Meet the Evangelistic Team
Tom Rains - Evangelist
Tom was raised in a pastor's home where the Bible was believed and the love of God was lived out. As a native of St. Louis, Missouri, he attended public schools in that city and is a graduate of Central High School.
He received Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior during a revival in November of 1970. In August of 1971 he answered God's call to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Tom is a graduate of Southern Baptist College (Williams Baptist College) in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, and Southwest Baptist College (University) in Bolivar, Missouri. He went on to earn his Master of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He has don additional studies at the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies in Jerusalem, Israel, and at the Institute of Evangelism at the Billy Graham Center of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.
Since 1971 Tom has conducted nearly 400 revivals, conferences, and crusades. He was one of 50 evangelists to participate in the Rio '89 Crusades. The Rio '89 Crusades was the second largest crusade ever held in Christendom and the largest such event ever held up to that time in the twentieth century.
Tom was asked to serve as a facilitator at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's North American Conference for Itinerant Evangelist in 1994 (N.A.C.I.C. '94). He was also invited by Billy Graham to be a participant at the Amsterdam 2000 Conference for Itinerant Preaching Evangelists. He has done training not only with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, but also with the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association, among others.
He married the former Catherine Fitzsimmons of Galesburg, Illinois in 1979. They have two daughters, Amanda born in 1986 and Elizabeth born in 1988. They also have three sons, Stephen and Adrian who are with the Lord and Andrew who was born in 1991
Phil Summerford - Music Evangelist
Phil's rich baritone voice has blessed the hearts of thousands across the United States, Canada, and in many international countries. He has performed with such gospel greats as: The Talleys, The Cathedrals, Higher Ground, The Kingsmen, and Gold City. Phil is known as one of gospel music's great soloists and recording artists.
Phil's greatest desire is to share the hope and life that is found only in Jesus Christ. For more than 25 years he has spent his life sharing the life changing message of Christ around the world. He was asked by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to be a participant at NACIE '94 and Amsterdam 2000.
In 1996, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association brought Phil and Tom Rains together. Since that time they have had the opportunity to share Christ in many different places both in America and internationally.
Phil makes his home in Indiana with his wife Donna.
Jim Hollis - Music Evangelist
Jim is the son of a Baptist minister and an ordained Baptist minister himself. He currently pastors Grace Baptist Church in Urbana, IL.
Jim met Tom Rains during a revival meeting in Decatur, Illinois. Jim did the music for the revival while Tom preached and their friendship was born. Since that time, Jim has had the opportunity to team up with Tom for several other meetins as well as sharing the gospel during a 2 week trip to Bulgaria. They saw many give their hearts to Christ during their trip.
Jim makes his home in Decatur, Illinois with his wife Pam and their 3 children: Jacqueline, Spencer, and Cory.