James MacDonald (pastor)
Encyclopedia
Dr. James S. MacDonald is the founding and senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel meeting in six locations throughout the greater Chicago, Illinois, area. He is a popular non-denominational teacher and author.
James MacDonald received degrees from London Baptist Bible College (B.A. in Theology, 1984), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (M.A.
in Religion, 1988) and Phoenix Seminary (Doctor of Ministry, 1996).
James was ordained at Riverside Baptist Church in Windsor, Ontario in 1985. In 1988, along with a small group of ministry partners, James and his wife, Kathy, founded Harvest Bible Chapel. (read more about Harvest below)
Since 1997, James’ Bible-teaching ministry has been extended through Walk in the Word, his daily radio program, reaching millions each day. Further extension of Harvest has included a church planting ministry called Harvest Bible Fellowship, a training center for pastors, a year-round camp, a biblical counseling center, a disaster recovery organization, and a Christian school—all used to reach more people with the life-changing message of the Gospel.
James MacDonald is fired up about God’s Word and God’s Son. He has been a pastor for almost 30 years and delights to entrust to others the lessons he and Kathy have learned in ministry. James is down on cranky, cheerless Christians, but good with everyone who is still listening and learning and loving the Savior, whose glory is his passion and whose Word is enough.
Early Life
James MacDonald was born in London, Ontario, Canada on October 4, 1960. Although he describes himself as a clueless rebel in his teenage years, James also credits both his parents and grandparents as strong models that presented him with a consistent Christian alternative to his rebellion. Competing in a preaching contest was a significant turning point in his life that Christ used to draw James to Himself. James has read widely, but continues to insist that the Scriptures provide the truth grid that measures all other input.
Family
James MacDonald is married to his high school sweetheart, Kathy, also from Ontario, Canada. He is the father of three grown children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and grandfather to four grandsons.
Harvest Bible Chapel
Founded in 1988, Harvest Bible Chapel is a church based on four foundational principles from Scripture:
1) the unapologetic proclamation of God's Word,
2) the unashamed adoration of Jesus Christ in worship,
3) the unceasing prayers of God’s people, and
4) the unafraid witness by God’s people.
After meeting in a local high school for seven years, Harvest moved into its first church home in a converted warehouse in Rolling Meadows, Illinois in 1995. Two campuses (Elgin and Niles) were added in 2004. A fourth (Crystal Lake) was added in 2007. In 2010 Chicago North became a Harvest campus, and a new location in Aurora, Illinois, was opened in early 2011 at a facility that also serves as a media center.
Ministry Overview--Today
Harvest Bible Chapel
The church currently has a weekly attendance frequently exceeding 13,000 in the fifteen worship services that are offered in multiple locations.
In 2011, Outreach Magazine featured Harvest Bible Chapel as one of the fastest growing churches in America. The same publication annually lists Harvest as one of the largest churches (top 25) in America.
Walk in the Word
Launched in 1997, Walk in the Word became the radio outlet for James’ teaching ministry. It now reaches more than three million people through the 30-minute radio program.
Harvest Bible Fellowship
Harvest Bible Fellowship was born in 2002 and has planted more than 75 churches across North America and around the world on five continents. James’ vision is that God will use him and the various Harvest efforts to help plant 1,000 churches in his lifetime.
Vertical Church Blog
MacDonald's blog offers ministry resources for pastors. He is frequently among the top 10 podcasts for video and audio on iTunes as well as a top 10 blog among all religion writers.
The Elephant Room
The Elephant Room #1 was convened at Harvest Studios in the spring of 2011. It featured 7 pastors from diverse backgrounds meeting face to face to discuss, persuade, listen, and seek to understand one another better. The purpose of The Elephant Room is to model biblical confrontation and gracious disagreement that honors relationship and allows diversity of opinion, but stands without compromise on the revealed Word of God.
The first installment featured: Matt Chandler, Mark Driscoll, Steven Furtick, Greg Laurie, Perry Noble, David Platt, and James MacDonald. These are all pastors of significant ministries, with outspoken positions, having a shared love for the gospel by differing approaches to ministry. The conversation was blunt, challenging, clarifying, and helpful. A second Elephant Room is scheduled for January 25, 2012.
Harvest Christian Academy
Launched in 2004, Harvest Christian Academy offers preschool through high school training from a distinctly Christian worldview and accredited by the Association of Christian Schools. It is located at the Elgin, Illinois, campus of the church.
Churches Helping Churches
In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, James MacDonald and pastor friend Mark Driscoll launched Churches Helping Churches, a network of local churches committed to assisting churches enduring tragedies around the world to be the immediate access point for practical and knowledgeable help in their communities.
Media (music and films)
In 1998, Harvest Songs was born as an extension of the passion for worship and the role of music in the elevation of worship and praise to God. The label is now called Vertical Church Music.
2011 saw the opening of Harvest Studios in Aurora, Illinois, a state-of-the-art facility for production of media. The provision of this amazing facility lays the groundwork for developing a film ministry, by God’s grace in God’s timing.
Our Only Goal
MacDonald’s ministries don’t have numerical goals or long-term strategies. What they do have the desire “To see revival in the church in North America in our lifetime.”
Biography
Scope of Ministry and EducationJames MacDonald received degrees from London Baptist Bible College (B.A. in Theology, 1984), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (M.A.
in Religion, 1988) and Phoenix Seminary (Doctor of Ministry, 1996).
James was ordained at Riverside Baptist Church in Windsor, Ontario in 1985. In 1988, along with a small group of ministry partners, James and his wife, Kathy, founded Harvest Bible Chapel. (read more about Harvest below)
Since 1997, James’ Bible-teaching ministry has been extended through Walk in the Word, his daily radio program, reaching millions each day. Further extension of Harvest has included a church planting ministry called Harvest Bible Fellowship, a training center for pastors, a year-round camp, a biblical counseling center, a disaster recovery organization, and a Christian school—all used to reach more people with the life-changing message of the Gospel.
James MacDonald is fired up about God’s Word and God’s Son. He has been a pastor for almost 30 years and delights to entrust to others the lessons he and Kathy have learned in ministry. James is down on cranky, cheerless Christians, but good with everyone who is still listening and learning and loving the Savior, whose glory is his passion and whose Word is enough.
Early Life
James MacDonald was born in London, Ontario, Canada on October 4, 1960. Although he describes himself as a clueless rebel in his teenage years, James also credits both his parents and grandparents as strong models that presented him with a consistent Christian alternative to his rebellion. Competing in a preaching contest was a significant turning point in his life that Christ used to draw James to Himself. James has read widely, but continues to insist that the Scriptures provide the truth grid that measures all other input.
Family
James MacDonald is married to his high school sweetheart, Kathy, also from Ontario, Canada. He is the father of three grown children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and grandfather to four grandsons.
Career
Ministry Overview--BeginningHarvest Bible Chapel
Founded in 1988, Harvest Bible Chapel is a church based on four foundational principles from Scripture:
1) the unapologetic proclamation of God's Word,
2) the unashamed adoration of Jesus Christ in worship,
3) the unceasing prayers of God’s people, and
4) the unafraid witness by God’s people.
After meeting in a local high school for seven years, Harvest moved into its first church home in a converted warehouse in Rolling Meadows, Illinois in 1995. Two campuses (Elgin and Niles) were added in 2004. A fourth (Crystal Lake) was added in 2007. In 2010 Chicago North became a Harvest campus, and a new location in Aurora, Illinois, was opened in early 2011 at a facility that also serves as a media center.
Ministry Overview--Today
Harvest Bible Chapel
The church currently has a weekly attendance frequently exceeding 13,000 in the fifteen worship services that are offered in multiple locations.
In 2011, Outreach Magazine featured Harvest Bible Chapel as one of the fastest growing churches in America. The same publication annually lists Harvest as one of the largest churches (top 25) in America.
Walk in the Word
Launched in 1997, Walk in the Word became the radio outlet for James’ teaching ministry. It now reaches more than three million people through the 30-minute radio program.
Harvest Bible Fellowship
Harvest Bible Fellowship was born in 2002 and has planted more than 75 churches across North America and around the world on five continents. James’ vision is that God will use him and the various Harvest efforts to help plant 1,000 churches in his lifetime.
Vertical Church Blog
MacDonald's blog offers ministry resources for pastors. He is frequently among the top 10 podcasts for video and audio on iTunes as well as a top 10 blog among all religion writers.
The Elephant Room
The Elephant Room #1 was convened at Harvest Studios in the spring of 2011. It featured 7 pastors from diverse backgrounds meeting face to face to discuss, persuade, listen, and seek to understand one another better. The purpose of The Elephant Room is to model biblical confrontation and gracious disagreement that honors relationship and allows diversity of opinion, but stands without compromise on the revealed Word of God.
The first installment featured: Matt Chandler, Mark Driscoll, Steven Furtick, Greg Laurie, Perry Noble, David Platt, and James MacDonald. These are all pastors of significant ministries, with outspoken positions, having a shared love for the gospel by differing approaches to ministry. The conversation was blunt, challenging, clarifying, and helpful. A second Elephant Room is scheduled for January 25, 2012.
Harvest Christian Academy
Launched in 2004, Harvest Christian Academy offers preschool through high school training from a distinctly Christian worldview and accredited by the Association of Christian Schools. It is located at the Elgin, Illinois, campus of the church.
Churches Helping Churches
In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, James MacDonald and pastor friend Mark Driscoll launched Churches Helping Churches, a network of local churches committed to assisting churches enduring tragedies around the world to be the immediate access point for practical and knowledgeable help in their communities.
Media (music and films)
In 1998, Harvest Songs was born as an extension of the passion for worship and the role of music in the elevation of worship and praise to God. The label is now called Vertical Church Music.
2011 saw the opening of Harvest Studios in Aurora, Illinois, a state-of-the-art facility for production of media. The provision of this amazing facility lays the groundwork for developing a film ministry, by God’s grace in God’s timing.
Our Only Goal
MacDonald’s ministries don’t have numerical goals or long-term strategies. What they do have the desire “To see revival in the church in North America in our lifetime.”
Vertical Church
A movement to awaken the church of Jesus Christ to the vertical mandate of seeing, savoring, and disseminating God’s glory. Before the church was soteriological (commissioned to convey the Gospel), it was doxological (designed to experience and express the glory of God). In order to do that MacDonald offers:- Audio Messages
- Video Messages
- Blog
- A book (releasing Fall 2012)
- 40-City Bus Tour (coming Fall 2012)
Links
- JamesMacDonald.com Personal site and blog
- Harvest Bible Chapel church started by Pastor James MacDonald
- Walk in the Word daily radio program, *audio archives
- Listen Up one minute radio feature
- Harvest Bible Fellowship association of churches
- Harvest Christian Academy preschool through high school
- The Elephant Room annual one-day event
- Harvest Songs music of Harvest Bible Chapel