This is an accepted version of this pageThomas Wayne "Kip" McKean II (born May 31, 1954) is an American minister.
He later attended Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, but left over disputes with university academics about their liberal views on the Bible.
McKean also attended the Harding Graduate School of Religion for two years but never received a Master's degree.
The movement was first recognized as an independent religious group in 1992 when John Vaughn, a church growth specialist at Fuller Theological Seminary, listed them as a separate entity.
[9] Time magazine ran a full-page story on the movement in 1992 calling them "one of the world's fastest-growing and most innovative bands of Bible thumpers" that had grown into "a global empire of 103 congregations from California to Cairo with total Sunday attendance of 50,000", and which also raised concerns about authoritarian leadership, pressure placed on members, and whether the group should be considered a cult.
[9] Expectations for continued numerical growth and the pressure to sacrifice financially to support missionary efforts took its toll.
He issued the following statement: During these days Elena and I have been coming to grips with the need to address some serious shortcomings in our marriage and family.
After much counsel with the Gempels and Bairds and other World Sector Leaders as well as hours of prayer, we have decided it is God's will for us to take a sabbatical and to delegate, for a time, our day-to-day ministry responsibilities so that we can focus on our marriage and family.
"[17] Additionally, his over emphasis on numerical goals, not seeking discipling in his own life and claiming God's victories as his own, were cited by McKean as the reasons for his resignation.
[9] On 15 October 2006, McKean published in the Portland church bulletin the first of a three-part series entitled, "Partners in the Gospel.