Virginia Beach, Virginia – Pat Robertson, a well-known television host, religious broadcaster, educator, humanitarian, and former presidential candidate, passed away at his residence in Virginia Beach on Thursday morning. He was 93 years old.
Robertson gained prominence as the host of The 700 Club, the flagship program of his media ministry, where he offered prayer and provided political commentary.
His journey to success began with a divine vision to create The Christian Broadcasting Network, which he established in 1960.
Alongside this, he also founded a Christian university, a legal advocacy group, and an international non-governmental organization focused on disaster relief.
While his belief in the infallibility of the Bible shaped his worldview, his unconventional business approach and on-air persona were considered ahead of their time by some. Today, his influence and legacy have transcended various fields and broken barriers for numerous Christian leaders and believers.
Born as Marion Gordon Robertson on March 22, 1930, in Lexington, Virginia, he adopted the nickname “Pat” given to him by his older brother, and it stuck with him throughout his life.
Despite aspiring to be a successful businessman after completing his education at Yale, where he studied law and was the son of a U.S. senator, Robertson’s life took a different turn in the 1950s when he experienced a spiritual transformation and became a born-again Christian.
In his autobiography, “Shout It From the Housetops,” published in 1972, Robertson recounted how he felt God speaking to him about starting a television ministry. He abandoned his personal aspirations and embraced what he believed to be God’s plan.
However, he faced significant challenges when he ventured into religious broadcasting, starting with limited funds and a run-down TV station in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Greg Laurie, the pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, recalled Robertson’s determination and faith, as he acquired the station despite having very little money. Robertson’s faith and negotiation skills eventually led him to obtain the station for free.
In 1960, after relocating his family to Virginia, he established The Christian Broadcasting Network with a mere $70 to his name and an initial deposit of $3 in the company’s bank account.
These humble beginnings, fueled by vision and unwavering faith, grew into a global media ministry that reached hundreds of millions of people across six continents, excluding Antarctica. In 1966, Robertson began hosting The 700 Club, which continues to air today and holds the distinction of being one of the longest-running programs in television history.
While hosting The 700 Club, Robertson revolutionized Christian television, expanding his influence far beyond matters of spirituality. By the 1970s, he secured interviews with notable military and political figures such as Yitzhak Rabin, the late Prime Minister of Israel, and Jimmy Carter, who was then the Governor of Georgia and later became the President of the United States with support from evangelical Christians.
In 1980, Robertson played a part in Ronald Reagan’s successful bid for the presidency, cementing his position as a significant conservative leader. His own presidential campaign in 1988 surprised many as he achieved second place in the Iowa caucuses, reshaping the landscape of American politics.
Robertson’s impact extended beyond politics. He brought thousands of evangelicals into the electoral process by founding the Christian Coalition, and he established the American Center for Law and Justice to safeguard religious freedoms.
Returning to The Christian Broadcasting Network after his unsuccessful campaign, Robertson expanded the company’s global reach through satellite technology, enabling Christian programming to be broadcast to over 150 countries in more than 100 languages.
Throughout his career, Robertson’s social and political commentaries gained both praise and criticism, often making headlines. However, his humanitarian efforts often went unnoticed. In 1978, he established Operation Blessing, a Christian humanitarian organization specializing in disaster relief, hunger aid, clean water, and medical care. The ministry has provided hundreds of millions of pounds of food and assistance to millions of impoverished individuals worldwide.
Robertson maintained strong relationships with fellow evangelicals, including Billy Graham, with whom he collaborated on ministry outreaches in former communist countries after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. CBN, under Robertson’s guidance, supported numerous churches in central and eastern Europe, as well as secured broadcasting agreements and humanitarian initiatives in China and other Asian countries.
Generosity was a core value for Robertson, demonstrated through his support of other ministries such as Samaritan’s Purse, founded by Franklin Graham. Robertson’s philanthropic efforts also extended to the Middle East, where he operated a television network reaching Arabic-speaking audiences, all while standing in solidarity with Israel.
Beyond his media presence, Robertson authored several books covering spiritual, financial, and fictional themes, achieving New York Times bestseller status. He also heavily invested in education and served as the chancellor of Regent University, a Christian college he founded in Virginia Beach in 1977, aiming to produce Christian leaders who would impact the world.
In his later years, Robertson faced health challenges, including a horseback riding accident in 2017 and a stroke in 2018. Nevertheless, he displayed resilience by returning to The 700 Club just ten days after suffering a stroke, joking about being like an old car with replacement parts.
In October 2021, Robertson announced his retirement as a daily host, coinciding with the ministry’s 60th anniversary. Despite his retirement, he continued to make monthly appearances on the show, addressing various topics and answering viewers’ questions.
Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor of the Potter’s House in Dallas, described Robertson as a giant who always pointed towards the cross and never towards himself.
Despite declining health and the loss of his wife of nearly 70 years, Robertson’s faith, obedience, and love for God remained unwavering. He is survived by his four children, Tim, Elizabeth, Gordon, and Ann, as well as his 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and countless individuals connected to the CBN family of domestic and international ministries.
