‘An Unbelievable Privilege’: Tim Harlow Retiring after 33 Years at Parkview Christian

By Chris Moon 

Tim Harlow is retiring at the end of this month after 33 years as senior pastor at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Ill. 

Harlow led the suburban Chicago church as it grew from just 150 people in 1990 to well more than 8,000 at its pre-pandemic height. The church has spent years as one of the largest and fastest growing in the nation. 

But at 62, Harlow is stepping away. He and his wife, Denise, will be relocating to Franklin, Tenn., to be close to their three children and seven grandchildren. 

Harlow will preach his last sermon this coming weekend (Oct. 21-22). The church will hold a retirement celebration the following weekend.  

Ted Max will take over as Parkview’s lead pastor. 

In an interview with Christian Standard, Harlow said retiring and moving away after so long in one place isn’t easy.  

“It’s an emotional roller coaster,” he said. “I liken it to dropping your first kid off at college. You know it’s going to be a good thing for them. It’s surprising how hard it is.” 

A BIG VISION 

Harlow grew up the son of a pastor in Colorado and Oklahoma. 

He said he saw his father “get beat up in ministry a lot.” That toughened Harlow’s own resolve to be a pastor who would lead through difficult times—and, at times, lead difficult people.  

After graduating from Ozark Christian College in 1983, Harlow served in youth ministry at Washington Avenue Christian Church in Amarillo, Texas, and West County Christian Church in St. Louis. He then moved in 1990 to the Chicago suburbs, where he became pastor of what was then Tinley Park Church of Christ.  

The name of the church would change to Tinley Christian Church and then to Parkview Christian Church as it grew and eventually relocated to Orland Park, Ill. 

On its face, the church back in 1990 didn’t seem to have much to commend it. 

Harlow called it “a big mess.” Different groups of elders would oust each other from leadership. Some wanted to do new things as a church, and some preferred for nothing to change.  

A third-party evangelistic association was helping keep the church together.  

But there were people in the congregation determined to move things forward. 

“The story was the vision inside the place,” Harlow said. 

MOVING AND GROWING 

Harlow said the first seven years at the church were difficult ones. But then things started to change and the leadership began to align. 

The church had struggled by being landlocked in a 10,000-square-foot building on just 2 acres of land.  

The congregation held a vote in 1997 to relocate to Orland Park. The motion passed by a 56 percent majority—not exactly an overwhelming mandate. But the elders were all on board, and the church didn’t look back. 

“We knew what we were supposed to do,” Harlow said.  

The church lost “a ton of people” that year, Harlow said—those unhappy with the leaders’ insistence to move. But he said God simultaneously “lifted the lid off” the congregation’s attendance. 

Harlow said the church averaged 25 percent annual growth for the following 20 years. It repeatedly made Outreach Magazine’s list of 100 largest and 100 fastest-growing churches in the country. 

And more importantly, the church has baptized 11,000 people during Harlow’s 33 years as its pastor. 

“It’s been incredible, and it’s hard to let go of,” he said.  

RETIREMENT FACTORS 

But Harlow is letting go. 

He said he began telling his elders years ago that he planned to retire at age 62.  

His desire, in part, was to help the church transition to new leadership well. He also knew, in his seventh decade, that his ability to solve problems and think creatively would begin to wane. 

And there was the family to think of. During the past few years, all three of his children have moved to Franklin, Tenn.  

It made the decision to retire now an easy one. Harlow will live in the same subdivision as all his kids and grandkids. 

“I can walk to any of my grandkids in five minutes,” he said. 

WHAT’S NEXT 

Harlow said he has a few things on his to-do list in retirement.  

He said he wants to spend time reflecting on his ministry career. He expects his mind will be clear to do that without the constant pressure to speak to groups of people throughout the week.  

Some questions he’s asking: “How much of what I did was for God, and how much was for me? . . . How much of it was just me wanting to be successful and have people like me? . . . How much of it was really caring about God’s kingdom?” 

“It’s something I think everybody should wrestle with on a regular basis,” he said. 

Harlow said he expects to write about his reflections. 

“I think there’s something in there,” he said.  

He also said he wants to pour himself into mentoring other pastors. He has about a dozen pastors on his list.  

Harlow also plans to continue with his leadership with Spire. And he is committed to helping with Rick Warren’s “Finishing the Task,” a 10-year initiative to expand access to the gospel and plant churches in unreached places. 

“I can’t not be involved in that,” Harlow said. 

SWEET MEMORIES 

Looking back on his career, Harlow recounted multiple highlights.  

He recalled Parkview’s first capital campaign in 1997 as the church was preparing to relocate. 

“I had so little faith in God at that point,” Harlow said.  

The goal was to raise $750,000. Actually, he said, that was the church’s “miracle goal”—if everything went just right. 

On the day the total was announced, a line of six church members slowly flipped over pieces of cardboard with digits reflecting the grand total that had been raised. The last number—the one on the far left—was the one that really mattered.  

It turned over as a “9,” meaning the church far exceeded its goal. 

“I’m getting choked up,” Harlow said as he recounted the story. “I can’t even talk about it.” 

He said he turned to the person next to him and said the “9” must have been upside down. But it was a “9,” and the church was moving forward, he said.  

During the first weekend in Parkview’s new building, the church had 1,500 people at four services. 

Harlow also remembers some of the many baptisms at Parkview over the years.  

He said he was in the water with members of rival biker gangs. One of them baptized the other.   

Harlow also recalled a man who was baptized despite wearing a court-ordered ankle monitor. It wasn’t waterproof.  

Some men from the church held the man’s leg out of the water while he was immersed. 

“We just had a real ability to reach prodigals,” Harlow said. “It’s just been an unbelievable privilege.” 

Chris Moon is a pastor and writer living in Redstone, Colorado.