When Richard Dortch was 15 he heard Oral Roberts preach the gospel and call sinners to repentance at First Assembly of God Church in Granite City, IL. Richard responded to God's call and surrendered his life to Christ.

Dortch began his ministry as a pastor and was also a missionary to Belgium where he helped found and lead Emmanuel Bible Institute in Andrimont, Belgium. He later served the Illinois District of the Assemblies of God as Secretary Treasurer and then District Superintendent for 13 years.

He became president of Jim and Tammy Bakker's PTL Christian evangelical television network in 1983.

After some problems at PTL, Dortch wrote several books about personal integrity and restoration. Until just prior to his death he hosted a long-standing two- to three-hours prayer service called "America's Prayer Meeting" on the Christian Television Network. The nightly broadcast reached 55 million households around the world.

Dortch once said, "For as long as I can remember, I knew God had called me to preach. There was a brief time, when, as a young man playing baseball, I considered becoming a professional ballplayer. In my heart, I knew all I really wanted to be was a minister."

Brother Dortch was promoted to Heaven on June 15, 2011.