Oral Roberts

Granville Oral Roberts was an American televangelist belonging to Charismatic Christianity. He was a preacher of both the Pentecostal Holiness and United Methodist churches. Widely regarded as the godfather of the charismatic movement, Roberts was one of the most prolific ministers in the world at the height of his career. He established the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University. Originally from Oklahoma, he was educated at the Oklahoma Baptist University and Phillips University. Before completing his education, he dropped out and embarked on a traveling life of a faith healer. In the mid-1940s, he struggled as a part-time minister in Oklahoma. Things began to change in 1947 after he ostensibly received a vision from God and set up the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. In the ensuing years, he became one of the most influential and controversial American religious leaders of the 20th century. As a preacher, his views revolved around seed-faith. His ministries accumulated millions of followers worldwide over the course of about 60 years. He played a pivotal role in turning American Pentecostalism into a mainstream religious sect and accomplished unprecedented things as a televangelist. He also built the foundation of the prosperity gospel and abundant life teachings. Roberts regularly garnered criticism because of how his ministries functioned, especially in the matter of fund acquirement.