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| Version 21 | Version 22 |
|---|---|
| US evangelist Oral Roberts dies | US evangelist Oral Roberts dies |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Renowned US television evangelist Oral Roberts has died in California at the age of 91, his ministry has said. | Renowned US television evangelist Oral Roberts has died in California at the age of 91, his ministry has said. |
| Mr Roberts was taken to hospital after a fall at the weekend. His spokesman said he had died from complications from pneumonia in Newport Beach. | Mr Roberts was taken to hospital after a fall at the weekend. His spokesman said he had died from complications from pneumonia in Newport Beach. |
| Mr Roberts's philosophy was the unity of mind, body and spirit, although he was cool on labels of "faith healer". | Mr Roberts's philosophy was the unity of mind, body and spirit, although he was cool on labels of "faith healer". |
| He reached millions from the 1960s onwards, wrote dozens of books and founded Oral Roberts University. | He reached millions from the 1960s onwards, wrote dozens of books and founded Oral Roberts University. |
| The university, chartered in 1963, is based in Tulsa in Oklahoma, where Mr Roberts had entered an evangelistic ministry in 1947. | The university, chartered in 1963, is based in Tulsa in Oklahoma, where Mr Roberts had entered an evangelistic ministry in 1947. |
| It was there he took up his theme, which many labelled faith healing, although Mr Roberts said that that was God's duty. | It was there he took up his theme, which many labelled faith healing, although Mr Roberts said that that was God's duty. |
| But he did conduct hundreds of "miracle healing crusades" for thousands of people in more than 35 countries. | But he did conduct hundreds of "miracle healing crusades" for thousands of people in more than 35 countries. |
| Controversy | Controversy |
| Mr Roberts was one of the first evangelists to see the power of the broadcasting medium, bringing cameras into his sermons in the mid-50s - a path followed by such fellow preachers as Pat Robertson and Billy Graham. | Mr Roberts was one of the first evangelists to see the power of the broadcasting medium, bringing cameras into his sermons in the mid-50s - a path followed by such fellow preachers as Pat Robertson and Billy Graham. |
| As with many televangelists, his money-raising courted controversy. | As with many televangelists, his money-raising courted controversy. |
| He famously said that God would strike him dead if he failed to raise $8m for his City of Faith medical centre in the 1980s. He attracted $9m but it later closed. | He famously said that God would strike him dead if he failed to raise $8m for his City of Faith medical centre in the 1980s. He attracted $9m but it later closed. |
| His son Richard resigned as president of Oral Roberts University in 2007 following allegations that funds had been misspent. | His son Richard resigned as president of Oral Roberts University in 2007 following allegations that funds had been misspent. |
| Born on 24 January 1918 in Oklahoma, Oral Roberts said that overcoming tuberculosis at 17 was the driving force behind his emergence as one of the leading evangelists. | Born on 24 January 1918 in Oklahoma, Oral Roberts said that overcoming tuberculosis at 17 was the driving force behind his emergence as one of the leading evangelists. |
| He also survived two heart attacks in the 1990s. | He also survived two heart attacks in the 1990s. |
| Below a selection of your comments. | Below a selection of your comments. |
| His ministry touched a lot lives around the world. He was one of the pioneers of tele-evangelism as God used him to heal the needy. A big vacuum has been created but I am sure his life and example have touched and transformed many lives. Kennedy Boateng, London, UK | |
| Oral Robert will be remembered for his extraordinary faith evidenced by healing and financial miracles. His contribution to Television Evangelism will stand the test of time.Kizzie George Nyendwa, Lusaka, Zambia | Oral Robert will be remembered for his extraordinary faith evidenced by healing and financial miracles. His contribution to Television Evangelism will stand the test of time.Kizzie George Nyendwa, Lusaka, Zambia |
| As a youth in the 70s, the name "Oral Roberts" was inspiring. As a Minister of the Word, Papa Oral is my role model. May his fiery Soul continue to glow all through eternity.Pastor Michael Opara, Lagos, Nigeria | As a youth in the 70s, the name "Oral Roberts" was inspiring. As a Minister of the Word, Papa Oral is my role model. May his fiery Soul continue to glow all through eternity.Pastor Michael Opara, Lagos, Nigeria |
| May your soul rest in peace. As a young Christian I have faithfully followed the teachings of Dr Oral Roberts and I have been richly blessed. The church and the body of Christ will miss you but thank you for your bravely for preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ without compromise. May your soul eternally rest in peace.Richard Mumba, London, UK | May your soul rest in peace. As a young Christian I have faithfully followed the teachings of Dr Oral Roberts and I have been richly blessed. The church and the body of Christ will miss you but thank you for your bravely for preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ without compromise. May your soul eternally rest in peace.Richard Mumba, London, UK |
| Roberts will be praised by our religious zealots, mourned, and forgotten as they focus on the next Rev. Peter Pan. Television ministers are money machines that take from the most vulnerable of our population and discriminate against non-Christians. They routinely violate the principles of non-intervention in matters of State and try to legislate morality. Our prisons are full because of the preaching of men like him.Michael Rohde, Escondido, California, USA |