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John Bishop
John Bishop is the senior pastor and co-founder of Living Hope Church, a multi-site church centralized in Vancouver, Washington with both local and international campuses. He graduated with a business degree in 1989 with every intention of pursuing law but, after a near fatal martial arts injury, John prayed to receive Christ and switched gears from law to Seminary. In his words, he wanted to be "fully devoted to the person, the mission and the cause of Christ". His life reflects this in every way both on the stage and off. His messages are dynamic and passionate, striking to the core of what matters most to the heart of God, people. He wants to cultivate an Acts 2 church where people can find Christ and learn how to become devoted followers, to serve Him and each other, where all needs are met and no one is lacking in anything. He wants to see people live the values that Jesus Christ died for.
John is passionate in his resolve to reach the lost by whatever means possible "short of sin". He conducted his first international crusade in India in the latter part of 2009 which saw nearly 18,000 Hindus receive Christ with follow up from local pastors. This is the first of many international crusades to come.
John speaks worldwide at various churches and conferences. He has a heart and strong desire to see pastors, leaders and churches reach their full potential in their ministry. He longs for the day that denominational barriers are brought down freeing the body of believers, the true church, to serve alongside each other with the common goal and commission of Jesus Christ.
John has one life goal, and that is to know Jesus more and more each day and be covered in the dust of his Rabbi.
FAMILY
John married his beautiful wife Michelle in 1983. They are the proud parents of three children who are all serving the Lord: David, Katie and Hannah. David serves on the leadership team of the Cabo San Lucas, Mexico campus and Katie is currently attending the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri pursuing a degree in music ministry. Hannah's light shines brightly at Prairie High School, she will be graduating in 2013.
John and Michelle reside in Battle Ground, WA.
EDUCATION
John obtained his bachelor's degree in Business Management with a Minor in Accounting in 1989 from Saint Martin's University and then received his master's from Western Seminary in Evangelism and Transformational Leadership in 2004.
DANGEROUS CHURCH
Pastor John's first book, Dangerous Church, will be released by Zondervan in March 2011! It is a story of Living Hope and a call to leaders and pastors to be dangerous and risk it all for what matters the most to God and what should matter the most to us, reaching the lost. You can pre-order the book from Amazon now: Dangerous Church Be ready to be challenged to set aside your own agenda for God's. Be ready to have your faith stretched and your passion ignited to reach the lost; it could be your neighbor, your community or even the world. "...you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." - Jesus
LIVING HOPE
Living Hope began in 1996 by John and Michelle alongside 4 other families with the goal of being a church people would invite their friends and family to. They had no resources, no denominational backing and no encouragement from local pastors and leaders. Deriving its name from 1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... and fulfilling its mission statement: Living Hope exists to passionately, authentically and simply help people know and follow Jesus. the church has been a flagship of hope and a place of comfort and grace to those who are hurting.
Living Hope currently runs 16 weekend services at 8 local satellite campuses in the Vancouver area (including a Hispanic campus) and international campuses located in New Zealand, Mexico, the Philippines and India. You can visit the website for more information: Living Hope
JOHN BISHOP TV
John Bishop TV is a weekly program currently shown on two local channels, TBN and ION. It is another way to reach out to the people in the local community. Calls are received every week from people seeking prayer and guidance, refreshed by the truth of God's Word preached by Pastor John, and desiring God's personal touch in their lives.
For a listing of channels, schedules and current broadcasts and downloadable study notes, visit the website: Watch John on TV
HOPE FOR INDIA
There are moments when Heaven opens up and touches earth, when Heaven touches individual lives and changes them for eternity. In November 2009, Pastor John led a team to India and conducted his first crusade. There was no special programming, just the simple gospel message of Jesus Christ told through the testimonies of some of the team and ending with Pastor John calling those who wished to renounce their Hindu gods and follow the One True God to raise their hands and then to rise to their feet. 17,815 Indian men and women stood to their feet, their hands reaching towards the sky receiving the gift of grace and eternity.
Within moments, the heavens opened up and the rain started to come down. The Indian pastors told the team they believed that God Himself was baptizing the new believers that night.
A follow up team was sent in January 2010 to continue to preach the gospel message of Jesus Christ and construct toilets in a leprosy colony in Chennai. The work continues as wells are built, pastors and leaders are trained, and hope is restored to a country ravaged by poverty and poly-theism.
CABO SAN LUCAS
Few people realize that there's an "other Cabo", a Cabo that is eclipsed by beautiful beaches and touristy fun, a Cabo that is impoverished and is in desperate need of the touch of God and the light of salvation.
In August 2010, a team led by Pastor John put a towel over their arm to serve the people there. 120 people attended a memorable service held in the well-known coastal bar Billygan's, and heard a life-changing story, a story of redemption, forgiveness and new life. Pastor John shared the stage with his son David and together they shared the story of the prodigal son. 50 people received Christ and 25 were baptized in the ocean directly following the service. The very last man baptized was one of Billygan's waiters, touched by God's love and kindness shown through the team and changed for eternity.
Construction is underway for a daycare center and there are plans to restore an unused building to be used as a recovery house for those suffering and seeking freedom from addiction.