Tulsa World: Billy Joe Daugherty dead at 57

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Billy Joe Daugherty dead at 57
His global ministry includes 17,000 members locally.

SUCCUMBS
The Rev. Billy Joe Daugherty: The pastor died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at 4:40 a.m. Sunday in Houston.

By BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer
Published: 11/23/2009 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 11/23/2009 5:31 PM

The Rev. Billy Joe Daugherty, Victory Christian Center pastor whose ministry spanned the globe, died Sunday of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

He was 57.

A memorial service is being planned for Nov. 30.

Daugherty was hospitalized last month with a viral infection in his throat when tests discovered the cancer.

Since then, a vast network of churches and ministries, many in contact through social media, have been in almost constant prayer for him.

Members of his congregation of 17,000 learned of his death at Sunday morning services.

Audible gasps were heard across the congregation near the end of the 9 a.m. service when Associate Pastor Bruce Edwards announced from the pulpit: "At 4:40 a.m. this morning, pastor graduated into heaven."

"We don't sorrow as the world sorrows, as one without hope," he said. "We celebrate his life, but at the same time, there is sorrow, there is grieving."

Many people sobbed in their seats as Daugherty's son-in-law Adam Sanders talked about his final hours at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

"We miss him, but he's with Jesus," he said. "His entire life was about one thing, loving God, and out of that love, he loved people. We will continue in his legacy, loving people."

Another son-in-law, Caleb Wehrli, tears streaming down his face, said the whole family continued to worship at his side right up to the end.

"He fought the good fight and he won. He touched so many people," Wehrli said.

After the 9 a.m. service in Victory's new worship center, many members came forward for prayer, or stood in tight groups, hugging one another and crying.

"This is not the end of this ministry, it is the beginning," said Bill Wells, who has been associated with the Daugherty ministry for 30 years.

Oral Roberts University president Mark Rutland said, "The Oral Roberts University community mourns the loss of a truly gracious and generous kingdom leader. Billy Joe Daugherty was not just a landmark in Tulsa, but a spokesman for the gospel beloved around the world."

The official statement from the church released Sunday said, "We are sad to lose the presence of our pastor, shepherd, father, and brother. We are thankful, however, for his life, love, and influence on the individuals and ministries he inspired for the last 30 years ... The world will never be the same because of Billy Joe Daugherty.

"It was a peaceful passing with his family and loved ones by his side."

In addition to founding one of Tulsa's largest churches, Daugherty was founder of Victory Christian School, International Victory Bible Institute with 911 campuses in 93 countries, Victory World Missions Training Center which has sent hundreds of missionaries around the world, and the Tulsa Dream Center, providing food, clothing and medical, educational and recreational services to north Tulsans.

His television show, Victory in Jesus, reached more than 100 million households in North America, in addition to satellite and internet distribution worldwide. He and his wife, Victory co-pastor Sharon Daugherty, have written more than a dozen books.

Daugherty was one of America's best-known charismatic pastors, preaching an upbeat and sometimes controversial message that Jesus came to bring spiritual, emotional and physical healing, and blessing and prosperity to mankind. He regularly brought some of the top charismatic preachers in the world to Tulsa for Word Explosion, Victory's annual summer conference, and other meetings.

Originally from Magnolia, Ark., he attended Oral Roberts University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Christian education.

He was a youth minister in the 1970s at Sheridan Christian Center, and became senior pastor there in 1976 when the pastor retired.

By 1980, attendance had grown to 2,000 from 300 and Daugherty sought to relocate the church. When church leaders decided not to move, he started what is now Victory Christian Center, meeting briefly in a former car dealership at 4400 S. Sheridan Road, and moving in 1984 to the vacant Thoreau Junior High School.

Four years later, when Tulsa Public Schools sold the school building, the church moved to its present site at 7700 S. Lewis Ave., and held worship services in the Mabee Center across the street.

In 2007, the church moved into its state of the art, $32 million, 5,000-seat worship center, built without borrowing money. It was the first time the church had its own worship center.

Daugherty made the news in 1991 when he was hospitalized with minor burns he suffered rescuing two of his children from a fire that heavily damaged their home.

In 2005, he made national news when a man came forward at an altar call on a Sunday morning and slugged him in the face, opening a cut over his eye that required two stitches. Daugherty went to the Tulsa Jail to forgive the man, did not press assault charges, and later wrote a book about the experience: "Knocked Down But Not Out."

In October 2007, Daugherty was named interim president of Oral Roberts University after ORU president Richard Roberts stepped down in the wake of allegations that he misused university funds.

In addition to his wife, Sharon Daugherty, he is survived by his mother, Iru Daugherty. Among other survivors are his four children, all of them involved in the ministry, daughters Ruthie Sanders and Sarah Wehrli, and sons Paul and John.

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Bill Sherman 581-8398
bill.sherman@tulsaworld.com By BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "The Rev. Billy Joe Daugherty dies," which was published on 11/22/2009.

	Report Comment I Hate OK, (11/22/2009 11:05:27 AM) R.I.P Billy Joe Daugherty. Thoughts and prayers for your family and Victory community.
	Report Comment Jacky, small town Oklahoma (11/22/2009 11:07:27 AM) RIP and my thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
	Report Comment beau3985, Tulsa (11/22/2009 11:07:47 AM) My prayers for Pastor Sharon and the rest of the family.
	Report Comment CrippledShark, San Antonio (11/22/2009 11:10:32 AM) What a great man and one of the truly great Preachers/Teachers. God Bless You Pastor. CS
	Report Comment GoBlueGal, Broken Arrow (11/22/2009 11:11:12 AM) Prayer for his family and his extended family.
	Report Comment beau3985, Tulsa (11/22/2009 11:11:46 AM) There was no finer man of God than Pastor Billy Joe. I've never met him personally, but I can tell just by watching and listening to him that he would not hesitate to give you the shirt off his back. He inspired millions and gave of himself to serve those in need. He was a true leader and will be missed. Its good to know he's in heaven now.
	Report Comment terryf, (11/22/2009 11:12:12 AM) So shocking. Prayers for the family and church family.
	Report Comment Captain BlackBeaver, Bat-Poop Crazy Island (11/22/2009 11:13:24 AM) Very sad indeed...for our community. Truly a man of integrity!
	Report Comment calokgal, Tulsa (11/22/2009 11:13:42 AM) Thank you, Daugherty family, for your Faithfulness to a Faithful God. What a heritage Tulsa has because of you! Standing with you during this time.
	Report Comment tulsa native, Tulsa (11/22/2009 11:14:24 AM) May Heaven rejoice as Billy Joe enters Heaven! Such a short time with his illness and God decided it was time to come home. Thanks, Tulsa World for a detailed description of this wonderful man. Another great thing he did was open up the building on Skelly Drive for Carbondale Assembly of God in 1999 so we could keep our church together and have services after a tornado ripped the church apart. May we carry on the message of Jesus Christ that Billy Joe deeply belived in.
	Report Comment emotional_sting, tulsa - (11/22/2009 11:20:00 AM) a very good man.
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (11/22/2009 11:28:16 AM) I have great respect for this man and am truly shocked and saddened by his passing. My heart goes out to his family, who have lost so much. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
	Report Comment justiceawaits, Claremore (11/22/2009 11:34:46 AM) Rest in peace. Thank You for trying to make the world a better place.
	Report Comment jaenosjelantru, Tulsa (11/22/2009 11:34:47 AM) I have a lot of respect for Billy Joe. He was one of the only Tulsa mega-church pastors worth listening to. I'm sad.
	Report Comment oldschool, Tulsa (11/22/2009 11:40:37 AM) I wonder how many of those lead to Christ by this man's ministry welcomed him in heaven this morning.
	Report Comment jestergrl1, Stillwater (11/22/2009 11:43:29 AM) He doesn't have to imagine anymore. He is basking in the glory of GOD.
	Report Comment ACK, Tulsa (11/22/2009 11:50:46 AM) Such sad, sad news this morning. My heart and prayers go out to his family and congregation. We have all lost a tremendous man of God. I have sat in many of Billy Joe's services and I can personally attest to what a wonderful minister this man was. He and his wife touched my family in so many ways. God Bless you and comfort you all.
	Report Comment lge2000, McAlester (11/22/2009 12:00:30 PM) A life is born, another is taken away,,our youth pastor's wife had a baby boy born yesterday, and Billy Joe passed away this morning,,,it's still God's perfect timing,,,still very sad because Billy Joe had so many fruitful years ahead of him,,
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (11/22/2009 12:03:06 PM) RIP
	Report Comment DontRant, (11/22/2009 12:12:25 PM) Another great servant standing in the gap for us in heaven. The angels rejoice. We pray that his spirit and guidance will be felt forever. This man was a tremendous asset to this county and his integrity was unwaivering. May the peace of God and the comfort of the holy spirity guide his familiy. North Tulsa community will miss him greatly. One of few preachers/teachers that practiced what he preached. Well will miss you.
	Report Comment prqueen, (11/22/2009 12:29:01 PM) I am so grateful for Billy Joe Daugherty's legacy. The Lord used him to draw me to Him in 1996 after my husband passed away. I will be forever impacted by Pastor Billy Joe's teachings and for demonstrating Jesus in everything he did and said. My heart and prayers to his family.
	Report Comment paulyhart.tk, (11/22/2009 12:32:17 PM) i attended victory from 1990 to 1995 and went to bible school every year. i moved to indiana to practice what i had learned. five years later i was returning to the tulsa area after losing my house, coffee-shop, having turned to drugs and alcohol and cigarettes and having gone through a bitter divorce. i attended a wednesday night service and caught pastor bill on the way out of the door. "well hey paul" was his response with a big grin. "how are you?" well i believe i burst into tears right then and there. he had been my friend and my pastor then in bible school and he was still both at that time to me. he pulled me aside in the middle of a busy after-service cleanup, and we spent 15 minutes there... huddled together as i poured my heart out to him with people rubbernecking on their way out. he hugged me and we prayed and God himself was on the scene in a mighty and deliberate way. God used this man in my life more than once and in many different ways... but the point about billy joe that set him apart from many of the other pastors in this tulsa-town is his ability to look past your clothes and see you. i was a person to him and in that way, Christs light shone through. i love him and will miss him dearly.
	Report Comment SaintSteven67, Tulsa (11/22/2009 12:34:50 PM) I met him once. A very genuine guy. I did not always agree with his doctrine, but he was a man of his word.
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (11/22/2009 12:36:43 PM) This fellow was never on my radar screen but I guess it's safe to say he was the most successful and influential of all ORU grads.
	Report Comment irwindale, Tulsa (11/22/2009 12:37:23 PM) Peace

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