Life Outreach International's James Robison Passes on to His Heavenly Home

Rev. James Robison, the founder of Life Outreach International, has passed on to his heavenly home. He was 82.

He and his wife, Betty, had co-hosted the nationally syndicated Christian television program LIFE TODAY, also known as Life Today with James Robison, since 1995.

His ministry released a statement which reads in part:

   "It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Rev. James Robison, the beloved founder of Life Outreach International.

   James devoted his life to sharing the Gospel and bringing hope, help, and healing to those in need around the world. Together, James and Betty stewarded a ministry that has touched countless lives and will continue impacting generations to come.

   Though we grieve this tremendous loss, we also celebrate a life faithfully lived in service to God and others. In the months and years ahead, we will faithfully carry on the mission James cared about so deeply — bringing food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, and mostly, the hope of Christ to a hurting world...   'Well done, good and faithful servant.' — Matthew 25:21"

James Robison's testimony includes a powerful pro-life story. He was conceived through rape and was born on October 9, 1943, in the charity ward of a Houston hospital. His 41-year-old mother had sought an abortion, but the doctor refused to end his life, so she found a Christian couple to raise him, giving him to Rev. and Mrs. H.D. Hale, who pastored in the Houston suburb of Pasadena.

They raised him for five years until his mother reclaimed him and took him to Austin, where they lived in extreme poverty for 10 years. But the Hales' Christian influence on his life wasn't over. James visited them at 14 and had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. He was soon given the opportunity to live with them once again during his last two years of high school. 

During those years, he was called by God to become an evangelist, and over the course of six decades, he went on to preach in over 600 evangelistic crusades, reaching more than 20 million people.

James Robison is survived by his wife, Betty, and two of their three children, their adopted son Randy and their oldest daughter Rhonda. The Robisons' youngest daughter, Robin Robison Turner, passed away at age 40 in 2012 after a battle with throat cancer.