The Passing of A Gifted Leader

It is my sad responsibility to announce that one of the most important persons in my life and ministry just passed away. Larry and Ellen Chrouch were deeply engaged in our lives back in the 70's when the Holy Spirit guided us to start a very radically innovative way. I had joined the staff team at College Hill in 1973.

I resigned in 1976 when the Elders in charge of my ministry in Christian Education decided I would no longer be allowed to train parents, families, and Educators in Christian Education and Bible study how to integrate interpersonal skills, prayer, and group dynamics. I was unwilling to do that and was offered a position as Dean of Students at Gordon Conwell Seminary. 

The entire Elder group called me to set up another ministry we called Discipleship and it focused on Ephesians 4:11 to Equip the saints to Do ministry." Our new Discipleship Committee consisted of Larry and Ellen, Maurie and Lorraine Loomans, Marie Martin, Ken Shull, Tom Osborn, Bill and Edith Barr, and the Sweetens.

We met shared, prayed, and equipped people to run family life, small groups, the Healing Ministry, etc. After some time, we heard the Lord tell us to establish an "Equipping Center" to train Lay Helpers to "Heal the broken hearted and set the captives free." IS 61. It was called, "The Teleios Center". 

Larry and I worked very closely together to pray, hear God, and design the Center. Larry integrated three or four of the key gifts that were critical to Teleios. The gifts of:

1. Administration

2. Leadership

3. Hearing God speak

4. Healing

5. Teaching

6. Humor

7. Generosity 

Over the next 10 years we heard God tell us what to do and the Discipleship Team we accomplished them. 

1. Recruited 30 key people to be equipped to ministry

2. Set up a physical center with several rooms for meeting and counseling people in need. Hired staff and purchased furniture. 

3. Wrote a series of unique Christian materials to train Lay Helpers

4. Established a unique adult training program that over 4000 or CHPC members and friends attended. 

5. Had 50 to 70 Lay Helpers that served as Counselors and prayer teams for Teleios and the Healing Service.

6. Established an evening Body Life Service that included worship, teaching, prayer, healing, and fellowship.

7. Established a morning worship service that included weekly communion and healing prayers. 

8. Began to travel and equip other churches and mission agencies in the Teleios Model. 

9. Developed a new non-profit organization that became Equipping Ministries International and another called Sweeten Life Systems. They have been active in about 100 nations. 

10. Larry and Ellen not only spearheaded these innovations, they retired from the ownership of a very profitable company to minister full time in the USA and around the world. They paid for and traveled to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, India, Ukraine, Europe, ETC. to equip Ministers and Missionaries. 

11. Larry was also responsible for us starting the LifeWay Counseling Center. He heard the Lord say that was our next step after doing Teleios and EMI. I was scared to death but reluctantly prayed and heard God confirm Larry's insights. 

12. They worked with Steve Sjogren and Van and Laurie Cochrane at Vineyard NW to establish Teleios at the Vineyard where his leadership, encouragements, and teaching were used mightily. 

Please remember Ellen and his daughters Laura and Martha as well as their children. Also remember to thank God for giving gifts to Larry and Ellen. God spoke to me in 1983 about the fact that He was "Pouring out His Spirit on all flesh to spark another Reformation." Larry and Ellen Chrouch are key elements of that New Reformation. 

Go to our website to see some of the results of Larry's influence.