James Robison
Encyclopedia
James Robison is an American
televangelist and the founder and President of the Christian relief organization Life Outreach International
.
Later on, E.D. Hale, who was a local area pastor and his wife had answered the ad and eventually "took him in" after which he became born-again at one of the pastor's church services, at the age of 14. He has often talked about his childhood, about the strained relationship with his biological father, who was an alcoholic, and whom he would wind up confronting in a violent manner at the age of 15, after a bitter argument between and assault on his mother. Robison eventually met his wife while still a student a Pasadena High School.
While still in college, Robison eveutually wed the former Betty Freeman on February 23, 1963, when both were the age of 20. Two years later, in 1965, the newly-wed couple, and who were students at Middle Tennessee State University
, graduated with honors from the school. The two, who now host the daily television program LIFE Today, started their ministry together later that year in late 1965, then went into full-time television ministry, through the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, in 1968. James and Betty have three children and 11 grandchildren, and reside in Fort Worth, Texas, where their program LIFE Today is shot and where their ministry LIFE Outreach is also based.
airs around the world on various television networks, both secular and Christian, such as Trinity Broadcasting Network
, and DayStar
. It can also be seen on internet podcasts, as well as the Life Outreach International official website. LIFE Today often features guest interviews, musical guests such as Christian recording artists Sandi Patti, Steven Curtis Chapman
, Larnelle Harris
, as well as mission outreaches. Past guests have included actor Robert Duvall
, singer Randy Travis
, former President George W. Bush
, baseball pitcher Andy Pettitte
and other Christian celebrities. It also features real stories from various guest viewers; people who are ministry partners, their life stories, how they converted to Christ, and how their faith impacts their lives. The third-world mission outreaches include distributing emergency food, drilling water wells, establishing orphanages and providing medical care.
, a not-for-profit Christian camp and retreat center, still in operation today under different management.
Recently a local developer built them a new house in exchange for property.
At age 23, future Arkansas
governor (and 2008 presidential candidate) Mike Huckabee
was a public relations
staffer for Robison.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
televangelist and the founder and President of the Christian relief organization Life Outreach International
Life Outreach International
Life Outreach International is a Christian media organization, founded and headed by James Robison....
.
Early life and ministry
Robison was born and raised in Pasadena, Texas a suburb of Houston. Robison, whose mother, Myra Wattinger, was forty years old at the time she gave birth to him, was an unplanned birth; he has revealed on his TV program with wife Betty facts about his childhood, that he was the product of a broken family situation; his mother was the victim of rape, a forced sex encounter, by his biological father. His mother then placed an ad in the Houston newspaper for a Christian couple to take care of him.Later on, E.D. Hale, who was a local area pastor and his wife had answered the ad and eventually "took him in" after which he became born-again at one of the pastor's church services, at the age of 14. He has often talked about his childhood, about the strained relationship with his biological father, who was an alcoholic, and whom he would wind up confronting in a violent manner at the age of 15, after a bitter argument between and assault on his mother. Robison eventually met his wife while still a student a Pasadena High School.
While still in college, Robison eveutually wed the former Betty Freeman on February 23, 1963, when both were the age of 20. Two years later, in 1965, the newly-wed couple, and who were students at Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University, commonly abbreviated as MTSU, is a public university located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States....
, graduated with honors from the school. The two, who now host the daily television program LIFE Today, started their ministry together later that year in late 1965, then went into full-time television ministry, through the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, in 1968. James and Betty have three children and 11 grandchildren, and reside in Fort Worth, Texas, where their program LIFE Today is shot and where their ministry LIFE Outreach is also based.
LIFE Today TV program
The Robisons' TV program, the daily television program LIFE Today,airs around the world on various television networks, both secular and Christian, such as Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
, and DayStar
Daystar
Daystar may refer to:* DayStar Digital, a company that used to manufacture Apple Macintosh clones* Daystar Technologies, a company that builds performance upgrades for Apple Macintosh Computers and services the previous company's products...
. It can also be seen on internet podcasts, as well as the Life Outreach International official website. LIFE Today often features guest interviews, musical guests such as Christian recording artists Sandi Patti, Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist.After starting his career in the late 1980s as a singer/songwriter of contemporary Christian music, Chapman has since been recognized as one of the most prolific singers in the genre,...
, Larnelle Harris
Larnelle Harris
Larnelle Steward Harris is a gospel singer and songwriter. During his 30-plus years of ministry, Harris has recorded 18 albums, won five Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards, and has had several number one songs on the inspirational music charts.-Early life:A native of Danville, Kentucky, Harris...
, as well as mission outreaches. Past guests have included actor Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
, singer Randy Travis
Randy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
, former President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, baseball pitcher Andy Pettitte
Andy Pettitte
Andrew Eugene Pettitte is a retired American left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher.In his major league career, he played for the New York Yankees from 1995–2003. He then signed with the Houston Astros, and played for them from 2004 through 2006. In 2007, Pettitte rejoined the Yankees...
and other Christian celebrities. It also features real stories from various guest viewers; people who are ministry partners, their life stories, how they converted to Christ, and how their faith impacts their lives. The third-world mission outreaches include distributing emergency food, drilling water wells, establishing orphanages and providing medical care.
Christian retreat
In 1974, the James Robison Evangelistic Association purchased a hunting and fishing lodge near Hawkins, Texas, which the association developed into Brookhaven RetreatBrookhaven Retreat
Brookhaven Retreat is a non-profit 501 Christian camp and retreat center located approximately six miles north of Hawkins, Texas in the Piney Woods region of north East Texas.Brookhaven Retreat is a rental facility for group organized retreats...
, a not-for-profit Christian camp and retreat center, still in operation today under different management.
Salary
Robison receives an annual salary from Life Outreach International of $159,000 and Betty Robison receives $128,000, figures based on wage and compensation surveys of similar organizations in their geographic region. They also receive a housing allowance, health insurance and retirement benefits based on surveys of businesses in their area.Recently a local developer built them a new house in exchange for property.
At age 23, future Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
governor (and 2008 presidential candidate) Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
was a public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
staffer for Robison.
Literary works
Since 1962, while he was still in college, Robison has spoken to millions of people—first through crusade evangelism, and now today through television. He has authored more than a dozen books, including True Prosperity, Thank God I'm Free and My Father's Face. His book The Absolutes: Freedom's Only Hope, published by Tyndale House, outlines absolute principles related to current issues and warns of the dangers of relativism.Selected bibliography
- The Absolutes: Freedom's Only Hope
- True Prosperity
- The Soul of a Nation