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'''Granville Oral Roberts,''' born January 24, 1918 is an American preacher, who made his name with his [[faith healing]] and was an independent leader of [[Pentecostalism]], famed for his use of radio and television and his many revivals.  In 1963 he founded Oral Roberts University, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. [[Image:OralRoberts.jpg|thumb|300px|Oral Roberts week-long revival in Los Angeles, 1957]]

'''Granville Oral Roberts,'''(January 24, 1918--December 15, 2009) was an American preacher. Roberts was an independent [[Pentecostalism|Pentacostal]] leader who was best known for his many [[revivla]]s, his [[faith healing]] abilities and for his use of radio and television as a means by which to spread the Word.  In 1963 he founded [[Oral Roberts University]], in Tulsa, Oklahoma. [[Image:OralRoberts.jpg|thumb|300px|Oral Roberts week-long revival in Los Angeles, 1957]]

    

    

==Career==

==Career==

In 1947, Roberts founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. Obeying a command from God, he founded [[Oral Roberts University]] in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1963.  ORU's first students entered the school in 1965.   

In 1947, Roberts founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. Obeying a command from [[God]], he founded [[Oral Roberts University]] in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1963.  ORU's first students entered the school in 1965.   

Roberts became a pioneer in the use of radio and television. In the 1960s and 1970s, he left the faith-healing circuit to build Oral Roberts University, founded in 1963 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He claims to have raised over a billion dollars.<ref> Richard N. Ostling, Barbara Dolan and Michael P. Harris. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964970,00.html "Raising Eyebrows And The Dead," ''Time'' Jul. 13, 1987]</ref>

Roberts became a pioneer in the use of radio and television. In the 1960s and 1970s, he left the faith-healing circuit to build Oral Roberts University, founded in 1963 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He claims to have raised over a billion dollars.<ref> Richard N. Ostling, Barbara Dolan and Michael P. Harris. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964970,00.html "Raising Eyebrows And The Dead," ''Time'' Jul. 13, 1987]</ref>

In 1977, Roberts announced he would begin construction of the City of Faith Medical and Research Center, after claiming that a 900-foot-tall [[Jesus]] instructed him to build the hospital. <ref>[http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=20080326_222_67873]</ref> The center opened in 1981. During the eight years it remained open, City of Faith was one of the largest health facilities of its kind in the world, and was an innovator in merging prayer and medicine in the healing process.  

In 1977, Roberts announced he would begin construction of the City of Faith Medical and Research Center, after claiming that a 900-foot-tall [[Jesus]] instructed him to build the hospital. <ref>[http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=20080326_222_67873]</ref> The center opened in 1981. During the eight years it remained open, City of Faith was one of the largest health facilities of its kind in the world, and was an innovator in merging prayer and medicine in the healing process.  

On January 4, 1987, Roberts appealed on the television program "Expect a Miracle" stateing that unless he raised $8 million during the fund raising drive for the City of Faith, God would "call him home."  He stated this money was to be used to train Christian doctors as 'medical missionaries.' As a result, Roberts raised $9.1 million; $1.3 million of this was given by a single donor, a [[gambling|dog racing track]] owner. Unfortunately, the fundraiser did not permanently save the City of Faith: November of 1987, Roberts announced the closure of the City of Faith. The City buildings have since been converted into predominantly office space and renamed the CityPlex Towers.

On January 4, 1987, Roberts appealed on the television program "Expect a Miracle" and revealed that unless he raised $8 million during the fund raising drive for the City of Faith, God would "call him home."  He stated this money was to be used to train Christian doctors as 'medical missionaries.' As a result, Roberts raised $9.1 million; $1.3 million of this was given by a single donor, a [[gambling|dog racing track]] owner. Unfortunately, the fundraiser did not permanently save the City of Faith: In November 1987, Roberts announced the closure of the City of Faith. The City's buildings have since been converted into predominantly office space and renamed the CityPlex Towers.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==