ORU names new president
BY BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer
Thursday, January 31, 2013
1/31/13 at 10:47 PM
Billy Wilson will be the next president of Oral Roberts University, it was announced Thursday afternoon.
ORU Board of Trustees chairman Mart Green introduced Wilson to students and faculty at Christ Chapel on campus.
"It's going to be a great ride," Wilson told students Thursday.
Wilson will replace ORU President Mark Rutland, who announced last year he would step down after the spring 2013 semester to pursue other ministry opportunities.
Wilson, executive director of the Center for Spiritual Renewal in Cleveland, Tenn., came to Tulsa in April 2010 as chairman of Empowered21, Global Congress on Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21st Century. The Pentacostal/charismatic event was predicted to draw 10,000 people from 90 nations to town.
Wilson had served on the ORU Board of Trustees as vice chairman until his election as president.
Wilson has written several books, including "Father Cry," "Foundations of Faith" and "Fasting Forward," and has a weekly television program, "World Impact with Billy Wilson."
He is a native of Owensboro, Ky., and earned a bachelor's degree from Western Kentucky University in secondary education, a master's degree from the Church of God Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
Wilson and his wife, Lisa, have two grown children -- a daughter, Sara, who is a missionary in Paraguay with her husband, Shaun, and their three children, and a son Ashley, who is a church pastor in Lexington, Ky., with his wife, Jamie, and their three children.
Associated Images:
William Wilson takes the stage after being named president of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa on Thursday. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
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