Richard Roberts On Growing Up The Son Of Oral Roberts

By LeAnne Taylor, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Oral Roberts spent half a century in the ministry, preaching the gospel and sharing God's message around the world. 

But there was a private side to this very public man.

Richard Roberts spoke exclusively with News on 6 anchor LeAnne Taylor.

LeAnne Taylor: "What was it like growing up the son of Oral Roberts?"

Richard Roberts: "It was good because I had a father full of integrity whose word was his bond. You didn't have to have a contract with Oral Roberts. If he told you something, he'd do it. If he told you he was gonna give you a spanking, he'd give you a spanking, but his word was his bond. He and I had so much in common. We both loved athletics. He taught me how to ride horses, he taught me how to play golf. He taught me how to shoot a gun and how to hunt. He took me to basketball games all over the country. I was with him when I was a boy. I wanted to be with him all the time. I traveled with him. I was with him in his crusades in America and all over the world. It was difficult because he traveled a lot and there were times when I was young that he'd be gone for almost two weeks out of a month. That was very difficult.

"I remember once I was so angry that he took my mother to Australia, I took a hatchet that I'd gotten for my birthday and I hacked off the bedpost in defiance to get them to stay, but just glued it back on and went. He said, ‘I'm sorry son, daddy has a call of the Lord to go to Australia.'

"I loved my dad. I loved his ministry, but I didn't want to be a Christian, to face this persecution. I know more about it today than I did then, but it was difficult, and yet it was great at the same time.

"There was a time when he and I were estranged. In fact, there was a time when I told him to get the hell out of my life and he said, ‘that's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to get the hell out of your life.' But when I was 19, I was in college and I gave my heart to the lord and my dad's and my relationship was healed and I joined his ministry and I have been with him ever since and that was in 1968."

During those last 40 years, Richard saw his dad as a pioneer someone who was ahead of his time.

12/20/2009  Related Story: Memorial Service Monday For Oral Roberts