First Person Interview with Wayne Shepherd

George Del Canto

Wayne Shepherd — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:04:17 +0000

George Del Canto hated the person he had become. He thought money was the solution to every problem he had and along the way to making more and more, he alienated his wife and family. Then, in 2001, the company he worked for, Enron, went bankrupt and George’s earnings, reputation, and future were ruined. That’s when George began to pay attention to his wife’s prayers for him– and found God waiting for him at the bottom.

Now, the founder of Kingdom Racing, the first faith-based team to compete in the Indianapolis 500, George has turned his life over to Jesus Christ.

Kingdom Racing‘s mission is to “Deliver God’s Word through motorsports”. Beyond racing, they are winning hearts and lives for Christ. Pray for the team as they lift up Christ even as they compete for a slot in this year’s Indy 500.

NEXT WEEK: Yvonne Carlson with a personal Memorial Day perspective

Dr. Greg Pritchard

Wayne Shepherd — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:00:09 +0000

This week’s guest on FIRST PERSON is Dr. Greg Pritchard. We begin the conversation with Greg by hearing his unique personal story of coming to faith in Christ and we end with a challenge to clearly communicate the Gospel in ways that are easily understood. Along the way, we also discuss the importance of asking the right questions when it comes to understanding and communicating the Gospel in today’s culture.

Greg is the President of Communication Institute, and the Director of the European Leadership Forum, an annual event which will be held later this month in Poland, serving as a bridge between local leader’s needs and God’s global resources. Even today Europe continues to be a strategic platform for world-wide evangelism and the Forum seeks to assist the Church in its goal of evangelism and discipleship.

NEXT WEEK: George Del Canto of Kingdom Racing motorsports

Papa Joe Bradford

Wayne Shepherd — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:49:07 +0000

I admit that I had never heard of “Papa Joe” Bradford until a visit to Nashville recently when a friend filled me in and brought Papa Joe to another interview I was recording that day. After finishing the scheduled interview, I began listening to Papa Joe’s story and was captivated by the man’s heart for poor, at-risk, and fatherless children. As you listen, you’ll soon see why he’s affectionately known as Papa Joe.

Papa Joe serves as the CEO and co-founder (along with his wife Denise) of Elijah’s Heart, a 501(c)3 charitable and educational nonprofit that’s served thousands of children and families over the years. Papa Joe holds the rare honor of having his triumphant life story inspire a major motion picture, Unconditional. As a humble servant of Christ, he seeks to impact people and cities with an unstoppable move of love in action through the National Walk of Love Program and other powerful methods.

As you listen, I think you will learn to love and respect this man who loves Jesus and serves people in the name of Christ.

Next week: Dr. Greg Pritchard

Dr. Bob Bakke

Wayne Shepherd — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:44:30 +0000

Looking ahead at the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 2, I want you to meet Dr. Bob Bakke, one of the principal voices you will hear on the special live broadcast of the One Cry Prayer Summit.

Bob serves as the Teaching Pastor at Hillside Church in Bloomington, MN, but around the country and even the world he is known as a leader in a movement of prayer. He has studied great prayer movements of the past and extracts lessons for us today on the power of consistent, global prayer. Those great prayer movements of the past inspires the Body of Christ today to more effective prayer.

The One Cry Prayer Summit will be broadcast live to hundreds of Christian radio stations on Thursday evening, May 2. It will be my privilege to co-host this very special live prayer event with Bob Bakke, uniting the nation in asking God for a spiritual awakening. Many other leaders and worship musicians will join us that night as well. You can learn more about the broadcast here, plus I hope you will visit the OneCry.com website to learn more.

Next Week: Papa Joe Bradford

Buddy Greene

Wayne Shepherd — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:05:09 +0000

Like many of you, I’ve often enjoyed the music of Buddy Greene over the years. There is a certain kind of joy that exudes from Buddy through his music that always makes you feel just a little bit better about yourself and the world when you listen.

I was in Georgia a few months ago on a Friday night and stayed a few extra hours to hear Buddy in concert that night with his friends Jeff Taylor and Ron Block. We had dinner together that night and it got me thinking that even though I’d heard Buddy sing a hundred times, I didn’t really know his story. So, I determined that the next time I was in Nashville I would sit down with Buddy and ask him to tell me his story. We did that recently in his home and you’ll hear it this week on FIRST PERSON. Buddy not only talks about his early search for faith in Christ, but he also discusses those who have mentored him musically.

BONUS: A few years ago, after a day of recording radio in Michael Card’s studio, Buddy, Mike, Jeff Taylor, Keith Compton, Joe Carlson, and I all hung around and decided that we would do a “live” show featuring what was then Buddy’s newest CD, Happy Man. The result was just a fun hour of music and conversation. If you would like to listen to the Happy Man Radio Special, you can click here, then click on the media player just above the photo of the old radio in my blog.

NEXT WEEK: Dr. Bob Bakke of the One Cry Prayer Summit

Rich Stearns

Wayne Shepherd — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:36:48 +0000

The President of World Vision, Rich Stearns, is the author of the much-acclaimed book The Hole in Our Gospel, published in 2010. Now, Rich has just released Unfinished, Believing Is Only the Beginning. In this new book, he addresses the big questions of why are we here, what is our purpose, and where do we fit in the bigger story that God is writing? How should our faith affect our careers, our money, our families, and our lives? And why does it matter? He says we will find our deepest purpose only when we discover the unique role God created for us to play in his unfolding story.

I became aware of Unfinished prior to publication when I was asked to narrate the audiobook edition for Oasis Audio. Part of that assignment was to interview Rich and it’s the same interview that you will hear this week on FIRST PERSON.

If you would be interested purchasing the audiobook edition of Rich Stearn’s Unfinished, you’ll find it here at Oasis Audio.

NEXT WEEK: Buddy Greene

Charles Robinson

Wayne Shepherd — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:24:21 +0000

I first met Charles Robinson when Michael Card introduced us in Franklin, TN. Charles was a guest several times on a show that Michael and I did together called IN THE STUDIO. Several years have gone by, but I’ve never forgotten Charles and his humble desire to teach us all about Native American culture and, more importantly, how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only answer for the problems that plague Native Americans.

I hope you will take the time to listen and then visit www.TheRedRoad.org, a website set up by Charles for the purpose of educating students and communities on the history and condition of Native American culture and to provide hope by empowering and ministering to Native American traditional communities.

You can leave comments and suggestions for what you hear on FIRST PERSON at Facebook.com/FirstPersonInterview.

NEXT WEEK: Rich Stearns of World Vision

Keith and Kristyn Getty

Wayne Shepherd — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:00:46 +0000

It is a pleasure to welcome Keith and Krisyn Getty as the Easter weekend guests on FIRST PERSON. With countless others around the world, I have enjoyed the worshipful music they have created with their modern day hymns which continue the tradition of reinforcing sound, biblical doctrine even as they give voice to our worship of God.

The Gettys were kind to invite me to their Nashville home recently where we sat down to talk about their lives, including how each of them came to faith in Christ. Keith reminded me that day that an interview I did with them several years ago was the first after they had moved to America as newlyweds to continue to impact the world with their musical writing and worship performances.

A few days after this interview was recorded, it was announced that the magnificent hymn In Christ Alone (co-written with Stuart Townend) was featured with other hymns at the enthronement of England’s Archbishop of Canterbury.

I hope you will enjoy this in-home visit with Keith and Kristyn. You can leave comments at Facebook.com/FirstPersonInterview.

NEXT WEEK: Charles Robinson of The Red Road.

Cathey Anderson

Wayne Shepherd — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:45:43 +0000

In late 2011 FIRST PERSON told the story of a remarkable group of women who were setting out to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa to bring attention to and raise support for at-risk women and children around the world. That first Freedom Climb– Justice for Women in early 2012 was a great success. Now, nearly 50 women have been training and are setting their sights in April on a Mt. Everest Base Camp climb which is going to be far more of a challenge.

This week, I’ve invited Cathey Anderson of Operation Mobilization to join me to both give a report on the first Freedom Climb, and to give us a preview of the plans to Climb Mt. Everest Base Camp and summit one of the 18,000 ft. peaks next month. This is no stroll in the park, but a strenuous climb with a purpose. It’s all meant to come to the aid of women and children who are oppressed, enslaved, exploited, and trafficked throughout the world.

You can help by supporting one or more of the climbers. Just click on The Freedom Climb banner on the right side of this page and sign up to pray, give, and support in every way these brave, caring women.

NEXT WEEK: Keith and Kristyn Getty

Dr. Alister McGrath

Wayne Shepherd — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:31:05 +0000

Dr. Alister McGrath, one of the leading theologians in the world, has just published a biography of C.S. Lewis, the Christian apologist, novelist, and literary critic. The release of this book marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Lewis in 1963 on the same day that J.F.K was assassinated. I was made aware of this excellent new book when it was requested that I interview Dr. McGrath for the audiobook edition of “C.S. Lewis: A Life”. It was such an enjoyable experience that I asked him if he would also join me on FIRST PERSON.

In this interview Dr. McGrath explains why he wanted to write a biography of Lewis and touches on several important aspects of his life, including Lewis’ relationship with his father following the early death of his mother, his war experience, and his friendship with the creative group known as The Inklings.

By the way, the audiobook version of “C.S. Lewis: A Life”, read by the late actor Robin Sachs, is available as an audiobook from Oasis Audio. The print version is published by Tyndale.

If you would like to leave a comment, please go to Facebook.com/firstpersoninterview.

March 23: The Freedom Climb

March 30: Keith and Kristyn Getty