Chuck Swindoll

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Chuck Swindoll

Born Charles Rozell Swindoll
October 18, 1934 (1934-10-18) (age 73)
El Campo, Texas, United States
Occupation pastor, author, educator
Genres Inspirational, Christian living
Notable work(s) The Grace Awakening
Notable award(s) ECPA Jordon Lifetime Achievement Award, 1997[1]
12 ECPA Christian Book Awards
Official website

Charles Rozell "Chuck" Swindoll (born October 18, 1934) is an evangelical Christian pastor, author, educator, and radio preacher. He founded Insight for Living, currently headquartered in Plano, Texas, which airs a radio program of the same name on more than 2,000 stations around the world in 15 languages. He is currently the senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.

Contents

[edit] Early life

He was born in El Campo, Texas (Wharton County), the third of three children born to Earl and Lovell Swindoll. He graduated from Charles H. Milby High School in Houston. Before a life in Christian ministry, Chuck initially pursued his interest in mechanical engineering, and also served with the United States Marine Corps in Southeast Asia. He married his wife, Cynthia, in 1955 and they have four children. Swindoll entered Dallas Theological Seminary in 1959, where he graduated magna cum laude four years later.

[edit] Career

Chuck Swindoll was ordained into the ministry in 1963, and served in Dallas, Texas under J. Dwight Pentecost for two years. He has since held senior pastorates in Waltham, Massachusetts (1965-1967), Irving, Texas (1967-1971), and Fullerton, California (1971-1994). He started his current senior pastorate in Frisco, Texas in 1998.

Swindoll is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Insight for Living, which produces a radio program of the same name on Christian and non-Christian radio stations around the world. The program is heard on more than 2000 stations as well as webcast, and is translated into several languages. Its roots go back to the summer of 1977, when Swindoll's sermons from the First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, California began to be broadcast on radio. In 1979, the Insight for Living radio ministry began. The offices of Insight for Living are now located in Plano, Texas.

In July of 1994, Swindoll became the president of the Dallas Theological Seminary, and now serves as its chancellor. He is the author of more than 70 books, most of which are based on his research and preparation for sermons preached each Sunday. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Christianity Today produced an article naming Swindoll as one of the top 25 most influential preachers of the past 50 years (1956-2006).

In 1998, Swindoll founded a new church in Frisco, Texas, Stonebriar Community Church. The church first held services at Collin County Community College then moved to its permanent home on Legendary Drive in Frisco. The congregation grew rapidly from a few hundred members to several thousand in the first few years and this growth has necessitated major expansion of the current facility. Construction for the additions began in 2005. Many of the pastors at Stonebriar are graduates of Dallas Theological Seminary, and the church is known for its missionary work in India and other countries. Though Swindoll is still widely regarded as an Evangelical Free Church of America preacher, the Stonebriar Community Church is not affliated with any particular denomination.[2]

[edit] Selected publications

  • You And Your Child, Thomas Nelson (1977)
  • Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back: Persevering Through Pressure, Thomas Nelson (1980)
  • Strike The Original Match, Multnomah (1980)
  • Improving Your Serve: The Art Of Unselfish Living, Word (1981)
  • Strengthening Your Grip: Essentials In An Aimless World, Word (1982)[3]
  • Growing Strong In The Seasons Of Life, Multnomah (1983)
  • Dropping Your Guard: The Value Of Open Relationships, Word (1983)
  • Come Before Winter - And Share My Hope, Multnomah (1985)[4]
  • Living On The Ragged Edge: Coming To Terms With Reality, Word (1985)
  • Growing Deep In The Christian Life: Returning To Our Roots, Multnomah (1986)
  • The Quest For Character, Multnomah (1987)[5]
  • Living Above The Level Of Mediocrity : A Commitment To Excellence, Word (1987)[6]
  • Growing Wise In Family Life, Multnomah (1988)[7]
  • Living Beyond The Daily Grind: Reflections On The Songs And Sayings In Scripture, Word (1988)[8]
  • Rise & Shine: A Wake-Up Call, Multnomah (1989)
  • The Grace Awakening, Word (1990)
  • Sanctity Of Life: The Inescapable Issue, Word (1990)
  • Stress Fractures, Multnomah (1990)[9]
  • Simple Faith, Word (1991)
  • Laugh Again, Word (1992)
  • Flying Closer To The Flame, Word (1993)
  • The Finishing Touch, Word (1994)[10]
  • Paw Paw Chuck's Big Ideas in the Bible, Word (1995)[11]
  • Hope Again, Word (1996)
  • The Road To Armageddon (with John F Walvoord; J Dwight Pentecost), Word (1999)
  • Start Where You Are: Catch A Fresh Vision For Your Life, Word (1999)
  • The Mystery Of God's Will: What Does He Want For Me?, Word (1999)
  • Perfect Trust: Ears To Hear, Hearts To Trust, And Minds To Rest In Him, J. Countryman (2000)
  • The Darkness And The Dawn : Empowered By The Tragedy And Triumph Of The Cross, Word (2001)
  • Why, God?: Calming Words For Chaotic Times, Word (2001)
  • Wisdom For The Way: Wise Words For Busy People, J. Countryman (2001)
  • Understanding Christian Theology (with Roy B Zuck), Thomas Nelson (2003)
  • Behold-- The Man!: The Pathway Of His Passion, Word (2004)
  • So, You Want To Be Like Christ?: Eight Essentials To Get You There, Word (2005)
  • When God Is Silent (Choosing To Trust In Life's Trials), J. Countryman (2005)
  • Great Attitudes For Graduates!: 10 Choices For Success In Life (with Terri A Gibbs), J. Countryman (2006)
  • Encouragement For Life: Words Of Hope And Inspiration, J. Countryman (2006)
  • The Strength Of Character: 7 Essential Traits Of A Remarkable Life (with Terri A Gibbs), J. Countryman (2007)
  • A Bethlehem Christmas: Celebrating The Joyful Season, Thomas Nelson (2007)

[edit] Profiles in Character series

[edit] Honors and awards

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jordon Lifetime Achievement Award - Past Recipients
  2. ^ "Although Stonebriar shares many of the same beliefs and values, the church is not affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America." - Heather Hammontree, Insight for Living, e-mail dated 1/07/04.
  3. ^ 1983 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners – Inspirational/Devotional/Christian Living category
  4. ^ 1986 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners – Gift Books/Poetry category
  5. ^ 1988 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners - Inspirational category
  6. ^ 1988 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners - Christian Living category
  7. ^ 1989 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners - Marriage And Family category
  8. ^ 1989 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners - Personal/Group Bible Study category
  9. ^ 1991 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners - Theology/Doctrine category
  10. ^ 1995 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners - Devotional category
  11. ^ 1996 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners - Elementary Children category
  12. ^ 1999 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners - Bible Study category
  13. ^ 2000 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners - Bible Study category
  14. ^ 2005 Gold Medallion Book Award Winners - Bible Study category

[edit] External links

Languages