Rob Bell is an American author, speaker, and former pastor known for his influence on contemporary Christian thought and public discussions of spirituality. He founded Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, in 1999 and led it until 2012, during which time it became one of the fastest growing churches in the United States. The congregation expanded rapidly from meetings in a school gym to thousands of attendees each week. Bell studied at Wheaton College, where he formed an alternative rock band and became involved in preaching at a Christian camp, experiences that helped shape his approach to communication and ministry. He later earned a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. Alongside his pastoral work he developed the NOOMA series of short spiritual films and began writing books that reached a wide audience. His publications include Velvet Elvis, Sex God, and the New York Times bestseller Love Wins, a book that sparked significant debate within evangelical circles over its reflections on hell and salvation. After leaving Mars Hill, Bell focused on writing, public speaking, and media projects, including the podcast The Robcast and national speaking tours on creativity, faith, and leadership. A documentary about his life and ideas, The Heretic, was released in 2018.