Tommy Lee Osborn was a man who preached to millions. He was a legendary evangelist and missionary who impacted nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He had a global ministry that reached over 100 countries and saw millions of people saved, healed, delivered, and filled with the Holy Spirit. He was also a prolific author, teacher, and mentor who influenced generations of leaders and ministers. In this article, we will explore his biography, ministry, and quotes.
Introduction TL Osborn was born on December 23, 1923, in Pocasset, Oklahoma. He was the seventh of thirteen children in a poor farming family. He grew up in a Christian home and attended a Pentecostal church. He felt called by God to preach the gospel when he was 14 years old. He dropped out of school and began to travel as an itinerant preacher.
He met his wife Daisy Washburn when he was 17 years old. They married in 1942 and became partners in ministry. They joined the Voice of Healing movement, a revival that swept across America in the late 1940s and early 1950s. They witnessed miracles of healing and deliverance in their meetings. They felt called by God to go to India as missionaries in 1945. They sold everything they had and bought one-way tickets to Bombay. However, they faced many challenges and disappointments in their mission field. They realized that they were not prepared for the cultural and religious barriers that hindered their message. They returned to America after one year with a broken heart and a shattered dream.
They decided to study the life and ministry of Jesus Christ in the Gospels. They discovered that Jesus preached the gospel to the masses, not just to individuals. He demonstrated His love and power through signs, wonders, miracles, healings, deliverances, and teachings. He commissioned His disciples to do the same.
They decided to follow the example of Jesus and to change their approach to missions. They began to preach the gospel to large crowds of people in open-air crusades. They used sound systems, tents, platforms, banners, literature, films, and music to communicate their message. They also prayed for the sick and cast out demons in the name of Jesus. They returned to India in 1953 with a new vision and strategy. They held their first mass crusade in Hyderabad that drew over 200,000 people. They saw thousands of people respond to the gospel and receive healing from various diseases and conditions. They also trained local pastors and leaders to continue the work after they left.
They repeated this pattern in many other countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania. They became one of the most successful and influential evangelists and missionaries of their time. They had a global ministry that reached over 100 countries and saw millions of people saved, healed, delivered, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
They were also prolific authors, teachers, and mentors who influenced generations of leaders and ministers. They wrote over 50 books and produced hundreds of audio and video materials that shared their teachings and testimonies. They founded Osborn Ministries International (OMI), a non-denominational organization that supports missions, church planting, leadership training, humanitarian aid, and media outreach. They also founded International Gospel Center (IGC), a church and training center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
They died within months of each other in 2013. TL Osborn died on February 14, 2013, at the age of 89. Daisy Osborn died on May 24, 2013, at the age of 88. They were buried together in Tulsa. Their legacy lives on through their children, grandchildren, spiritual sons and daughters, books, quotes, and impact on world evangelism.
The Ministry of TL Osborn
The ministry of TL Osborn can be characterized by four main features:
Gospel: TL Osborn preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. He preached that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose from the dead. He preached that Jesus is the Savior who forgives us and gives us eternal life. He preached that Jesus is the Healer who heals us and makes us whole. He preached that Jesus is the Lord who rules over us and gives us authority. He preached that Jesus is the Friend who loves us and fills us with His Spirit.
Grace: TL Osborn preached grace not works. He preached that salvation is a gift not a reward. He preached that we are saved by faith not by works. He preached that we are accepted by God not by our performance. He preached that we are righteous by Christ not by our efforts. He preached that we are blessed by God not by our merits.
Growth: TL Osborn preached growth not stagnation. He preached that God wants us to grow in every area of our lives. He preached that God wants us to grow in our relationship with Him. He preached that God wants us to grow in our knowledge of His word. He preached that God wants us to grow in our experience of His power. He preached that God wants us to grow in our service for His kingdom. He preached that God wants us to grow in our influence for His glory.
Glory: TL Osborn preached glory not shame. He preached that God has given us glory through His Son. He preached that we are created in His image and likeness. He preached that we are redeemed by His blood and grace. He preached that we are filled with His Spirit and power. He preached that we are destined for His presence and purpose. He preached that we are called to reflect His glory to the world.
Quotes by TL Osborn
Here are some quotes by TL Osborn that capture his message and spirit:
“The greatest miracle is not when God heals cancer or opens blind eyes or raises someone from death; it is when God saves a soul from sin.”
“The only way you can know God’s will is by knowing God’s word.”
“You are not what you think you are; you are what you think.”
“The most important thing you can do for anyone is introduce them to Jesus.”
“The only thing you can take with you when you die is what you have given away.”
“God does not use superstars; He uses ordinary people who believe Him.”
“The secret of success is not doing great things for God; it is doing small things with great love.”
“The best way to show your love for God is by showing your love for people.”
“The greatest power on earth is not nuclear power or political power or economic power; it is prayer power.”
“The greatest thing you can do for yourself is forget yourself.”
FAQs Here are some frequently asked questions about TL Osborn: When did TL Osborn die? TL Osborn died on February 14, 2013, at the age of 89. How did TL Osborn die? TL Osborn died peacefully at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Who was TL Osborn married to? TL Osborn was married to Daisy Washburn from 1942 until her death in 2013. How many books did TL Osborn write? TL Osborn wrote over 50 books on various topics related to his ministry. What denomination was TL Osborn? TL Osborn did not belong to any specific denomination; he considered himself as an interdenominational Christian.
Final Words
TL Osborn was a man who preached to millions. He was a legendary evangelist and missionary who impacted nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He had a global ministry that reached over 100 countries and saw millions of people saved, healed, delivered, and filled with the Holy Spirit. His ministry was marked by gospel, grace, growth, and glory. He preached Christ as the Savior, Healer, Lord, and Friend. He demonstrated God’s love and power through signs, wonders, miracles, healings, deliverances, prophecies, tongues, and interpretations. He taught people how to grow in their relationship with God, in their knowledge of His word, in their experience of His power, in their service for His kingdom, and in their influence for His glory. His legacy lives on through his books, his recordings, his quotes, and his impact on world evangelism.
What did you learn? How can you apply what you have learnt into your own life?
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