October 17, 2023
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. Harlow said retiring and moving away after so long in one place isn’t easy. . . .
June 5, 2019
By Jim Nieman Tim Harlow, senior pastor with Parkview Christian Church, Orland Park, Ill., for almost 30 years, has written a new book with the provocative title, What Made Jesus Mad? Rediscover the Blunt, Sarcastic, Passionate Savior of the Bible. In the book, to be released next Tuesday, Harlow explains that Jesus was most angry with people whose attitudes got in the way of his purpose, and he shares what that means for his followers today. He suggests it’s more important to ask, “What made Jesus angry” than the oft-quoted cliché, “What would Jesus do?” Harlow—who cowrote the “Ministry Today”
March 20, 2016
By Tim Harlow There are some wonderful benefits to leading the same church for 26 years. It”s actually very difficult to make much headway into your community as a church leader without longevity. However, when people ask me for the hardest thing about longevity, this is my answer””what got us here doesn”t usually get us there. I don”t mind change. I don”t mind that I”ve preached through the years of overhead projectors to slide projectors to video to HD video. I don”t mind that I grew up in a church with a bus ministry and a puppet troupe, but I”m
September 28, 2015
By Tim Harlow “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you” (Luke 9:49, 50). When I was fresh out of college, I became a youth minister in Amarillo, Texas. Because of a gracious grant from a Christian foundation, I was able to get my master”s degree for free. This was well before the days of the Internet, so I actually had to go to the class. The only
January 22, 2015
Tim Harlow, senior minister at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois (which ranked No. 52 on Outreach magazine”s fastest-growing church list in 2013, and which now ranks as the 66th largest church in America), talked about the turning points for the church, which averaged 150 per weekend when he arrived in 1990 and now averages 7,510. “Since 1998 we have grown an average of 21 percent a year,” he told Outreach. “I firmly believe that the reason Parkview is on any of these lists is because God looked down on a group of dedicated leaders who made one single
July 4, 2014
By Paul Boatman Tim Harlow, the senior pastor of Parkview Christian Church, Orland Park, Illinois, is president of the 2014 North American Christian Convention. Tell us about your work with the North American Christian Convention. My mother carried me in her womb to my first NACC. In the 52 years since then, I have attended 46 of the conventions. It really has always been a part of my life. In 1990, when I began a difficult ministry with this church, the convention was a lifeline for me. I got the empowering messages, the pats on the back, the “juice”
August 5, 2012
By Tim Harlow Imagine the party when the tax collector got some friends together to meet Jesus. Matthew was a tax collector. The Jews hated tax collectors because they were usually swindlers and “sellouts” who worked for the Romans. You couldn”t get any lower than a tax collector. They even had their own category: there were “sinners,” and there were “tax collectors.” Jesus and the disciples came upon Matthew one day and Jesus said, “Why don”t you quit your job and follow me?” Matthew said “yes,” and the next thing you know Jesus was at a party at Matthew”s house.
April 6, 2011
By Mark A. Taylor “I”m an editor. I work with words.” I”ve used that excuse more than once when I”ve miscalculated or misunderstood or misapplied some list of numbers. (My wife says she hopes I don”t die before her, because it would take her a month to figure out what”s going on with our checkbook!) So if you prefer ideas and expressing them over numbers and analyzing them, I understand. But I urge you not to ignore all the facts and figures in posts we”re planning for the next few weeks. Here”s why: We serve a God who keeps track
December 9, 2007
A book review by Jon Zabrocki I”ve heard it said the motivation to do something in life can be traced to one of two things: either the desire to avoid pain or the desire for personal gain. For example, we pay our taxes, not because we enjoy doing it, but because the thought of the IRS agent camping out in our living room brings a certain amount of discomfort. But these competing motivations are not equally balanced in most areas of our lives; more often the avoidance of pain outweighs the desire for gain. Paying bills will always get done
October 21, 2007
By Tim Harlow Do you want to go to Heaven? How about today? Hugh Poland tells about the time his 5-year-old daughter Kayse was anticipating her first day of kindergarten. Her 3-year-old sister Jayme was catching the excitement as the great day approached. But on the day before kindergarten was to start, Kayse fell and skinned her knee. Tears began to flow and Jayme, seeing the blood on her big sister”s knee, tried to comfort her by saying, “Don”t worry Kayse, if you die you”ll go to Heaven.” But Kayse wailed even more. “I don”t want to go to Heaven.
June 24, 2007
By Tim Harlow I have a lot of names. Each of them serves as a distinct description of who I am. I”m “Dad” to my kids. I”m “incredible, magnificent, loving husband” to Denise. I”m Dr. Harlow, Pastor Tim, or Brother Tim, depending on your affiliation. I”m “Boss.” I”ve been “Coach.” I used to be “Timmy,” and I”ve been “Hairball” (but that”s a longer story!). But when people ask me what I like to be called, I usually say, “Just call me Tim.” It”s a good name, and it”s my personal name. Moses was the first guy to ask God what
April 15, 2007
A profile of Parkview Christian Church traces a pivotal 1997 congregational vote, the leadership decision that followed, and the relocation and expansion that accompanied rapid attendance growth and wider outreach.
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