T.L. Osborn (Thomas L. Osborn) was an influential American evangelist, missionary, and author known for his healing ministry and global impact on Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity. He was born on July 23, 1923, and passed away on February 14, 2013. T.L. Osborn was widely regarded for his evangelistic campaigns and his emphasis on healing and miracles as part of the Christian message. His ministry was particularly marked by outreach in developing nations, where he helped spread the message of the gospel and saw many remarkable healings and transformations.
Famous Quotes
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“The gospel is not a gospel of words, it’s a gospel of power.”
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This quote emphasizes Osborn’s belief in the transformative and healing power of the gospel message, particularly in relation to physical and spiritual healing.
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“The greatest miracle that can happen to any person is to be born again.”
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Osborn often stressed salvation as the central miracle, above and beyond physical healings, and viewed it as the ultimate transformation a person could experience.
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“Healing is the bread of the children.”
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This is a key teaching of Osborn’s, reflecting the idea that healing is an inherent part of the gospel and available to all believers, just as bread is a basic need.
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“What God did for one, He will do for you.”
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A phrase often used by Osborn during his healing services, encouraging people to believe that the same miracles witnessed in others could happen to them as well.
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Healings in His Ministry
T.L. Osborn’s ministry was heavily focused on healing, which he believed was a central aspect of the gospel message. He held large-scale healing crusades around the world, particularly in Africa, India, and Latin America. Many people testified to miraculous healings and deliverances during his meetings.
Some of the notable healings include:
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Blindness: Osborn often reported seeing large numbers of blind people healed during his campaigns. For example, in one crusade, hundreds of blind people were said to receive their sight.
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Deafness: Many deaf individuals were said to experience restored hearing.
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Lame people walking: He reported numerous instances of people who were paralyzed or unable to walk being healed and walking again after prayer.
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Crippling diseases: People with debilitating conditions, including conditions like polio, were said to be healed in Osborn’s meetings.
These miracles were often accompanied by the preaching of the gospel, where Osborn emphasized that the healing power was a result of God’s love and an expression of the message of salvation.
Legacy
T.L. Osborn left a significant legacy in the realm of evangelical missions and healing ministries. His impact can be seen in several ways:
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Global Evangelism: He is often credited with helping shape the modern Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s. Osborn was among the first to take healing evangelism on a large scale to countries outside the United States, especially in third-world nations. His campaigns reached millions and made a lasting impact on the global spread of Pentecostalism.
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Teaching and Training: Osborn and his wife, Daisy, developed extensive teaching materials on healing and evangelism, which have been used by many ministries around the world. They founded T.L. Osborn Ministries and Osborn Institute of Evangelism to equip others in the ministry of healing and evangelism.
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Books: He wrote several books, many of which are still popular today, such as Healing the Sick and Soul Winning. These books have been translated into multiple languages and used by ministers to train others in evangelism and healing.
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Healing and Miracles as a Central Theme: Osborn’s teaching on healing emphasized that miracles were part of the normal Christian experience, and that believers should expect to see God’s healing power manifested in their lives. This has influenced many ministries and continues to inspire believers who seek to see the miraculous in their own lives and ministries.
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Osborn’s Influence on Other Leaders: Many contemporary Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders, including figures like Benny Hinn and others in the Word of Faith movement, cite T.L. Osborn as a key influence on their ministry.
In summary, T.L. Osborn’s legacy is largely defined by his worldwide evangelistic efforts, his emphasis on healing as a core part of the gospel, and his lifelong mission to share the message of Jesus Christ with a global audience. Through his crusades, writings, and teaching, he left a lasting imprint on Christian healing ministries and the Pentecostal movement.
