Posted on 04/03/2014 1:48:37 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
I conducted an informal survey of over 30 persons, simply asking them to name the most influential evangelicals in America today. Though my choice of the respondents was subjective, I do have confidence that the men and women who gave me these names are very knowledgeable about the evangelical scene in the United States.
The respondents represent a cross section of denominational and non-denominational churches and entities. From my perspective, those I surveyed are clearly evangelicals themselves. Among the criteria I gave them, I included the following:
The problem with any list such as this one is the names you omit. Many well-known evangelicals did not make this top twenty list. I realize that another list done by another person would likely yield some different names. Here, then, are twenty of the most influential evangelicals listed in alphabetical order.
Matt Chandler - The lead pastor of teaching at The Village Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and prominent author. Chandler's podcast is consistently in the top five of the leading Christian podcasts on iTunes.
Wilfredo De Jesus - Better known as Pastor Choco, he is the head pastor of New Life Covenant Church in Chicago and the author of Amazing Faith. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in America in 2013.
Ross Douthat - Author, blogger and New York Times columnist. He was a senior editor at The Atlantic and wrote Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics.
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Tony Evans - Prolific author and senior pastor at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas. He is also founder and president of The Urban Alternative, a national organization that seeks to bring about spiritual renewal in urban America through churches.
Louie Giglio - Pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, speaker, author, and founder of the Passion Movement.
Franklin Graham - President and CEO of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse. Prominent evangelist.
Craig Groeschel - Founder and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, one of the largest churches in the United States with 15 locations in five states.
Bill Hybels - Founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, and founder of the Willow Creek Association. Prolific author.
T. D. Jakes - Bishop/chief pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas. Prolific author of many books.
Tim Keller - Apologist, speaker, and the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Author of several books.
Lecrae - Christian hip hop artist, record producer, and co-owner and co-founder of the independent record label Reach Records. Co-founder and president of the non-profit organization, ReachLife Ministries.
Albert Mohler - President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for more than 20 years. Prominent spokesman in evangelicalism. Author of several books and hundreds of articles.
Beth Moore - Founder of Living Proof Ministries in Houston. The ministry focuses on aiding women who desire to model their lives on Christian values. Prominent author and speaker.
Joyce Meyer - Prolific author and frequent speaker, with many of her appearances on television. Heads Joyce Meyer Ministries, based in Fenton, Missouri.
Joel Osteen - Senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, one of the largest churches in America. Prolific author of several books.
John Piper - Served as pastor for preaching and vision for 33 years at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Retired from the church in 2013. Prolific author. Founder of Desiring God Ministries.
Dave Ramsey - Best known for his syndicated radio show, "The Dave Ramsey Show," heard on more than 500 radio stations. Authored many books, including four New York Times bestsellers. Focuses on personal financial health.
Priscilla Shirer - Bestselling author and frequent speaker, largely at women's events. Most common venue is Bible teaching to women. She and her husband, Jerry Shirer, own and run Going Beyond Ministries.
Andy Stanley - Senior pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, and affiliated churches. Also founded North Point Ministries. Prolific author and frequent speaker.
Rick Warren - Senior pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, one of the largest churches in the United States. Author of several books, including Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 30 million copies.
Keep in mind that just over 30 persons responded to my questions. In that sense, it is more of a panel than a survey. Though the respondents did not have to offer comments, most of them did. Some of them offered two lists, such as two levels of influence. Others struggled in their own responses, trying to decide whether or not different persons were truly evangelicals.
I appreciate their time and thoughtfulness. Now it's time to hear from you.
What, no Ernest Angley?
;)
Ross Douthat - Author, blogger and New York Times columnist. He was a senior editor at The Atlantic and wrote Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics.
Ross Douthat is a Roman Catholic. And his book is very worth reading.
In terms of evangelicals, two names are missing that I can tell, in no particular order: James Robison and Kim Clement. Tommy Tenney also comes to mind, though he might not make it to the top 20 hit parade—not that any of this matters, if you are doing the Lord’s work as you are led, then it is not important if you are affecting one person or a million.
Whatever happened to that guy?
Louie Giglio - Pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, speaker, author, and founder of the Passion Movement.
A couple videos of him I've seen leave me totally underwhelmed. Lamenin, and one I think of as "Big! Big! Big!" I'll find youtube links.
Is it Friday already? Oh...this isn’t the ‘silliness thread’...
Total surprise Charles Stanley isn’t listed
R.C. Sproul
John Piper
Alistair Begg
Ravi Zacharias
John McArthur
David Jeremiah
Joni Erickson Tada
Those are just off the top of my head.
RE: Whatever happened to that guy?
Earnest Angeley is retired. He’s 93 years old this year.
Surprised Mark Driscoll is not on the list.
No Fred Phelps?
RE: No Fred Phelps?
The man is NOT in fellowship or communion with any Evangelical.
No Greg Laurie?
RC Sproul?
No Luis Palau?
Yes, though it's Robison, and he's matured a lot since then, in both senses of the term
Bill Hybels - I have my doubts that Hybels is actually a Christian since his church is chock full of new age gobbledygook and he rejects the ultimate authority of Scripture - the very definition of an Evangelical.
Tim Keller - A great intellect, but not an Evangelical. Keller is a mainline Protestant of the diocesan variety and should not be included.
Beth Moore and Joyce Meyer - These twin money-makers are the phony Christian versions of Oprah. Hundreds of thousands of gullible women flock to their showbiz extravaganzas. Ewww.
Joel Osteen - Please God, save us from this used car dealer of self-help, big bucks pseudo-Christianity. The feel-good Pharisee who personifies 2 Tim 3:5 - "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Rick Warren - What can said? "The Purpose Driven Life" instead of "The Jesus Driven Life". The Post-Modern Pope wears a Hawaiian shirt and says of his Christian brothers that if they focus on Bible prophecy they are "not fit for the kingdom of God". Hmm. Didn't God put prophecy in the Bible for a reason, Ricky? Didn't Jesus Himself prophesy destruction upon Jerusalem "because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." - Luke 19:44. In other words, they didn't study the prophecies of the OT which would have revealed His coming.
The late pastor and radio evangelist J. Vernon McGee predicted that the believing church in America would eventually have to go underground in order to survive. Considering the above list of preening phonies we had better start now.
Bill Hybels - I have my doubts that Hybels is actually a Christian since his church is chock full of new age gobbledygook and he rejects the ultimate authority of Scripture - the very definition of an Evangelical.
Tim Keller - A great intellect, but not an Evangelical. Keller is a mainline Protestant of the diocesan variety and should not be included.
Beth Moore and Joyce Meyer - These twin money-makers are the phony Christian versions of Oprah. Hundreds of thousands of gullible women flock to their showbiz extravaganzas. Ewww.
Joel Osteen - Please God, save us from this used car dealer of self-help, big bucks pseudo-Christianity. The feel-good Pharisee who personifies 2 Tim 3:5 - "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Rick Warren - What can said? "The Purpose Driven Life" instead of "The Jesus Driven Life". The Post-Modern Pope wears a Hawaiian shirt and says of his Christian brothers that if they focus on Bible prophecy they are "not fit for the kingdom of God". Hmm. Didn't God put prophecy in the Bible for a reason, Ricky? Didn't Jesus Himself prophesy destruction upon Jerusalem "because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." - Luke 19:44. In other words, they didn't study the prophecies of the OT which would have revealed His coming.
The late pastor and radio evangelist J. Vernon McGee predicted that the believing church in America would eventually have to go underground in order to survive. Considering the above list of preening phonies we had better start now.
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