#406. Meeting famous pastors.
Sep 22nd by JonA few weeks ago, a friend that is on the host team at a large church suggested I write about how silly some people get around “famous pastors.” After seeing church members ask pastors for autographs or get flustered when they appear in the hallway before service, she thought it would be a good topic to cover on Stuff Christians Like. I agreed, but I personally had never completely experienced that situation.
I’ve met one famous pastor, and I was definitely nervous, but I didn’t lose it like a 13-year old girl at a Jonas Brothers concert because I was ready for it. It was a scheduled brainstorming meeting. I had mentally prepared myself with a chorus of “you’re just another person God is using, you’re just another person God is using” running through my head. I was able to hold it all together.
Until Oklahoma City.
I’m a fan of Craig Groeschel, the Senior Pastor of LifeChurch.tv. He killed the Catalyst stage last year and I think God is using him and his team in Oklahoma in some tremendously cool ways right now. I wasn’t expecting to meet him last week when I was out there for MinistryCOM08. Kendra, the wife of the family that graciously let me crash at their house, works at LifeChurch but made no assurances that Craig would be kicking around any of the three campuses we toured. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen.
In hour two of our tour of LifeChurch, we walked up a set of concrete steps toward a nondescript building with solid blue doors. (A key detail). I don’t remember what I was thinking about at the time, probably candy, but here’s a dramatization of what happened next:
Scene 1 – The Arrival
In the midst of a calm, Oklahoma day, a woman comes out of the door and keeps walking by me. Kendra, standing on my right, turns toward me as if moving in quicksand and starts to tell me, “that’s Craig’s assistant.” But before she can get it out, before she can reach me with this urgent message, both doors fly open as if they have been kicked Patrick Swayze Roadhouse movie style and suddenly, two feet in front of me is one Craig Groeschel.
Scene 2 – The Sweat
There, on a small patch of concrete at the entrance of the building I find myself inexplicably about to have a conversation with one of my favorite pastors on the planet. Like a rubber band being snapped, the slow motion effect of time bursts back into regular speed and Craig, who is more intense than anyone I have ever met, and capable of far more push ups than I anticipated, is asking me, “What are you speaking on at the conference?” It is at this point that I break into a cold sweat.
Scene 3 – The Answer
Deep inside, I feel the urge to craft the perfect response to Craig’s question. I want to weave a sentence so awesome, so holy and insightful, that Craig can’t help but respond, “That is amazing Jon. Can I please hire you right now? Will you speak with me at Catalyst? Will you co-write a book with me?” Instead, I panic and ask him, “Did you say ‘where are you speaking or what are you speaking on?’” Even as I say these words, I realize he doesn’t need to know I am speaking at Quail Springs Baptist Church. That can’t possibly be the question he just asked me. So before he can respond to my foolish question I just blurt out something like, “I’m speaking on story and God and sweet baby Jesus and God and more God.” I don’t remember ever finishing my sentence, but I do remember shaking his hand and Craig walking away with his assistant. The whole thing lasted about 64 seconds and felt roughly four hours long.
Craig was incredibly kind. He knew the site Stuff Christians Like and showed me his new book “IT” and could not have been more gracious. I, on the other hand, could not have been sweatier, which is silly because he’s just another person God is using. But that’s what happened last Wednesday when I met a “famous pastor” and maybe it’s happened to you too.
The takeaways from this little adventure are:
1. Always know what a famous pastor’s assistant looks like so if see her/him you’ll know that said famous pastor is about to appear.
2. Approach doors you can’t see through, in this case solid blue, with extreme caution as a famous pastor could be about to burst through them.
3. Say the words “God, Jesus and Story” over and over if they ask you any questions.
Or just stop being silly and treat them like any other person. I’m not sure which takeaway works best but I have I guess.
p.s. Huge thank you to Brannon and Kendra for letting me stay with them in Oklahoma. In addition to being amazing hosts, their love for the Lord and each other was a challenge and encouragement to me as a father, husband and Christian.
Comments
Funny story Jon. I can’t say I’ve ever reacted that way when meeting anyone. Actually, I can’t say I’ve ever talked one on one with anyone remotely famous. Gosh, I’ve got to get out from under this rock.
DOH. That’s where you were. When I read you were going to be in tow, after reading your almost too sassy homeschool post (but that’s okay) … I snooped around and considered stalking you, but couldn’t figure it out, and didn’t want to PAY any conference fee! QS Baptist is right next to the church where I go … QSCofC. You were right there! And we don’t even have blue doors.
Hope you had a great time in OKC.
And you know, we said we would NEVER EVER EVER homeschool. SO … just sayin.’ We’re on our fourth year. Besides your weekly sked is brilliant! Go go GI JOE.
So it just occurred to me I met you Friday night at Kendra’s house! I love your blog and I think it’s hilarious that people see Craig like that. We’ve known him for years, and I’ve never thought about that.
I wish I would have put two and two together! Anyway, it was great meeting you and yes, Kendra and Brandon are amazing!
I got roped into a conference I wasn’t really looking forward to down in sunny old Adelaide, South Australia.
It turns out this Craig guy is one of the main speakers.
Now I’m kind of pumped… I mean if YOU like him…
I kinda had this moment Sunday. The dude from xxxchurch spoke at my church (in Snellville GA btw) There he was right in front of me.
me: Oh my gosh! I know about you from stuff christians like! I saw your video.
him: yeah-Jon was on my podcast
Then I remembered how you thought you sounded like a jerk on that podcast and I didn’t want him to think I liked you so I changed the subject to how he just moved to Vegas. Yes, I did.
All kidding aside that guy and his work are AMAZING. He’s a great speaker and a really cool guy too.
My sister went to regent, I wanted her to find Pat Robertson the founder and get me an autographed picture that said “keep up the good work” you buddy Pat.
I used to work in a resturaunt where the baseball teams that were playing the Red’s stayed after the fisrt few times you realize they are just people. PS I sat right next to Eugene Patterson at Catalyst before a work shop. It was cool just to talk with him.
Nice Job….
In 2002 (I was 16) I was Introduced to Andy Stanley at the Big Stuf student conference. I was with Mr. Big Stuf at the time, when he said “Andy, this is Patrick, the kid who came to camp all by himself”. Andy smiled and said “Oh yeah. How do you like camp?” I said its awesome. And that was pretty much it. It all caught me off guard, but it was a great week all around.
i think of all these witty things to say to show how insightful and thoughtful and articulate i am (or even better, my life story in 10 seconds or less, or the really cool thing i’m about to do that is vaguely related to what he/she does) but end up just talking really fast, mostly gushing about how i enjoyed their talk or their work in general and profusely thanking them for being wherever it is i meet said famous pastor/musician/speaker-whatever.
(whew, sorry ’bout that atrocious run-on sentence.)
i think, though, the best was when i spotted sharon cohn wu, one of the senior/executive vice presidents at international justice mission, sitting in the pew in front of me on one of the few sundays i visited a church in dc. in bright red letters i painted “ijm groupie/nerd” on my forehead that day.
oh, and that was just as neat as being able to visit ijm’s hq and meet the founder and president himself.
p.s. i think this may be my first comment, but i’ve been visiting scl for a couple months or so now and i love it. i wish i had read your post on writing support letters for missions trips before i had written and sent almost 100 copies of my own.
Man, I’ve been so hurt by leaders that I kind of avoid meeting famous pastors or pastors period. That way I’m not let down.
You don’t know from babbling moron until you’ve been in the presence of the great Beth Moore. I was too busy trying not to wet myself to actually say anything stupid, thank God, but it’s a wonder I didn’t do that whole “DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?” as I pointed and drew embarrasingly loud attention to her
I was back home visiting family and happened to be at LifeChurch on a day that Craig Groeschel was signing his book, “Confessions of a Pastor”. I got so excited and ran out right after services and was first in line.
I was so starstruck, my face was on fire. I blurted out something about how much I enjoyed him and how we needed a LifeChurch in the Detroit area. Meanwhile, my husband was standing off to the side pretending not to know me.
I suppose it depends on the pastor! I would run away from Rick Warren, but sprint after NT Wright!
Just a little confession there
amberpeace,
good point…although i’d run from both of those guys.
that’s cool dude. i almost had a story too. except wait….
craig stood me up.
and then i went to sonic.
did you take the opportunity to throw in a “razzle dazzle, dude. razzle dazzle?” because that would have been fairly awesome.
When I got ordained (2 years ago) Craig Groeschel was also getting ordained and happed to be scheduled to sit just two seats away from me. I was ridiculously pumped.
Then the ordination day came and Craig wasn’t able to make it. Major disappointment.
The funny thing is that Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren was there as his son in law was also ordained. I talked to Mike for a minute, completely free of any nerves because I was so disappointed that Craig wasn’t there.
Don’t be embarrassed! I met Joel Osteen this summer, not too big of a deal. But let me tell you, if I met Craig, there would probably be something running down my leg. I would love to meet him!
Keep up the great work…too funny!
Josh
On Monday I got to see Jason Mraz in concert and turned out to be that girl who made her friends wait to meet him outside of his bus. I totally tried to play it cool and failed miserably! I wanted him to sign something, anything since I didn’t have a camera on me to take a pic with him – I ended up having him sign my jeans and my leg shook the whole time. I then asked for a hug and proceeded to tell him I would have his babies…he told me to get in line.
I tell you this story to ask: Will you sign my jeans? I will try to do better this time and will refrain from telling you I’d have your babies
This guy preached at my church in Australia tonight. He was great! So funny.. he started dancing in his sermon
hehhee…
Jon, if you had had a longer convo i'm sure you and him would be besties