James Robison

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James Robison (b. October 9, 1943, Houston, Texas) is an American televangelist and the founder and President of the Christian relief organization Life Outreach International.

[edit] Biography

James Robison was born on October 9, 1943, in the charity ward of a Houston hospital. The product of rape, his 41-year-old mother originally sought an abortion, but the doctor would not comply. After putting an ad in the newspaper, his mother gave him up to Rev. and Mrs. H.D. Hale, pastors in the Houston suburb of Pasadena. He would remain with them for a few years, until his mother reclaimed him as a young boy and took him to her home in Austin.

After a rough childhood in Austin, during which he nearly shot his alcoholic, ill-tempered father, Robison returned to Pasadena to visit his foster parents. It was during that short visit he became a Christian during a revival service conducted by his foster father, and he later entered the ministry.

Robison married his wife, Betty Freeman on February 23, 1963. Robison can frequently be seen with his wife on infomercials selling sublingal vitamin B12.

Their frequent info-mercials highlight the need to donate to feed children in Africa.

James Robison receives an annual salary from Life Outreach International of $159,000, and Betty Robison receives $128,000. LOI states that James and Betty Robison’s salaries are based on wage and compensation surveys of businesses in their geographic region. They also receive a housing allowance, health insurance and retirement benefits. A local developer built them their new house in exchange for their property.