Video Interview with Mr. Richard Curtis

I have so enjoyed every interview we have had in the class. This past Tuesday the video interview with Rowan Atkinson truly ministered to me as well.

Rowan Atkinson is a comedy writer. One of his success is the Mr. Bean clips. He says: “Comedy brings relief to people.”

He talked about how traveling with his parents, as a young boy, opened his eyes to severe poverty in other countries. When asked what from the Bible inspired him to do what he does. He replied by saying, “The Sermon On The Amount is what I live by. It is powerful.”

The following are notes I made through out the interview:

Mr. Atkinson: Give people a change to fix things themselves.

When leading others...”Everybody need to know what you are trying to achieve. They need to know you are all going in the same direction. Don’t judge people of their past.”

Host: How do you resolve conflict?

Mr. Atkins: I just step back and evaluate the situation. The key is to keep your cool and do your home work.

Just because things go wrong it doesn’t always mean it is a disaster. Don’t panic and don’t get emotional. Just because something is a failure doesn’t mean it will not bring success down the road.

Host: Some may say that you can do anything you want with all the money you have. However, churches don’t have that kind of money and it’s hard to do things.

Mr. Atkinson: Make do with what you’ve got. Nobody ever thinks they have enough money to do what they want.

Just because we don’t have the money to do the BIG things doesn’t mean can’t we can’t do nothing!

People all have a name, a story, a back ground and a future. They are looking for an opportunity to do things that help others.

If I pray for people at night I must be willing to do something for them the next day.

In the past several years Mr. Atkinson has worked hard raising money to feed the poor in Africa and India. His campaign has raised thousands maybe millions of dollars to feed many.

The United Kingdom now has what is called, ‘Red Nose Day’. A day set aside for raising money for Africa. On this day every one purchases a red nose which cost only a pound, which in US currency is around $2. Along with wearing their red nose many business and individuals do other fun things throughout the day to raise money.

Host: What advice would you give the church?

Mr. Atkinson: People shouldn’t die when I have so much to give.

There can’t be to much the church can do. If we want to hold the enthusiasm, the excitement of those in the church we have to keep reaching out and doing for others.

Host: Have you thought of others things you could do?

Mr. Atkinson: I only do one thing well. But I’ll ruthlessly do that one thing to rectify the injustice.

I found it amazing that Mr Atkinson is doing so much to make a difference in the world, yet he has not figured out his faith. I pray for this man that through all he is doing that he will have a revelation of Jesus that will truly change his personal life for all eternity.

Interview With Pastor Steve DeFrain

Steve grew up on a pastor’s home in Boyertown, PA.

“Growing up in the church didn’t do me any favors, he said. Let’s face it church people are mean, they are complainers and they cause problems. They fight music and who to dress and a lot more...It wasn’t until I got away from the church that I got saved.”

At the age of eighteen Steve felt the call into ministry at a youth convention. However, when he went to South West Bible College, in Texas he didn’t go to be in ministry.

“I only attend South West because my parents said they would pay for it, he said. I didn’t take college seriously until my senior year. It wasn’t until the age of twenty-one that I knew I was suppose to be in ministry so I got really involved in a church for the first time.”

“I started by being the janitor, cleaning toilets and felt this is not ministry! From being janitor I began to work with the children and Jr. High kids, I love it, I got to play games and hang out at Chuck E. Cheese. I loved ministry. I just didn’t like church.”

“Like I said, I love ministry but didn’t like church. The church I worked in couldn’t decide if I should wear a tie or not on Sunday mornings. So I started attending a different church on Saturday nights, called Life Church.”

Question: What was it life going to Life Church?

Answer: It was excellent music, message, kids church, everything was planned out. People wanted to be at church. The first message I heard there was titled ‘Dangerous Church’. Saturday nights I would get fired up and Sunday morning would go back to the traditional church. It was very frustrating. Sometimes it felt as though I was just treading water. But I still worked hard until I got an offer somewhere else.”

His dad, who pasotrs Morning Star Fellowship in Bechtelsville, PA wanted to start a Saturday night service for college age. However it did not go well as there were no college age people. “It was a depressing time, Steve said.”

Question: How did it change?

Answer: I was ready to move back to Oklahoma when my dad received a call from a Mennonite church called him to buy their building. It ended up that the congregation gave us the building and seven acres of land. After making some changes to the building we opened Journey Church.

Question: Did any of the Mennonites stay at the church?

Answer: There are a couple that come and they are supportive and positive.

Two months after they were in their new building Donnie gets saved.

Donnie ~ “I was the town trunk. A dead beat dad. I was into porn and drugs. I went around bragging how I left my wife and was living with a girl.

It wasn’t until I went on vacation to North Carolina that God began to get a hold of my heart and I was raised Catholic and wasn’t sure what was happening to me. On the drive home I cried out to God and He saved me on the highway. Once back in PA I went to recovery but from day one I didn’t struggle. Shortly after I was invited to Journey church, the first message I heard was ‘Tatoos and Sex’. From that day on I went after Christ. I knew God hated divorce so I left the girl I was living with and went back to my wife, who hated me. I got on my hand and knees and told her what God had done for me. God restored our marriage and on February 14 I moved her into my home, six months later she gave her heart to Jesus.”

Donnie now serves as the Campus Pastor in Phoenixville. He sees his ministry as doing everything possible to make it easy for Steve. “I submit to his authority. I have his back. When he comes in to preach all he needs to do is pick up the mike and preach the Word.

Question: How long did it take you to out grow the one hundred fifty in attendance?

Answer: Well we have parking for 130. We were running between 130-150 but when we went to two services we then went to 250. The key to growth was simple, I did a sermon series on ‘Jesus’. We also brought in a worship pastor, who just moved to the area.

Steve made a powerful statement, “There is always one more to get saved. Ninety-nine doesn’t impress me. We exist for those who are not yet here.”

Relating to services:
* Christmas Eve Service in Phoenixville - we tried the traditional candle light service and quickly realized that was not for us. Our second Christmas Eve Service rocked. We even had santa playing the organ.
* Easter - he held two services.
* We are now looking at an online campus.

Dealing with older pastors. “Never Judge A Book By It’s Cover”

* Jack Mason - My dad told me to give him a call. Which I did. He said he wanted to meet with me. I went to that meeting things that he was going to put down what we planned to do. Instead he blessed me, prayed with me and gave us $31,800 and the first month’s rent for the Phoenixville site.

“I want to be like Pastor Mason when I grow up.”

When asked what their prayer is:
Steve answered, “That I would stay out of the way.”
Donnie answered, “There are 18,900 people in Phoenixville, my prayer is to reach them all.”