Greg Laurie
{{short description|American author and pastor (born 1952)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific-prefix = Pastor
| name = Greg Laurie
| image = Greg Laurie, 2019 (gAs7GBjo6-o).jpg
| caption = Laurie in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|12|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Long Beach, California, U.S.
| spouse = {{marriage|Cathe Martin| 1974}}
| children = 2
| employer = Harvest Christian Fellowship
| known_for = Harvest Crusades
| website = {{URL|http://www.harvest.org|www.harvest.org}}
| title = Senior Pastor
| occupation = Christian pastor, evangelist, author, law enforcement chaplain
}}
Greg Laurie (born December 10, 1952) is an American evangelical pastor, evangelist, and Christian author who serves as the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, based in Riverside, California. He also is the founder of Harvest Crusades. Laurie is also the subject of the 2023 film Jesus Revolution, which tells the story of how he converted to Christianity and got his start in ministry in the midst of the Jesus movement.
Early life and education
Greg Laurie was born in Long Beach, California.{{Cite web |last=Kandil |first=Caitlin |date=2016-08-12 |title='A delivery boy' for God: Greg Laurie and his Harvest Crusade are back for a 27th year |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/tn-wknd-et-socal-harvest-20160806-story.html |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Daily Pilot |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-02 |title=Revival and Revolution {{!}} Commonweal Magazine |url=https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/revival-and-revolution-1 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=www.commonwealmagazine.org |language=en}} He was raised by a single mother married seven times total; they moved often, sometimes to vastly different locations such as New Jersey and Hawaii.{{cite web |url=http://greg.harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/ |title=Harvest Church – Greg's Blog: About Me |publisher=Harvest.org |access-date=February 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813070316/https://greg.harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/ |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |url-status=dead}} He worked as a newspaper boy for the Daily Pilot in Orange County, California.{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/socal/weekend/news/tn-wknd-et-socal-harvest-20160806-story.html|title='A delivery boy' for God: Greg Laurie and his Harvest Crusade are back for a 27th year|last=Kandil|first=Caitlin Yoshiko|date=2016-08-12|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-03-28|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}} Laurie was not raised in the Christian faith or a church environment. In 1970, when Laurie was 17 years old, he became a devout Christian while attending Newport Harbor High School under the ministry of evangelist Lonnie Frisbee, as the Jesus Movement was exploding in Southern California.{{cite book|title=Not By Might Nor By Power|last2=Sachs|first2=Roger|date=2012|publisher=Freedom Publications|isbn=978-0-9785433-1-0|location=Santa Maria, CA|pages=125–126|last1=Frisbee|first1=Lonnie}}
Ministry
In 1973, at the age of 20, under the mentorship of Calvary Chapel pastor Chuck Smith, Laurie was given the opportunity to lead a Bible study of 30 people in Riverside, California.Alex Murashko, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/greg-laurie-harvest-to-celebrate-40-years-of-knowing-god-and-making-him-known.html Greg Laurie, Harvest to Celebrate 40 Years of 'Knowing God and Making Him Known'], christianpost.com, USA, March 14, 2013 The group quickly grew in size, and that same year, Laurie founded the Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, where he still serves as senior pastor.
In 1990, Laurie founded the Harvest Crusades, an organization that hosts large-scale evangelistic events around the U.S.David Olson, [https://www.ocregister.com/2014/08/16/harvest-crusades-thousands-pack-angel-stadium-to-hear-the-good-word-and-pass-it-on/ Harvest Crusades: Thousands pack Angel Stadium to hear the good word – and pass it on], ocregister.com, USA, August 16, 2014
Laurie serves on the board of directors for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. [http://www.billygraham.org/glossyIncludes/Development_AnnualReports/pdf/BGEA2006AnnualReport.pdf 2006 Annual Report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810043240/http://www.billygraham.org/glossyIncludes/Development_AnnualReports/pdf/BGEA2006AnnualReport.pdf |date=2007-08-10}}, p. 18 He is also a chaplain for the Newport Beach Police Department. In 2013, Laurie served as the Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. President Donald Trump selected Pastor Laurie as one of several evangelical church leaders to participate in the National Prayer Service hosted at the Washington National Cathedral following the presidential inauguration of 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2017/january/trump-washington-national-cathedral-prayer-service-lineup-e.html|title=Trump Stacks Prayer Service Lineup with Evangelicals|work=Gleanings {{!}} ChristianityToday.com|access-date=2017-03-28|language=en}}
In 2017, Greg Laurie organized a movement titled "The Year of Good News". Multiple church leaders signed the letter he penned to initiate the movement.{{Cite web|url=http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2017/march/evangelical-leaders-make-2017-the-year-of-good-news|title=Evangelical Leaders: Make 2017 'The Year of Good News'|website=CBN.com (beta)|date=March 3, 2017 |language=en|access-date=2017-03-28}} One paragraph of the letter reads, "In a time of fake news, distracting news, divisive news, disorderly news, and, sometimes, depressing news, we—as Christians and as leaders—want to recommit ourselves to making sure that the Good News of Jesus cuts through it all. We call upon Christians in America to make 2017 'The Year of Good News.'"{{Cite news|url=https://www.harvest.org/campaign/email-signup/yearofgoodnews|title=The Year of Good News|work=Harvest: Greg Laurie|access-date=2017-03-28|language=en-US|archive-date=September 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927113300/https://www.harvest.org/campaign/email-signup/YearOfGoodNews|url-status=dead}}
In 2017, Harvest Christian Fellowship became a member of the Southern Baptist Convention, at the request of Laurie, who considered that the latter has important national and international evangelistic programs. The church maintains its ties with Calvary Chapel.Samuel Smith, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/greg-lauries-harvest-christian-fellowship-joins-southern-baptist-convention.html "Greg Laurie's Calif. Megachurch Joins Southern Baptist Convention"], christianpost.com, USA, June 13, 2017
Harvest at Home and COVID-19
When all California churches were forced temporarily to shut their doors because of COVID-19,{{Cite news |date=2020-07-13 |title=California governor shuts churches, businesses as COVID-19 cases surge |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-california-idUSKCN24E2OW |access-date=2023-01-11}} Harvest Christian Fellowship and Greg Laurie started the online church program "Harvest at Home", which swiftly became one of the most-watched internet worship services in America, averaging over 200,000 viewers weekly during the pandemic.
On Palm Sunday 2020, then-president Trump tweeted that he would be watching Harvest at Home, and the webcast saw record viewership that week, with over 1,300,000 people tuning in to watch.{{Cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Samuel |date=2020-04-06 |title=Greg Laurie's Palm Sunday webcast draws 1.3M viewers, Trump: People are open to the Gospel |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/greg-lauries-palm-sunday-webcast-draws-13m-viewers-trump-people-are-open-to-the-gospel.html |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=The Christian Post |language=en-US}}
On October 5, 2020, Laurie revealed that he had contracted COVID-19, and released a statement saying, "Unfortunately, the coronavirus has become very politicized. I wish we could all set aside our partisan ideas and pull together to do everything we can to defeat this virus and bring our nation back."{{Cite web |title=Greg Laurie Tests Positive for COVID-19 |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/october/greg-laurie-covid-pastor-white-house-trump-coronavirus.html |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=News & Reporting |date=October 5, 2020 |language=en}}
Harvest at Home continues to be one of the most widely watched online church services in America since the pandemic, with average viewership of over 100,000 in 2023.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
Publishing and media
Laurie has written more than 70 books, including The Upside-Down Church (1999, co-authored with David Kopp); this book won a Gold Medallion Book Award in the "Christian ministry" category in 2000.Evangelical Christian Publishers Association [http://www.ecpa.org/christianbookawards/gm2000.php 2000 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners]
Laurie's sermons are featured on the syndicated half-hour daily program A New Beginning,{{cite web|url=http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/a-new-beginning/ |title=Oneplace.com |access-date=2012-04-10}} broadcast on over 1,100 radio stations worldwide.{{cite web|access-date=2022-10-21|title=Broadcast Listings|url=https://harvest.org/broadcasting-listings/}} A New Beginning is also featured as a Christian podcast, available on iTunes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rightnow.org/Content/Speaker/999908|title=RightNow Media|website=RightNow Media|access-date=2017-03-29}} Laurie is also a guest commentator at WorldNetDaily and appears regularly in a weekly television program called GregLaurie.tv on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).
In 2018, he published the autobiographical book Jesus Revolution, which was adapted for the cinema in 2023.Maureen Mackey, [https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/jesus-revolution-hunger-faith-greg-laurie-people-getting-scared 'Jesus Revolution' taps into today's hunger for faith, says Greg Laurie: 'People are getting scared'], foxnews.com, USA, March 1, 2023{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Stephanie|date=2019-03-29|title=Greg Laurie: Pray for a Millennial Jesus Movement|url=https://churchleaders.com/news/347672-greg-laurie-pray-for-a-millennial-jesus-movement.html|access-date=2021-07-08|website=ChurchLeaders|language=en-US}} The film, also titled Jesus Revolution, is produced by Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate. It depicts the story of how Laurie and his wife Cathe came to faith during the Jesus Movement in Southern California.{{Cite web|title=Erwin Bros., Lionsgate to release film 'Jesus Revolution' based on 1970s spiritual awakening|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/erwin-bros-lionsgate-to-release-film-jesus-revolution-based-on-1970s-spiritual-awakening.html|access-date=2021-07-08|website=The Christian Post|date=July 2, 2020 |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Larsen |first=Peter |date=February 22, 2023 |title='Jesus Revolution' tells the true story of Christian hippies and an Orange County church |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2023/02/22/jesus-revolution-tells-the-true-story-of-christian-hippies-and-an-orange-county-church |access-date=2023-02-23 |work=Daily News |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Laurie resides in Newport Beach with his wife, Catherine. The couple had two sons, Christopher and Jonathan, as well as five grandchildren.{{cite web |title=Harvest Church – Greg Laurie Biography |url=http://www.harvest.org/newsroom/greg-laurie/biography.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208123114/http://www.harvest.org/newsroom/greg-laurie/biography.html |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |publisher=Harvest Church}} On July 24, 2008, Christopher was killed at the scene of a 9 a.m. car accident on the eastbound Riverside Freeway west of Serfas Club Drive in Corona, California. He was 33 years old.
Recognition
Laurie holds two honorary doctorates, from Biola University and from Azusa Pacific University.The National Day of Prayer, [https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2013_pastor_greg_laurie_bio 2013 Honorary Chairman, Pastor Greg Laurie], nationaldayofprayer.org, USA, 2013
Films
Greg Laurie has produced or written six films:
- Lost Boy {{Citation |last=Thompson |first=Dwight |title=Lost Boy |date=2009-11-05 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1378723/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_8_prd |type=Documentary |publisher=New Revolution Entertainment |access-date=2023-01-11}}
- Hope for Hurting Hearts {{Citation |last=Thompson |first=Dwight |title=Hope for Hurting Hearts |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3089436/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_7_prd |type=Documentary, Drama, Family |access-date=2023-01-11}}
- A Rush of Hope {{Citation |last=Smallbone |first=Ben |title=A Rush of Hope: Find Answers to Life's Questions |date=2020-09-04 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12928532/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 |type=Biography |publisher=Kingdom Story Company |access-date=2023-01-11}}
- Steve McQueen: American Icon {{Citation |last1=Erwin |first1=Jon |title=Steve McQueen: American Icon |date=2017-09-28 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7424358/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_4_prd |type=Documentary, Biography |publisher=American Icon Films |access-date=2023-01-11 |last2=Smallbone |first2=Ben}}
- Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon {{Citation |last=Smallbone |first=Ben |title=Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon |date=2022-12-05 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23112636/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_1_prd |type=Documentary, Biography, Music |publisher=Harvest Ministries, Kingdom Story Company, Radiate Films |access-date=2023-01-11}}
- Jesus Revolution (2023) {{Citation |last1=Erwin |first1=Jon |title=Jesus Revolution |date=2023-02-24 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10098448/?ref_=nm_flmg_unrel_1_prd |type=Drama |publisher=Kingdom Story Company, Lionsgate |access-date=2023-01-11 |last2=McCorkle |first2=Brent}}
He is working on a seventh documentary, about fame and faith.
Publications
- {{cite book | title = The Seeker's Bible: New Testament: New Living Translation | publisher = Tyndale House Publishers | location = Wheaton, Ill | year = 2000 | isbn = 0-8423-3928-0 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/seekersbiblenewt00laur }}
- {{cite book | title = Every Day with Jesus: First Steps for New Believers | publisher = Tyndale House Publishers | location = Wheaton, Ill | year = 2004 | isbn = 1-4143-0075-1 }}
- {{cite book | title = Losers and Winners, Saints and Sinners: How to Finish Strong in the Spiritual Race | publisher = Warner Faith | location = New York | year = 2005 | isbn = 0-446-50015-1 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/loserwinnerssain0000laur }}
- {{cite book | title = Wrestling with God | publisher = Multnomah Pub | location = S.l | year = 2006 | isbn = 1-59052-894-8 }}
- {{cite book | title = Lost Boy: My Story | publisher = Allen David / Kerygma;b | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-1-942090-21-2 }}
- {{cite book | title = Let God Change Your Life: How to Know and Follow Jesus | publisher = David C. Cook | location = U.K. | year = 2011 | isbn = 978-1-4347-0207-4 }}
- As It Is in Heaven: How Eternity Brings Focus to What Really Matters. 2014
- {{cite book | title = Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon | publisher = American Icon Press | year = 2017 | isbn = 978-1-946891-05-1 }}
- {{cite book |title=Jesus Revolution: How God transformed an unlikely generation and how he can do it again today |date=2018 |publisher=Baker Books |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |isbn=978-0-8010-7594-0}}
- Johnny Cash: The Redemption of An American Icon. Terrill Marshall. Washington, DC: Salem Books. 2019. {{ISBN|978-1-62157-974-8}}.
- World Changers: How God Uses Ordinary People to do Extraordinary Things. Larry Libby. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. 2020. {{ISBN|978-0-8010-7595-7}}.
- Lennon, Dylan, Alice and Jesus. 2022.
- Heaven's Light Breaking: A 25 Day Advent Devotional. K-Love Books (2023) ISBN 1-397-81954-201484
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://harvest.org/ Harvest.org]
- [https://harvest.church/ Harvest Christian Fellowship]
- [https://harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/ Greg Laurie bio]
- [http://www.christiancomicsinternational.org/pioneers2.html#Anchor-GREG-44591 Greg Laurie – Christian Comics Pioneer]
- [http://www.christianpost.com/news/harvest-america-christians-celebrate-changed-lives-at-history-making-event-80676/ Article: Harvest America: Christians Celebrate Changed Lives at History-Making Event]
- [https://archive.today/20130729231752/http://blog.pe.com/2013/07/05/harvest-crusades-new-app-for-nationwide-event/ Harvest Crusades: New app for nationwide event]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Laurie, Greg}}
Category:20th-century Baptist ministers from the United States
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Category:21st-century Baptist ministers from the United States
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Category:Christian nationalists
Category:Members of the Calvary Chapel
Category:Newport Harbor High School alumni
Category:People from Long Beach, California