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Larry Tomczak

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Look2008 (talk | contribs) at 01:35, 18 December 2008 (I have just undone a series of anonymous edits which had removed referenced material and inserted unreferenced data). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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.

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.

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].

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]. Some of this period's tensions also stem from Mahaney's attempts to discipline Tomczak over the "teenage rebellion" of his son[11]. Tomczak has described this time 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"[12]. Tomczak claims never to have recieved an apology for the events of this period[13].

Recent Activities

Upon leaving PDI, Tomczak joined the faculty of Brownsville School of Ministry as Instructor in Practical Theology [14][15] and led the planting of Christ the King Church in Greater Atlanta [16]. He is currently in the process of establishing a ministry training centre in Nashville, Tennessee in partnership with other senior charismatic leaders.[17].

Authorial Career

Larry Tomczak is the author of several books, including Clap Your Hands[18], Divine Appointments[19] and Reckless Abandon.[20]. He was also the founding editor of the now-defunct People of Destiny magazine.


References

  1. ^ Adams, Deanna R. (2002). Rock'n'Roll and the Cleveland Connection. Kent State University Press. p. p.158. ISBN 978-0873386913. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  2. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands.
  3. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands. p. 179-196.
  4. ^ Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths.
  5. ^ Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths.
  6. ^ "Where Are They Now?". Charisma Magazine. 2000-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Where Are They Now?". Charisma Magazine. 2000-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Author Wins Judgment for Slander". New York Times. 1983-09. Retrieved 2008-02-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Where Are They Now?". Charisma Magazine. 2000-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Tomczak, Larry (1998). What Do You Believe About How People get Saved?.
  11. ^ "Evangelist Tomczak still a force". Washington Times. 2000-06-11. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  12. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Reckless Abandon. p. p.15. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  13. ^ "Evangelist Tomczak still a force". Washington Times. 2000-06-11. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  14. ^ "Where Are They Now?". Charisma Magazine. 2000-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Christ the King Church". Christ the King Church. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  16. ^ "Where Are They Now?". Charisma Magazine. 2000-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Christ the King Church". Christ the King Church. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  18. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands. ISBN 978-0884192527.
  19. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Divine Appointments. ISBN 978-1560433200.
  20. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Reckless Abandon. ISBN 978-0884198765.
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