Lloyd John Ogilvie


Lloyd John Ogilvie was a Presbyterian minister who served as Chaplain of the United States Senate from 104th through 108th Congresses.

Early years

Lloyd John Oglivie, was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin on September 2, 1930. Educated in the public schools of Kenosha, he graduated from Lake Forest College and Garrett Theological Seminary. He conducted postgraduate studies at the New College of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Ministry career

Lloyd Ogilvie's former nationally syndicated radio and television ministry was called "Let God Love You." This weekly television ministry ran for seventeen years and the daily radio ministry spanned ten years. "Let God Love You" was recorded at and broadcast from First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, in Los Angeles, California. This media ministry was guided by the strong national Board of Directors of the Lloyd Ogilvie Ministries, an independent, non-profit organization. In 1982, the Directors adopted "Ten Commitments" for the development of the ministry and its financial accountability. Dr. Ogilvie brought to this media ministry the same commitment to listening he expressed as pastor of his church. His messages on the "Let God Love You" programs were his part of an ongoing dialogue with his listeners and viewers. On every program he encouraged them to write him about what was on their minds and hearts. His voluminous correspondence with people and a special yearly inventory of their deepest concerns provided the focus of this personal sharing of grace. The central purpose was to help people turn life's struggles into stepping stones by linking their problems to the promises and power of God. Beginning sixteen years ago with one television station in Los Angeles, the "Let God Love You" program expanded throughout the Nation on independent stations and cable networks. The media ministry was supported exclusively by viewer and listener contributions and all gifts were used only for costs of producing and airing the programs. Dr. Ogilvie received no salary from the media ministry.

Senate chaplaincy

On January 24, 1995, Dr. Ogilvie was elected the 61st Chaplain of the United States Senate. He began his responsibilities on March 11, 1995. In addition to opening the Senate each day in prayer, his duties as full-time Chaplain included counseling and spiritual care for the Senators, their families and their staffs, a combined constituency of six thousand people. Dr. Ogilvie's days were filled with meetings with Senators about spiritual and moral issues, assisting Senators' staffs with research on theological and biblical questions, speaking to five Senate Bible Study and Prayer groups, encouraging such groups at the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast, and sharing in small discussion and reflection groups among the Senators. He defined the Chaplaincy as non-political, non-partisan and non-sectarian. In Dr. Ogilvie's words, "I saw my role as Chaplain to be an intercessor for the members of the Senate family, a trusted prayer partner, and a faithful counselor to them as they sought to know and do God's will in the monumental responsibilities entrusted to them."

Death

His death at the age of 88 was announced by Fuller Seminary with which he established the Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute of Preaching in 2006.

Awards and degrees

Partial List of Awards

Chronological List:
  1. A Life Full of Surprises – 1968 Abingdon Press
  2. Let God Love You – 1974 Word Books
  3. If I Should Wake Before I Die – 1974 Regal Books
  4. Lord of the Ups and Downs – 1974 Regal Books
  5. Life Without Limits – 1975 Word Books
  6. You've Got Charisma – 1975 Abingdon Press
  7. Drumbeat of Love – 1976 Word Books
  8. The Cup of Wonder – 1976 Tyndale Books
  9. You Are Loved and Forgiven – 1977 Regal Books
  10. When God First Thought of You – 1978 Word Books
  11. The Autobiography of God – 1979 Regal Books
  12. The Beauty of Caring – 1980 Harvest Books
  13. The Beauty of Friendship – 1980 Harvest Books
  14. The Beauty of Love – 1980 Harvest Books
  15. The Beauty of Sharing – 1980 Harvest Books
  16. The Bush is Still Burning – 1980 Word Books
  17. Congratulations-God Believes in You – 1980 Word Books
  18. Magnificent Vision – 1980 Vine Books
  19. You Can Live As It Was Meant To Be – 1980 Regal Books
  20. Ask Him Anything – 1980 Word Books
  21. God's Best for My Life – 1981 Harvest Books
  22. Discovering God's Will in Your Life – 1982 Harvest House
  23. You Can Pray With Power – 1983 Regal Books
  24. Longing To Be Free – 1984 Harvest Books
  25. Lord of the Impossible – 1984 Abingdon Press
  26. Falling Into Greatness – 1984 Thomas Nelson
  27. Making Stress Work For You – 1984 Word Books
  28. If God Cares, Why Do I Still Have Problems? – 1985 Word Books
  29. Jesus The Healer – 1985 Revell Co.
  30. Understanding the Hard Sayings of Jesus – 1988 Word Books
  31. Living Without Fear – 1987 Word Books
  32. A Future and a Hope – 1988 Word Books
  33. God's Transforming Love – 1988 Regal Books
  34. Your Will, God's Will – 1988 Harvest House
  35. Enjoying God – 1989 Word Books
  36. Silent Strength – 1990 Harvest House
  37. Lord of the Loose Ends – 1991 Word Books
  38. Conversation With God – 1992 Harvest House
  39. Climbing the Rainbow – 1993 Word Books
  40. Turn Your Struggles Into Stepping Stones – 1993 Word Books
  41. The Greatest Counselor in the World – 1994 Servant Publ.
  42. The Heart of God – 1994 Regal Books
  43. Asking God Your Hardest Questions Harold Shaw – 1996
  44. One Quiet Moment – 1997 Harvest House
  45. Acts of the Holy Spirit – 1999 Shaw Publishers
  46. Facing the Future Without Fear – 1999 Servant Publ.
  47. Quiet Moments With God – 2000 Harvest House
  48. Perfect Peace – 2001 Harvest House
  49. Intimate Prayer – 2002 Harvest House
  50. When You Need A Miracle – 2004 Harvest House
  51. Praying Through The Tough Times – 2005 Harvest House
  52. The Red Ember In The White Ash – 2006 Harvest House
General Editor of: Thirty-three volume Communicators Commentary Series of the Bible
Author of Communicators Commentary volumes:
He was married to Mary Jane Jenkins Ogilvie and widowed in 2003. He later remarried Doris Kaiser Sumner. Children: Heather, Scott, Andrew Ogilvie.
Grandchildren: Erin, Airley, Bonnie and Scotter Ogilvie.