Tom Short
Encyclopedia
Tom Short is an American
traveling campus evangelist
affiliated with Great Commission Churches.
His beliefs are largely Evangelical
, based on the Bible
, including salvation from sin through faith in Jesus Christ, and that all Christians
should publicly profess their faith, be baptized
, and make other disciples. As of 2007, Short claims to have visited over 100 campuses nationwide. Short's stated goal is to see everyone he speaks to on campus turn to Christ. http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2006/08/30/News/Short.On.Faith-2250983.shtml?norewrite200610031628&sourcedomain=www.dailyutahchronicle.com Though he often travels, he lives in Columbus, Ohio
. He is a husband and the father of five children.
Tom Short was ordained
in the late 1970s by elders of The "Blitz" Movement at Solid Rock Church (now Linworth Road Church) in Columbus, Ohio
. Missionaries of the movement at the time operated by filling buses with people, musical instruments and tracts in order to execute a 2- or 3-day campus blitz. They used singing, intensive tract distribution and organized sidewalk canvassing to draw impromptu crowds and to achieve saturation of the intellectual marketplace. By 1980, Short himself began preaching on campuses while stationed at a church in College Park, Maryland
, becoming a fixture outside the Hornbake Library on the University of Maryland
campus. The movement which was The Blitz finally established itself as "Great Commission International".
Throughout the 1980s, Tom Short preached on college campuses, while also helping to establish New Life Christian Students, a campus ministry run by members of Great Commission International.
Short briefly served as pastor
of Woodstock Community Church in Roswell, Georgia
in 1990 while conducting services in the Roswell Holiday Inn, and then moved to San Diego
to pastor MountainView Community Church.
Observers note that Short makes no purposeful effort to cause offense, though that is often the result of his controversial views. Short himself says, "I realize when I come on campuses that I am presenting truths that are unpopular and do challenge commonly held beliefs in the university, so I realize some people will react to that, it is not my goal to upset people, but if a person hears God's truth and won't turn to it, it will be upsetting. We see that throughout the entire Bible where people are being persecuted for standing up for God and for truth."
Speaking loudly to gather the crowd, he points out that morality
and issues of sexuality generally get the most attention. "You've eaten of the same tree
Eve
ate of, the same tree Hitler
ate of," Short said at the University of North Texas
. "And that's got us on the highway to hell."
One hot topic of debate that recurs in most of Short's messages: homosexuality. "I love homosexuals," Short declared in 2005, claiming that he and his wife Rosalyn have counseled 15 homosexuals to a successful heterosexual lifestyles with their love and prayer. He stated to the UCM Maneater in 1997, "Over the years I have led many homosexuals to Christ. Often, I am the first one who's told them there is a way out of homosexuality and that is through Christ." At that time he had claimed to have led at least 20 people away from homosexuality. "I think God loves everybody, but he doesn't condone what they do," he said.
Short's website, "The Short Report," has been on the web since at least late 1999 with news relevant to Christian issues and a FAQ demonstrating his biblical views; it details upcoming dates and other ministry information. In 2001, Premier Publishing Company printed Short's 5 Crucial Questions About Christianity.
In 2004, Tom Short spoke in a non-debate forum aside Jamal Badawi
, a renowned Islamic scholar at Iowa State University. The two featured speakers presented their religions' view of Jesus and answered questions in the forum, co-sponsored by Islam on Campus and the local Great Commission Churches student group.http://www.alligator.org/edit/news/issues/stories/040219islam.html
for college students and graduating high school seniors "designed to ... prepare you for your next step in life as a college student and a Great Commission Christian
" through intensive training in "Christian theology and thought, disciplines for spiritual growth, how to share the love of God with others, how to discover God's calling in your life, and apologetics." Schedules include full days and weekends, lasting for a month and a half for seniors and over two months for college students. In addition, students are invited to attend the Great Commission Churches National Pastor's Conference in central Missouri
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
traveling campus evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
affiliated with Great Commission Churches.
His beliefs are largely Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, based on the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, including salvation from sin through faith in Jesus Christ, and that all Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
should publicly profess their faith, be baptized
Believer's baptism
Believer's baptism is the Christian practice of baptism as this is understood by many Protestant churches, particularly those that descend from the Anabaptist tradition...
, and make other disciples. As of 2007, Short claims to have visited over 100 campuses nationwide. Short's stated goal is to see everyone he speaks to on campus turn to Christ. http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2006/08/30/News/Short.On.Faith-2250983.shtml?norewrite200610031628&sourcedomain=www.dailyutahchronicle.com Though he often travels, he lives in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. He is a husband and the father of five children.
Partisan and pastor
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
in the late 1970s by elders of The "Blitz" Movement at Solid Rock Church (now Linworth Road Church) in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. Missionaries of the movement at the time operated by filling buses with people, musical instruments and tracts in order to execute a 2- or 3-day campus blitz. They used singing, intensive tract distribution and organized sidewalk canvassing to draw impromptu crowds and to achieve saturation of the intellectual marketplace. By 1980, Short himself began preaching on campuses while stationed at a church in College Park, Maryland
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
, becoming a fixture outside the Hornbake Library on the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
campus. The movement which was The Blitz finally established itself as "Great Commission International".
Throughout the 1980s, Tom Short preached on college campuses, while also helping to establish New Life Christian Students, a campus ministry run by members of Great Commission International.
Short briefly served as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Woodstock Community Church in Roswell, Georgia
Roswell, Georgia
Roswell is a city located in northern Fulton County; it is a suburb of northern Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The 2010 Census population was 88,346. It is the eighth largest city in Georgia...
in 1990 while conducting services in the Roswell Holiday Inn, and then moved to San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
to pastor MountainView Community Church.
Returns to campus
In 1996, he resigned as a full-time pastor and dedicated himself to the traveling ministry. Short's approach to preaching has continued to be a source of controversy for some, yet a source of hope for others. Rick Whitney, an ardent supporter of Short, and Regional Director within Great Commission said, "It's a public forum; it's a free speech issue, some people don't like the way Short presents his ideas."Observers note that Short makes no purposeful effort to cause offense, though that is often the result of his controversial views. Short himself says, "I realize when I come on campuses that I am presenting truths that are unpopular and do challenge commonly held beliefs in the university, so I realize some people will react to that, it is not my goal to upset people, but if a person hears God's truth and won't turn to it, it will be upsetting. We see that throughout the entire Bible where people are being persecuted for standing up for God and for truth."
Speaking loudly to gather the crowd, he points out that morality
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
and issues of sexuality generally get the most attention. "You've eaten of the same tree
Original sin
Original sin is, according to a Christian theological doctrine, humanity's state of sin resulting from the Fall of Man. This condition has been characterized in many ways, ranging from something as insignificant as a slight deficiency, or a tendency toward sin yet without collective guilt, referred...
Eve
Eve (Bible)
Eve was, according to the creation of Abrahamic religions, the first woman created by God...
ate of, the same tree Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
ate of," Short said at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
. "And that's got us on the highway to hell."
One hot topic of debate that recurs in most of Short's messages: homosexuality. "I love homosexuals," Short declared in 2005, claiming that he and his wife Rosalyn have counseled 15 homosexuals to a successful heterosexual lifestyles with their love and prayer. He stated to the UCM Maneater in 1997, "Over the years I have led many homosexuals to Christ. Often, I am the first one who's told them there is a way out of homosexuality and that is through Christ." At that time he had claimed to have led at least 20 people away from homosexuality. "I think God loves everybody, but he doesn't condone what they do," he said.
Short's website, "The Short Report," has been on the web since at least late 1999 with news relevant to Christian issues and a FAQ demonstrating his biblical views; it details upcoming dates and other ministry information. In 2001, Premier Publishing Company printed Short's 5 Crucial Questions About Christianity.
In 2004, Tom Short spoke in a non-debate forum aside Jamal Badawi
Jamal Badawi
Jamal A. Badawi is an Egyptian born Muslim Canadian former professor in the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a well-known author, preacher and speaker on Islam....
, a renowned Islamic scholar at Iowa State University. The two featured speakers presented their religions' view of Jesus and answered questions in the forum, co-sponsored by Islam on Campus and the local Great Commission Churches student group.http://www.alligator.org/edit/news/issues/stories/040219islam.html
Discipleship Summer Training Program
Today, Short continues his campus evangelism efforts. He also runs a summertime retreat in Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
for college students and graduating high school seniors "designed to ... prepare you for your next step in life as a college student and a Great Commission Christian
Great Commission Association
The Great Commission church movement is a broad term used to describe the entities associated with an evangelical Christian movement formalized in the USA in 1970. The largest of these organizations today is Great Commission Churches . Other associated organizations include Great Commission...
" through intensive training in "Christian theology and thought, disciplines for spiritual growth, how to share the love of God with others, how to discover God's calling in your life, and apologetics." Schedules include full days and weekends, lasting for a month and a half for seniors and over two months for college students. In addition, students are invited to attend the Great Commission Churches National Pastor's Conference in central Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
External links
- www.shortreport.com - Short's website and blog.
- Newspaper articles on Tom Short
- Tom Short's YouTube Channel