Comments on: Oral Roberts and Me: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It

By: Scott Fairchild

Scott Fairchild — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:01:00 +0000

I just found this article after reading another one you had written. I went to ORU for my M. Div, and was there during some rather tumultuous times. I was ridiculed for being there, but stayed nonetheless, and a big part of my staying was Oral himself. I never met him personally, but admired him from afar. I did happen to see him at the track one day, he and Evelyn were walking together. His kindness toward all of us was overwhelming. He took time to great each one as they stopped him. He was a great man. Thank you for an insightful tribute to him.

By: Roberta Potts

Roberta Potts — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:47:00 +0000

I’d say you nailed him pretty well. Roberta Potts

By: Chris Busch

Chris Busch — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil, great post about a great man.

By: Raven

Raven — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Great memories Phil! You were very blessed to spend so much time with him- and he was blessed to have your talents! I'm glad you left though, cause then I got my turn. :)) Just a couple of years with him, but I do see so much of what you mentioned is absolutely accurate.

#4 I so agree with that one. This is what I remember him most for. He really impressed on me the importance of using the RIGHT word. I remember sitting with him backstage in Tacoma, WA where he had just finished preaching at a local church. He was just sitting there, when the pastor walked in. The first thing he said to the pastor was, 'did you hear that? God's hand is not DIMINISHED." (from the scripture "God's hand is not shortened") Then he just grinned. Like that one word was everything to him. That really impressed me, ONE WORD- the ONE PERFECT WORD, makes all the difference in communication... and his insistance that communication is not just saying words, but when the hearer actually understands what you are saying.

And #1, He did love a spirited, friendly debate. He liked being backed into corners then finding his way out. When I was a student, he used to sit at my workstudy desk in Athletics and try to start a debate with me on theogy. I was grossly grossly grossly (times infinity) overmatched, but he knew I was raised in Word of Faith and would dig around until he said something I'd argue about. As busy as he was, there he'd sit trying to stir up a discussion just for entertainment. If I made a point (very very rarely) he'd stand up and say, 'well, write it up and i'll take a closer look at it.' Of course, he knew I'd never presume to do that- it was his way of teasing.

I was on the end of #7 too many times. :) But, about 3 months before Evelyn died, I visited him in his Newport home, and at the end of the visit Eveyln apologized for him while he stood there grinning. She said, "Raven, Oral was really hard on you sometimes. And he shouldn't have been. But, he loves you like one of his own. He always told me how much he loved talking with you about the Bible." (So, that was his version to Eveyln 'talking about the Bible!") That was really precious to me... but he could be very unreasonable, very blunt, and even (gasp) overly self-focused, at times!

Fortunately, I was on the end of #9 too. My greatest compliment ever was from him. I had written him a letter to which he replied- "Raven, you are a good writer." Of course, I am not a writer- I write things but I am certainly not a writer. What he meant was that in that letter I used the right words and "communicated" with him in a way he really understood. To me, it meant I had learned something from the master.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PHIL! I love reading the personal stories...not so much about the urinal (ha)... but I love the pic!

By: Jay Shennum

Jay Shennum — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil, Thank you for your very thoughtful post. It’s a good recollection of the man.

By: Roy Baker

Roy Baker — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil – thanks for sharing these stories. It’s good to hear this side of the life of Oral Roberts. I am also grateful for the opportunity I had to work with this great man of faith.

By: Libby Haynes

Libby Haynes — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you, thank you, thank you. What an amazing tribute to an amazing man. So many have taken part of who Oral was and perverted it to make him seem different from who he really was. This puts it all in perspective. You are blessed to have been able to see the “many sides” of him and help the rest of us know it too. I was so blessed to be a student at ORU. As a baby Christian I grew and developed there in a fertile environment. It was his Holy Spirit in the Now class and his books, like the one on Seed Faith, that formed the foundation of my devotion to truth and following after His calling on my life. I appreciate your sharing.

By: John Bixler

John Bixler — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil, I worked alongside you while I was a student at ORU, but I only knew Oral from a distance. Thanks for sharing your heart and experiences. Oral has always had a profound influence on my life and your post is a wonderful way for me to remember him. Thank also to Roy for forwarding me this URL.

By: Truett Hancock

Truett Hancock — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Great post! I remember being in the back hallway of Christ’s Chapel at ORU and Oral came in from the garage by himself and it was just he and I in the hallway and I said, “Hello President Roberts” and his rather awkward reply was, “God bless you son”. Well, for what it’s worth – HE always has.

Oral was one of the most forward thinking men of the last 50 years and his ability to communicate an idea is unmatched.

By: Amick Byram

Amick Byram — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil,

This tribute was both beautiful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing your personal history with Oral. His legacy is great and my experiences with Oral and ORU are richer because of your tribute today.

Amick