CHRISTIAN Telegraph, a Christian Internet ministry in Russian language and news agency, has named their 2010 ministers of the year. They have been selected, Christian Telegraph said, “because of their vast influence on Christianity.”
In a release, Christian Telegraph’s main editor Serge Serhiienko said: “What influenced the choices were their accomplishments in 2010, polling data and frequency of mention in the press.”
Among the most influential ministers of the year 2010 are (reproduced verbatim: Ed):
Evangelist of the year: Reinhard Bonnke
The legendary evangelist has brought millions of people in Africa to the Lord. Even as Reinhard is in his 70s, his passion for Jesus is still going strong and he desires to awaken Europe, which has been spiritually asleep, to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In addition to massive crusades, he views the Internet as a great tool for evangelism and updates his Facebook page everyday. Reinhard has also prepared a successor for himself.
Writer of the year: Lisa Bevere
Being an international speaker, author of many bestsellers and TV show hostess, Lisa Bevere is one of the few who encourages women all around the world to raise their voices and change this world for the better. In 2010 Lisa wrote the book “Lioness Arising: Wake Up and Change Your World,” in which she shared a prophetic message for women.
Missionary of the year: Jaerock Lee
This pastor knows that Christians lives are to be holy and should be empowered by the Holy Spirit. He founded a mega-mega-church in Manmin, South Korea and works to bring revival and the Gospel to the most remote corners of the world. Just a few of the other countries he has impacted are Israel, Peru, Estonia, the United States of America, India, and countries in Africa.
Diplomat of the year: Rick Warren
The pastor of Saddleback, the mega-church in the US, was named one of the most popular and influential users of Twitter. Rick Warren is one of the few pastors who publicly speaks with influential US governmental officials. In 2010, he interviewed former United States of America president George W. Bush in his church.
Philanthropist of the year: Franklin Graham
Billy Graham’s son and head of BGEA, Franklin Graham has dedicated his life to preaching the Gospel and to helping those who are in desperate situations, including economically and medically. He is the president of the world-wide relief organization Samaritan’s Purse and the president of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association. Samaritan’s Purse is working in more than 100 countries.
Pastor of the year: Paul Melnichuk
Being the son of Ukrainian immigrants, Paul Melnichuk built a multi-national mega-church called the Prayer Palace in Toronto, Canada. Despite the very liberal society around him, Paul preaches the uncompromised Gospel. The Prayer Palace unites Christians of more than 50 nationalities.
Leader of the year: James Davis
James Davis is the co-founder of the growing coalition of ministries and denominations called Billion Soul Network. It includes more than 350,000 churches. James is a gifted leader and his goal is to strengthen relations between pastors in order to plant five million churches and bring one billion people to Christ.
Reformer of the year: Mark Driscoll
He is the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Washington, US, and is working to reform the approach of having church and being a community of believers. He is using the latest technologies to do that. Mars Hill Church has created its own Internet network, which is a virtual community that helps church members build strong relationships.
Broadcaster of the year: James Dobson
After more than 30 years of ministry and as the leader of one of the most influential pro-family organizations in the US, Focus on the Family, James Dobson left the ministry that he founded and started a new radio program called Family Talk. The focus of the new program is to strengthen the institution of family, which James says is the foundation of a strong society.
Strategist of the year: Leonard Sweet
Leonard Sweet is a historian of the American culture, futurist who sees the trends in the society that are unnoticed by others and a writer. Leonard is also a consultant to many churches and develops strategies to fulfill the Great Commission in the digital age of the 21st century.
