Oral Roberts: The Preacher Who Collapsed and Nearly Died, but Was Miraculously Healed

Oral Roberts was one of the most prominent religious figures of the twentieth century, best known for his healing ministry. He was born in 1918 in Oklahoma to Ellis and Claudius Roberts, both evangelists in the Pentecostal Holiness Church. With his father struggling to earn a living, Oral Roberts experienced poverty and hardship from an early age.

At the age of 16, he was struck with tuberculosis. During a basketball game, he collapsed and nearly died. He remained bedridden for several months before his family took him to a tent meeting near Ada, Oklahoma, in 1935, where he was miraculously healed. Shortly after his healing, he joined his father in evangelistic meetings across Oklahoma. At the age of 18, he received his ministerial license from the Pentecostal Holiness Church and soon started his own ministry. During his first three years as an evangelist, he reported over 400 people saved, 125 sanctified, and 98 receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

On December 25, 1938, Oral Roberts married Evely Roberts, and together they had four children. In 1946, he moved his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and began holding crusades across the United States. From 1947 to 1962, his large-scale tent crusades transformed the landscape of American evangelism. His name became synonymous with healing, and millions of people attended his meetings to hear his dynamic preaching and witness firsthand the power of God as he prayed for the sick.

With the overwhelming success of his crusades, Oral Roberts expanded his ministry by entering television in 1955, broadcasting his healing services to millions during prime-time television. His televised ministry brought the message of faith and healing to a global audience, further solidifying his influence.

After more than a decade of healing crusades, Oral Roberts founded a university. Oral Roberts University (ORU) was officially dedicated in 1967, with evangelist Billy Graham serving as the keynote speaker. The university attracted students from various theological backgrounds, all united by a belief in the Holy Spirit and divine healing.

By the 1970s, Oral Roberts University became one of the few institutions in the United States that intentionally promoted racial integration. Throughout his ministry, Oral Roberts emphasized unity, believing that all people were equal regardless of their skin color. Today, Oral Roberts University is recognized for its excellence in student engagement, teaching, and technological innovation in higher education.

Oral Roberts passed away on December 15, 2009, at the age of 91, leaving behind a powerful legacy of faith, healing, and education. His ministry continues to impact lives worldwide through the ongoing work of Oral Roberts University and the countless people he inspired to believe in the miraculous power of God.

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