Robert H. Schuller

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Robert H. Schuller (born September 16, 1926) is an American televangelist and pastor known around the world through his weekly broadcast The Hour of Power. h

He was born Robert Harold Schuller in Alton, Iowa to a family of Dutch ancestry and, after finishing his studies at Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, was ordained as a minister in the Reformed Church in America. He worked in Chicago before moving to Garden Grove, California where, after humble beginnings, the Garden Grove Community Church was opened in 1955, later renamed the Crystal Cathedral in 1980. The Crystal Cathedral is the denomination's largest congregation in terms of membership, and arguably the most renowned.

Strongly influenced by his mentor, Norman Vincent Peale, Schuller has focused in his teaching on the positive aspects of Christianity. Rather than concentrating on condemning people for sin, he encourages Christians (and non-Christians) to achieve great things through God, uplifting theology and positive thinking. Such doctrines have led to some spirited criticism on the part of some conservative Evangelicals, both within and without his own Christian denomination.

Bill Hybels and Rick Warren consider Schuller to have had the most influence on their ministries. The Church Leadership Institute was where both Hybels and Warren found a great passion to pursue their ministries.

Robert H. Schuller is the author of numerous Christian and self-help books including Way To The Good Life (1963), Move Ahead With Possibility Thinking (1973), Self-Love (1975), You Can Be The Person You Want To Be (1976), Self-Esteem: The New Reformation (1982), Living Positively One Day At A Time (1986), My Journey: From An Iowa Farm To A Cathedral Of Dreams (2001), Hours of Power (2004) and, most recently, Don't Throw Away Tomorrow (2005).

He is married to Arvella De Haan who has been his right hand in making decisions involving the television ministry. She was a church organist and was very instrumental in developing the music department at the Crystal Cathedral. They have one son, four daughters and 17 grandchildren. His son Robert Anthony Schuller, born 1954 took over as senior pastor of Crystal Cathedral on January 22, 2006.

Schuller preaches on a weekly television program, which has an audience of 30 million viewers.

His visit to Flint, Michigan, to give an inspirational talk to unemployed autoworkers is featured in the 1989 Michael Moore documentary film Roger & Me.