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Personal Background
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My name is Greg Kittinger, and I reside in Tulsa, OK. I grew up in a military family and thus 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 began a path of personal development in college, starting with time management and study skills, that has developed into a voracious and eclectic reading habit. 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 that was a part of a large church 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 toured the 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 have always sought to maintain a connection to the community and business environment around me at the local level. 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 (until back issues forced me to consider less strenuous activities).
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.
My extended family background includes roots in the Catholic and Methodist worlds.
My entire family re-entered the world of the church when I was in junior high, and soon after I gave my heart to the Lord in a Baptist youth revival. We attended a small, community Methodist church for several years, and upon moving, began attending an Assembly of God church my senior year of high school. Upon retiring from the Air Force, my parents became a Pastoral Care ministers with that church for 20 years.
When I came to ORU in 1977, I attended an Assembly of God church, which eventually became an independent non-denominational church. Over the last 30 years in Tulsa, my family has attended several churches, typically non-denominational in nature, and participated for a season in a "home church" with several families. 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.
Having been affiliated with Impact Productions for over 22 years, and based in Tulsa with friends affiliated with many of the plethora of ministries located here, I have been exposed to doctrines, spiritual philosophies, and religiosity of all types and stripes. 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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