Oral Roberts - A Tribute

By Tayo Obe

Not a few people were saddened after it was publicly disclosed that popular Tele-Evangelist Granville Oral Roberts had died. He was 91 years old. Born in Oklahoman on January 24, 1918 , Oral was the fifth and youngest child of the Reverend Ellis Melvin Roberts and Claudia Priscilla Irwin.

After finishing high school, Roberts studied for two years each at Oklahoma Baptist University and Phillips University. In 1938, he married a preacher's daughter, Evelyn Lutman Fahnestock. Roberts became a traveling faith healer after ending his college studies without a degree. According to a TIME Magazine profile of 1972, Roberts originally made a name for himself with a large mobile tent "that sat 3,000 on metal folding chairs".

He pioneered televangelism when he began broadcasting his revivals by television in 1955 and attracted a vast viewership. In 1947, Roberts resigned his pastoral ministry with the Pentecostal Holiness Church to found Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. He began conducting evangelistic and faith healing crusades, mainly in the U.S. He appeared as a guest speaker for hundreds of national and international meetings and conventions. Thousands of sick people would wait in line to stand before Oral Roberts so he could pray for them.

He founded Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1963, stating he was obeying a command from God. The university was chartered in 1963 and received its first students in 1965. Students were required to sign an honour code pledging not to drink, smoke, or engage in premarital sexual activities. In 1977 Roberts had a vision from Jesus who told him to build City of Faith Medical and Research Center, the hospital would be a success.

City of Faith Medical and Research Center in Oklahoma, opened in 1981. At the time, it was among the largest health facilities of its kind in the world and was intended to merge prayer and medicine in the healing process. The City of Faith operated for only eight years before closing in late 1989. The Orthopedic Hospital of Oklahoma still operates on its premises.

Roberts' fundraising was controversial. In January 1987, during a fundraising drive, Roberts announced to a television audience that unless he raised $8 million by that March, God would "call him home." Some were fearful that he was referring to suicide, given the impassioned pleas and tears that accompanied his statement. He raised $9.1 million.

His life was not without challenges, Roberts' daughter Rebecca Nash died in an airplane crash on February 11, 1977 with her husband, businessman Marshall Nash. Roberts' eldest son Ronald committed suicide in June 1982, five months after receiving a court order to undergo counselling at a drug treatment centre. But the other two Roberts children are still living — Son Richard, a well-known evangelist and former president of Oral Roberts University (ORU), and daughter Roberta Potts, an attorney. On May 4, 2005 Evelyn, Roberts' wife of 66 years, died in a Southern California hospital at the age of 88.

In addition, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis at 17 and sunk into such dire straits, coughing and spitting up blood, that survival was in question. When an intense prayer session became a prelude to healing, the world lost a basketball player (he used to be a Sport Fan) and gained an evangelist. Inspired by his recovery, Oral Roberts vowed to go out and spread the Gospel, which he did until he died at age 91.

Oral Roberts wrote more than 130 books, several personal commentaries on the Bible, and other inspirational material. One of his most substantive works is a 74-CD set titled Oral Roberts Reading the New Testament with His Personal Commentary that includes his life’s teachings on God’s Word. Perhaps best known is his book The Miracle of Seed Faith, which revolutionised the lives of millions of people who learned how to get their needs met through God’s eternal plan of giving and receiving.

Since his death, Christian leaders round the world have been paying tribute to a Man of God that stood out and did his best to fulfill his purpose. Evangelist Billy Graham, founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said “Oral Roberts was a man of God and a great friend in ministry. I loved him as a brother. We had many quiet conversations over the years. I invited Oral to speak at one of our early international conferences on evangelism held in Berlin in the 1960s. … Just three weeks ago, I was privileged to talk to Oral over the telephone. During the short conversation, he said to me that he was near the end of his life's journey. I look forward to the day that I will see Oral and Evelyn Roberts again in heaven--our eternal home.”

In remembering his father, son Richard said, “He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Oral Roberts was not only my earthly father; he was also my spiritual father and mentor. He was the greatest man of God I’ve ever known. An innovator and a modern-day apostle of the healing ministry, he was one of the first men of his generation to build a worldwide ministry, an accredited university, and a medical and research center. He had a passion to bring healing to the sick. He came along when many in Christendom did not believe in God’s power and goodness, yet his name became synonymous with miracles.”

For healing evangelist, Benny Hinn, he said that we should rejoice even as we grieve Dr. Roberts’ passing from this earth because he is in Heaven. According to him “we rejoice that he is now in heaven. What an amazing life! He was a giant in so many ways, and I was privileged to have him as a dear, dear friend for many years. Every time I was with him, I saw firsthand a heart consumed with the love of Jesus Christ…Only heaven will reveal how many hearts he has pointed toward heaven, how many homes have been revolutionised through his seed-faith teaching, and how many ears have heard his faith-filled phrase, "Expect a miracle!" God has used him to open doors that were once considered closed to the miracle-working power of the gospel, and wherever I travel, I have been ever thankful for the trail he blazed.’’

He then urged all his partners to be in prayer for his family during these days of bereavement, “and while we join his loved ones in mourning the loss of this great trailblazer of the faith, we also celebrate his reunion in heaven with his beloved wife, Evelyn, other family members, the hosts who accepted our Lord Jesus as Saviour, and most importantly, with the Lord Himself, whom our brother in Christ served so faithfully during his memorable lifetime!

Bishop T.D Jakes of The Potters’ House stated that through “his vision and commitment to Christian education, his legacy will continue in the hearts and minds of young believers. The world has lost a treasured gift from God embodied in the man Oral Roberts. Our sympathy goes out to his family and the many churches that were under his oversight.”

Also, Nigerian Pastor T.B. Joshua has joined those paying tribute to the life and legacy of the late American evangelist, Oral Roberts, describing him as one of ‘God’s Generals’. Dr. Oral Roberts died Tuesday December 15 in Newport Beach, California, of complications from pneumonia, with son, Richard, and daughter, Roberta, at his side after having spent the last 74 years spreading God’s word (60 of them under the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association).

Living Above Yourself by Ituah Ighodalo Now Available

Using the examples of Abraham and David from the Bible, this book takes a look at the foundation for and principles behind living a great life. Contrary to most peoples' expectations, living a great life is not about amassing wealth or achieving personal successes; rather it is about focusing on what we can give out of ourselves in this world.

The book reminds us that notwithstanding whatever riches we amass or successes we achieve, our lives when we die will be summarised in very brief sentences. Living a great life is about discovering our purpose here on earth and emptying ourselves of everything God has blessed us with.

Living a great life is a personal decision we make and not something that happens to us by accident. Why should we live great lives? How do we live great lives? What are the steps to living a great life? Why can't some people live great lives and what are the benefits of living a great life? Join Pastor Ituah on a journey of self discovery as he answers these questions and more

N500 per copy. Limited Copies Available. Minimum Order of 5 Copies = N2,500. Pay into Oceanic Bank Account Name: Timeless Courage Publishing Limited, Account No: 0351101005381 and send you name, address, phone no and teller no to timelesscourage@yahoo.co.uk and receive your orders within 48 hours. Offer valid within Lagos Only. Pls include postage for deliveries outside Lagos 

Uganda's Anti-Gay Bill Draws Evangelical Opposition

A Ugandan legislator who proposed the highly contested Anti-Homosexuality Bill insists the measure is being misconstrued. "There has been a distortion in the media that we are providing death for gays. That is not true," ruling party MP David Bahati said on BBC. "When a homosexual defiles a kid of less than 18 years old, we are providing a penalty for this."
The bill, which is currently being debated by a parliamentary committee, has drawn global attention from gay rights advocates and religious leaders alike, many of whom are condemning the legislation for promoting hatred and handing down severe penalties against homosexuals and their family, friends, and even pastors. Punishments range from a fine and a three-year imprisonment to life imprisonment and the death penalty.
Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda and can be punished with life imprisonment. But the anti-homosexuality legislation was designed to "fill the gaps" in the provisions of existing laws and "strengthen the nation's capacity to deal with emerging internal and external threats to the traditional heterosexual family."
Bahati told BBC that homosexuality is neither a human right nor is it in-born. "It is a behaviour learned and it can be unlearned," he said on BBC. Some religious leaders in Uganda are backing the legislation, but many more within and outside the country are gravely concerned.
"Regardless of the diverse theological views of our religious traditions regarding the morality of homosexuality, in our churches, communities and families, we seek to embrace our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters as God's children worthy of respect and love," said a group of U.S. Catholic, evangelical and mainline Protestant leaders, in a statement.
Most recently, evangelical Pastor Rick Warren released a video to Ugandan pastors detailing his opposition to the bill and correcting media reports that state otherwise. As a pastor, he said it is not his role to interfere with the politics of other nations, he said it is his role to speak out on moral issues. Warren called the Anti-Homosexuality bill "unjust, extreme and un-Christian" toward homosexuals. "ALL life, no matter how humble or broken, whether unborn or dying, is precious to God," said Warren, who works with pastors in Uganda on the "Purpose Driven" campaign and P.E.A.C.E. Plan.
Passing the bill would have "a chilling effect" on the HIV/AIDS ministry of churches in Uganda, the southern California pastor added. With the proposed legislation threatening to penalise those who provide counselling to someone struggling with their sexuality and work with people infected with HIV/AIDS and who do not report the homosexual within 24 hours of knowledge, fewer people who are HIV positive will seek care from the churches out of fear of being reported.
"You and I know that the churches of Uganda are the truly caring communities where people receive hope and help, not condemnation," the megachurch pastor said in his video message. While affirming that marriage is intended to be between one man and one woman and that all sex outside of marriage is not what God intends, Warren also stressed, "Jesus also taught us that the greatest commandment is to love our neighbours as ourselves. Since God created all, and Jesus suffered and died for all, then we are to treat all with respect.
"The Great Commandment has been the centrepiece of my life and ministry for over 35 years." According to Bloomberg, a refined version of the bill is expected to be presented to Parliament in two weeks. Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, minister of Uganda for Ethics and Integrity, told Bloomberg that the draft bill will drop the death penalty and life imprisonment for gays.
Before the changes, which have not yet been made, the measure stated that persons who commit the offense of "aggravated homosexuality" – where the offense is committed against those below the age of 18 and where the offender is living with HIV – shall be liable on conviction to suffer death and to imprisonment for life. Another provision nullifies international treaties, protocols, and declarations that are "contradictory to the spirit and provisions enshrined in this act."

PRESCHOOLER QUIZ

Taking Stock – the Journey so far

By Ayodeji Jeremiah

Life is a journey. But it is a journey with a difference. Between the time a person is born and the time a person dies, there is no definite destination. What I mean is that whether you are 14 years of age, 40 years of age or 80 years of age, you cannot say with a certainty that yes I have arrived at where I am going. You cannot say that yes I have achieved all there is to be achieved (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11). If that was the case a very successful 30 year old man will simply retire, stop working and stop pursuing any personal interests. Chinua Achebe wrote his most successful book, Things Fall Apart when he was 29 years of age. The book has sold millions of copies, has been translated into several languages and is among the top 100 books published in the last century (1900 – 2000). He however did not say because of that he would stop writing. Even now in his 70s and financially comfortable, he still keeps on writing and lecturing. The same with Billy Graham, the great American preacher who is now in his 80s. Even though now old and he has to move around with walking aid and he can’t stand for too long, he still goes around preaching and ministering to people, something he has be doing for the past sixty years.

What makes a man to continue working and pursuing various interests even into old age? Some would say for money or financial security. But if that was the case, wealthy industrialist John D. Rockefeller who was the richest man during his time and gave away more than $350 million in his lifetime (billions in today’s currency) would not have said “Just a little bit more,” when he was asked how much money it would take to satisfy a man. No amount of money can ever satisfy any man. Money is therefore not a suitable motivation for any worthwhile pursuit in life (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Some others would say because of power. Power is transient. It is temporary. It was Abraham Lincoln, the great American president who said “If you want to test a man’s character, give him power”. Power is a test of character and any man pursuing any worthwhile life interest because of power has already started off on the wrong foot. So why do men either young or old, wealthy or poor continue to pursue various interests when they should be resting or retiring? Is it because of achievement, attaining a certain position, accomplishing a goal, being in the right circle of people or reaching a certain destination? If that were the case Michael Jordan the great American basketball player would not have come out of retirement even after saying he had achieved all he wanted to achieve. He is among the top 100 basketball players of all time.

The reason why men keep on pursuing their various life interests even after achieving certain goals, making a lot of money and reaching old age is because every man has inherent in him a life purpose placed in him by God. We are all created by God for a purpose. God did not place that purpose in us so that we could make money, acquire great possessions, achieve power and build a large network of friends and associates of who is who in town. God placed that purpose in each of us so that we could be of benefit to others. Because that purpose is people-centred and because as long as you are alive you will always have people around you, you will never exhaust yourself of pursuing interests that give you the greatest joy, interests geared towards the fulfilment of your purpose. John Maxwell, the American motivational speaker said “No matter how long you live or what you decide to do in life, you will never exhaust your capacity to grow toward your potential or run out of opportunities to help others.”

In this journey of life therefore, it is important to first and foremost, more than anything else find out and discover your purpose in life. This will enable you to be able to take stock more easily. There is therefore the need to pause once in a while, take a look at where you are, take a look at where you are coming from and take a look at where you will like to go or where you know and are sure you are going. This will enable you to know whether you are on the right track and whether you are doing what you should be doing. This will also enable you to avoid the self-defeatist attitude of measuring your life by something you vaguely hope to be one day instead of something that you are right now.

Taking stock of our lives involves not just knowing one’s purpose in life and what we should be doing but how we are going about doing it or how we should go about doing it. That means on a day to day basis what are the things that we do that enables us to go farther and faster in our lives and what are those things that hinder us. One of the areas that we can do that is in the use of our time. A lot of us have heard the phrase, ‘time management’. The idea it conveys to us is that time can be managed. Time however cannot be managed. The same 24 hours per day that everybody has is what you and I have. The same 24 hours per day that the generation before us had is what this generation has. So in order to have more time to do more things, it is not time that will be managed but us who have to be managed. The more we can manage ourselves, the more we can make effective use of time. Why do we need to make effective use of our time? The better we can make use of our time, the more effective we shall be and the more we are able to achieve. According to Uju Onyechere, a leading motivational speaker and writer in Nigeria, each one of us can actually add more hours to the 24 hours a day we all have. For example if you used to spend 8 hours a day for sleeping, 8 hours a day for work and the remaining 8 hours for recreational, social or personal activities and you have been wondering how you will create time for that book you want to write, that music you want to compose, that painting or sculpture you want to make, that message you want to preach and you never seem to have time to do so; all you have to do is cut short on some of the hours you use for other activities. If you used to wake up at 5.00 am, try waking up at 4.00 a.m. and use the extra hour to pursue that thing that seems to be eluding you because of time. If you used to sleep in the car or bus on your way to work or simply look out of the window, try spending that commute time to read a book or listen to an inspirational tape that you never seem to have time for. If you used to spend your lunch hour to eat and chat at the café, why don’t you try spending it to practise that skill or study for that exam? Not only will you have more time to do more things, you will also avoid burnouts caused by doing too many things in too short a time. Packing several activities into your daily schedule in order to achieve so much leads to burnouts. You can actually lead a more complete life and still look refreshed by managing yourself more and using your time wisely.

A certain child was once asked at school to draw a picture of her family when they are at home. She does so and shows the picture to her father. The father asks her, “Sweetheart, Daddy is not in this picture”. She answered “No, because you are not always at home”. From that day henceforth, he decided to spend more time with his wife and children. Where did he get the extra time from? He didn’t. He simply adjusted himself and his schedule to accommodate his family. We cannot have a complete and successful life without people, most especially our family and close friends around us. Finally, taking stock of our lives involves recognising whether we are making progress or not. Progress not in terms of age, wealth, achievements or acquisitions but in terms of change. Change in your thinking and change in your attitude. Such changes usually reflect in the way you act and relate with others. The more positive change that takes place within you and shows in your outward actions, the farther you will go in life, the more you will achieve and the more successful you will be.

Sign up to be a ‘Gimper’

By Ayodeji Jeremiah


Another year has almost come to an end. There will never be another 2009. There have been births, deaths, wars, famines, earthquakes, fires, festivals, celebrations, birthdays and all of those things that mankind goes through from year to year. We are going into the eleventh year of this century. One hundred years ago (1909), there was no airplane as the Wright brothers had not yet put their acts together. There was no TV. There was no computer. There was no United Nations or Commonwealth. There was no First World War not to talk of a Second World War. There was no atomic bomb. I could go on and on. But in the course of those one hundred years, a lot of things have changed most of which have been through the acts and efforts of men and women who have worked very hard at the expense of their lives and comfort to make a difference in their homes, families, communities and countries. Some of such people are well known and some we may even never hear of in the course of our daily lives. These are people who hate mediocrity and would rather prefer to be ‘gimpers’.

Let us forget about our problems for a while. Yes our economy is in a comatose despite whatever our government might want to tell us. Or how else does one explain an exchange rate of one hundred and fifty naira to a dollar, deposit rate of between five and eight percent, lending rates of between twenty and thirty percent, and one can go on and on. Our refineries have refused to work. The Niger-Delta is in a restive calm and has what you might call the peace of the graveyard. You can never know when the next mine will go off. We are the sixth (or is it seventh) largest oil-producing nation in the world and yet the citizens cannot feel the impact of that accolade. Let us forget about the war in Iraq & Afgahnistan and the huge amount of money that the United States government is going to spend on reconstruction efforts, money that could have been diverted to solve humanitarian problems in other parts of the world. Let us forget the fact that the peace in the Middle East is very delicate and fragile and forget also Hamas, Hizbollah and their power plays. Let us forget about September 11 and terrorist attacks, the next one, which can take place at the American Embassy in your city. Let us forget about hunger, poverty, diseases, wars and other problems confronting mankind.

Let us instead talk about making a difference in our individual lives. A difference that will impact positively on those around us. December is one of the most beautiful months of the year. For one it is the month we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the last month of the year and therefore a moment of stock taking. As an individual, what have you achieved this year? As part of an organisation, what has that organisation achieved? What were the successes and what were the failures? Have you been able to identify those? Has it been just another year? In what ways have you contributed to the advancement of your home, family, friends, organisation and even country? What problems have you been able to solve? What objectives were you able to achieve? In life generally, progress and fulfilment is based only on factors such as having a spouse, having good kids, having a nice home, having a well paying job and having a good car and all those other things that make life worthwhile. All these things are good and are important but are these the only way
of measuring your life’s worth and success. You have been in the same job for three years, doing the same thing, living in the same way day in and day out.

Meanwhile you don’t really like that job. The only reason you are doing it is because of the money. You don’t have a passion for what you are doing. You cannot state exactly what your life vision is. Where are you going? Where do you want to be in the next one, five or ten years? How valuable are you really to your family, your organisation, your friends, and your place of worship? Kenneth Hagin went to be with the Lord in September 2003 but he will be remembered for a very long time. Rhema Bible Church and Kenneth Hagin Ministries and two generations of sons who are Pastors will ensure that. Pa Akindayomi of the R.C.C.G. fame has been gone for thirty years now but we can’t help mentioning his name when we talk about the R.C.C.G. Nelson Mandela celebrated his 91st birthday in July and world celebrities and world leaders flew to South Africa to honour him in a media-raving event. When David Rockefeller celebrated his eightieth birthday in 2003, it was the president of a nation that delivered a personal hand-written card from a former U.S. president. Alfred Nobel has been dead for almost a century but every year from October the world is reminded of his memory through his Nobel Prizes.

Those mentioned above are just a few of the well known ones. There are several others who are making maximum impact all over the world in their various fields of endeavour, in their homes, families, organisations, cities and countries. You too can do something that you will be remembered for in your local community, your organisation, and your nation. It does not have to be something gigantic but it must be something selfless and life changing. Something that stands you out from the pack. However all of these starts from some very little things in everyday life. Things such as giving a part of yourself, a part of your time, a part of your money and generally being a ‘gimper’. A ‘gimper’ according to a seminary chaplain, Dr. Richard Seume is someone who always does a little more than what is required or expected of him or her. There is no better time to sign up to be a ‘gimper’ than this festive season of giving, receiving and rejoicing. As we enter into a New Year, I leave you with the following remarkable words from a great man of God. Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

“At creation, certain things were deposited inside you to make you a success on the planet earth. There is something inside that is able to answer the questions of life. There is a treasure in your nature that is able to terminate all your pressures in life. Until you know it, your struggle continues. This treasure is what I call talent.” – Dr. David Oyedepo

Youth Media Summit

http://www.youthmediasummit.org/

Venue: British Council Multi-Media Suite, 20 Thompson Avenue Ikoyi Lagos Nigeria

Why the Youth Media Round Table
Media play a central role in modern societies because they represent a primary source of information and are a main provider of entertainment for large numbers of people. As a result, media make a decisive impact on the political, economic, social and cultural activities of people and institutions. They bring about new behavioural and cultural patterns. They also help to shape individual opinion, notions and beliefs.

This project is a response to a major demand of the international community: the need for good governance in all types of institutions, private or public. In all countries and especially in democracies, media can play a key role in promoting good governance in the society.
 
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