James Robison, the Texas-based televangelist who founded LIFE Outreach International, died Sunday. No cause of death had been disclosed at the time of the announcement. He was 82.
The ministry’s board of directors confirmed the death in a statement posted to social media, saying the mission Robison devoted his life to would continue.
“James devoted his life to sharing the Gospel and bringing hope, help, and healing to those in need around the world,” the board wrote, adding that the organization would press forward with food and clean water programs and broader outreach efforts.
Robison was the host of “LIFE Today,” a long-running Christian television program. He helped build LIFE Outreach International into a ministry known for feeding programs, clean-water initiatives, disaster relief and outreach to vulnerable communities worldwide.
He had spoken publicly throughout his career about being born under difficult circumstances and raised in hardship. Robison had a life-altering encounter with Jesus at age 14 and was called to be an evangelist at 18. According to his website, more than 20 million people have heard him preach throughout his career in ministry.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Robison; son Randy; and daughter Rhonda. A daughter, Robin, predeceased him, according to Bunni Pounds, president of Christians Engaged, in a tribute posted to Facebook.
James and Betty Robison married in 1963 and partnered in over 60 years of ministry together.
Notable Christian leaders offered their remembrances of Robison on social media, including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who formerly served as a Baptist pastor.
“I worked for James Robison in the 70’s as Dir of Comms. He & wife Betty were huge influences in my life,” Huckabee wrote on X. “My middle son’s middle name is ‘James’ after him. His death hits hard. He mentored me in so many ways.”
Pounds, who said Robison served on the advisory board of Christians Engaged, recalled him as a formative influence. She said he wrote the foreword to her book Jesus and Politics and that his encouragement sustained the organization through difficult early years.
“If it wasn’t for James … I wouldn’t have understood John 17 and Jesus’ passion for His Body to be One and His passion for the lost and hurting. If it wasn’t for James, I wouldn’t have discovered the Holy Spirit as a 14-year-old. … If he hadn’t been like a father to me, speaking identity over me at key moments of my journey, I would not have had the courage to go on,” she wrote.
LIFE Outreach International’s board asked supporters to pray for Betty Robison and the ministry family in the days ahead.
@Christian Post
