Craig Groeschel

From Oklahoma

Craig Groeschel (born December 2, 1967) is the founder and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, an American multi-site church with multiple locations in four states. Groeschel is known for his inspirational public speaking and zeal for Christian evangelism. He is married with six children and lives in Edmond, Oklahoma where LifeChurch.tv is based.

[edit] Biography

Groeschel was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in southern Oklahoma. He attended Oklahoma City University where, as a young adult, he had a profound conversion experience to Christianity. Shortly thereafter he met his wife Amy and the two married in 1991. That same year, Groeschel entered the ministry as an associate pastor in the United Methodist Church. He attended Phillips Theological Seminary and secured a Master of Divinity degree, but left the Methodist Church before completing ordination.

In 1996, Groeschel and a handful of congregants started Life Covenant Church in a two-car garage. Ignited by Groeschel’s vision to do church in a non-traditional style, attendance of Life Covenant grew rapidly, eventually evolving into what is now the nine LifeChurch.tv campuses in four states.

Groeschel's humorous and inspirational teaching style sets him apart from more traditional clergy. While maintaining a distinctly evangelical theology, Groeschel does not typically stress unessential doctrine but instead focuses on practical issues such as marriage, family, relationships, finances, and generosity. Groeschel often cites Billy Graham and Bill Hybels as personal role models and states that his mission is “to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.”

Groeschel has been criticized for his hyper-patriotic pro-war stance that he took in a sermon delivered during the early days of the Gulf War (see LifeChurchvsIraq.com)

Groeschel has authored several books including Chazown: A Different Way to See Your Life.

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[edit] External links

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