Bebe Patten
Encyclopedia
Dr. Bebe Patten was the founder of Patten University
(formerly Oakland Bible Institute), Patten Academy, Christian Cathedral and the Christian Evangelical Churches of America, Inc. denomination
.
Born Wilma "Willie" Bebe Harrison on September 13, 1913 to Newton and Matricia Priscilla Harrison, she began attending L.I.F.E. Bible College at seventeen, and upon graduation from L.I.F.E., became the Tennessee State Evangelist of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. In 1935, Bebe Harrison married C. Thomas Patten, who worked with her during her evangelistic crusades and her Oakland revival services. The couple had three children: identical twins Rebecca and Priscilla in 1950 and Thomas Patten Jr. in 1954.
Dr. Patten became a highly successful national evangelist, arrived in Oakland, California
, in 1944 and began an evangelistic crusade there. The meetings continued nightly for nineteen weeks, in which as many as 5,000 people a night attended in the Oakland Auditorium Arena. This crusade led in 1944 to the founding of the Oakland Bible Institute, which was to become Patten University and the Academy of Christian Education high school which later became Patten Academy of Christian Education (grades K-12).
For her achievements in education and religion, Dr. Bebe Patten received resolutions from the California State Senate (1978, 1994, and 2003) and Elihu Harris (1994).
She interviewed Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion in 1972 and later Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir.
In 1975 and 1977, Patten University planted two forests of 10,000 trees in the Negev region of Israel. In 1981, Bar-Ilan University honored her with the Bebe Patten Chair of Social Action and appointed her a member of the university’s international board in 1991.
During the mid-1930s and 1940s two of her revivals were burned to the ground after she preached against racism, segregation and social injustices that took place in the South
.
She attended the funeral of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and personally offered her condolences to Coretta Scott King, his widow.
Patten’s husband, C. Thomas Patten, died in 1958, and two of her children predeceased her, Thomas Patten, Jr. in 1989 and Priscilla Benham in 2000. She was survived by her daughter Rebecca Skaggs and one grandchild, Charmaine Benham.
Her biography Winning the Race, written by Dr. Glenn Kunkel, was released in 2000.
Patten University
Patten University is a private institution of higher education in Oakland, California.The school was founded in 1944 by evangelical preacher Dr. Bebe Patten as the Oakland Bible Institute, and was affiliated with the Christian Evangelical Churches of America, a denomination established by Dr. Bebe...
(formerly Oakland Bible Institute), Patten Academy, Christian Cathedral and the Christian Evangelical Churches of America, Inc. denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
.
Born Wilma "Willie" Bebe Harrison on September 13, 1913 to Newton and Matricia Priscilla Harrison, she began attending L.I.F.E. Bible College at seventeen, and upon graduation from L.I.F.E., became the Tennessee State Evangelist of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. In 1935, Bebe Harrison married C. Thomas Patten, who worked with her during her evangelistic crusades and her Oakland revival services. The couple had three children: identical twins Rebecca and Priscilla in 1950 and Thomas Patten Jr. in 1954.
Dr. Patten became a highly successful national evangelist, arrived in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, in 1944 and began an evangelistic crusade there. The meetings continued nightly for nineteen weeks, in which as many as 5,000 people a night attended in the Oakland Auditorium Arena. This crusade led in 1944 to the founding of the Oakland Bible Institute, which was to become Patten University and the Academy of Christian Education high school which later became Patten Academy of Christian Education (grades K-12).
For her achievements in education and religion, Dr. Bebe Patten received resolutions from the California State Senate (1978, 1994, and 2003) and Elihu Harris (1994).
Media appearances
Dr. Patten is celebrated as a compassionate pastor and effective teacher. Though she began to preach as an evangelist, she had a pastor's heart, which inspired faith in church members and congregants and those who heard her broadcasts. "The Shepherd Hour," a daily 30-minute radio broadcast, continued from 1951 to 1987. Her telecast, "The Bebe Patten Hour," aired from 1976 to the 2004, and her periodical The Trumpet Call, has been published from 1952 to the present.Jewish Community Work
Dr. Patten was an outspoken supporter of Israel. Beginning in 1962 she took her church congregation and students of Patten University on more than 25 trips to Israel. In 1975, she was named Christian Honoree of the Year by the San Francisco chapter of the Jewish National Fund, and she received several honors and awards from Israel, including the State of Israel Medallion in 1969.She interviewed Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion in 1972 and later Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir.
In 1975 and 1977, Patten University planted two forests of 10,000 trees in the Negev region of Israel. In 1981, Bar-Ilan University honored her with the Bebe Patten Chair of Social Action and appointed her a member of the university’s international board in 1991.
Racial and social issues
Patten was also known for promoting racial equality in all the institutions she founded. Patten University was recognized as a “model of diversity,” but her influence begun much earlier.During the mid-1930s and 1940s two of her revivals were burned to the ground after she preached against racism, segregation and social injustices that took place in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
.
She attended the funeral of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and personally offered her condolences to Coretta Scott King, his widow.
Death and legacy
Bebe Patten died at 90 years of age on January 25, 2004, after a long illness.Patten’s husband, C. Thomas Patten, died in 1958, and two of her children predeceased her, Thomas Patten, Jr. in 1989 and Priscilla Benham in 2000. She was survived by her daughter Rebecca Skaggs and one grandchild, Charmaine Benham.
Her biography Winning the Race, written by Dr. Glenn Kunkel, was released in 2000.