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Interview: Greg Laurie - Cartoons, Hedonism, and the True Meaning of Life

by Courtney Lee
Posted: Wednesday, October 11, 2006, 20:40 (BST)
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Greg Laurie was a teenager with a lot of dreams, often occupying himself with drawing cartoons to escape from the broken reality he had to face. His earnest desire was to break the tension in his home and make people laugh through his artwork. Then one day, while pondering on the meaning of life, he was drawn to a Christian meeting on his high school campus, and eventually ended up giving his life to Christ.

Having frequently corresponded with the legendary cartoonist Charles Schultz in the past, perhaps Greg could have become a world famous artist himself. But God had bigger plans for him, and drove his creative energies towards a higher purpose. He still makes people laugh.

Now a world-renowned pastor and head of Harvest Ministry, Greg is set to overturn the Silicon Valley in San Jose this weekend with his highly anticipated crusade. In this interview with Christian Today, Greg reveals a heart-warming scoop on his past and future, while expressing his intelligent humour as he talks about his family, hobbies, and the upcoming crusade.


How did you feel when the ultimate question 'What is the meaning of life?' hit you?

Well, when I was asking that question, I was a 17-year-old boy and I felt like I was 70. I felt as though I was much older than I was because of all that I had seen and experienced. At home, my mum was an alcoholic, marrying several different times. It was such a strange environment for a child to live in. So I had to learn to fend for myself and take care of myself. I was grappling with the big issues of life in a very serious way. For me it had become something of a process of elimination at that point. I had seen the 'hedonistic', 'rat pack' life my mum was living. By rat pack, I mean that sort of swinging life-style that was emulated by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin; a life of affluence and alcohol and multiple marriage partners... and I knew the answer was not in that. I knew that wasn't the life I wanted to live.

Did you change immediately after you had accepted Christ at your high school campus, or was there another process that followed?

It would almost be described as immediate. I mean, when I prayed this prayer at my high school campus, I knew something had happened but I wasn't quite sure what because there was no one there to explain it to me. But I felt an immediate peace in my heart and I felt as though a huge load had been lifted off my shoulders. I remember having that distinct sensation. And it wasn't until later that I understood that God has forgiven my sins and taken my burdens from me. I didn't know what to do, though, because in my case, no one gave me a Bible or told me I needed to go to church - my prayer ended because the bell rang for the next period class. I just wandered about aimlessly for the next few days - not sure what had happened to me. But thankfully, a Christian who had seen me make this commitment sought me out, befriended me, and personally discipled me. His name is Mark, I never met him before, but he kind of took me under his wing.

Did you ever imagine you were going to become a pastor?



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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.

Added: Saturday, October 14, 2006, 5:14 (BST)

Great article with some insight to a great man of God. Greg is my pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, so I suppose I am biased. But the thing that I admire is that he is humble despite his successes, and honest about his failures, as well. God has blessed Greg because Greg always has his focus on the Lord in everything he does.

Russ Buckland, Corona, Ca. USA

Added: Friday, October 13, 2006, 7:20 (BST)

I've seen this harvest before. I like it a lot.
Silicon valley is very technical place, I hope God's light shines there.

Jean C., Munich, Germany

Added: Thursday, October 12, 2006, 13:27 (BST)

Knowing God and Making Him Known. I like that. First we should know God first, just like Greg encountered Jesus Christ on his high school campus. Now he is letting Christ be known massively through these crusades he leads. It applies personally and globally, and it's endless.

Fiona Leatherhead, London, GB

Added: Wednesday, October 11, 2006, 21:32 (BST)

Nice interview! Checked out Greg Laurie's cartoons and was pretty impressed. What a talented man of God he is.

Don Oliver, Michigan, U.S.A

Added: Wednesday, October 11, 2006, 21:12 (BST)

C.H. Spurgeon is one of my all-time favourites as well.
It's cool to know that Laurie listens to British preachers. I think American and British preachers both inspire eachother alike.

Robert Doherty, Bristol, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, October 11, 2006, 20:58 (BST)

I would never have imagined Greg Laurie lived in such an environmet... I always thought he was a son of a pastor. But it's great to know that God is using him in a way he himself has never imagined. I will definitely watch him on webcast.

Ashleigh Potter, Manchester

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