Inspirational Faith and Revival, featuring Pastor John Collins, River Terrace Cowboy Church

Posted on September 26, 2021September 26, 2021 by Loretta Gardner

Compiled by Kurt Sowers, Tawneeshah King, and Ellen Forsythe

Pastor John Collins, River Terrace Cowboy Church and Revival

In the small town of Chillicothe (pronounced chi – luh – KAH – thee), Illinois is a church called River Terrace Cowboy Church, led by Pastor John Collins, an evangelist known for his down to earth and no nonsense style of revival and redeeming the Gospel. He is involved with national and international media broadcasting, connected with musicians and promoters alike out of Nashville, Tennessee, has been awarded much recognition for his evangelism and style of preaching, as well as presides over multiple Christian and Evangelistic alliances and consortiums.

Why isn’t this man leading a mega church?

We have been following outstanding pastors for over ten years, and repeatedly, Pastor John Collins defines the term revival. Revival is what the United States needs, right now. Christians pray for revival, to bring church and God back to everyday life, to end the sorrow of families, individuals, children, and communities. Speaking without regard to race, creed, color and ethnicity, Pastor John Collins declares “it’s not about race, it’s about Grace!” So why is this man in a small community church in a small town in Illinois?

We think it’s because he chooses to be there, but we also think it’s because God put him there. Why not a small town? Didn’t Jesus Christ Himself come from the small backwater town of Nazareth in Israel? This man, Pastor John Collins, preaches as if to large crowds, no matter where he preaches, and rightly so. His broadcasts and YouTubes and podcasts reach across to every state, and according to one source, about 35 countries. Millions have heard him.

Revival and redeeming the Gospel

We, the United States, have fallen so far from what God intended this country to be. Not only is revival needed, but the people on the pulpits are preaching a thinned out Gospel. Old Testament is forgotten, New Testament is altered and what Paul and other apostles preached against in the Bible is occurring again as it did in the days and years after Jesus was crucified. What was original is forgotten, or reworded, or even ignored as today’s preachers seek to draw attention to themselves and what they are doing, instead of the mighty saving power of salvation that was bought with the very life of Jesus Christ hanging on a tree of crucifixion having done nothing to deserve it but be obedient to His Father so that all humanity could be saved. Each and every sermon and presentation by Pastor John Collins calls for listeners to change our hearts and minds and turn toward Jesus, that the time is coming soon for God to do something unexpected and phenomenal. Pastor John Collins not only revives faith, but he redeems and revives the very Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Our opinion is that Pastor John Collins could lead a megachurch. He certainly has a large following from across this country and the world. We believe he is humble, and has won the approval of God by his humility, honesty, and pure love for the Cross and it’s salvation. We, however, hope one day soon he has the opportunity to be the best example of a pastor of a megachurch and lead revival across the United States!

2017 Ten Top Ranking Influential Ministries, Pastors, Preachers and Evangelists living in the United States.

Posted on March 6, 2017December 5, 2020 by Loretta Gardner

After a turbulent election year and a year of increasing division in the United States, pastors, evangelists and ministers across the country are calling for a return to faith and to God. The following individuals were chosen from an independent panel who reviewed a wide variety of ministries, evangelists, pastors, preachers, and ministers across the United States. Some were selected as influential pastors for 2016, others are new to the list.

Billy Graham.

At age 98, Billy Graham remains the most influential preacher and evangelist of the United States. Traveling across the country, his ministry presented Crusades that consistently taught salvation, repentance, and redemption as he preached to 1000’s in a variety of settings from 1947 to 2005. During those Crusades, more than 3.2 million people accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Billy Graham preached the gospel to more people in person that anyone in the history of Christianity.

Charles Stanley.

The leader of In Touch Ministries, located in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Charles Stanley continues to spread the Word of God through a wide variety of media. His worldwide ministry is meant to lead people to Jesus Christ and live a more godly life.

Franklin Graham.

Son of Billy Graham, Franklin Graham is the president and CEO of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse. As an evangelist and missionary in the past year, Franklin Graham presented a clear Gospel message at each state capital, encouraging the United States to come together in unity and faith.

John Collins.

Pastor and evangelist, Pastor John Collins of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries continues to spread a revival of faith across the United States. Called to redeem the gospel, Pastor John Collins brings his unique style of preaching and evangelism similar to that of Billy Graham. He reaches audiences through media and revivals in person, seeking to redeem the Gospel and bring God back into the lives who hear him.

Greg Laurie.

Senior pastor of Harvest Churches in Riverside and Irvine, California, Pastor Greg Laurie spreads the Gospel and has launched a campaign called 2017 The Year of Good News to promote a return of people to the Bible and to God. His ministry also holds large revival-style gatherings around the country throughout the year in order to spread the word of God.

Mike Higgins.

Currently the lead pastor for South City Church, St Louis, Missouri, Dr. Higgins promotes faith, gospel, and the elimination of the division of race. He is also the Dean of Students at Covenant Seminary. His ministry promotes that “the Gospel brings a message of reconciliation and hope from, through and to the Almighty God who seeks to reclaim and rescue His people from every race, tribe and culture and bring them back to Him through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the real Christmas Story of God’s amazing grace in providing the gift of salvation.”

Jen Wilkin.

Jen Wilkin is a recognized speaker, writer, and teacher of women’s Bible studies. Jen and her family are members of the Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas. Jen is a minister for women’s ministries at the Village Church. Her practical and clear teachings reach thousands of women who dearly need a Christian mentor and example to live by in today’s world. She is worth mentioning as a Christian leader and advocate for women for 2017.

James Bryan Smith.

James Bryan Smith is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, KS and a writer and speaker in the area of Christian spiritual formation. He is the executive director of the Apprentice Institute which provides educational experiences in the area of Christian spirituality, develops resources for individual and church renewal, and engages in research to advance the field of Christian formation. He is the author of eight books, most notably The Apprentice Series which continue to shape the work of the Apprentice Institute.

Max Lucado.

Max Lucado is a best-selling Christian author and writer and preacher at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. He reaches across generation with his writings, from children to adults worldwide. His message is simple-God loves you, let Him. He is able to convey the message through his storytelling. He is named one of the most influential leaders in social media by The New York Times.

Andy Stanley.

Andy Stanley founded Northpoint Ministries, a worldwide Christian organization. He and five others founded Northpoint Church which now has six campuses across the Atlanta, Georgia area. The mission of Northpoint Ministries is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. The methods used by Northpoint Ministries have churched thousands of unchurched people looking for Christ.

Prosperity doctrine has made an influential impact on faith in the United States.

Our panel is not placing judgement on these individuals, prosperity preachers are influencing thousands across the country. Joel Osteen, Paula White, TD Jakes, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer-are among a style of preaching known as prosperity doctrine. Based on a religious belief among some Christians, who hold that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth. Prosperity theology views the Bible as a contract between God and humans: if humans have faith in God, he will deliver security and prosperity. The doctrine emphasizes the importance of personal empowerment, proposing that it is God’s will for his people to be happy. These individuals can be seen on media of all genres and travel the country giving speaking engagements that spread the doctrine that has even influenced President Trump to choose Paula White as a religious advisor.

Photo courtesy of Google images. References linked through backlinks within text.

Media in Christianity: reaching the unreachable

Posted on January 4, 2016January 14, 2016 by Loretta Gardner

Today’s Christian is bombarded from a colorful palette of media and technology, each one with its own set of benefits and distractions. It’s the world we live in today, and we can’t turn our back on that influence. The Holy Bible teaches us to become discerning, to know what is righteous and good. Technology and media can be used to honor God with the right approach. Today’s younger generations have been exposed to media and technology from birth: tablets for children are teaching them skills earlier than generations before them. It is foolish of us to condemn the technology or ignore its impact that has become a permanent part of our world. It’s up to us to teach each other how to use media and technology, not for manipulation of the Word, but for the benefit of reaching the unreachable, of teaching the possibility of millions about Jesus and His salvation. With media, the quality of the technology, not the quantity, will continue to be a valuable tool in evangelism today.

Reverend Billy Graham began his early years holding indoor and outdoor rallies and using the media of radio and television broadcasts, many of which are still re-broadcast today. He is estimated to have reached 2.2 billion people including his radio and television audiences.

Books and news print media like magazines and journals are old school but continue to reach another generation as books are converted to digital formats that are more accessible than ever before. Ebooks, Ejournals, and Emagazines are reaching a new generation of readers searching for answers. A popular free digital application that is valuable to any Christian is You Version Bible app, a free downloadable application that allows the user to access and read the Holy Bible in a translation of his or her choice anywhere.

News talk radio with hosts like Hannity, Larry King, Limbaugh, Lars Larson, and others provides a mass media, syndicated approach to quick clips, guest speakers, and topics of interest that can be played and replayed on the Internet. Local Christian radio stations and internet radio stations are also sources of media content that can be live streamed on digital devices.

Movies with Christian content are a growing market reaching out to movie goers looking for uplifting content and answers to questions of the ages. Movies have become a way to reach masses and educate people in an entertaining medium. T.D. Jakes is an influential pastor who is using the medium of film making to spread inspirational Christian content.

The Internet has opened many avenues of media and content that is easily accessed and used. The earliest of these are Web pages for ministries, churches and pastors. These have become a means to show the world what each ministry has to offer, through simple to complex web construction. Links on websites provide access to information within a web site as well as external links to music, software, publications: a means to reach millions of people, just as Billy Graham did with his early rallies and program broadcasts.

A quickly growing form of spreading articles and releases is by blogging, an online forum known as weblog-shortened to blog-that can be created easily. Blogs appeal to Millennials, promoted in the film Julie and Julia. Blog content can be a review of sermon, an editorial, articles on hot topics, recordings on blog talk radio all provide an endless list of topics with the opportunity to reach millions of young people who are savvy in using this technology.

Video clips online have two avenues of viewing. Popular YouTube is easy to access, easy to use and can be seen digitally on cell phones, tablets and personal computers. Recorded sermons can be easily uploaded then viewed at leisure by an unlimited number of congregation members. Podcasts either linked off of websites or produced and uploaded to a server such as iTunes is another means to broadcast video to a wide population.

Facebook and Twitter can be considered the “gossip pages of the world”. Used with discernment, a pastor can use these resources as an almost instant communication with followers and friends alike. Posting popular Christian music links, Bible content, and daily devotionals are just a few ways that pastors can reach out and maintain contact with their congregations. The key again is discernment and using it to honor God and Jesus, not to promote personal egos or gossip pages. Ministries and churches can use the pages to promote upcoming events, concerts, revivals, community activities-the list is endless.

There are many other social media sources available that pastors, churches and ministries can use to reach out to the previously unreachable. They are unreachable for many reasons, work, travel, distance, education, deployment….but we all have something in us that wants to shine through, God put it there and we just don’t realize it. God Vine, Pinterest, God Interest are other sources that can be used to spark an interest in a hard to reach population in a hard to live day and age.

Evangelism is not about choreographed theatrics with a lot of drama and pageantry followed by an empty message by a canned presentation. Many churches have used media in order to please a population. At what sacrifice? It is up to us as pastors, evangelists, church families…all of us…to spread the message of hope that God gave us and has for us through His Son Jesus. Using technology as discerning stewards is not a sin, but a tool that can reach billions over a period of time. And isn’t that something that would please God? God bless you all.

New for 2016: 15 Most Influential Pastors Living in America Today

Posted on January 2, 2016December 5, 2020 by Loretta Gardner

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As 2016 begins, we as Christians need to look toward the most influential American pastors living today for guidance in a world that is spiraling out of our control. Who are they? Our independent panel has selected the following pastors as those who influence us today.

1. BILLY GRAHAM. Billy Graham is the most influential pastor of the past 50 years. He has set the stage for pastors in leading millions to Jesus Christ and is a pillar in challenging pastors to remain faithful in their ministries.
2. RICK WARREN. Rick Warren is the founder of Saddleback Church in Orange County, California. He is a model for today’s new preachers, using the Internet and Web resources to reach out to another generation of preachers. He is the author of The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life.

Christianity tourism destinations

3. CHARLES STANLEY. Charles Stanley founded In Touch Ministries. Currently, “In Touch” radio is syndicated and its broadcasts in the United reach approximately 500 radio stations, 300 television stations and several satellite networks. Charles Stanley is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta.

4. FRANKLIN GRAHAM. As an evangelist and missionary, Franklin Graham now heads the international Christian relief program, Samaritan’s Purse. He is outspoken in his beliefs of one God and the salvation of Jesus Christ in the face of criticism in his stands regarding Muslims, homosexuality, and other forms of religions.

5. JOHN MACARTHUR. Another pastor influencing a generation of new pastor through innovative media, John MacArthur is a teacher on “Grace to You”. He is not afraid of controversy and addressing the difficult questions facing today’s Christians.

6. ANDY STANLEY. Andy Stanley reaches young adults through a communication style that is appealing to this younger generation. He has led by example in opening and seeding new churches in the Atlanta, Georgia area of the United States.

7. WARREN WIERSBE. This pastor is called a pastor for pastors, reaching out through radio, book series, and conventions to teach a generation of pastors. Billy Graham gave him high praise for his explanations of the Bible.

8. JOHN COLLINS. While this pastor has arrived on the public scene only recently, his style is as influential as Billy Graham. Pastor Collins’ use of media via the Internet and radio is quickly spreading among pastors and Christians alike. He is the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministry and his evangelism, passion and openness to address the difficult issues facing Christians today is an avenue for future pastors to model and Christians to find hope.

9. BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR. Recognized by TIME magazine as one of 100 most influential people in the world, Barbara Brown Taylor is an influential pastor through her books and her career as a professor at two Christian colleges, providing publications on preaching for new pastors, including the publication of her 1997 Lyman Beecher Lectures on Preaching.

10. TIM KELLER. His biblical preaching, best-selling books, and his commitment to church planting has led us to choose this more obscure but popular pastor. His preaching has become some of the most listened to sermons in America via iTunes podcasts.

11. T. D. JAKES. As an author, filmmaker and pastor, T.D. Jakes has influenced Christians through his use of media as well. He also reaches out in an annual revival and a women’s conference, crossing gender, race, and generations in his ministry located in Texas.

12. CHARLES SWINDOLL. A long time pastor in California and now Texas, Charles Swindoll has influenced thousands with his Internet resources, books, and radio programs. A generation of pastors has learned the influence of media in reaching congregations through his work.

13. MAX LUCADO. A best-selling Christian author, Max Lucado has written around 100 books, with 80 million copies in print, received the Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year, and appears regularly on bestseller lists. He is a pastor at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas.

14. BILL HYBELS. Senior pastor of one of America’s megachurches, Bill Hybels led the revision of preaching to attract Christians who otherwise may not attend church or hear the word of the Gospel. He promotes the Global Leadership Summit which is meant to transform Christian leaders around the world by developing vision, skill development, and inspiration for the sake of creating and supporting the local, community centered church.

15. ROBERT MORRIS. Robert Morris is the founding senior pastor of Gateway Church, a multi campus church in Texas. He is an author and featured in a weekly television program, promoting answers to current issues facing today’s Christian.

It is of note that there are other pastors who are worth mentioning, perhaps in a later article. It is our hope that you are able to use this list of influential pastors and the hyperlinks contained within it to further your faith in your journey as a Christian. God bless you all.

morning fog

See 2017 influential pastors, published March 6, 2017.

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