Jim Tolle
Encyclopedia
James Allen "Jim" Tolle (born April 13, 1949), is the senior pastor of La Iglesia En El Camino, the Spanish-speaking sister church of The Church On The Way, in Van Nuys, CA.
Following his graduation from Life Pacific College
in 1979, Tolle and his wife Alice entered the ministry. In addition to being a senior pastor, he was the district supervisor of the Distrito Sur de California, which is made up of 40 local, Spanish-speaking Foursquare churches in Southern California
. He hosts a Spanish
radio program titled Respuestas, which translated in English means "Answers".
, where his parents served as missionaries for six years in Nicaragua
and Costa Rica
. In 1969, Tolle was drafted into the U.S. military, serving from 1969 to 1971 in Vietnam
. Tolle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Life Pacific College
in 1979. Tolle began serving at the Church On the Way as a janitor, while still attending college. Tolle and his family moved to Bogotá
, Colombia
, where they worked as Christian missionaries. Tolle's missionary work in Colombia was followed by continued efforts in Argentina
.
In 2000, under the leadership of then senior pastor Scott Bauer
, Jim and Alice Tolle founded La Iglesia En El Camino, a new Spanish-speaking effort on the part of The Church On the Way with 20 members. By 2004, the church had become the largest Latino congregation in Los Angeles
, California
, and one of the largest evangelical Spanish-speaking congregations in the United States.
On April 4, 2004, a year after the sudden death of close friend Senior Pastor Scott Bauer
, Jim
and Alice Tolle were formally installed as the senior pastors of the Church on the Way (English speaking) by founder Jack Hayford. They served in those dual capacities until their resignation from the English speaking church in November 2010.
On July 1, 2004, Tolle was among the religious leaders who attended the interfaith prayer service that was a part of the inauguration of Antonio Villaragoisa as the mayor of Los Angeles, California.
In 2007, Jim Tolle spoke at the 6th annual National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference in Washington D.C.,. which was also the platform for other speakers such as President George W. Bush
, Howard Dean
,Mel Martinez
and Hillary Clinton.
On July 23, 2008, Tolle spoke at a Jewish Community gathering that was held in front of the Jewish Federation Building in Los Angeles. Other speakers were Consul General Ehud Danoch, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
On July 1, 2009, Tolle delivered the benediction at the second inauguration of Antonio Villaraigosa as mayor of Los Angeles, California.
is the youth pastor of Revolucion Juvenil, the Spanish youth ministry of La Iglesia En El Camino as well as Senior Pastor of Ciudad De Vida, a new church plant in North Hollywood, California.
, Tolle has also been given an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Life Pacific College
.
Following his graduation from Life Pacific College
Life Pacific College
Life Pacific College was founded in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, in 1923 as Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute by Aimee Semple McPherson. Its name was changed to LIFE Bible College, LIFE standing for "Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism", in 1926 when it...
in 1979, Tolle and his wife Alice entered the ministry. In addition to being a senior pastor, he was the district supervisor of the Distrito Sur de California, which is made up of 40 local, Spanish-speaking Foursquare churches in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. He hosts a Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
radio program titled Respuestas, which translated in English means "Answers".
Biography
Tolle was born to a family with an extensive line of pastors, hence he grew up being known as a "pastor's kid”. His parents are Allen and Roxie Tolle. At the age of four, Tolle, his parents, and his two brothers, John (a twin) and Robert, went to live in Central AmericaCentral America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, where his parents served as missionaries for six years in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
and Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. In 1969, Tolle was drafted into the U.S. military, serving from 1969 to 1971 in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Tolle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Life Pacific College
Life Pacific College
Life Pacific College was founded in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, in 1923 as Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute by Aimee Semple McPherson. Its name was changed to LIFE Bible College, LIFE standing for "Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism", in 1926 when it...
in 1979. Tolle began serving at the Church On the Way as a janitor, while still attending college. Tolle and his family moved to Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, where they worked as Christian missionaries. Tolle's missionary work in Colombia was followed by continued efforts in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
In 2000, under the leadership of then senior pastor Scott Bauer
Scott Bauer
Scott George Bauer was the senior pastor of The Church On the Way . He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King’s College and Seminary and as the supervisor the Los Angeles North Valley District of Foursquare Churches...
, Jim and Alice Tolle founded La Iglesia En El Camino, a new Spanish-speaking effort on the part of The Church On the Way with 20 members. By 2004, the church had become the largest Latino congregation in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and one of the largest evangelical Spanish-speaking congregations in the United States.
On April 4, 2004, a year after the sudden death of close friend Senior Pastor Scott Bauer
Scott Bauer
Scott George Bauer was the senior pastor of The Church On the Way . He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King’s College and Seminary and as the supervisor the Los Angeles North Valley District of Foursquare Churches...
, Jim
and Alice Tolle were formally installed as the senior pastors of the Church on the Way (English speaking) by founder Jack Hayford. They served in those dual capacities until their resignation from the English speaking church in November 2010.
On July 1, 2004, Tolle was among the religious leaders who attended the interfaith prayer service that was a part of the inauguration of Antonio Villaragoisa as the mayor of Los Angeles, California.
In 2007, Jim Tolle spoke at the 6th annual National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference in Washington D.C.,. which was also the platform for other speakers such as President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
,Mel Martinez
Mel Martinez
Melquíades Rafael Martínez Ruiz, usually known as Mel Martinez , is a former United States Senator from Florida and served as Chairman of the Republican Party from November 2006 until October 19, 2007, the first Latino to serve as chairman of a major party...
and Hillary Clinton.
On July 23, 2008, Tolle spoke at a Jewish Community gathering that was held in front of the Jewish Federation Building in Los Angeles. Other speakers were Consul General Ehud Danoch, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
On July 1, 2009, Tolle delivered the benediction at the second inauguration of Antonio Villaraigosa as mayor of Los Angeles, California.
Family
In 1969, Tolle married Alice Tolle. They have four sons. His son Jeff TolleJeff Tolle
Jeffrey Jay Tolle is the senior pastor and founder of Citylife church, former youth pastor at La Iglesia En El Camino, which belongs to the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel...
is the youth pastor of Revolucion Juvenil, the Spanish youth ministry of La Iglesia En El Camino as well as Senior Pastor of Ciudad De Vida, a new church plant in North Hollywood, California.
Awards and honors
In addition to earning a Theological degree from Life Pacific CollegeLife Pacific College
Life Pacific College was founded in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, in 1923 as Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute by Aimee Semple McPherson. Its name was changed to LIFE Bible College, LIFE standing for "Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism", in 1926 when it...
, Tolle has also been given an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Life Pacific College
Life Pacific College
Life Pacific College was founded in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, in 1923 as Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute by Aimee Semple McPherson. Its name was changed to LIFE Bible College, LIFE standing for "Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism", in 1926 when it...
.