‘The Father of the Gospel’ wrote ‘Healing the Sick,’ of which more than 1 million copies were printed in English

Pentecostal evangelist and best-selling author T.L. (Tommy Lee) Osborn died Feb. 14 at his Tulsa, Okla., home surrounded by four generations of his family. He was 89.

According to a message posted on Twitter by his daughter, LaDonna Osborn, her father, known around the world as “the Father of the Gospel,” was in “no pain and had no sickness.” 

“The Lord simply took away his breath,” she wrote. “My father was wrapped in love, his family surrounding him as he stepped through the veil into eternity. He is now in the presence of Jesus, whom he had served faithfully for 77 years. We can only imagine the sweet reunion between him and his beloved Daisy, three of his children, a granddaughter and a celebrating host of believers who are among the redeemed because of my father’s ministry during more than 65 years to every corner of the earth.”

His books include Healing the Sick; Legacy of Faith Collection; The Power of Positive Desire; Miracles: Proof of God’s Love; and The Best of Life (all published by Harrison House). More than 1 million copies of Healing the Sick were sold and it has been printed nearly 70 times.

Osborn “was a pioneer in mass-miracle evangelism,” said officials for Harrison House, which has published Osborn’s books since the 1980s. “He has been one of the most influential evangelists of the 20th century and very likely preached the gospel to more people face-to-face than any other man in history.”

In 2011, Harrison House released A Legacy of Faith: T.L. Osborn, a book highlighting his life and ministry. 

Osborn, who established Osborn Ministries International with his wife, Daisy, in 1949 in Tulsa, took to the gospel to tens of millions in more than 100 nations. 

Osborn also launched Osborn DocuMiracle films and videos and the Osborn National Missionary Assistance Program. DocuMiracle films are offered in 70 languages in 115 nations, and the assistance program has helped establish more than 150,000 new churches.

An Oklahoma native, Osborn was longtime friends with Oral Roberts, whom he attributes to inspiring his ministry. He is survived by his daughter, LaDonna; five grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren. A memorial service was scheduled for March 6 at Oral Roberts University’s Christ’s Chapel in Tulsa.

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