Loretta Gardner

The year 2020 is drawing to a close as a record-breaking and media driven year full of life changing events.  Another turbulent election year, followed by an unprecedented pandemic, people are turning back to faith and seeking guidance from those who are our spiritual experts in Christianity.

Influential Pastors, Evangelists, and Ministries:

1. Rick Warren.  As a long-time pastor and leader of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.  Saddleback Church is noted to be the sixth largest megachurch in the United States.  Pastor Warren is recognized as an author of several books, including the Purpose Driven Life and God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions.
2. Dr. Reverend Bernice King.  The daughter of the late Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. King began her calling to follow in her father’s footsteps of  ministry at the age of seventeen.  Dr. King was ordained as the second woman to become a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church.  She has pursued the message of non-violence that her father began, speaking during multiple occasions on non-violence, conservative moral issues of abortion and same-sex marriage. 
3. Pastor John Collins.  Pastor and evangelist, Pastor John Collins of John Collins Ministries spreads a revival of faith across the United States.  Redeeming the gospel through sermons, revivals, and multiple syndicated and Internet radio programs, Pastor John Collins reaches to every state in the United States, and every country in the world. His unique style of saying it like it is appeals to many searching for answers and guidance in the turbulence of the world we live in.
4. Charles (Chuck) Swindoll. An evangelical pastor, author, and educator, Charles Swindoll has  taught decades of pastors and preached to many through radio programs over the years. Located in Texas, Chuck Swindoll continues to preach and teach leaving a legacy behind him such as Grace Awakening and Insight for Living.
5. Max Lucado. Pastor and author, Max Lucado reaches out from Oak Hills Church, San Antonio, Texas.  His stories and books have delighted 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.
6. Franklin Graham. The son of the late Billy Graham, Franklin Graham engages in revivals-known as “festivals” around the world and political commentary.  As a conservative Protestant evangelist, he encourages people to pray and vote.  He leads Samaritan’s Purse, a world-wide humanitarian aid organization.
7. Andy Stanley. Pastor of Northpoint Church, Georgia, Andy Stanley encourages involvement of the church in the local community. Through Northpoint Ministries, thousands of unchurched people have been brought back to involvement in church and local community.
8. Kanye West.  An American song-writer, hip-hop artist, and fashion designer, Kanye West began “Sunday Service” as a kind of participatory concert and gathering by invitation only to bring people together to worship and praise God.  He has presented this program at churches, gatherings, and venues across the United States to give people a place to feel the love of God.
9. Priscilla Shirer.  Author, actress, motivational speaker, and Christian evangelist, Priscilla Shirer is effective at teaching and preaching the gospel to women.  Her role in “War Room” was her debut, and books such as The Armor of God help to explain the Bible in an effectively understandable manner.  As a motivational Christian speaker, she is effective in bringing the Bible into everyday life.
10. John MacArthur. A leading educator and syndicated pastor of Grace To You, John MacArthur has reached across decades of students.  Noted for controversial views against same-sex marriage, women as ordained pastors, and drew attention during social distancing of COVID-19.

Other Noted Influences:

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, is translated into multiple languages, printed in multiple versions of the Bible and provides access to the Bible at a finger touch. 

Prosperity doctrine

Prosperity preachers continue to influence thousands across the country with the message that God wants us to feel good.  Included in this list are Joel Osteen, Victoria Osteen, Paula White, TD Jakes, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, John Gray, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, among many others.  To leave these names off the list of influential pastors and evangelists would appear biased.  These individuals have made a name for themselves by promoting financial prosperity as the basis for faith in God.  Some began ministry with righteous intentions, but somewhere along the way strayed by the lure of financial wealth and notoriety. 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.