, Richard has ministered in over 40 countries on six continents. These include Russia, India, Brazil, Australia, Niger, and Indonesia.
Richard continued to hold meetings in the U.S. and minister on television. In 1984, he started a live daily one-hour program called Richard Roberts Live. This show featured ministry, music, and special guests. Some guests included Richard Kiel, known as Jaws from the James Bond movies, and Donna Douglas, who played Elly May Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies.
In 1985, Oral Roberts stepped down, and Richard Roberts was chosen as president of the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association (OREA). In 1986, Richard worked with his father to help start the International Charismatic Bible Ministries. This group supports independent churches and ministries and helps more students join ORU.
In 1987, Richard was also chosen as the executive vice president of Oral Roberts University. He was involved in all parts of running the university and led the ORU chapel services. During this time, Richard continued his daily television program, crusades with his father, his own international crusades, and speaking at churches and conferences. In 1992, Oral Roberts announced he would resign as president of ORU.
President of Oral Roberts University
On January 27, 1993, Richard Roberts was elected as the second president of Oral Roberts University. The university faced financial challenges, with tuition not covering all expenses. Richard put together a team to help solve these financial problems.
Growing the University
Richard encouraged his team to increase student enrollment, manage budgets carefully, and find new ways to bring in money. He used his television program to promote the university. He started the "Adopt A Student" scholarship campaign to help students attend. He also worked to promote Christian education and increase enrollment. Over the next four years, enrollment grew by 1,200 students, and the university's debt was cut in half. Richard used his connections in ministry to help with recruitment, especially in the African American community. Because of his efforts, African American students made up 20% of the student body. In 2002, ORU received the Racial Harmony Award.
In 1993, Richard made changes to the athletic program. He hired Bill Self as the head basketball coach, changed the school mascot to the Golden Eagles, and hired Mike Carter as the new director of athletics. As president, Richard began involving the university and its students in crusade and healing rally teams. Students and staff from the School of Nursing and the School of Business joined doctors on outreach missions in West Africa.
Challenges and Resignation
In October 2007, some former professors filed a lawsuit against Oral Roberts University. This lawsuit also named Richard Roberts, his wife, and other university leaders. Richard Roberts stated that the lawsuit was an attempt to intimidate and extort.
On October 17, 2007, Richard Roberts asked for and was granted a leave of absence from the university. He said the lawsuit and claims had taken a "toll" on him and his family. He hoped to return as president when the time was right. Billy Joe Daugherty was named interim president. The chairman of the board, George Pearsons, said the temporary resignation did not mean Richard was admitting guilt.
On November 13, the professors at Oral Roberts University voted that they no longer had confidence in Richard Roberts. This vote was almost unanimous.
Richard Roberts officially resigned from the university's board of regents on November 23, 2007. He stated, "I love ORU with all my heart. I love the students, faculty, staff and administration and I want to see God's best for all of them."
On January 14, 2008, the ORU Board of Regents voted to name Richard Roberts president emeritus. This was to honor his work during his 15 years as president.
Resolution of Challenges
The lawsuit filed by Trent Huddleston was dismissed. ORU stated that Huddleston was a disgruntled employee. The university also denied destroying documents on purpose. It was found that the shredded documents were part of normal policy for student and donor privacy.
By October 2008, the original three lawsuits were dismissed or settled. No evidence was found for other claims against Roberts or the university. No charges were filed, and all other lawsuits were dismissed.
Current Activities
After stepping down as ORU President, Richard Roberts focused on what he calls his "first love": the healing ministry. He moved the ministry away from ORU.
Richard Roberts' nightly television program continues. He holds additional crusades and medical outreach missions in countries like Honduras, Guatemala, Kenya, and Ghana. He has also supported the building of a Christian school in Niger and worked with Pete Sumrall of Feed the Hungry. In 2010, Richard Roberts opened the School of Miracles, which is a free online school.
