PORTRET z HISTORIĄ Robert H. Schuller

„…Problemy nie są znakami stopu, lecz drogowskazami…” -Robert H. Schuller.

Robert Harold Schuller (16 września 1926 – 2 kwietnia 2015) był amerykańskim chrześcijańskim teleewangelistą, pastorem, mówcą motywacyjnym i autorem. Przez ponad pięć dekad pełnił posługę duszpasterską w swoim kościele w Garden Grove w Kalifornii, począwszy od 1955 roku. W 1970 roku rozpoczęła się emisja telewizyjnego programu Hour of Power, który był nagraną wersją jego cotygodniowego niedzielnego nabożeństwa. Schuller prowadził program aż do przejścia na emeryturę w 2006 roku. Jego wnuk, Bobby Schuller, kontynuuje dziś emisję Hour of Power, która jest nadawana nieprzerwanie od ponad pięćdziesięciu lat.

W czasie swojej posługi Schuller nadzorował budowę dwóch kościołów w Garden Grove. Pierwszym był Garden Grove Community Church Chapel, mieszczący 500 osób, a drugim znacznie większa Crystal Cathedral, mogąca pomieścić 2200 wiernych.

Schuller rozpoczął nadawanie programu Hour of Power z mniejszej kaplicy Garden Grove w 1969 roku. Decyzję o rozpoczęciu transmisji podjął po zachęcie ze strony swojego wieloletniego przyjaciela, Billy’ego Grahama, podczas wizyty u tego znanego ewangelisty. Później program był nadawany z Crystal Cathedral.

Podobnie jak jego dobry przyjaciel Billy Graham, organizacja Schullera nigdy nie była ściśle kojarzona z żadnym poważnym skandalem. W latach 90. jego telewizyjne kazania oglądała regularnie publiczność szacowana na około 20 milionów widzów. Cotygodniowa transmisja Schullera była jednym z pierwszych przykładów regularnie nadawanych nabożeństw telewizyjnych i stała się najczęściej oglądaną godziną nabożeństwa chrześcijańskiego na świecie.

Robert Harold Schuller urodził się 16 września 1926 roku w pobliżu Alton w stanie Iowa jako drugi syn Jennie (z domu Beltman; 1891–1970) i Anthony’ego Schullera (1882–1964). Był najmłodszym z pięciorga dzieci. Wszyscy jego dziadkowie byli holenderskimi imigrantami. Dorastał na farmie swoich rodziców w niewielkiej, zwartej społeczności holendersko-amerykańskiej, bez bieżącej wody.

W 1927 roku, w dniu swojego chrztu w Reformed Church w Newkirk w stanie Iowa, sześciomiesięczny Schuller został ubrany w specjalną „szatę chrzcielną”. Po latach ogłosił, że zachował tę szatę i wystawił ją w swoim biurze, nazywając ją swoim „najcenniejszym skarbem”. Według Schullera symbolizowała ona dzień, w którym jego życie zostało poświęcone Bogu. W późniejszych latach umieścił pod nią napis: „To jest powód, dla którego moje życie odniosło sukces. Jako dziecko zostałem poświęcony Panu.”

W 1931 roku, kilka tygodni przed jego piątymi urodzinami, odwiedzający go wujek — Henry Beltman, pastor — przepowiedział, że chłopiec w przyszłości będzie głosił Słowo Boże wielu ludziom. Schuller określił moment, w którym po raz pierwszy usłyszał tę przepowiednię, jako „najbardziej definiujący moment mojego wczesnego życia”.

„…Wystarczy jedna pozytywna myśl, która dostanie szansę, by przetrwać i się rozwinąć, aby pokonać całą armię negatywnych myśli…” – Robert H. Schuller.

Po ukończeniu szkoły średniej Newkirk High School w 1944 roku Schuller kontynuował edukację w Hope College w Holland w stanie Michigan. W 1950 roku uzyskał tytuł Master of Divinity w Western Theological Seminary, uczelni nauczającej w tradycji teologii Jana Kalwina. Wkrótce potem został ordynowanym duchownym Reformed Church in America. Po ordynacji pracował najpierw w Ivanhoe Reformed Church w Riverdale w stanie Illinois, a następnie przeniósł się do Garden Grove w Kalifornii.

W 1955 roku w Garden Grove Schuller założył swój pierwszy kościół w tym rejonie — Garden Grove Community Church. Ponieważ nie mógł znaleźć odpowiedniego miejsca do wynajęcia, zdecydował się na nowatorski wówczas model nabożeństwa zwany „kościołem typu drive-in”. Nowa wspólnota mieściła się w dawnym kinie samochodowym Orange Drive-In Movie Theater, gdzie wierni mogli uczestniczyć w nabożeństwach, pozostając w swoich samochodach.

„…Jakiej wielkiej rzeczy byś się podjął, gdybyś wiedział, że nie możesz ponieść porażki?...” - Robert H. Schuller.

Dla osób preferujących tradycyjne nabożeństwa Schuller wynajął również dawny kościół baptystyczny z 300 miejscami, oddalony o około 6 km. W niedzielne poranki prowadził najpierw nabożeństwo o 9:30 w kaplicy baptystycznej, a następnie przenosił organy na dach budynku koncesyjnego kina samochodowego, gdzie prowadził drugie nabożeństwo. Wraz ze wzrostem liczby wiernych Schuller zakupił 10 akrów ziemi przy Lewis Street w Garden Grove pod budowę kościoła typu „walk-in, drive-in”.

Budowę drugiego kościoła rozpoczęto 10 września 1958 roku. Projekt przygotował znany architekt Richard Neutra. Kościół ukończono w 1961 roku kosztem 3 milionów dolarów (równowartość ok. 32 milionów dolarów w 2024 roku). Uroczyste poświęcenie odbyło się 5 listopada 1961 roku. Budynek umożliwiał głoszenie kazań zarówno do 500 osób w samochodach, jak i do wiernych znajdujących się wewnątrz.

„…Każdy, kto odnosi sukces, pomaga innym. Sekret sukcesu polega na tym, by znaleźć potrzebę i ją zaspokoić; znaleźć ból i go uleczyć; znaleźć problem i go rozwiązać…” - Robert H. Schuller.

W 1968 roku do północnej części posesji dobudowano Wieżę Nadziei (Tower of Hope) — 13-piętrową konstrukcję o wysokości 40–46 metrów, będącą wówczas najwyższą budowlą w hrabstwie Orange. Na jej szczycie umieszczono podświetlany krzyż, zwiększający całkowitą wysokość o kolejne 27 metrów.

W tym samym roku Schuller zakupił 10-akrowy gaj orzechowy graniczący z terenem kościoła, co umożliwiło budowę przyszłej Crystal Cathedral. Biuro architektoniczne Philip Johnson / John Burgee zaprojektowało szklaną świątynię mieszczącą ponad 2000 osób. Budynek, mogący pomieścić 2248 wiernych, był reklamowany jako „największy szklany budynek na świecie” i został poświęcony 14 września 1980 roku.

Po ukończeniu Crystal Cathedral Schuller zmienił nazwę organizacji na Crystal Cathedral Ministries. Przez kolejne 25 lat budynek ten był charakterystycznym tłem programu Hour of Power, który docierał do około 20 milionów widzów na całym świecie.

Schuller kładł nacisk na pozytywne aspekty wiary chrześcijańskiej. Unikał potępiania ludzi za grzech, wierząc, że Jezus „najpierw zaspokajał potrzeby, a dopiero potem nauczał doktryny”. Często powtarzał: „Grzech jest stanem, zanim stanie się czynem.” Zachęcał ludzi do wiary w swoje marzenia, mówiąc: „Jeśli potrafisz to sobie wyobrazić, potrafisz to osiągnąć.”

15 czerwca 1950 roku Schuller poślubił Arvellę De Haan (1929–2014), organistkę kościelną, która odegrała kluczową rolę w rozwoju muzyki w Crystal Cathedral i była producentką programu Hour of Power przez ponad 40 lat. Mieli pięcioro dzieci: Sheilę, Roberta, Jeanne, Carol i Gretchen.

„…Robert H. Schullera spotykałem i fotografowałem kilka razy w Nowym Jorku.Pierwszy raz w październiku 1983 r., potem w marcu 1984 r., a następnie też w marcu 1985 r. Muszę powiedzieć, że za każdym razem było to niesamowite spotkanie, które oprócz zdjęć dawało wiele niezwykle ciekawych wypowiedzi, które mam w głowie do dziś…” – Czesław Czapliński.

W kolejnych latach doszło do konfliktów rodzinnych i organizacyjnych, bankructwa Crystal Cathedral w 2010 roku oraz sprzedaży budynku diecezji katolickiej Orange, która przemianowała go na Christ Cathedral. Posługę Hour of Powerprzejął wnuk Schullera, Bobby V. Schuller.

W sierpniu 2013 roku u Roberta H. Schullera zdiagnozowano raka przełyku z przerzutami do węzłów chłonnych. Zmarł spokojnie 2 kwietnia 2015 roku w wieku 88 lat. Został pochowany obok swojej żony na cmentarzu Christ Cathedral Memorial Gardens w Garden Grove w Kalifornii.

„…Nigdy nie ścinaj drzewa zimą. Nigdy nie podejmuj negatywnych decyzji w trudnym okresie. Nigdy nie podejmuj najważniejszych decyzji, gdy jesteś w najgorszym nastroju. Czekaj. Bądź cierpliwy. Burza minie. Wiosna nadejdzie…” -Robert H. Schuller.

Schuller był autorem ponad 30 książek, z których sześć trafiło na listy bestsellerów The New York Times i Publishers Weekly, m.in.: Way to the Good Life, Self-Esteem: The New Reformation, Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do oraz My Journey: From an Iowa Farm to a Cathedral of Dreams.

„..Jeśli będziesz słuchać swoich lęków, umrzesz, nigdy nie dowiedziawszy się, jak wspaniałą osobą mogłeś się stać…” –Robert H. Schuller.

         PORTRAIT with HISTORY Robert H.Schuller

“…Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines…”  -Robert H. Schuller.

Robert Harold Schuller (September 16, 1926 – April 2, 2015) was an American Christian televangelist, pastor, motivational speaker, and author. Over five decades, Schuller pastored his church in Garden Grove, California starting in 1955. The weekly broadcast of Hour of Power television program followed, which he hosted as a taped version of his weekly Sunday service, began in 1970, and he led until his retirement in 2006. His grandson, Bobby Schuller, carries on the Hour of Power, which has aired for over fifty years. During his time as a minister, Schuller oversaw the construction of two churches in Garden Grove, California. The first church built under his tenure was the Garden Grove Community Church chapel which seated 500, and the second was the much larger Crystal Cathedral, which has a capacity of 2,200. 

Schuller began broadcasting his Hour of Power program from the smaller Garden Grove chapel in 1969. He made the decision to begin his broadcast shortly after he had received encouragement from longtime friend Billy Graham during a visit with the popular evangelist. The Hour of Power broadcast later continued in the Crystal Cathedral.

 Like his good friend Billy Graham, the Schuller organization never became closely associated with any major scandal. During the 1990s, his televised sermons were regularly viewed by an estimated audience of 20 million. Schuller's weekly telecast was one of the first instances of weekly televised church services, and became the world's most widely watched hour-long church service. 

Robert Harold Schuller was born on September 16, 1926, near Alton, Iowa, the second son of Jennie (née Beltman; 1891–1970) and Anthony Schuller (1882–1964).[7] He was the youngest of five children. All of his grandparents were Dutch immigrants, and he was raised on his parents' farm nearby in a small, close-knit community of Dutch-Americans, without running water. 

In 1927 on the day of his baptism at his family’s Reformed Church in Newkirk, Iowa, the six month old Schuller was clothed in a certain "baptismal-gown.” Years later Schuller announced that he had kept his baptismal-gown and placed it on display in his office, referring to it as his most-prized-possession. To Schuller apparently the gown had represented the day that his life had first been dedicated to God. In his later years Schuller placed an inscription beneath the gown reading: "This is the reason my life has been a success. As a child I was dedicated to our Lord."

In 1931, just weeks before his fifth birthday a visiting uncle, Henry Beltman, who was a minister had predicted that the young boy was destined to spread the word of God to many when he grew up. Schuller called the moment that he had first heard his uncle's prediction the "single most defining moment of my early life." After graduating from Newkirk High School in Newkirk, Iowa, in 1944, Schuller continued his education at Hope College, located in Holland, Michigan.

“…It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts…” – Robert H. Schuller.

Schuller received his Master of Divinity degree in 1950 from Western Theological Seminary, which taught in the theological tradition and practice of John Calvin. He was soon ordained as a minister in the Reformed Church in America. After his ordination, he first worked at Ivanhoe Reformed Church in Riverdale, Illinois, before moving to Garden Grove, California.

“I met and photographed Robert H. Schuller several times in New York City — for the first time in October 1983, then in March 1984, and again in March 1985. I must say that each encounter was an extraordinary experience which, beyond the photographs themselves, also offered many remarkably insightful statements that have stayed with me to this day.”- Czesław Czapliński.

In Garden Grove, California in 1955 Schuller opened what would be his first church in the area, which he called the “Garden Grove Community Church.” As a result of not being able to secure any other suitable places to rent to start a church, Schuller decided to try out a relatively new concept in “church service presentation” known as the “Drive-in Church Model.“ His new church was located in the old Orange Drive-in Movie Theater where churchgoers could enjoy their church services from the comfort of their own cars. For the benefit of those who preferred more traditional church services, he later also rented a 300-seat former Baptist church, about four miles (6 km) down the road from his new drive-in theater church. On Sunday mornings Schuller would first preside at a 9:30 service in the Baptist chapel and then he would deliver his organ to the roof of the concession stand at the old drive-in theater where he would then preside over his second Sunday service. As the size of the congregations grew, Schuller purchased 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land at  Lewis Street in Garden Grove for a "walk-in, drive-in" church, serving both congregations.

“…What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?...” – Robert H. Schuller.

Garden Grove Community Drive-In Church, completed in 1961 Ground was broken September 10, 1958 for construction of Schuller's second church-home in the area, which was designed by international architect Richard Neutra. This second church was completed in 1961, at a cost of $3 million] (equivalent to $32 million in 2024). The dedication service was held November 5, 1961. The design of the new church building enabled Schuller to preach his sermons to worshipers in 500 cars, as well as to members of the congregation inside the church. Schuller's second area church was built on what was to later become a part of the campus of his future (and much larger) "Crystal Cathedral Church." 

“…Anybody who succeeds is helping people. The secret to success is find a need and fill it; find a hurt and heal it; find a problem and solve it…” – Robert H. Schuller.

Seven years later in 1968 a "Tower of Hope" steeple structure was added onto the north side of the property. The Tower of Hope structure rose 13 stories (approximately 130 to 150 feet (40 to 46 m)) into the air and was the tallest structure in Orange County at that time. The steeple structure was then topped by an illuminated cross which added another 90 feet (27 m) to the structure's overall height.  

Also in 1968, Schuller purchased a 10-acre (4.0 ha) walnut grove that had bordered on the north boundary of the then current Garden Grove Community Church property. This new purchase of land was to enable the construction of a future much larger Crystal Cathedral on the newly expanded property. The architectural firm of Philip Johnson/John Burgee was soon retained to draw up plans for a primarily glass church that would be able to accommodate over 2,000 church goers, which was to be built on a spot on the newly expanded church campus adjacent to the original church structure. 

In order to meet the needs of the church's ever expanding congregation, the architectural firm designed a reflective glass building that could seat 2,248 people. At the time that it was built, the church was touted as "the largest glass building in the world." The church was dedicated on September 14, 1980. Once the newer, larger, and more noticeable "Crystal Cathedral" structure was completed, Schuller renamed his organization as the "Crystal Cathedral Ministries." Schuller's Crystal Cathedral Church soon became the iconic backdrop from which he preached his popular Hour of Power broadcasts every Sunday morning for the next 25 years. These broadcasts regularly reached a world wide audience of 20 million. 

Schuller emphasized what he believed are the positive aspects of the Christian faith. He deliberately avoided condemning people for sin, believing that Jesus "met needs before touting creeds". Once in a relationship with God, Schuller emphasized, someone who is sowing positive faith in his heart and actions will discover that the by-product is a reduction of sin.  

He was known to say, "Sin is a condition before it is an action." Schuller encouraged Christians and non-Christians to achieve great things through God and to believe in their dreams. He wrote, "If you can dream it, you can do it!" 

As the Crystal Cathedral's founding pastor, Schuller was seen and heard internationally on Sundays on the world's most widely watched hour-long church service, the Hour of Power, 1,500 of which were recorded. 

On June 15, 1950, Schuller married Arvella De Haan (1929–2014), a church organist, who became instrumental in developing the music department at the Crystal Cathedral and was the creator and producer of the Hour of Power for over 40 years. The Schullers had five children: Sheila, Robert, Jeanne, Carol, and Gretchen.  

On January 22, 2006, Schuller's son, Robert A. Schuller, assumed the role of senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral. On October 25, 2008, however, he resigned. His father cited "a lack of shared vision" as the cause. Schuller stated that "different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry" with his son "made it necessary ... to part ways in the Hour of Power television ministry". Schuller also said "I love my son and am proud of my son" and that the long-term survival of his ministry was dependent on expanding its imprint beyond the Schuller name. "The real minister's name that we honor is Jesus, not Schuller", he said. The ministry then opened the pulpit to a variety of notable Christian speakers. 

On June 11, 2009, Schuller announced that the church's leadership would pass to his eldest daughter, Sheila Schuller Coleman. On July 11, 2010, he announced that he was retiring as principal pastor of the Crystal Cathedral and would become chairman of the church's board of directors.[27] After a year as interim senior pastor, Sheila Schuller Coleman was elevated to senior pastor in July 2010. 

In the wake of Robert Schuller's retirement and after much sorting out, in 2013 Robert H. Schuller's grandson, Bobby V. Schuller, moved the remaining congregation from the Crystal Cathedral building and eventually into the much smaller Shepherd's Grove church building in nearby Irvine, California. From 2013 to 2018, the congregation also temporarily leased what had formerly been the St. Callistus Catholic church in Garden Grove for their Sunday services. During these years, Schuller's grandson took over the leadership of the remaining congregation and also resumed the broadcast of his grandfather's Hour of Power weekly TV broadcast. 

The Crystal Cathedral building and its campus were then sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange for use as its diocesan cathedral and offices. Subsequently, the Diocese of Orange renamed the building Christ Cathedral. 

On October 18, 2010, during the Great Recession in the United States, Sheila Coleman announced that the Crystal Cathedral was seeking bankruptcy protection. 

In May 2011, the senior Schullers were dismissed from the ministry at the Crystal Cathedral. They filed for bankruptcy. The creditors would be paid in full plus interest. In July 2011, it was reported in the Orange County Register that Schuller had been ousted from the Crystal Cathedral board. In July 2011, Coleman attempted to reverse the decision that had been made in her absence, saying, "Dad will continue to provide leadership for this ministry through me for as long as possible" and, "I have and will continue to defer to his wisdom and honor him for his unprecedented accomplishments." 

On March 11, 2012, Coleman told the Crystal Cathedral congregation that she was leaving to start a new church because of "a hostile work environment". The International Business Times reported that this came following "a bitter fallout between the ministry and its founding family". According to the Religion News Service, the founders were left with little to no assets; their home was fully mortgaged

On January 24, 2013, the Crystal Cathedral's board of directors voted to make Bobby Schuller, Schuller's grandson (son of Robert Anthony Schuller), the new pastor for the Hour of Power television program as well as a non-voting member of the board. 

On August 25, 2013, Robert H. Schuller was diagnosed with esophageal cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes. A follow-up examination in September 2013 presented Schuller with the possibility of undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy that could extend his life. Schuller then agreed to receive the cancer treatments, which may have been responsible for extending his life by nearly two more years as had been predicted by his physicians. 

Arvella Schuller died on February 11, 2014, aged 84. The Schullers had been married for 63 years.

“…Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come…” - Robert H. Schuller.

  Schuller died peacefully, early on the morning of April 2, 2015, at a nursing facility in Artesia, California, aged 88. His funeral was held at Christ Cathedral, the former campus of the Crystal Cathedral. He is interred next to his wife at the Christ Cathedral Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Garden Grove, California.

Schuller authored over 30 hardcover books, 6 of which made The New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists, including:  Way to the Good Life (1963); Your Future Is Your Friend (1964), Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Reprinted 1991 by Cathedral Press. A devotional on the 23rd Psalm. Move Ahead With Possibility Thinking (1967); Self-Love (1975); You Can Be the Person You Want to Be (1976) Toughminded Faith for Tenderhearted People (1979), Thomas Nelson, Self-Esteem: The New Reformation (1982) Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do (1983), Thomas Nelson The Power of Being Debt Free (1985); Thomas Nelson Publishing, Living Positively One Day at a Time (1986) Success Is Never Ending, Failure Is Never Final (1990) Life's Not Fair, But God Is Good (1991) Possibility Thinking (1993) Prayer: My Soul's Adventure with God (1995), Doubleday If It's Going to Be It's Up to Me (1997) My Journey: From an Iowa Farm to a Cathedral of Dreams (2001); Hours of Power (2004); Don't Throw Away Tomorrow (2005).

“…If you listen to your fears, you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been…” – Robert H. Schuller.