Church Communicators
Recently, several friends had a conversation regarding who they felt the best communicator was in the Church today, regardless of topic or environment. Several names were given. I know it is hard to only pick one name, so how about your top Three?
Mine: Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, Francis Chan
How about you?
By communicator do you mean verbal communicator or written? Both? Andy Stanley is tops on my list in both categories. Erwin McManus is right up there. I think Furtick is coming up fast. I also really enjoy everything I read from Mark Batterson. He has a way with the written word that I like.
1. Andy Stanley
2. Bil Cornelius (not just cause he’s my pastor either)
3. Craig Groeschel
I am original GenerationX & have ADD. Furtick, Perry Noble, & James Mcdonald keep my attention.
since you asked about best communicator and not best preacher or teacher, I have to say that erwin mcmanus tops my list, being the only leader I know of who excels in all areas of modern day communication:
* excellent orator;
* film (actor & producer)
* web (started podcasting audio & video 4 years ago!)
* author (bestsellers galore!)
1. Louie Giglio
2. Andy Stanley
3. ??????????
I listen to Louie constantly. He’s the best, in my book
Andy’s awesome at putting big concepts into smaller pieces
The third one is hard for me – Chan, Groeschel, John Piper – I enjoy them all, but the first two (Andy/Louie) have impacted me the most
1. Tim Keller
2. Mark Driscoll
3. Joel Hunter
With Chan as a close fourth.
1. Andy Stanley
2. —
3. —
4. Matt Chandler
Andy’s just that good. Matt Chandler, not sure how good a communicator is, but I love his messages!
Tim Keller, Louie Giglio, Francis Chan.
I’m biased because Tim Keller is my pastor. Sounds like I should be listening to some Andy Stanley though…
1. Tim Keller
2. Matt Chandler
3. Rob Bell
1. Michael Pitts (this young pastor out in Toledo, OH : phenomenal)
2. Craig Groeschel (incredible stage presence)
3, Francis Chan (he takes the Bible so seriously : very convicting)
4. Louie Giglio (just has a way with a crowd)
5. Noel Jones (this dude out of Carson, CA : he’s Pentecostal so I don’t agree
with 3/4 of what he says, but incredibly engaging speaker)
6. Rick McKinley (has a special gifting that when he speaks every word hits
you so powerfully)
7. John Maxwell (whenever John gets upon stage at CATALYST it rocks my
world)
8. William Paul Young (the way he used the power of narrative and
storytelling to convey the message of living in darkness then coming into
true freedom was unbelievable : touched me to the core)
9. Albert Mohler (this guy is a Southern Baptist Seminary President based in
Louisville, KY. Unbelievable command of history, culture, philosophy and
theology. Uber Uber intelligent and mind-blowing brain power)
10. Andy Stanley (incredible leadership and ministry insights)
11. Jud Wilhite (love watching his video podcast)
1. Tim Keller – his grasp and communication of the holistic Gospel has been absolutley life changing for me! So many folks these days are only getting the partial picture but he sees and communicates the message of personal salvation and the redemption and restoration of all things.
2. Matt Chandler – Also has an amazing ability to get to the core of the Gospel and what it looks like lived out. Very bold and not afraid to challenge the “church empire”.
3. Andy Stanley – Able to take deep thelogical issues and bring them into daily life in a pragmatic way.
If we were talking passion I would include McManus, Chan, and Piper but I guess that’s a different question for a different day.
1. Erwin McManus
2. Vince Antonucci
3. Perry Noble
4. Ed Young
Rob Bell. He violates every known principle of communication and still grips audiences.
Tough one… Here’s some thoughts. I may or may not agree on everything with these guys (which is OK obviously), but here’s a few guys that I think are fantastic orators.
- Rob Bell
- Francis Chan
- Andy Stanley
- Louie Giglio
- Craig Groeschel
- David Platt (The Church at Brook Hills)
- David Landrith (Long Hollow Church)
- Michael Kelley – author and speaker
Brad, I’m going to agree with your top 3. I think you’re right on. I love to see how God is using such diverse men and women to speak into our church communities these days!
My first time in your blog and LOVE it. Look forward to reading more soon.
i have sinned. how could i have forgotten to add Rob Bell to my fav 3? wow. not sure who he bumps from my list so i’ll just say he’s choice 1A.
1. Rob Bell
2. Francis Chan
3. Tie between Perry Noble & Louie Giglio
Brad, I have been listening to and watching Andy (Stanley) since his sermons have been online. He is definitely on my list. I attend LifeChurch (in Stillwater, OK…right down the road from Bristow as you know) and I would put Craig (Groeschel) on the list for sure, but then I’m torn…I love Louie (Giglio), but also love Perry (Noble), Mark (Driskell?), Matt (Chandler), Francis (Chan) and others.
I find it ironic that people comment on pastors in general terms and talk of how out of touch they can be with the culture(and many, many are), but if you look at them individually there are so many doing such amazing things. Men that are shaking up the church in order to reach lost souls in a culture that has fallen so far (morally) so fast. Men that put their own lives aside and live for Christ in order to further the kingdom and use the gift of communication that God has given them. Men that are smart enough to realize they could use that gift in the secular world and make a ton of money “communicating” some corporate message, but have listened to their hearts and followed the call to a life of service for Jesus. A life where the focus is not wealth or fame or ego, but a life where finding new ways to communicate to the lost and/or showing other christian leaders how to communicate better to the lost is their sole reason for being. I am humbled by these men and their dedication and I know for every conference where they receive wild applause they have had many more times when they suffered at the hands of “church” people. I pray we won’t stand in awe of these men’s abilities, but we will take the message to heart live a life worthy of the one who died in our place; which I think is what all of these guys are talking about…=)
Joel Oesteen
Andy Stanley
Rob Bell
i have to say andy is hands down the best given the criteria…any topic, any environment. i’ve seen him in numerous environments with numerous topics and every time, he blows me away with his ability to make the complex very simple. he’s so doggone intuitive…and smart…and funny…he’s the best.
[...] relation to a recent post from a few weeks ago (Church Communicators), the same group of friends discussed the good and bad of twitter. I seemed to be the only one at [...]
1. John Piper
2. Louie Giglio
3. Mark Driscoll
4. Francis Chan