Oral Roberts, the Pentecostal evangelist whose televised faith-healing ministry attracted millions of followers worldwide and made him one of the most recognizable and controversial religious leaders of the 20th century, died Tuesday in Newport Beach, Calif. He was 91.

He was the patriarch of the “prosperity gospel,” a scam that promotes the idea that Christians who pray and donate with sufficient fervency will be rewarded with health, wealth and happiness.

Oral Roberts says he does not think his son, who has been accused of misspending funds at the university the evangelist founded, did anything wrong.

The younger Roberts, a televangelist, was accused along with his wife, Lindsay, of spending money on shopping sprees, home improvements and a stable of horses for their daughters at a time when ORU was badly in debt. Both have denied wrongdoing.

Oral Roberts came to his namesake university for the first time in three years on Monday and told students and employees in a chapel service that “the devil is not going to steal ORU.”

TULSA, Okla. - Evelyn Roberts, the wife of evangelist Oral Roberts, died Wednesday in a California hospital after suffering a head injury during a fall. She was 88.

Since he began his small 'healing' ministry in Oklahoma more than 50 years ago, Oral Roberts has taught millions that prosperity and the power of the Holy Spirit are available to them

KTUL, Jan. 10, 2003