Larry Tomczak

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Larry Tomczak is a prominent pastor and preacher based in the USA. He is the co-founder of the group now known as Sovereign Grace Ministries and of several prominent churches.

Contents

[edit] Conversion and PDI

Born into a Roman Catholic family in Ohio, Tomczak became locally famous as the drummer for the Lost Souls; a five-piece rock'n'roll band described by Richie Unterberger as a "Cleveland sensation".[1].

He came to faith in Christ during the charismatic renewal of the 1970s, as described in his popular book, Clap Your Hands. His leadership of the popular non-denominational TAG (Take and Give) meeting in Washington DC, founded by local resident Lydia Little led to further prominence[2]. He was soon joined in leadership by fellow charismatic CJ Mahaney, (who was also raised in a Roman Catholic family). After a few years, TAG birthed an independent church, Gathering of Believers and after several name changes, became Covenant Life Church[3]. Covenant Life became a launchpad for the founding of People of Destiny International, a national (later international) church planting movement which subsequently shortened its name to PDI[4] then Sovereign Grace Ministries.

[edit] Lawsuit

As Larry Tomczak became a prominent speaker on both sides of the Atlantic [5] he also became embroiled in a lawsuit with author-psychologist Thomas Harris after mistakenly repeating an urban myth about him during a conference address and a radio broadcast during 1979[6]. Settlement was finally reached on the $22million lawsuit in 1983, with Tomczak paying out $150,000 [7] [8].

[edit] Departure from PDI

Tomczak eventually left the leadership of PDI in 1998 and has subsequently suggested that the increasingly Calvinistic theology of PDI was a major factor in this parting of the ways [9][10]. He has also described this period as "an unbelievable nightmare" during which his family "were threatened in various ways if we did not cooperate with [PDI]... A letter was circulated in an attempt to discredit me and to distort the events surrounding my departure"[11].

[edit] Recent Activities

Upon leaving PDI, Tomczak joined the faculty of Brownsville School of Ministry as Instructor in Practical Theology [12][13] and led the planting of Christ the King Church in Greater Atlanta [14]. He is currently in the process of establishing a ministry training centre in Nashville, Tennessee in partnership with other senior charismatic leaders.[15].

[edit] Authorial career

Larry Tomczak is the author of several books, including Clap Your Hands[16], Divine Appointments[17] and Reckless Abandon.[18]. He was also the founding editor of the now-defunct People of Destiny magazine.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Adams, Deanna R. (2002). Rock'n'Roll and the Cleveland Connection. Kent State University Press, p.158. ISBN 978-0873386913. 
  2. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands. 
  3. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands, 179-196. 
  4. ^ Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths. 
  5. ^ Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths. 
  6. ^ "Charisma Magazine", Charisma Magazine, 2000-07. Retrieved on 2008-02-09. 
  7. ^ "Charisma Magazine", Charisma Magazine, 2000-07. Retrieved on 2008-02-09. 
  8. ^ "Author Wins Judgment for Slander", New York Times, 1983-09. Retrieved on 2008-02-26. 
  9. ^ "Charisma Magazine", Charisma Magazine, 2000-07. Retrieved on 2008-02-09. 
  10. ^ Tomczak, Larry (1998). What Do You Believe About How People get Saved?. 
  11. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Reckless Abandon, p.15. 
  12. ^ "Charisma Magazine", Charisma Magazine, 2000-07. Retrieved on 2008-02-09. 
  13. ^ Christ the King Church. Christ the King Church. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.
  14. ^ "Charisma Magazine", Charisma Magazine, 2000-07. Retrieved on 2008-02-09. 
  15. ^ Christ the King Church. Christ the King Church. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.
  16. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands. ISBN 978-0884192527. 
  17. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Divine Appointments. ISBN 978-1560433200. 
  18. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Reckless Abandon. ISBN 978-0884198765.