Tom Stipe was a multi-talented musician, songwriter, producer, pastor, evangelist, worship leader, husband and father. He was a Jesus Music pioneer and played a huge role in the growth of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (CCCM), the formation of Maranatha! Music, the foundation of the Vineyard, and the founding Pastor of Crossroads Church Of Denver. Tom was born and raised in Southern California and felt the call to ministry at an early age. At the age of eighteen he was a youth director at a Methodist church. During that time he was exposed to the growing Jesus Movement in Costa Mesa.
I'll let Tom speak to this in his own words. "Jumping back in time a year or so before, I was a 19 year old piano player and self-taught guitar strummer and I was stunned when I heard Love Song for the first time. It was my kind of music performed flawlessly while openly expressing love for Jesus. Wide-eyed and a complete wannabe, I approached one of the band members named Tommy Coomes and suggested that it might be a good idea to maybe hijack popular songs of the day and insert 'Christian lyrics' into them. With a look of complete disgust, as though I had suggested drinking a Slurpee from the Holy Grail, he said 'Why don’t you write your own.' That became the artisan mantra of every songwriter and singer to surface during those early days of contemporary Christian music."
Tom took Tommy's advice and wrote songs for a number of the Maranatha! Music projects. He was a part of County Faith and A Wing And A Prayer. He produced Maranatha! 4, Maranatha! 5 and Bethlehem's self-titled album. Later he joined Richie Furay, Jay Truax, and John Mehler to form The Richie Furay Band. Tom played keyboards and synthesizers, did BGVs, co-wrote songs, and produced the band's "I've Got A Reason."
Going back to his CCCM days, Tom was a charismatic presence with a profound teaching gifting and immense musical talent. This served to make him a pivotal player in the Jesus Movement. He served on the pastoral staff at CCCM under the guidance of Pastor Chuck Smith. Tom's primary responsibility was evangelism at the Saturday night Maranatha! concerts. He enjoyed partnering with many of the solo artists and bands who used the Saturday concerts to perform their original new material that flowed from their relationship with Jesus. Tom produced numerous albums from those "tent days" until 1976. Tom continued on teaching the Scriptures, producing albums, leading worship, and playing music.
While traveling in the late '70s, he felt the Holy Spirit lead him to move to Colorado where he planted a church under the Calvary Chapel banner in a western suburb of Denver. In 1982 he was approached by John Wimber to help launch Vineyard Ministries International. Tom's experiences during the Jesus Movement impacted his role with the Vineyard movement and in advancing worship music. Due to some of the controversy over the "Toronto blessing," Tom and his congregation left the Vineyard movement to form Crossroads Church Of Denver which was also under the Calvary Chapel banner.
Over the course of the 1980's, Crossroads grew to approximately 7,500 members and became the largest church in the greater Denver area. Tom's gift of expository teaching and his humorous insights helped him to become a prominent figure in the community. For ten years he was also the Deputy Chaplin for the Adams County Sheriff's Department and served six years as the team Chaplin of the NFL Denver Broncos.
In 1999 he released a country album called "Never Too Late". During that time, he and his band opened for Rick Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Tom also played for George Bush's campaign and for Pope John Paul at World Youth Day Denver.
Tom died on December 30, 2020 of liver cancer. He left behind his wife Maryellen and three adult children - but Tom left behind a lot more. He left behind an untold number of people who came into relationship with Jesus through his ministry. He left behind many people that he discipled and encouraged in the faith. He left behind a legacy of faithfulness and service.
Written by Richard Moon, 7/30/2023
I'll let Tom speak to this in his own words. "Jumping back in time a year or so before, I was a 19 year old piano player and self-taught guitar strummer and I was stunned when I heard Love Song for the first time. It was my kind of music performed flawlessly while openly expressing love for Jesus. Wide-eyed and a complete wannabe, I approached one of the band members named Tommy Coomes and suggested that it might be a good idea to maybe hijack popular songs of the day and insert 'Christian lyrics' into them. With a look of complete disgust, as though I had suggested drinking a Slurpee from the Holy Grail, he said 'Why don’t you write your own.' That became the artisan mantra of every songwriter and singer to surface during those early days of contemporary Christian music."
Tom took Tommy's advice and wrote songs for a number of the Maranatha! Music projects. He was a part of County Faith and A Wing And A Prayer. He produced Maranatha! 4, Maranatha! 5 and Bethlehem's self-titled album. Later he joined Richie Furay, Jay Truax, and John Mehler to form The Richie Furay Band. Tom played keyboards and synthesizers, did BGVs, co-wrote songs, and produced the band's "I've Got A Reason."
Going back to his CCCM days, Tom was a charismatic presence with a profound teaching gifting and immense musical talent. This served to make him a pivotal player in the Jesus Movement. He served on the pastoral staff at CCCM under the guidance of Pastor Chuck Smith. Tom's primary responsibility was evangelism at the Saturday night Maranatha! concerts. He enjoyed partnering with many of the solo artists and bands who used the Saturday concerts to perform their original new material that flowed from their relationship with Jesus. Tom produced numerous albums from those "tent days" until 1976. Tom continued on teaching the Scriptures, producing albums, leading worship, and playing music.
While traveling in the late '70s, he felt the Holy Spirit lead him to move to Colorado where he planted a church under the Calvary Chapel banner in a western suburb of Denver. In 1982 he was approached by John Wimber to help launch Vineyard Ministries International. Tom's experiences during the Jesus Movement impacted his role with the Vineyard movement and in advancing worship music. Due to some of the controversy over the "Toronto blessing," Tom and his congregation left the Vineyard movement to form Crossroads Church Of Denver which was also under the Calvary Chapel banner.
Over the course of the 1980's, Crossroads grew to approximately 7,500 members and became the largest church in the greater Denver area. Tom's gift of expository teaching and his humorous insights helped him to become a prominent figure in the community. For ten years he was also the Deputy Chaplin for the Adams County Sheriff's Department and served six years as the team Chaplin of the NFL Denver Broncos.
In 1999 he released a country album called "Never Too Late". During that time, he and his band opened for Rick Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Tom also played for George Bush's campaign and for Pope John Paul at World Youth Day Denver.
Tom died on December 30, 2020 of liver cancer. He left behind his wife Maryellen and three adult children - but Tom left behind a lot more. He left behind an untold number of people who came into relationship with Jesus through his ministry. He left behind many people that he discipled and encouraged in the faith. He left behind a legacy of faithfulness and service.
Written by Richard Moon, 7/30/2023