A Statement from Dr. William Wilson in Honor of the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America

Tulsa, Oklahoma, July 3, 2026-Dr. William M. Wilson, President of Oral Roberts University, issues the following statement on the 250th anniversary of the United States of America:

On July 4, 1776, a group of ordinary Americans took an extraordinary stand. They pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to a truth they did not invent but received from the Bible: that all people are created equal and endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights.

Today, as we mark a quarter millennium of the American experiment, we remember the founders' courage, the patriots' sacrifice, and every generation that has labored, often at great cost, to make the vision of 1776 a reality for all.

The Declaration of Independence was not a finish line; it was a charge entrusted to every generation. Our nation's founders gave us a republic, and the question that must be answered is, "Will we keep it?" Liberty must be guarded by virtue, strengthened by faith, and practiced with responsibility. The last 250 years have taught us that freedom is costly, fragile, and sacred.

George Washington reminded our nation that "religion and morality are indispensable supports" of political prosperity. If America is to endure for another 250 years, we must be not only powerful but principled, not only prosperous but prudent, not only productive but purposeful.

Our story is not one of perfection. It is one of providence. And today, we are compelled to look forward-never losing hope that liberty remains the birthright of our children and our children's children. Through revolution and civil war, hardship, division, and renewal, the hand of God has carried this nation forward. Where America has fallen short of our founding ideals, the answer has never been to abandon them but to rise to them.

God has also used this nation in remarkable ways to bless the world. The Great Awakenings called countless hearts to repentance and spiritual renewal. The revival at Azusa Street helped ignite the modern Pentecostal movement, sending the message of Spirit-empowered witness to every continent. From America's shores, generations of missionaries have carried the Gospel to the ends of the earth, proclaiming the hope of Jesus Christ. While the Church belongs to every nation and people, we thank God for allowing America to play a significant role in advancing the Great Commission.

May we renew our allegiance once more to a cause greater than ourselves. May our resolve for liberty be steadfast, our pursuit of unity generous, our citizenship selfless, and our gratitude boundless. For every good and perfect gift-including the gift of this nation-comes from the Father above, Who does not change.

With profound gratitude, I thank God for 250 years of His faithfulness to America. The torch of liberty has been passed to us. May we carry it with clean hands and courageous hearts and may the next 250 years find America as one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Dr. William M. Wilson

President, Oral Roberts University

About Dr. William M. Wilson

Dr. William M. Wilson serves as the fourth president of Oral Roberts University.

Since taking office in 2013, Wilson has piloted the largest campus expansion in the University's history.

Most recently, President Wilson has led the University to begin "The Whole Leaders for the Whole World" campaign, establishing ORU for future generations.

During Wilson's tenure, the University's enrollment has grown for 17 consecutive years. ORU, the largest private university in Oklahoma, has annually enrolled students from all 50 states and, over the last seven years, from 176 nations, earning the ranking as one of the top 25 most diverse universities in America.

With over four decades of executive leadership experience, Wilson also serves as Global Chair of Empowered21 and Chair of the Pentecostal World Fellowship. In addition, he holds a seat on the Board of Directors of the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce, contributing to both faith-based and civic leadership at national and regional levels.

Wilson has authored several books including Generation Z: Born for the Storm, The Power of One, the revised and updated Fasting Forward and Father Cry, and Empowered to Lead.

A sought-after Bible communicator, his weekly television program, "World Impact with Dr. Billy Wilson," can be seen in over 150 nations in multiple languages.

Dr. Wilson and his wife Lisa have two children and seven grandchildren.

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a "Leadership for Public Purpose" award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 176 nations in the last 7 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.