T. L. Osborn
Word of Faith
(A bit about
T. L. Osborn...)
Tommy Lee Osborn.... was born on December 23, 1923, on the small family potato farm, in Grady County, Oklahoma. He was the seventh and youngest son of thirteen children, born to Charles Richard Osborn (1883–1966) and his wife Mary (née Brown) (1885–1951). His father, also a seventh son, was a nonpracticing traditional Baptist, "That's supposed to mean something," Osborn once commented, adding "Turns out, it did mean something." His parents were musicians, as were several of his brothers and sisters, and Tommy Lee started making music at a very young age. Growing up in the latter half of the 1920s, he saw his large family struggling through the depression years.
In 1930, when Osborn was six years old, his father moved the family to Skedee, Oklahoma, in search of another, more profitable potato farm. At a church in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, he met future televangelist Oral Roberts, who would become his lifelong friend for over 70 years, until Roberts's death in 2009. Osborn frequently went with Roberts to help with evangelical meetings. Roberts did most of the preaching, Osborn did everything else, including playing the accordion and the piano for the musical part of the meetings.
Osborn had experienced.... a Christian conversion in 1937, at the age of 13, when his older brother took him to a Pentecostal church in Mannford. Gradually, each of his six brothers moved out of the family home until TL was the only boy still living with his parents and helping his 60-year-old father on the potato farm. He admitted that he was reluctant, even scared, to ask his father's permission to move out and begin traveling. Finally, while sorting potatoes in the cellar, he plucked up courage to make the request and was greatly surprised when his father said "yes."
In 1939, aged 15, Osborn was (milking the cows) when he began to cry. He fell on his knees, praying and asking God what was happening. The Lord, he said, called him to be an evangelist, while he laughed and cried at the same time, overwhelmed by what was happening to him. He dropped out of high school after completing eighth grade and hit the road with E.M. Dillard, a traveling evangelist. Osborn was responsible for organizing evangelistic meetings and was also in charge of youth services in the evening. He traveled with Dillard through three states. The last one was California, and he met Daisy Washburn, in Los Banos, California at one of the meetings. It was 1941 and he was only 17 when he fell instantly in love.
On April 5, 1942.... Osborn married the graduating high school student and farmer's girl, Daisy Washburn Osborn (born September 23, 1924 in Merced, California). He was 18, and she was only 17. Shortly thereafter, they set out on a life of ministry and missionary travel, including a trip to India when Osborn was still only 21. In time, (they carried the Gospel of Christ to tens of millions of people all over the world), declaring it with faith and confidence.
However, that early mission in India, preaching at Lucknow, was not fruitful. Their ministry lasted less than a year in India, and they returned home because of critical family sickness. In 1947, the Osborns had their only daughter,
LaDonna Osborn (b. March 13 of that year; she was raised accompanying her parents on the platforms of global mass miracle evangelistic crusades.
The Osborns first.... gained public notice shortly after returning from India, as evangelists on the Big Tent Revival circuit in the United States and Canada. There, they preached to audiences often numbering over 10,000, in open-air meetings and under large tents in settings such as fairgrounds and stadiums. Other young contemporary evangelists, including
Oral Roberts,
Billy Graham,
Jack Coe,
R.W. Schambach and
A.A. Allen, were also on the circuit. The Osborns emphasized the love and compassion of God, rather than the ("fire and brimstone") theology style commonly used by evangelists of the era, and they practiced supernatural healing in their meetings. The Osborn's egalitarian ministry philosophy was also not accepted by many conservative audiences.
By the early 1950s, their emphasis began to shift more and more toward international missions. They held large crusades in Latin America, Asia, and Africa and crowds grew rapidly, at times (exceeding 100,000. After Osborn's crusades in Thailand in 1956 and Uganda in 1957, Pastor Fred Wantaate of Makerere Full Gospel Church said that "after that crusade in Mombasa, the fountain of the river of Pentecostalism spread in the heart of East Africa."
Around that same time.... he met another future televangelist,
Marilyn Hickey, eight years Osborn's junior, with her new husband, Wallace. The young couple traveled around in her husband's car, conducting tent revival meetings in various towns. Together, Osborn and Hickey prayed for the sick and she became a guest speaker at his conferences. He was lifelong friends with her family until his death just four months after Hickey lost her husband, Wallace.
Over the course of the next (five decades), Osborn and his team traveled to more than 70 countries including Kenya where Apostle Dr. Joe Kayo got born again in his Crusade in 1957(Joe Kayo later turned to be a great pioneer of Pentecostal movement in East Africa) and reached (millions of people). They created prolific quantities of evangelistic and training materials, some of which were translated into more than 80 languages.
Osborn's wife.... of 53 years,
Daisy Osborn, died in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 27, 1995, at age 70. Thereafter, he continued to travel and conduct crusades around the world for another 15 years.
Osborn died on February 14, 2013, at the age of 89. According to his daughter, LaDonna, he had been in good health until his body began weakening just a few days before he stopped breathing. He was buried next to his wife at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma (the same cemetery where
Oral Roberts had been buried nearly four years earlier). Osborn was survived by his daughter, three of four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
LaDonna Osborn continues to operate the ministry founded by her parents, including leading international crusades in the developing world every year. His grandson Tommy Ray O'Dell has also followed in his grandfather's footsteps and has a ministry focused on evangelism and education in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Like his grandfather, he often draws large crowds and it has been claimed that miracles have taken place in his services.
At this point, we apologize... that due to research efforts there was not one single written article found from T. L. Osborn ministry. There are several of written comments about His ministry but found no written teachings of him.
~ What People are Saying...~
“
T.L. Osborn is a legend in the faith. Not only have he and Daisy impacted millions of lives for Jesus, but they have had tremendous impact on Lisa’s and my life as well.–
John Bevere
“T.L. Osborn is one of the most extraordinary pioneers of our century. His life and work of miracles has been an inspiration to me, as well as to my son, Gordon. I know that this book will build your faith as it has mine.” --
Pat Robertson – Chairman, Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc.
There is no question.... that
T. L. and Daisy Osborn have mentored me and been extremely influential in helping me to reach the world with the Word. I can never say enough or thank them enough or pray for them enough. What an opportunity and honor it’s been to be part of mass miracle evangelism. No one, and I mean no one, has affected the world in our generation like the Osborn’s. A recent example was their meeting in downtown Paris, with over 10,000 people. That was an impossibility that became a possibility with the Osborn’s. –Dr.
Marilyn Hickey – Marilyn Hickey Ministries
Dr. T.L. Osborn is the greatest healing evangelist in the modern era. For over 50 years, he has preached face to face to more people worldwide than anyone I know. And the miracles…they just keep coming. I honor his life and his ministry. –
Richard L. Roberts
“
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13). World renowned statesman, missionary evangelist, and teacher of teachers, Dr.
T. L. Osborn, has been my greatest source of inspiration in ministry since the 1950’s. It was not the great tent meetings that captured my heart; nor was it the massive crowds in 78 nations of the world. But as a young pastor in Pennsylvania during an Osborn meeting, I saw God use this man to put the miracle-working power of Christ on display.
T.L. Osborn called a.... buddy of mine who had his eyes destroyed in a mining accident to the plat form in front of thousands of people. He publicly asked God for a creative miracle—and my buddy walked away with two brand new eyes. From that day forward I was passionate about pursuing God for a ministry that was bold enough to demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ, pronouncing Him the same, yesterday, today and forever! As ministers of the Gospel, both my daughter Donna and been deeply appreciative of the life and teaching of Dr. T.L. Osborn...He is our friend. We highly recommend his LEGACY OF FAITH collection to you. –
R. W Schambach
Dr. Osborn has always been special to my family. He is a remarkable and great man. I salute him! –
Dodie Osteen Co-Founder of Lakewood Church.
What a powerful.... testimony of a man of faith and miracles. Having known
T.L. and Daisy for many years, we have been personally impacted by their ministry and their love for the people of the world. –
Happy and Jeanne Caldwell – Agape Church, Inc.
Conviction, compassion, caring and loving.
T.L.’s desire is to see people set free, to know Christ and to walk in all that the cross purchased for them. His legacy is untold numbers in heaven. A man of humility and love. It is an honor to know him. –
Pat Harrison
Our lives have.... been enriched and impacted by
T. L. and Daisy Osborn. They set the example for others of this generation as they preached and demonstrated the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a couple moving in faith and obedience to God. Together they have been visionaries, as evangelists they have reached people to be saved, healed, delivered, and raised people’s understanding of their value and purpose in life. Praying for people in masses to be healed of sickness and disease have resulted in spectacular miracles for God’s glory and opening hearts then to be saved.
T. L. and Daisy Osborn have not only been evangelists in meetings but Jesus’ witness one-on-one with individuals. Once Brother T. L. said, “You are painting a picture of Jesus to others by every word you speak and every deed you do.”
In these past years, spending time with Brother T. L., I have seen a man who exemplifies the fruit of the Spirit as well as the power of the Spirit of God wherever he is. An outstanding characteristic about Brother T. L.’s life is that he wants every person to know how valuable they are and the potential that God sees in every individual to be and to do great things for God here in this world. –
Sharon Daughtery
T.L. brought.... a new level of faith, joy and identity in Christ to me and our church. His positive spirit and message changed us as it has millions around the world. He is one our greatest ambassadors for Christ. T.L. is one of our Fathers in the Lord and an example of Jesus. The Legacy of Faith will lift you and empower you for the great life that T.L. has spread around the world. –
Casey Treat
(Special thanks to....
Dr. Osborn)
Jesus is
coming soon, Get Ready!
Thank You, Jesus
(Enjoy the Song)