Tom Green: Pastor, Pioneer, and Partner
Kevin Harney
More than a decade ago I began looking for a passionate and gifted person to step into the role of Outreach Influence Team Leader at Shoreline Church (a wonderful community church in Monterey, CA). We needed a volunteer who would invest five to eight hours a week in raising the outreach temperature and practice in every ministry of the church. As I prayed, God brought Tom Green to my heart. He ran a successful construction company and had a full life with his wonderful wife Jill. He loved Jesus, the church, and the lost. I asked him to consider this important role of ministry.
Tom prayed and really sought the Lord. A few weeks later he said yes! For the first few years, he volunteered and helped set the direction for what a church evangelism leader should look like. He read all of the Organic Outreach books and became so familiar with the content and philosophy that he began giving me fresh insight and outlook on the ministry of Organic Outreach. More than that, he loved and pastored all of our key ministry influencers at the church as he trained us to engage in personal and church evangelism. Every thirty days he would infuse outreach passion, practices, and accountability into our team. He lived what he was leading and helped all of us do the same.
After a few years, it became clear that Tom was growing in his leadership and engagement. Though his job was not to do all of the outreach, he did exactly what was needed. He infused passion and direction in the life of every ministry leader so they would raise the bar in their life and area of church influence. We brought him on staff. The responsibilities were growing as Tom began developing new resources and training tools for Organic Outreach International. With time, he became a full-time staff person serving both Organic Outreach International and Shoreline Church.
"Every thirty days he would infuse outreach passion, practices, and accountability into our team. He lived what he was leading and helped all of us do the same."
Tom became a pioneer in the area of church culture change and began training leaders locally, nationally, and globally through online meetings and coaching. Leaders around the world began saying things like, “Our church needs a Tom Green!” What they meant was, “We need a committed, loving, hardworking servant who will infuse the practice and passion for outreach into every aspect of our local church ministry.” And, they were right! Every church in the world needs a Tom Green! The role of being an Outreach Influence Team Leader is essential. And, because of Tom’s hard work for the last decade, we now have a wealth of resources to make this role easier and more effective than ever! (See Outreach Influence Team Leader resources at OrganicOutreach.org.)
Tom and his wife Jill Green (who work as an inseparable team), have served Jesus, Shoreline Church, and the church around the world relentlessly and faithfully. Tom has created amazing content that is serving churches globally. He has mentored leaders who are now doing the same for others. He has been an example of humble and passionate leadership. Tom has been a pastor and partner in ministry to so many, including me. His legacy will go on.
At the end of this December, Tom will retire from full-time service and his role with Organic Outreach International. He will remain on our team as a consultant and will do some training, mentoring, and coaching. But, he will also be slowing down to focus more on his family (including grandkids). Tom will always shine the light of Jesus everywhere he goes. He will scatter the seeds of the Gospel around his neighborhood and the world as he is able. Please join me in thanking God for this faithful brother and servant. And, if you know him and have been impacted by his life and ministry, let him know how God has used him.
Tom Green has been a Pastor, Pioneer, and Partner in ministry. He will certainly hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” from the church today and from Jesus one day in glory.
Editor’s Note: Tom and Jill have a heart for international ministry. Several years ago, Tom chaired the Global Outreach Ministry at Shoreline and Jill taught women in Africa. They have spent many years ministering in Eastern Europe and India, including establishing Grace Mercy Children’s home in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Their prayer is to stay connected with their ministry contacts in the United States and around the world so they can continue to impart their passion to see lost souls come to know Jesus as their savior. For now, they plan to travel with their RV around the United States, using every opportunity to meet people and share their stories of how Jesus has guided them through life’s journeys. They plan to visit their ministry partners along the way and are prayerfully anticipating the opportunity to travel to India again when travel is more accessible! If you’d like to stay in touch with Tom and Jill, they can be reached at tom@organicoutreach.org.
