I don't really feel pressured. When my father passed away, I've only [preached] once before, but I was just thinking 'I'm just going to be the way God made me to be'. And that's easy - to just be yourself. I don't really feel pressured. Even tonight, I don't know any of these people, but I'm just going to be who I am, just relax, and try to give them hope. I don't feel pressured - I feel responsible to do my best.
If you weren't a pastor, what would you be?
Well, I was involved in television production, and I was running a television station at that time, so that's what I thought I'd do with my life. I never had the desire to necessarily be a pastor. Even though my dad was - I loved that, and respected that - but I can't say that's what I had the desire to do. When he died, I knew that that's what I was supposed to do; now I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing.
Many are inspired by you. Who inspires you?
Wow, I never thought about that. There are many people who inspire me. Billy Graham and the life that he lived inspires me.
Would you consider him as one of your role models?
Yes, one of my mentors and role models.
Do you have a personal relationship with him?
I do. We've just become friends... he's been very kind to me, just encouraging me. His family too - Franklin and Anne. Even just visiting them has been very inspiring itself. He's invited me to his home and we spent time there with him.
When's the last time you saw him?
We saw him in his library about two months ago. I really met him for the first time a year or two ago, and since then we got some time to visit.
I read that you listen to a lot of other pastors' tapes. Can you name some you listen to?
I hate to name them because there are so many! But I like to listen to Joyce Meyer and John Maxwell... There are probably 50 of them that I love listening to.
Where do you see yourself 10 years later?
I hope that we just continue to grow and reach more people and be more effective in helping the culture that we live in, and drawing people closer to Christ.
Are you planning on any more international tours?
We are. We're going to go every year somewhere. Next year we're going to Korea. We're going to the Olympic Stadium next May. Once a year we try to go overseas.
What will you mainly be talking about today?
My core message is that God has got a good plan for your lives, and we must trust Him, and let go of the past. That's my main message... to believe in God's favour and to believe in good things. Trying to get people to see God and lead a good life, knowing that He has a good plan for them. I believe when we do that, it allows God to work in our lives.
How has the UK experience been?
It's been fantastic. People are very warm and receptive... I couldn't be happier being here.
