Greg Laurie: Tell Someone!—Part 1

Looking back now, how do you feel about your childhood?

The statistical cards were stacked against me. If you follow the trajectory of the way I was raised, I should have grown up a divorced alcoholic. When I look back on my story I realize those things in my life were preparing me in many ways to do what I do today. So many kids today are coming from homes of drug addicts and addictions. In my time, it was the exception. Now it’s the norm. It’s rampant. So I think it’s enabled me to have an understanding of a person not raised in the church, who remains skeptical, who has suffered, yet still searches for something better.

How did you come to know Jesus?

At about the time I was realizing drugs weren’t the answer, I saw a friend of mine talking to a girl I found very attractive. I noticed she was carrying a Bible and I thought, Oh no, what a waste of a cute girl; she’s a Jesus freak. But I was so intrigued I later walked across campus and found her in a meeting. A guy got up to speak. His name was Lonnie Frisbee and he was a youth pastor who had long hair and a beard. He kind of looked like Jesus in the movies I had watched. I was really moved by his message. I remember he quoted Jesus saying, “Are you for me or against me?” I didn’t want to be against Jesus so I walked forward and asked [Christ] to come into my life.

What happened after that?

After I became a Christian, I wanted to fly under the radar. I didn’t want to be known as a Jesus freak. I went to a Bible study and I thought it was too intense. So I was walking across campus one day and some guy sees me and yells out, “Brother Greg!” He comes up to me and says, “Hey, I saw you accepted Christ at the Bible study.” He gave me this Bible with a leather cover that had two popsicle sticks glued together to make a cross. I was so embarrassed to be seen with it I stuck it in one of my pockets.

I was on the way to see Gregg, one of my best friends, who I used to get high with everyday at lunchtime. When I got to his house, I took the Bible and shoved it into the bushes of the planter as I walked in. Gregg asked me if I wanted to smoke and I said, “No.” All of a sudden, the front door opens and it’s his mother holding—of all things—my Bible. She asked, “Who does this belong to?” They looked at the Bible with the popsicle stick cross and then they looked at me. Gregg laughed and asked, “Are you going to follow Jesus now?” I told him I was going to hit him in the mouth.

Besides threatening violence, what did you say to Gregg?

We were really good friends so I tried to convince him I hadn’t gone off the deep end. I said, “I know this seems weird, but trust me. I’m not going to become one of those people with a huge cross around my neck and saying praise the Lord all the time.” Fast forward a few months later. I had started going to Bible study and church and I was really changing and studying the Scriptures. I’d actually gone out on the streets sharing my faith with people when I saw Gregg again. Before I could catch myself, I said, “Praise the Lord.” At the same time, I realized I was wearing a cross on my neck. We both laughed seeing the irony of the situation.

How did that meeting end?

I started sharing with Gregg how Christ was really changing my life when the owner of a head shop came out and interrupted. He said, “Hey Christian, I have a few questions for you.” I think they were the standard questions about hell and why a good God allows suffering. All I remember is I didn’t have a clue what to say. I was humiliated and walked away embarrassed because I didn’t have the answers. But I was determined to know more about my faith.

In Part 2, Greg Laurie reflects on his call to preach and the simplicity of the challenge we each face: Tell Someone!

Rob Wilkins
Rob Wilkins

Rob Wilkins, an Outreach magazine contributing writer, is the co-founder and creative lead for Fuse Media in Asheville, North Carolina.

Keep Calm and Minister

Can you pass the "Timothy Test?"

4 Ways God’s Spirit Leads His People

We don't always have the full picture, but discerning how God is leading you is not unclear.

Fit for the Kingdom

The Lord prompted Reardon to think about combining Christian fellowship with fitness in order to create a new small group for men.