Tag: Greg Laurie

2021 Mid-year Top Influential Pastors, Ministries, and Evangelists of the United States

Posted on by Loretta Gardner

A Mid-year Survey

Generally, Inspirational Faith Magazine posts the annual survey of Pastors, Ministries and Evangelists at the beginning of a year. COVID-19 affected the scheduling and release of this annual survey at the end of 2019, therefore, we have chosen to “catch-up” the series with this mid-year release of a 2021 survey done across the 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Influential Pastors, Ministries and Evangelists

Rick Warren.  Pastor of  Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, Saddleback Church is is noted to be the largest church in California, and one of the largest in the United States.  Pastor Rick, as he is known, is recognized as an author of several books, including the Purpose Driven Life and God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions. In addition, Pastor Rick established the Purpose Driven Network and Pastors.com as resources for pastors and mentoring for new pastors.

Dr. Charles Stanley. Dr. Stanley is pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia.  He has spread the gospel around the world through the ministry of In Touch Ministries, founded in the 1970’s. In Touch Ministries includes intouch.org, In Touch devotional magazine, and books and broadcasts authored by Dr. Charles Stanley.

Pastor John Collins.  Pastor John, as he is called, leads the way for revival of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   His church, River Terrace Cowboy Church in Chillicothe, Illinois, acts as a central location across the United States for revival. In addition to Christian internet programming, syndicated radio and television broadcasts, he is featured on TCT.tv, Tri-county Christian Television that is seen across media formats across the United States and internationally,  Pastor John has served as panel member and host for Ask the Pastor, and has been featured on Prayer on Purpose.

Lysa TerKuerst. Currently the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has written multiple books providing help to women seeking God. Having endured challenges to her faith, her personal life is a testimony to women.  Her books help women to focus on forgiveness of self and learning to live well again as Christians. Among her best sellers is Forgiving What You Can’t Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories which has received critical acclaim and recognition on best seller lists.

Max Lucado.  Pastor and author, Max Lucado reaches out from Oak Hills Church, San Antonio, Texas.  His stories and books continue to delight children and adults alike while teaching Bible lessons in an easily understood and memorable fashion. His writings also include television shows and movies, which preach and teach memorable lessons.

Chris Hodges. For twenty years, Pastor Hodges has grown Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama. Connecting church with community, his church became the largest in Alabama.  Amidst a feeding frenzy of negative social media accusations in 2020 and cancel culture, Pastor Hodges has continued to reach out to communities in unity of Christianity, recognizing that race has no place in the kingdom of God or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Greg Laurie. Harvest Churches in Riverside and Irvine, California and a location in Maui are the reach of Pastor Greg Laurie. Since the early 1970’s, Pastor Laurie has been involved in ministry, speaking on syndicated Christian television and radio, producing movies, working with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, writing, and yearly Harvest Crusades to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Other noted influences

Crowder

With songs such as Red Letters, I Know A Ghost, and in 2021 the chart topping Good God Almighty, David Crowder has been drawing people to Jesus through his music and performances, reaching across social barriers of generations and race.

You Version Bible

Created by Bobby Gruenewald and others at Life.Church (under the direction of Craig Groeschel), the You Version downloadable Bible app reaches countries around the world, including third world and Christian oppressing countries. It is translated into multiple languages, printed in multiple versions of the Bible and provides access to the Bible at a finger touch, with children’s resources, Bible study plans, daily verses, podcasts and more.

Times Square Church and Adult and Teen Challenge

Continuing as a leading source of rehabilitation and renewal since the death of its founder, Reverend David Wilkerson, Adult and Teen Challenge with Times Square Church offers Christ based long term rehabilitation to people struggling from addictions across the United States and around the globe.  Headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, it has reached out with services since 1961.

Prosperity, Prophesy, and Deliverance Doctrines

Jesus Christ Himself cautioned against false prophets and those who would twist the words and works of God to suit themselves for personal gain. The glory goes to and is for God, not man. Pastors call the following out as individuals or ministries who pander God for their personal gain, and unfortunately have misled followings.  They are among many and are not limited to those listed who continue to influence faith today: Kenneth Copeland,  Jimmy Swaggert, Joel and Victoria Osteen, Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Joyce Meyer, and Paula White.

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

Posted on by Loretta Gardner

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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.

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