Oral Roberts remembered
Evangelist Oral Roberts was remembered Monday as a charismatic leader who deftly used television to spread the message of Christianity throughout the world, the Associated Press reports.
Thousands packed an arena at Oral Roberts University for the memorial service for the man who founded the evangelical liberal arts school. Roberts died of complications from pneumonia at the age of 91 last week in California.
"You sent us a man who we know and loved and who walked with God and never gave up the common touch," fellow evangelist Pat Robertson said during the ceremony's opening prayer. "I know you broke the mold with Oral."
Roberts rose from poverty and tent revivals to become one of the nation's most recognized and influential preachers. Roberts, along with Billy Graham, helped pioneer TV evangelism and used the power of the new medium -- and the message of God's healing power -- to build a multimillion-dollar ministry.
ORU President Mark Rutlege noted how adept Roberts was at using the medium of television to spread his message.
"There was something when Oral leaned into that TV and said, `Something good is going to happen to you today.' "
Read the Associated Press story.
AP photo
Comments
It has been a week since this grand huckster and disseminator of fanatic delusionalism died. The good news, like that regarding Jerry "Owned by the Moonies" Falwell, is that he is still dead.
Posted by: Robert Littel | December 22, 2009 10:18 AM
Robert,
Don't forget he will be resurrected with the lord and sit with Clay on a throne--with Ravensfan and Pattycakes standing right next to St.Peter--they'll open the gates of hell to all atheists and heaven will overflow with eternal boredom with the lord looking to flee to hell. I can't believe there are people who fall for this idiocy. Oral Roberts was another Elmer Gantry--the kind of man who manipulates millions to inflate his own ego--it is disheartening that even in this day and age there are millions who will fall into the religion hole and be manipulated.
Ravensfan Anon
Posted by: Anonymous | December 23, 2009 12:36 PM