Tommy Barnett is an author and the senior pastor of Phoenix First Assembly of God in Phoenix, Arizona, and chancellor of Southeastern University. The church is known as "the church with a heart" because of its over 275 active outreach ministries.
Tommy Barnett's life is an example of commitment to reaching out to others and training leaders in church growth and outreach, and for this he has become known as a "pastor's pastor". His tenacity and refusal to step down from a challenge have inspired him to take unprecedented leaps of faith in ministry, and by example to encourage pastors and leaders around the world to spread the love of God and change the lives of many through a relentless spirit of servanthood.
Following in his father's example of generosity, Tommy Barnett became devoted to reaching the lost and healing the hurting, and began his ministry at age sixteen. His early background in music and global evangelism laid the foundation for his high-impact soulwinning ministry.
Before moving to Phoenix First, he pastored Westside Assembly of God in Davenport, Iowa. In just a few years, the church grew from 76 people to more than 4,000 members, becoming the fastest-growing church in America. The rapid growth attracted global attention and quickly became an example of new revival in America's local churches. It also set the stage for what would happen in Phoenix, Arizona when he became the pastor of Phoenix First Assembly in 1979.
Under his leadership in over three decades, Tommy Barnett has guided Phoenix First Assembly into an era of phenomenal revival. Thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds in the community have committed their lives to Christ every year. His innovative approach of utilizing the creative arts and compassionate ministries to present the Gospel and reach out to the poor and the hurting have become signature components of his ministry.
Tommy Barnett and his son Matthew co-pastor the Los Angeles Dream Center, where the former Queen of Angels Hospital and Angelus Temple have become the center of inner city outreach in the metropolitan area. The L.A. Dream Center has inspired the development of nearly 200 additional Dream Centers around the world, and Tommy Barnett recently launched the New York Dream Center. He has also been appointed chancellor of Southeastern University.
His annual Pastors and Leaders School has gathered more than 200,000 leaders over 30 years to train and equip the next generation of pastors and ministry leaders to carry on the work of the ministry. Tommy Barnett's ministry has influenced many leaders including high-profile ministers and pastors such Joyce Meyer, T. D. Jakes, Ed Young Jr., Wellington Boone, and Charles Nieman, who call him their pastor.
He is a highly sought-after conference and evangelistic speaker, recently partnering with Joyce Meyer to share the Gospel with more than 400,000 people in India. He has authored several books, including Multiplication, Hidden Power, Enlarge Your Circle of Love, Reaching Your Dreams, and most recently, Your Great Adventure.
He is married to his wife Marja and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. He has three children: Matthew, Luke, and Kristie, all of whom have become influential leaders as well.