Tim LaHaye

Timothy F. LaHaye (b. 1926) is an American conservative evangelical Christian minister, author, and speaker. He is best-known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic Fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins. He has written over fifty books, both Fiction and non-Fiction.

In 1958, the LaHaye family moved to San Diego, California, where Tim became pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church serving for almost 25 years. In 1971 he founded the San Diego Christian College.

LaHaye received a B.A. from Bob Jones University in 1950. He also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary and a Doctor of Literature from Liberty University. He is married to activist and fellow author Beverly LaHaye; they have four children and nine grandchildren.

LaHaye entered politics at the Christian Voice in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1981 he helped found the Council for National Policy (CNP), a conservative lobby group membership of which is only available by invitation (it should not be confused with the liberal Center for National Policy). In the 1980s, LaHaye founded American Coalition for Traditional Values and Coalition for Religious Freedom.

In 1979, he helped to establish the Institute for Creationist Research, along with Henry Morris, in Santee, California. He founded the Pre-Tribulation Research Center along with Thomas Ice in 1998. The center is dedicated to producing material that supports a dispensationist, pre-tribulation interpretation of the Bible.

In 2001 LaHaye co-hosted with Dave Breese in the prophecy television program The King Is Coming. His book The Rapture was released on June 6, 2006, in order to show a 6-6-6 connection.

In 2001 LaHaye gave $4.5 million to Jerry Falwell's Liberty University to build a new student center and School of Prophecy, which opened in January 2002, was named after LaHaye. He also serves as its president. Dr. LaHaye also provided the funds for the LaHaye Ice Center on the campus of Liberty University, which opened in January, 2006.