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 (born November 12, 1948) is an American television evangelist. He leads the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association as its chairman and chief executive officer. He also served as president of Oral Roberts University for fifteen years.
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Richard Roberts' Early Life and Education
Richard Lee Roberts was born on November 12, 1948, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His father was the evangelist Granville Oral Roberts, and his mother was Evelyn Lutman Roberts. Richard was the third of four children.
As a young boy, Richard often watched his father travel. His father held "healing meetings" where he would preach and pray for sick people. Richard sometimes joined his father on these trips. He dreamed of having a similar ministry himself. He would often stand on his chair, clapping when people said they felt better.
At age 5, Richard first sang in public at one of his father's events. He stood on a chair to sing "I Believe." Around this time, his father also taught him golf.
As a teenager, Richard started to pull away from his father's ministry. He felt uncomfortable with the attention his father received. He was sometimes teased at school because of his father's work. Richard began to explore other interests, like singing. He learned to play the guitar and performed in Oklahoma. In 1966, he played the main role in his high school's play, The Sound of Music.
After high school, Richard went to the University of Kansas to study music. During his first summer, he worked at the Starlight Theater in Kansas City. He performed with famous people like Shirley Jones.
While at the University of Kansas, Richard became ill. When he returned home, he felt a strong calling to attend Oral Roberts University. The next year, he left Kansas and enrolled there. In 1968, Richard decided to dedicate his life to his faith. He then joined his father’s ministry as a singer.
Richard Roberts earned three degrees from Oral Roberts University. He received a bachelor's degree in communications in 1985. He then earned a master's degree in 1992 and a DMin degree in 2002.
Richard Roberts' Family Life
Richard Roberts married Patricia "Patti" Holcombe on November 27, 1968. They had two children, Christi (born 1971) and Juli (born 1972). Patti filed for divorce in 1978.
On January 11, 1980, Richard married Lindsay Salem. They were married at the chapel of Rollins College.
Richard and Lindsay had four children together. Their first child, Richard Oral, was born on January 17, 1984. Sadly, he passed away shortly after birth due to complications. Their other children are Jordan (born 1985), Olivia (born 1987), and Chloe (born 1989). Richard Roberts also has three grandchildren.
Richard Roberts' Career Journey
Leading the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association
At 19, Richard Roberts joined his father's ministry. He quickly became involved in many areas, including radio and television. He also traveled with his father on trips both in the U.S. and around the world. His first trip was to Haiti in December 1968, where he sang with the music team.
Richard's first main job was to organize and develop the music group into the World Action Singers. This group was featured on new Sunday morning TV shows. They also appeared in special prime-time TV programs filmed worldwide.
Over the next ten years, Richard sang on TV and made more than 15 music albums.
When he wasn't working on TV, Richard traveled the U.S. and the world. He performed concerts and spoke at events sponsored by the ministry. This helped raise money to build the university. Richard also traveled and sang with Kathryn Kuhlman from 1973 to 1975.
After his divorce, Richard continued to travel, perform concerts, and sing on television. His concerts grew to include music, preaching, and ministry events. At these events, Richard would pray for people, and some would share stories of feeling better. In 1982, Richard held his first international events, starting in South Africa. According to the ministry's website, he has ministered in over 40 countries. These include Russia, India, Brazil, Australia, Niger, and Indonesia.
Richard also continued to hold meetings in the U.S. and appear on TV. In 1984, he started a live daily show called Richard Roberts Live. This show featured ministry, music, and special guests. Guests included Richard Kiel, known as Jaws from the James Bond movies, and Donna Douglas, who played Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies.
In 1985, Richard Roberts was chosen as president of the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association (OREA). In 1986, he worked with his father to create the International Charismatic Bible Ministries. This group aimed to support independent churches and ministries. It also helped bring more students to Oral Roberts University.
In 1987, Richard was also chosen as the executive vice president of Oral Roberts University. He was involved in all parts of the university's management. He also led the university's chapel services. During this time, he continued his daily TV show, traveled with his father, led his own international events, and spoke at churches. In 1992, his father announced he was stepping down as president of Oral Roberts University.
Leading Oral Roberts University
Serving Dual Roles
On January 27, 1993, Richard Roberts was chosen as the second president of Oral Roberts University. At that time, the university had a large debt. Tuition and fees were not covering the costs. Richard put together a team from his staff to help solve these money problems.
Growing the University
Richard encouraged his team to increase student enrollment. They also worked to manage budgets carefully and find new ways to earn money. He used his TV program to promote the university. He started a scholarship campaign called "Adopt A Student." This was one of his efforts to promote Christian education and get more students.
Over the next four years, enrollment grew by 1,200 students. The university's debt was cut in half. Richard used his connections from his ministry to help with student recruitment. He especially focused on the African American community. Because of his speaking at churches, about 20% of the students were African American. In 2002, Oral Roberts University received an award for racial harmony.
In 1993, Richard Roberts made changes to the athletic program. He hired Bill Self as the head basketball coach. He also changed the school's mascot from the Titans to the Golden Eagles.
As president, Richard began to involve the university and its students in his outreach efforts. Students and staff from the nursing and business schools joined doctors on missions in West Africa.
Stepping Down as President
On October 17, 2007, Richard Roberts asked for a leave of absence from the university. He said that a lawsuit and related claims had been very difficult for him and his family. He stated, "I don't know how long this leave of absence will last." He hoped to return as president when the time was right.
On November 13, the professors at Oral Roberts University voted. They showed they no longer had confidence in Roberts' leadership. On November 23, 2007, Roberts officially resigned from the university. He said, "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 university's board voted to name Richard Roberts president emeritus. This was to honor his work during his 15 years as president.
The lawsuit against the university was later dismissed. The university stated that the person who filed the lawsuit was a unhappy former employee. Other claims made against Roberts or the university were also dismissed. No charges were filed.
Richard Roberts' Current Work
After stepping down as ORU President, Richard Roberts focused on his "first love," the healing ministry. He moved his ministry operations away from the university.
Richard Roberts' nightly television program continues. He also holds additional events and medical outreach programs in places like Honduras, Guatemala, Kenya, and Ghana. He has helped build a Christian school in Niger. In 2010, Roberts started the School of Miracles, which is a free online school.
