John Wimber (1934-1997

John Richard Wimber was an American pastor, Christian author and musician. He was initially ordained as a Quaker minister. He became an early pioneering pastor of a charismatic congregation and a popular ideas leader in the modern Christian application of the miraculous signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit He was a founding member of the first Vineyard church which began in the USA but since 2017 now has a wider denomination

John was born on 25th February 1934. He was talented musician playing the keyboard and as a vocalist. He played professionally from the age of 15 . Aged 19 he won first prize at the Lighthouse International Jazz Festival.
He was part of a 5 member group called The Paramours- he played the keyboard. Two of the members, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield , in 1962 became the musical duo The Righteous Brothers.

He became a Christian at the age of 29 leaving behind the chain smoking , beer guzzling, drug abuse life, he and his wife had led.

John immediately enrolled in Azusa Pacific College and majored in Biblical Studies. After graduating he was ordained a quaker minister and took a pastoral with a position with the Yorba Linda Friends Church.

By 1970 he was leading 11 different Bible study groups that involved more than 500 people.

He was the founding director of Church growth at Charles Fuller Institute of Evangelism (1974-8). He taught a course called Signs, Wonders and the Holy Spirit. Many experienced the presence day woof the Spirit for the first time

John eventually left the Quaker denomination after being discouraged from operating in the gifts of the Spirit. He formed a house group which eventually became the Vineyard Christian Fellowship (VCF) of Anaheim in 1977. It quickly out grew his home to become the flagship of the Vineyard Movement. For a while they joined Calvary Chapel. He pastored VCF until 1994.

They left Calvary chapel and joined a small group of churches started by Kenn Gulliksen. VCF became an international Vineyard Movement (VM).

He was very outspoken about retaining authenticity and doing nothing for religious effect

VM was well known for their music and for being against ‘dressing up’ for church. They were encouraged to wear jeans, shorts, sandals or whatever they felt comfortable in

VM 's emphasis was church planting- the best form of evangelism. VM is rooted in both historic evangelism and charismatic renewal. During his lifetime and after his death the VM has established 1000s of churches across the USA and internationally.

In later life (1985-97) he was plagued with health problems and died om 17th November 1997 from a brain aneurysm aged 63.

John travelled the world, seeking to serve the Church by bringing renewal to many denominations. He taught and demonstrated that signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit were still for the present day. His teaching influenced many Christians both inside and out of the V M.

Sources used
Amazon
Vineyard USA John Wimber
Wikipedia