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| '''Richard Rossi''' (b. ] ], ],) is an American ], ], ], ], ], and ]. | '''Richard Rossi''' (b. ] ], ],) is an American ], ], ], ], ], ], and alleged ]. | ||
| ==Early years== | ==Early years== | ||
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| His second church, created with partner Jack Sims, was called "Matthew's Party", the name taken from the biblical story about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Matthew, the gospel writer. In ], Rossi started First Love, a ] church. He rented movie theaters and showed films as an evangelistic outreach. Dramatic faith healings allegedly occurred. In April 1991, Rossi reportedly suffered ].<ref name="charisma"/> | His second church, created with partner Jack Sims, was called "Matthew's Party", the name taken from the biblical story about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Matthew, the gospel writer. In ], Rossi started First Love, a ] church. He rented movie theaters and showed films as an evangelistic outreach. Dramatic faith healings allegedly occurred. In April 1991, Rossi reportedly suffered ].<ref name="charisma"/> | ||
| In September 1991, Rossi began broadcasting his nightly ] show ''Rich Rossi Live'' |
In September 1991, Rossi began broadcasting his nightly ] show ''Rich Rossi Live''. Rossi claimed that he drew opposition from established ], who said the miraculous signs and wonders the press reported were not biblical, because "healing miracles were unique to Christ and the ] to authenticate their message, and had not occurred since the first century." (Pittsburgh Press, July 11, 1990, Megan O'Matz, "Rock Assuages.") Rossi was supposedly criticized by other clerics for his use of rock and roll music, his casual attire, and his criticism of conventional Christianity. (Pittsburgh Press, "Rock Assuages," 7/11/1990). Hoever, these allegations were made by Rossi himself and never corroborated. | ||
| ==Hollywood== | ==Hollywood== | ||
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| In 2005, Rossi revisited Sister Aimee's story in the feature ] '']'' starring actress Mimi Michaels as Aimee, and ] as Aimee's father James Kennedy. '']''<ref name="amysemplemcpherson"/> and '']'' magazine praised the film , but some criticized it for trying to create a period piece on a small budget. The ] honored the film with an exhibition as part of their SAG Conversations Series. Rossi and ] spoke at the event in the ] auditorium.<ref name="charisma"/> . | In 2005, Rossi revisited Sister Aimee's story in the feature ] '']'' starring actress Mimi Michaels as Aimee, and ] as Aimee's father James Kennedy. '']''<ref name="amysemplemcpherson"/> and '']'' magazine praised the film , but some criticized it for trying to create a period piece on a small budget. The ] honored the film with an exhibition as part of their SAG Conversations Series. Rossi and ] spoke at the event in the ] auditorium.<ref name="charisma"/> . | ||
| ==Personal== | |||
| According to doctors in Pittsburgh in June, 1994, Sherri Lynn Rossi was hit in the head more than 20 times with a blunt object and left covered in blood and in a coma on the side of a road. When she came out of the coma, she identified her attacker as her husband, Richard A. Rossi Jr., pastor of the local, independent, charismatic First Love Church, telling police that Rev. Rossi had alighted from his own car, "started acting weird," taken the wheel of her car with her inside, driven to a rural area, and beat her. Rev. Rossi immediately denied the charge, insisting that the hijacker must have been a man who looked like him and had a car like his, and that it was "very possible, oh, yes" that his wife's attacker was Satan in human form. In October, Sherri Lynn Rossi abruptly withdrew her accusation, said she was looking forward to resuming their family life, and concurred that her attacker might have been a demon in human form. Richard A. Rossi, Jr. was eventually convicted and served time in jail for nearly killing his wife. | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 05:42, 11 August 2007
Richard Rossi (b. March 2 1963, Pittsburgh, PA,) is an American filmmaker, actor, producer, musician, church planter, convict, and alleged healing evangelist.
Early years
The son of Richard Rossi Sr., a professional jazz guitarist. As a teenager, his father was put into a mental institution for a bipolar disorder, which by all accounts devastated Rossi. Turning to religion, he became a born-again Christian, and toured as a rock and roll preacher, usually in tandem with songwriting partner Johnny Walker, playing a unique brand of gospel rock. He was featured on The 700 Club and in the CBS documentary Teen's Songs Turn Youth to God. His music from this period was released on the album New Wine.
Ministries
Rossi moved to Lynchburg, Virginia at age 18 to study at Liberty University, where he earned a Bachelors and Master's degree in Biblical Studies. He married his classmate Sherrie Plaugher on May 11, 1984. In his senior year, he started his first church, "The Fellowship.
His second church, created with partner Jack Sims, was called "Matthew's Party", the name taken from the biblical story about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Matthew, the gospel writer. In 1986, Rossi started First Love, a charismatic church. He rented movie theaters and showed films as an evangelistic outreach. Dramatic faith healings allegedly occurred. In April 1991, Rossi reportedly suffered depression.
In September 1991, Rossi began broadcasting his nightly radio show Rich Rossi Live. Rossi claimed that he drew opposition from established clergy, who said the miraculous signs and wonders the press reported were not biblical, because "healing miracles were unique to Christ and the Twelve Apostles to authenticate their message, and had not occurred since the first century." (Pittsburgh Press, July 11, 1990, Megan O'Matz, "Rock Assuages.") Rossi was supposedly criticized by other clerics for his use of rock and roll music, his casual attire, and his criticism of conventional Christianity. (Pittsburgh Press, "Rock Assuages," 7/11/1990). Hoever, these allegations were made by Rossi himself and never corroborated.
Hollywood
In 1997, Rossi relocated to Hollywood. He first role was in the 1998 short film Jesus 2000. In 1998, he appeared in a stage version of Elmer Gantry.
At the time of his production of "Elmer Gantry," Rossi was pastor of Immanuel Community Church in Long Beach; the church mounted the play. In 1999, six trustees of the church filed a civil lawsuit against Rossi, accusing him of "changing the church bylaws", and he was fired. Rossi was eventually vindicated, and the Christian Times reported the church was seized, its locks changed, and Rossi defamed because a minority group disagreed with his outreach ministry and biblical beliefs. Rossi won the legal battle, and the group was ordered to pay Rossi a settlement.
He started house churches for actors and celebrities, operating under the name "Eternal Grace."
In 2001, Rossi wrote and directed Saving Sister Aimee, a short documentary film about 1920's evangelist Aimee McPherson. The film won the Golden Halo Award from the Southern California Motion Picture Council.
In 2005, Rossi revisited Sister Aimee's story in the feature biopic Aimee Semple McPherson starring actress Mimi Michaels as Aimee, and Rance Howard as Aimee's father James Kennedy. Christianity Today and Charisma magazine praised the film , but some criticized it for trying to create a period piece on a small budget. The Screen Actor's Guild honored the film with an exhibition as part of their SAG Conversations Series. Rossi and Rance Howard spoke at the event in the James Cagney auditorium. .
Personal
According to doctors in Pittsburgh in June, 1994, Sherri Lynn Rossi was hit in the head more than 20 times with a blunt object and left covered in blood and in a coma on the side of a road. When she came out of the coma, she identified her attacker as her husband, Richard A. Rossi Jr., pastor of the local, independent, charismatic First Love Church, telling police that Rev. Rossi had alighted from his own car, "started acting weird," taken the wheel of her car with her inside, driven to a rural area, and beat her. Rev. Rossi immediately denied the charge, insisting that the hijacker must have been a man who looked like him and had a car like his, and that it was "very possible, oh, yes" that his wife's attacker was Satan in human form. In October, Sherri Lynn Rossi abruptly withdrew her accusation, said she was looking forward to resuming their family life, and concurred that her attacker might have been a demon in human form. Richard A. Rossi, Jr. was eventually convicted and served time in jail for nearly killing his wife.
References
- Lindsey, Gina, "Aimee Semple McPherson: The Controversy Continues," InMag, October 2006
- Miller, Madelyn, "Aimee Semple McPherson: Finally A Film", TravelLady Magazine, April 17 2006
- Donnally, Ed, "Filmmaker Tells Story Of Wounded Healer", Charisma Magazine, October 2005
- "Sister's Story", Ministries Today Magazine, Nov/Dec. 2005
- Griffiths, Lawn, "Finding Sister Aimee", East Valley Tribune, August 27 2005
- Sailhamer, Sue, "Filmmaker Pursues Controversial side of Denomination Founder", Christian Examiner, November 2004
- Smith, David, "Elmer Gantry Play A Big Hit In Long Beach", Bixby Beat, November 1998
- Overshine, Gordon, "Preacher Lands Ironic Role", Tribune Review, April 3 1998
- Root, Douglas, "The Richard Rossi Case with Doug Root", Pittsburgh Magazine, May 1995
- Rossi, Sherrie; Assault of Justice. Amazon, 1995
- Melnick, Ann Rodgers, "The Preacher and The Demons", Pittsburgh Post Gazette, July 31, 1994
- Tipping, Emily, "Putting God Into Rock and Roll", Butler Eagle, June 8 1994
- Bender, Jim, "In the Name of Jesus Christ You will Be Healed!", North Journal, 17 December 1992
- "Third Great Awakening", Ministries Today Magazine, May/June 1992
- Hickling, Cathy, "Rich Rossi During PM Drivetime", Expression Magazine. November 1991
- Melnick, Ann Rodgers, "Revivalist Accuses Rivals Of Selling Out For Money, Fame", Pittsburgh Post Gazette, October 20, 1991
- O'Matz, Megan, "Rock Assuages", Pittsburgh Press, 7/11/90
- Smart, Gil, "Area Pastor Says Faith Healing Real", Cranberry Review Journal, 6/20/1990
- Bennett, Marcia, "Their Faith Beats the Odds", Post Gazette, Fall, 1982
- Guydon, Linda, "Singing Poets Spread Gospel", Post Gazette, Spring, 1981
- Stackowitz, Grace, "Teens Songs Reflect Positive Outlook", North Hills News Record, November 1980
Discography
- "Ballad of Johnny Walker" (Aircraft Records, 1982)
- "New Wine" (SisArt Music Audio Cassette, 1993)
- "Live At Graffiti's" (SisArt LiveConcert VHS Cassette), 1994
- "Full Circle" (Eternal Grace Records cassette, 1996)
- "Richard Rossi Raw" (Eternal Grace Records, Five Cassette Anthology, 1998)
- "Songs of Worship" (Eternal Grace Records, 2002)
- "More Heaven" (Eternal Grace Records, 2007)
Filmography
- "Aimee Semple McPherson:aka Sister Aimee:The Aimee Semple McPherson Story" (Maverick Entertainment, 2006)
- "Judy" (2005)
- "Saving Sister Aimee" (2001)
- "Jesus 2000" (1998)
- "Quest for Truth" (1992)
- "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" (1979)
External links
Notes
- ^ Donnally, Ed (October 2005). "Filmmaker Tells Story of 'Wounded Healer'". Charisma. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
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