Leaving Dad to Find the Father: Interview w/Pastor Rudy, author and man of compassion

Pastor Rudy is making a difference in the toughest streets of Houston, TX. He is the author of Touch: Pressing Against the Wounds of a Broken World. He has joined with Beyonce in a global anti-hunger initiative. He found God while working with his father in what he calls a borderline bordello. He's in the business of allowing God to change lives. He's not afraid to say what's on his heart and the interview was refreshing.

Suzie Eller: When you became a believer, you were running a different type of business with your father. What did God show you in the midst of that environment?

Pastor Rudy: There were many lessons learned in our little “Borderline Bordello.”

First of all I considered it “Borderline” because all of the women who work out of our place were self employed but it was a tough place where dreams were either shattered or medicated through random sex, substance abuse, or other life destroying activities. I was conveniently oblivious to God for many years while in this business so God did not really began to show me things until I recognized God existed (which is the case for most people). But here is what God ultimately showed me

* Most people are one bad decision from total destruction and one good decision from total freedom

* Unresolved Emotional Pain is the most powerful motivator in the universe but pain alone doesn’t motivate you to make good choices… as a matter of fact if the pain is un identified it will motivate the average person in the wrong direction

* Acceptance is the most desire experience in the human condition and loneliness is the most desperate state a human being experience

* If you don’t determine the value for your life anyone can give you a value and it will always be lower than the value they set for themselves and you will accept it because you fail to value yourself.

* Drugs are the devils anesthesia and the driving commodity in hells economy.

* Hell is real and it is right here among us!!

Suzie: You've learned that by not just "talking" or preaching, but by living among people whose lives taught you that. You left that business w/o the blessing of your father to pursue more of God. What was it like to gain a Heavenly Father, but lose the blessing of your earthly dad?

Pastor Rudy: After becoming a Disciple of Jesus and leaving the family business I experienced some cold silent days from my Dad. We were partners in crime sort of speak, we talked every day mostly about business. It was a hard time for us. I am his only child and he had invested a great deal in me understanding how the world worked and how to profit from the workings of the world but change had come and it was radical.

I remember my Dad telling his friends that he “had lost me to God” he even told some that I had lost my mind. The latter statement was actually a true statement but to add clarity I had lost my mind to care and the will of God.

Suzie: You became a pastor at St. John’s in Houston. Some would say the location was undesirable, but the first time you saw it you thought it was the perfect location for a church. Why?

Pastor Rudy: Early in my call experience I remember hearing and feeling God say that my call was a call of redemption for the lives that I helped to destroy.

This was very different from what my experience has been with many others who have been told by God to do something for him. Many hear God say preach, and others have heard God say teach, and even some have heard God say speak words of prophesy of things to come… God told me hang out and love people.

On my first day entering the building I had to step over a homeless man to get through the door. We literally had to step over our mission to get to our mission on our first day. This experience permanently settled the question as what the ministry’s focus would be.

Suzie: Tomorrow we pick up where we left off. Pastor Rudy has a lot more to say about faith, God, transformation, and second chances. I hope you come back...