The more I think about PASSION, the more I realize there are passionate people all around me. For example…
- Dave Keesee- This guy “led me to Jesus.” No, “he brought Jesus to me.” Actually, I concede, I don’t know how to phrase it. What happened was that I had grown up learning about Jesus in VBS and in a small Baptist church and in a retreat for high schoolers. But I never was able to put it all together and figure out what to do with it. Dave Keesee helped me do that. I started going to his church as a 17-year-old boy, and for some reason, Keesee enthralled me. It takes a lot for a 17-year old boy to listen (as many of you know), but Keesee got to me. I slipped in the back every Sunday morning, and he came up to the little stage, opened his Bible, and spoke life to my dry soul. His PASSION for Jesus and the Bible was contagious.
- Bob Coy- Shortly after enrolling in Bible college, I learned who Bob Coy was. This little fellow had a funny voice, a funny personality, and a funny way of teaching the Bible. He could make a joke out of anything, but he could hit you straight in the heart too. He could take an ancient event from the life of Moses and make it seem like it was happening today. He made everything relevant and applicable. I listened to dozens, if not hundreds of his teachings. (Editorial note: Sadly, he made some horrendous life decisions and ruined many lives too, which came out years after I wrote this.)
- Darren Campbell- I met this guy after Dave, but before Bob. This guy, Darren, was a pastor at a campus church. He had an incredible measure of passion. On Sunday mornings, the building smelled richly of coffee, but I don’t know if I ever saw him with a cup of it. I think he was just jazzed all the time! He loved to teach and was incredible at illustrations. I remember one time, he hopped up on a chair in the middle of his sermon. He was already like 6’4″ or 6’5″. Another time, he came over to me and started talking to me in the middle of a sermon (for an illustration). The dude was nuts! Passionate!
- Danny Anderson- Last, but not least, Danny. Danny is very similar to Darren. He is 6’4″ or 6’5″, jazzed all the time. He is an incredible illustrator. He brings big, picket-like signs on to the stage. He runs, he jumps, he whispers, he cries. And this guy is not putting on a show. He just cares about his topic, his God, that much.
I want to be passionate like that, like Dave, Darren, and Danny.
(I know there are many other passionate people in my life, but I wanted to focus in on these pastors. Without them, I wouldn’t be the man I am today. So thank you.) – original writing 2012