Tim Parkinson, with wife Ruth, are pastors at Words of Life Church and Shalom Hebraic Christian Congregation in Humble, TX, with both churches’ services held at the same location on different days of the week.

Born and raised in a small village in upstate New York, Tim began playing guitar at age 15 and continues to do so to the present time. He began playing in local musical groups and teaching guitar for an occupation at age 17. As a musician, it became necessary to travel throughout the northeastern United States to find available work during the 1970s. Tim fell into a lifestyle of using drugs, alcohol, and illicit living.

He moved to Houston, Texas in 1978, chasing his dream of “making it big” in the music business. As time passed, he continued to descend deeper into using drugs and alcohol daily, while hoping for a break. Coming home from a gig, Tim’s car broke down and a Christian couple stopped and repaired it late into the night. They witnessed to him about the love of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, getting his attention. One of Tim’s guitar students brought him to Lakewood Church, where he was saved and received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Miraculously, he received deliverance from many years of drug and alcohol abuse instantly and has remained clean since.

Tim began volunteering as a musician at Lakewood Church a month after getting saved. Within a year, God supernaturally opened the door for him and his wife, Ruth, to be ordained and hired by Pastor John Osteen. Tim was hired as the music director, while his wife served as Joel Osteen’s executive assistant. While there, he served as a music composer and arranger, choir director, songwriter, webmaster, and graphics designer, as well as performing ministerial duties including weddings, funerals, and counseling.

In the year 2000, Tim and Ruth were blessed with twin sons, Richard and Michael, who became musicians themselves at age 10. The Parkinson family began leading worship at various meetings and churches. The first time they played as a four-piece musical group was on a local TBN television broadcast, playing original music written by Tim. Richard and Michael have led worship with their parents at Words of Life Church and Congregation Shalom on a weekly basis since 2013.

Tim and Ruth became Associate Pastors at Words of Life Church in the fall of 2020, where they had been worship leaders. They then went on to pastor Congregation Shalom at the same location in March of 2023. Later that year, they began pastoring Words of Life Church after the senior pastor retired. Their twin sons joined them in the ministry and are actively involved in both churches.

In 2026, they will celebrate 40 years of marriage and 39 years of being ordained ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their ministry calling has always been focused on helping build up the church into becoming an active part of their local community and supporting ministries reaching those in need of faith, hope, and love through the Gospel. Tim and Ruth both preach the good news of Jesus Christ and His ability to transform lives through the power of the Holy Spirit and faith in Him.