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John Wimber

Role: Pastor, Author, Church Growth Expert, Healing Ministry Pioneer
Organization: Vineyard Christian Fellowship (Founder), Fuller Theological Seminary (Adjunct Professor)
Location: Anaheim, California
Time Period: 1970s-1990s
Status: Deceased (1997)

Background​

John Wimber was the founding pastor of Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Anaheim, California, and a pioneering figure in the modern healing and signs & wonders movement within evangelical Christianity. Before his conversion at age 29, he was a rock and roll musician who worked with The Righteous Brothers.

Key Biographical Details​

  • Conversion: Age 29, from rock musician background
  • Education: Bachelor of Arts in Bible (no graduate degrees)
  • Ministry Start: Founded Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Anaheim
  • Academic Role: Adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary for 10+ years
  • Death: November 1997

Ministry Philosophy and Approach​

Core Beliefs​

  • Equipping the Saints: Believed all believers, not just clergy, are called to heal the sick and cast out demons
  • Word to Experience: Emphasized teaching from Scripture first, then expecting God to demonstrate through experience
  • Kingdom Theology: Focused on "already and not yet" - God's kingdom breaking into present reality
  • Power Evangelism: Healing and miracles as natural accompaniments to gospel proclamation

Teaching Style​

  • Combined theological instruction with practical demonstration
  • Famous for classroom healing clinics at Fuller Seminary
  • Emphasized learning through doing, not just studying
  • Vulnerable about failures and limitations in healing ministry

Key Contributions​

Vineyard Movement​

  • Founded what became a global church planting movement
  • Developed contemporary worship style that influenced evangelical Christianity
  • Created training systems for equipping laypeople in healing ministry
  • Bridged gap between evangelical theology and charismatic practice

Fuller Seminary Integration​

  • Taught MC510 "Signs and Wonders" course for cross-cultural missionaries
  • Challenged Western materialistic worldview in academic setting
  • Demonstrated healing in classroom settings to doctoral students
  • Brought practical ministry training into theological education

Publications and Media​

  • Authored multiple books on healing and power evangelism
  • Regular television appearances demonstrating healing ministry
  • Conducted "Equipping the Saints" seminars across denominations
  • Influenced thousands of pastors and church leaders globally

Theological Distinctives​

Healing Ministry​

  • Universal Calling: Believed every Christian is commanded to heal the sick
  • Learning Process: Taught that healing can be learned through practice and faith
  • Compassion-Driven: Emphasized mercy and compassion as primary motivations
  • Mystery Acceptance: Acknowledged failures and unexplained outcomes in healing

Worldview Challenges​

  • Biblical vs. Western Materialism: Contrasted supernatural biblical worldview with scientific materialism
  • Presence and Power: Distinguished between God's presence and knowing how to release His power
  • Signs and Wonders: Defined as indicators of God's presence, not just proof of divinity

Notable Testimonies and Stories​

Personal Journey​

  • Three years of failed healing attempts before breakthrough
  • Desperate prayer experience leading to first healing
  • Watching The 700 Club and receiving first word of knowledge
  • Friend David Watson's death from cancer despite prayers

Television Healings​

  • Down syndrome child healing through television ministry
  • Multiple confirmations of remote healings through broadcast prayer
  • Demonstrated healing ministry across denominational lines

Layperson Training​

  • Steve Zecher (magazine art director) healing brain tumor and throat cancer
  • Carmen's lymphoma healing through layperson prayer
  • Thousands trained in healing ministry through seminars

Impact and Legacy​

Church Growth​

  • Vineyard movement grew to over 1,500 churches worldwide
  • Influenced contemporary worship and ministry practices globally
  • Trained multiple generations of church leaders and missionaries

Theological Influence​

  • Brought charismatic practices into mainstream evangelicalism
  • Challenged cessationist theology through practical demonstration
  • Influenced Fuller Seminary's approach to missions and ministry training

Ministry Restoration​

  • Despite denominational conflicts, maintained relationships across traditions
  • Restored to original denomination before death
  • Continued traveling and teaching across all major Christian traditions

Key Quotes​

"when I work for the devil he let me do his stuff but when I came into church they didn't they said we couldn't do it all we could do is study about it"

"God has said in the word that we are to do these things he's commanded us to do these things I mean it isn't an option we're all to heal the sick we're all to cast out Devils we're all to win the lost and we can learn to do these things"

"I can't heal I acknowledge that but God seems to want a partner in these things and he could work without us and he does sometimes he bypasses sure sovereignly but he prefers to work with us"

Relevance to Current Ministry​

John Wimber's approach to healing ministry and church growth offers valuable insights for contemporary Christian leadership, particularly in:

  • Practical Training: Moving beyond theoretical knowledge to experiential learning
  • Lay Empowerment: Equipping all believers for supernatural ministry
  • Denominational Bridge-Building: Working across traditional boundaries
  • Academic Integration: Bringing supernatural ministry into theological education
  • Vulnerability in Leadership: Acknowledging failures while maintaining faith
  • Worldview Transformation: Challenging Western materialism in Christian circles

His legacy continues through the Vineyard movement and the thousands of leaders he trained in healing ministry and church growth principles.