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Personal Background
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My name is Greg Kittinger, and I live in Tulsa, OK. I grew up in a military family and have lived in various locations throughout the US and world. I received a BA in Social Work from Oral Roberts University in 1981.
I married my high-school sweetheart in 1980 and have 6 wonderful home-schooled children.
I read between 35-50 books a year (see partial list here), as well as numerous magazines, newsletters, e-zines, website content, and blogs. Many years ago, I began databasing and topically organizing all my notes from my reading.
I am a member of Toastmasters International, have taught various home-school co-op classes to high-school students, led bible studies and home fellowship groups, and am also a worship leader and song writer. |
Business/Ministry Background
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Upon graduation, I spent 3 years as the Director of Guidance in a private Christian school in Tulsa. While in that position, I assisted our school chaplain and administrative assistant, Tom Newman, to begin a high-school outreach program with a drama called (at the time) "Toymaker & Son."
In 1984, Tom, Roger Nix (currently Senior Pastor of Believer's Church in Tulsa) and I started a non-profit production company called Impact Productions.
We produced & toured an evangelistic drama for about 16 years around the US and the world, under several names as it was constantly upgraded ("Toymaker & Son," "The Toymaker's Dream," "The Masterpiece"). We entered the world of television, film and video in the late 80's, and produced many acclaimed TV commercials, children's videos, corporate projects, animated specials, and films.
During my 22+ years at Impact Productions, as an executive of the company I performed many roles as the company grew - in operations management, project management, marketing and production management.
I participated in, started or led several business discussion groups. I joined and was an officer of the local Triathlete club, and was a member of an adventure racing team.
I have also been an active volunteer for a Christian adoption agency, Crises Pregnancy Outreach, through which we adopted 2 of our 6 children.
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Spiritual Background
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I abhor labels! I am a God-follower - I seek and desperately pursue a conversational, communal relationship with Jesus Christ. That said, my spiritual heritage is quite diverse.
I had Catholic grandparents, came of age in the Methodist church, was saved at a Baptist youth rally, went to an A/G church while in college, and have attended mostly independent churches for the last 20 years. Through ministry travels with ORU and Impact, I have been in almost every stripe of church imaginable. Our current church home is Believer's Church, where most of our family members serve in various volunteer capacities, and my wife and I are Life Group leaders.
I am very simple in my faith - I want to live as a committed disciple of Jesus Christ, and be about the Kingdom business of making disciples (not just converts) within my sphere of influence.
I have read widely & deeply: Francis Shaeffer, CS Lewis, Dallas Willard, JI Packer, Phillip Yancey, Leonard Sweet, J Oswald Chambers, Kenneth Hagin, Richard Foster, Brian McLaren, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Calvin Miller just to name a few (see HERE for partial reading list).
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Content Filtering
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I know that the truth I perceive is seen "through a glass darkly." Thus, the worldview filter through which I screen content is non-dogmatic - no matter the subject of the material being read/reviewed. I stick to major tenants of the Christian faith, leave room for my own misunderstanding (as much as possible) and strive to see the actionable opportunities in the content from the eyes of the reader.
Additionally, I read widely, and from various perspectives on most topics or issues. I consider my worldview a "principled synthesis." Here's what I mean by this term: I'm not affraid to be challenged in my thinking - to have my mind changed, or opened to new ways of perceiving issues, or new vantage points from which to view them. I understand that my perception of the world has come from a combination of where I've grown up (mostly the US) and all of the institutions that have had the opportunity to shape my beliefs (school, family, communities, church, media, friends, etc). I attempt to make a sacred cow of none of my beliefs (again - the "dark glass" syndrome), but to allow Jesus to continue to shape me as a potter sculps and forms a vessel, using his Words (both written and living) as the tools to do so. I don't consider that this make me "whishy washy" in my understanding (as I stand upon Principle - the Rock), but continually leads me down a path of greater clarity and insight.(See HERE for a partial list of books I've read)
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