An inner city kid raised in a rough area of South Dallas, Oscar Roan, like so many others, dreamed of success in athletics as the road to fulfillment in life.
Oscar worked hard at making his dreams a reality. At South Oak Cliff High School he was an outstanding performer in football, baseball, track, and basketball. His senior year he received all-district honors in all four sports.
College years brought Oscar more recognition for his athletic ability. By the time he was a junior at Southern Methodist University, he could see his dreams coming true. He was second team All Southwest Conference in football and the league’s newcomer of the year in basketball. Everything seemed to be going right, but success and recognition weren’t enough.
Married now, Oscar was having problems with his wife. He had developed a serious drinking problem and was asking questions about meaning and purpose in life that he couldn’t find answers for.
The answers came when he met an evangelist who led him to Christ, who shared the best news Oscar had ever heard – God loved him and had a plan for his life. A plan that freed him from drinking, set in motion the restoration of his marriage, and provided a definite sense of direction and real meaning in life.
Oscar was drafted in the third round by the Cleveland Browns in l975 after finishing his collegiate career at SMU where he made the l974 Time Magazine All American Football Team at tight end. In his rookie year with the Browns he caught 41 passes for 463 yards and three touchdowns and was named 4th runner up for rookie of the year.
During his pro football career Oscar worked in the off season with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He retired from the pros in l979 and went into full-time Christian service, working as Area Director with the Dallas Chapter of the FCA.
Since 1980, Oscar, his wife Linda, and their sons Mario and Quincy, have traveled throughout the United States co-laboring with such ministries as: The Fred Jordan Mission, Mike Barber Prison Ministries, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and The Salvation Army.
Linda Roan
A native of Dallas, Linda attended South Oak Cliff High School where she met Oscar Roan. They were married during Oscar’s junior year at S.M.U. but soon after began having marital problems. With the marriage on the verge of divorce Oscar accepted Christ and began to live the Christian life before Linda.
One year after Oscar became a Christian, Linda filled with turmoil, bitterness, and hate cried out for the peace of mind she so desperately needed and prayed with Oscar to receive Christ.
Linda was sexually molested at the age of twelve by her father who had once been a minister. Her life as a victim of child abuse had been a battle. The guilt, fear and insecurity caused ulcers resulting in two operations and finally the removal of 60% of her stomach.
Since accepting Christ into her life. Linda has become a new creature, a living testimony to the grace and power of God to heal and restore from the hurts and scars from the past.
She was soon able to share with her husband the anguish of what had happened to her as a child. God began a progressive healing which led ultimately to deliverance from the physical, emotional and spiritual wounds of the past.
In l974 Linda began to share her testimony and sing publicly. She has detailed her struggles and complete victory in Christ in her book, “In My Search for Love,” in the hope of helping others who have been the victims of child abuse. She has also recorded several contemporary Christian albums. Side-by-side with Oscar, she has been involved in full-time youth evangelism and ministry since l980.
Oscar Roan Ministries
P.O. Box 1026
Rockwall, TX. 75087
(972) 771-9279
(972) 771-2832
oscarb@flash.net