Robb Thompson

Thompson grew up in Oak Lawn, Illinois where he was raised a Roman Catholic and worked for United Parcel Service for the majority of his early adulthood. He moved to Homer Township, Illinois, where he sought "practical answers to life's problems and a real personal relationship with Jesus Christ", and began considering other denominations. He stated that he had a transformative experience on October 28, 1975, where he was "unplugged and reengineered and then plugged in again to Christ" and became a Baptist for several years.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DzfhKasS6JwC&pg=PA52|title=Solitary Refinement: Finding and Making the Most of Time by Yourself (The Hidden Power of Being Alone)|author=Thompson, Robb D.|publisher=Thomas Nelson|isbn=978-1-59951-029-3|page=52|location=Nashville, Tennessee|oclc=190760622|year=2007|accessdate=2009-03-03}}

Thompson was given an honorary doctoral degree from Life Christian University, an unaccredited institution{{cite web|title=LCU Accreditation|url=http://lcus.edu/accreditation.php|publisher=Life Christian University|accessdate=16 April 2011}} and diploma mill, based in Tampa, Florida.

As an ordained minister, Thompson founded Midwest Christian Center in 1983,{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24286920.xml?dids=24286920:24286920&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+16%2C+1993&author=Elizabeth+Williamson.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=MAKE+A+JOYFUL+NOISE+Church+music+strikes+a+responsive+chord+Congregations+lift+their+voices+in+song+that%27s+in+harmony+with+our+ever-changing+culture&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131202144932/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24286920.xml?dids=24286920:24286920&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+16,+1993&author=Elizabeth+Williamson.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=MAKE+A+JOYFUL+NOISE+Church+music+strikes+a+responsive+chord+Congregations+lift+their+voices+in+song+that's+in+harmony+with+our+ever-changing+culture&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 2, 2013|date=1993-05-16|title=Make a Joyful Noise: Church music strikes a responsive chord: Congregations lift their voices in song that's in harmony with our ever-changing culture|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=3|author=Williamson, Elizabeth|accessdate=2009-03-03}} which later grew into a large worship center. He remained the pastor of the center through the late 1990s.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/12/14/hit-by-the-millennium-bug/|title=Hit by the Millennium Bug: Pessimists Brace for a Computer-Driven Cataclysm|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author1=Mendell, David |author2=Harper, Pat |name-list-style=amp |date=1998-12-14|access-date=2009-03-03}} He also pastored the House of Glory church in the 1980s, in Orland Park, Illinois,{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB36D2ECEC6108F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Halloween stirs a devil of a fuss: Churches join parent protest of 'evil'|author=Herrmann, Andrew|date=1986-10-30|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|page=52|accessdate=2009-03-03}} and held regular Bible study groups. It was during these study groups in 1999 where the name "Family Harvest" was conceived.

Thompson is the founder {{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-34130723_ITM|title='Solitary Refinement': Chicago Pastor Shows Readers How to Utilize Their Time in New Book|work=PR Newswire Association, L.L.C.|date=2008-03-10|location=Nashville|author=Newton, Stephanie|publisher=Thomas Nelson|accessdate=2009-03-03}} of the nondenominational Family Harvest Church{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-30810419_ITM|title=Former Illini basketball player encourages teens to have a purpose of faith in life|work=Herald & Review|location=Decatur, Illinois|date=2007-05-19|author=Smith, Sheila|publisher=McClatchy-Tribune Information Services|accessdate=2009-03-03}} in Tinley Park, Illinois,{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/06/24/rev-james-e-watson-53/|date=2004-06-24|title=Rev. James E. Watson, 53: Love of gospel powered pastor's Harvey church|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=10|author=Sherlock, Barbara|access-date=2011-04-15}} a member of the Family Harvest International network. Family Harvest Church, which can hold over 3,000 congregants in one service, has been called a megachurch, noted for its theater chairs, projection screens, polished singing performances, stage lighting, amplified sound, and TV and web shows.{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=STRB&p_theme=strb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11388027A2E7B310&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Choices, choices|author=Fulka, Rena|work=The Star|date=2006-08-06|publisher=Star Newspapers|location=Tinley Park, Illinois|accessdate=2009-03-03}} In 2004, the church had nearly $10 million in assets.{{cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/30/Hillsborough/Buyers_shun_Living_Wa.shtml|title=Buyers shun Living Water property|author=Testerman, Jeff|date=2004-04-30|work=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2009-03-20}}

In 1986, in an effort to promote that Halloween is "historically evil" and harmful to children, Thompson's church scheduled a "Hallelujah Party" in its place on October 31. The church has made it an annual tradition ever since.

Family Harvest Church's ministers preached regularly about the risk of a "Y2K apocalypse" during 1998, relating it to Thompson's published interpretation of the Bible. On January 2, 2000, with Y2K essentially a nonevent, pastor Rev. Doug Boettcher's message was about not letting go of one's preparations, urging members of the Family Harvest Church to be prepared "for any kind of natural disaster" and to help their neighbors in such a situation; but many locals had already returned generators and space heaters the day before.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/01/03/stockpiles-of-y2k-gear-head-back-to-the-stores/|date=2000-01-03|access-date=2010-04-27|author1=Gibson, Ray |author2=Heinzmann, David |work=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois|title=Stockpiles of Y2K Gear Head Back to the Stores}}

In 2005, Family Harvest Church opposed Tinley Park's decision to zone an off-track betting facility, as destructive of local ideals.{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=STRB&p_theme=strb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10B559669B48CD60&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|work=The Star|publisher=Star Newspapers|location=Tinley Park, Illinois|date=2005-06-23|accessdate=2009-03-20|author=Enigk, Erica|title=Tinley Park: OTB passes final hurdle}}

For Christmas 2005, Thompson arranged the donation of over 100,000 articles of clothing, toys, and other goods to Miracle Centre Cathedral, a Ugandan cathedral run by senior pastor Robert Kayanja that is claimed to be the biggest auditorium in East Africa.{{cite journal|last=Lloyd|first=John|title=The Riches of Heaven|journal=Financial Times Weekend Magazine|date=25 October 2008}} The items were distributed to displaced persons' camps and orphanages in northern Uganda.{{cite news|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/472751|title=Kayanja aids northern children|work=New Vision|location=Uganda|date=2005-12-24|accessdate=2009-03-20|author=Nakagwa, Flavia|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218105830/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/472751|archivedate=2012-02-18}}

In 2009, Thompson founded "City Harvest", a Family Harvest Church ministry in northwest suburban Chicago.

In early 2011, the Robb Thompson Ministries hosted the "Dancing for the Stars" dinner-dance fundraising event in Orland Hills, Illinois. The proceeds of the event were to go to underprivileged children around the world and to funding Family Harvest's global missions.{{cite web|title=Charity Briefs|url=http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/lifestyles/4268951-423/charity-briefs.html|publisher=SouthtownStar, a Chicago Sun-Times publication|accessdate=26 April 2011}} Over 400 attended the event which helped raise $25,000.{{cite web|last=Tinley Junction Staff|title=Church's dancing event raises funds for less fortunate|url=http://www.tinleyjunction.com/Articles-c-2011-04-07-219605.114133-Churchs-dancing-event-raises-funds-for-less-fortunate.html|publisher=The Tinley Junction|accessdate=26 April 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725233606/http://www.tinleyjunction.com/Articles-c-2011-04-07-219605.114133-Churchs-dancing-event-raises-funds-for-less-fortunate.html|archivedate=25 July 2012}} With these funds, two medical and dental trips are being organized in 2011, to the Petén Jungle in Guatemala and later to Haiti, where children, orphans and adults will be offered free medical and dental checkups and treatment. The ministries also announced that a portion of the funds will be donated to help Japan after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Robb Thompson is Founder of the International College of Excellence, a Christian university dedicated to teaching and training of new pastors "to maximize their personal potential and equipping tomorrow's leaders". He serves as the institution's president. The college is headquartered in Tinley Park, Illinois, a suburb south of Chicago.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}

• {{cite AV media|title=Marriage God's Way!|people=Thompson, Robb|medium=audiobook|publisher=Midwest Christian Center|oclc=34111558}}
• {{cite book|title=La Decisión Ganadora|author=Thompson, Robb|language=Spanish|publisher=Midwest Christian Center|location=Tinley Park, Illinois|year=1998|oclc=60424911}}
• {{cite AV media|title=Why Financial Harvests are Denied|people=Thompson, Robb|medium=audiobook|publisher=Family Harvest Church|location=Tinley Park, Illinois|oclc=226246598}}
• {{cite book|title=Shattered Dreams: What to Do When Your Future Seems Lost|author=Thompson, Robb|publisher=Family Harvest Church|location=Tinley Park, Illinois|year=2002|edition=2nd|isbn=978-1-889723-23-5|oclc=173262672}}
• {{cite book|title=Winning the Heart of God|author=Thompson, Robb|publisher=Royal Books|location=Nashville, Tennessee|year=2002|isbn=978-0-7852-6487-3|oclc=53231392}}
• {{cite book|title=Solitary Refinement: Finding and Making the Most of Time by Yourself (The Hidden Power of Being Alone)|author=Thompson, Robb D.|publisher=Thomas Nelson|isbn=978-1-59951-029-3|location=Nashville, Tennessee|oclc=190760622|year=2007}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://robbthompson.com RobbThompson.com]
• FHC Website:[https://www.fhclife.org]

{{Authority control}}

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Category:American Christian clergy

Category:Living people

Category:1953 births

Category:People from Oak Lawn, Illinois

Category:People from Tinley Park, Illinois

Category:People from Will County, Illinois