This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 1EditorMember (talk | contribs) at 23:24, 16 March 2009. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 23:24, 16 March 2009 by 1EditorMember (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | This article or section is in a state of significant expansion or restructuring. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well. If this article or section has not been edited in several days, please remove this template. If you are the editor who added this template and you are actively editing, please be sure to replace this template with {{in use}} during the active editing session. Click on the link for template parameters to use.
This article was last edited by 1EditorMember (talk | contribs) 15 years ago. (Update timer) |
Robb D. Thompson (April 1953- ) is founder and president of Family Harvest International, a network of Christian congregations in several countries, and founder and senior pastor of Family Harvest Church in Tinley Park, Illinois, a church with over 4,000 members. It should be noted that of the '4,000 members' the weekly service on Sunday morning generally does not exceed 1000 attendees. Church membership is often exagerated by Pastors and administrative staff to give the illusion of a church in mega-church-level status. The regular attendance at Family Harvest Church in Tinley Park, Illinois has decreased consistently for the past 5 years.
Church leadership
Thompson was raised Roman Catholic in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and worked for United Parcel Service early in adulthood. He moved to Homer Township, Illinois, sought "practical answers to life's problems and a real personal relationship with Jesus Christ", and began considering other denominations. He states that he had a transformative experience on October 28 1975: "I was unplugged and reengineered and then plugged in again to Christ." He became a Baptist for several years. His wife is Linda.
An ordained minister, he founded Midwest Christian Center in 1983, which grew into a very large worship center. He also pastored the church under the name "House of Glory" in the 1980s, in Orland Park, Illinois, and held Bible study group. Promoting the view that the date of Halloween is historically evil and harmful to children, his church scheduled a "Hallelujah Party" in its place around October 31. Thompson pastored Midwest Christian Center through the late 1990s. He preached regularly about the risk of a "Y2K apocalypse" during 1998, relating it to his published interpretation of the Bible.
He is now senior pastor of nondenominational Family Harvest Church in Tinley Park, Illinois, a member of the Family Harvest International network. One of his active church members is basketball player and "born again believer" Roger Powell, Jr., of the Chicago Bulls. Family Harvest has been called a megachurch, noted for theater chairs, projection screens, polished singing performances, stage lighting, and amplified sound.
In 2008, Family Harvest Church expanded its ministry into Minooka, Plainfield, and Shorewood, at some distance west of Chicago, with a Tuesday evening service under Thompson's associate pastor Mike Kell. In 2009, Thompson founded "City Harvest", a ministry to northwest suburban Chicago.
Speaking and writing, and issues of Integrity in Ministry
While widely considered a 'gifted' speaker, Thompson's intra-personal skills, people skills, intergrity and doctrinal teachings are widely criticized by former members of his congregation and accross the internet. Rumors of being over-bearing, controlling, manipulative and lavishing a lifestyle of excess are not only common but also categorically accepted as such.
Thompson is also a televangelist, a speaker and lecturer around the United States, a meeting organizer since the 1980s, and a mentor to business and government leaders.
Thompson was a featured speaker at International Gathering of Champions in 2006 and 2007 in London, along with Matthew Ashimolowo, Jamal-Harrison Bryant, Marcus Lamb, Eddie L. Long, and Mike Murdock. He also invites speakers such as John Avanzini and Jesse Duplantis to appear at free events at Family Harvest. Televangelist Murdock calls Thompson one of his closest friends; gifts between the two have been investigated by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Thompson founded Excellence in Ministry International, a global association of ministers. He now runs the International College of Excellence, and his network includes Bible institutions and congregations worldwide, such as the Central India Theological Seminary.
In 2007, he authored Solitary Refinement: Finding and Making the Most of Time by Yourself, a guide to the productive creation and use of "quality 'alone-time'". The book describes being alone with God's words, setting right priorities, and eliminating emotional isolation.
Bibliography
- Thompson, Robb. Marriage God's Way! (audiobook). Midwest Christian Center. OCLC 34111558.
- Thompson, Robb (1998). La Decisión Ganadora (in Spanish). Tinley Park, Illinois: Midwest Christian Center. OCLC 60424911.
- Thompson, Robb. Why Financial Harvests are Denied (audiobook). Tinley Park, Illinois: Family Harvest Church. OCLC 226246598.
- Thompson, Robb (2002). Shattered Dreams: What to Do When Your Future Seems Lost (2nd ed.). Tinley Park, Illinois: Family Harvest Church. ISBN 9781889723235. OCLC 173262672.
- Thompson, Robb (2002). Winning the Heart of God. Nashville, Tennessee: Royal Books. ISBN 9780785264873. OCLC 53231392.
- Thompson, Robb D. (2007). Solitary Refinement: Finding and Making the Most of Time by Yourself (The Hidden Power of Being Alone). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson. ISBN 9781599510293. OCLC 190760622.
- Mathews, Carole; Newman, Eric; Thompson, Robb; Wehrli, Shad; Dyer, Matthew (2008). The Source of the Secret (in DVD). Gaiam Americas, Louisville, Colorado, distributor. New York City, New York: GT Media. ISBN 9780766236806. OCLC 232120746.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
References
- ^ Blaine, Rick (1992-07-19). "Spirituality: Seeking new meaning in life". Chicago Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Barbee, Darren (2004-12-15). "Televangelist Mike Murdock moves financial books behind closed doors". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- ^ Sherlock, Barbara (2004-06-24). "Rev. James E. Watson, 53: Love of gospel powered pastor's Harvey church". Chicago Tribune. p. 10. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Your Faith". Chicago Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. 2009-01-03. p. 4.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Unknown parameter|http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ignored (help) - ^ Williamson, Elizabeth (1993-05-16). "Make a Joyful Noise: Church music strikes a responsive chord: Congregations lift their voices in song that's in harmony with our ever-changing culture". Chicago Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - Thompson, Robb D. (2007). Solitary Refinement: Finding and Making the Most of Time by Yourself (The Hidden Power of Being Alone). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson. p. 52. ISBN 9781599510293. OCLC 190760622. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- ^ Herrmann, Andrew (1986-10-30). "Halloween stirs a devil of a fuss: Churches join parent protest of 'evil'". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 52. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Mendell, David, and Harper, Pat (1998-12-14). "Hit by the Millennium Bug: Pessimists Brace for a Computer-Driven Cataclysm". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Fulka, Rena (2006-08-06). "Choices, choices". The Star. Tinley Park, Illinois: Star Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- ^ Newton, Stephanie (2008-03-10). "'Solitary Refinement': Chicago Pastor Shows Readers How to Utilize Their Time in New Book". PR Newswire Association, L.L.C. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- ^ Smith, Sheila (2007-05-19). "Former Illini basketball player encourages teens to have a purpose of faith in life". Herald & Review. Decatur, Illinois: McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- "Church heading west". Herald News. Joliet, Illinois. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- Religion News (2002-08-18). "Services, Guest Speakers". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - Lee, Courtney (2006-08-28). "Mega International Conference Concludes in London: The 15th annual International Gathering of Champions (ICOG) conference wrapped up yesterday with a Praise Celebration night at Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in Hackney, London". Christian Today. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- Donovan, Kevin (2007-08-23). "International Gathering of Champions Expects 160,000: Thousands of people will gather in East London this month to attend one of the biggest Christian events of the year". Christian Today. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- Staff (2007-07-19). "News in Religion". The Star. Tinley Park, Illinois: Star Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-03-03.