John Jacobs (born July 3, 1959) is an American Christian evangelist and the founder of The Power Team (later known as The Next Generation Power Force), a group of Christian evangelists based in Dallas, Texas, that incorporates preaching with displays of physical strength and martial arts skills.
Background and Ministry
Jacobs founded The Power Team in the late 1970s, initially focusing on prison ministry. He is credited with originating the "Strength Evangelist Concept." Over the course of his ministry, he has held more than 4,000 crusades in approximately 40 countries, including events in venues such as a bullfighting ring in Venezuela and record-setting gatherings in Moscow, Russia. His team has also conducted over 30,000 public school assemblies in the United States, where—due to restrictions on religious discussion in public schools—they promoted social responsibility and abstention from drugs and alcohol.
The Power Team
The Power Team's performances, often taped at large megachurches, were broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and other Christian television stations in the United States during the late 1980s. The group appeared on the television series Walker, Texas Ranger in 1999 (the episode "The Principal"), on America's Got Talent in 2008, and on The American Bible Challenge on GSN.
Legal and Personal Issues
In May 2000, Jacobs divorced his wife Ruthanne. Around the same time, he was charged with assault and battery of a former employee. These events led to numerous members leaving The Power Team to form a separate ministry called Team Impact. In 2002, The Power Team filed for bankruptcy protection. Jacobs subsequently retired from leading The Power Team in 2003 after 27 years, citing the pressures of leading a large ministry.
Later Ministry
Following his retirement from The Power Team, Jacobs founded The Next Generation Power Force, continuing the same model of strength-based evangelism. His present ministry is based in The Woodlands, Texas, and he resides in Greenville, North Carolina.
In Popular Culture
A documentary titled Born Again: The Power Team Story (2015), directed by Matthew Luem, chronicles the 30-year history of the team. The HBO series The Righteous Gemstones featured a group called the God Squad in its second season, which was based on The Power Team.
