BraveMen S3E93: Javon Ruff - Jesus & The Unexpected

From the first moment, I met Javon Ruff. It hit me this guy is a man. I want my grandchildren. I want other men's children I want them to grow up and be like this guy because Javon is a man of humor, of grace, of grit, of strength, of intestinal fortitude, and he is a great man to hang out with. Javon Ruff is the pastor, a campus pastor for free chapel of their Spartanburg campus for Pastor Jensen Franklin and I am just absolutely thrilled to have Javon Ruff on the program today and of course Chris, we know him also as that famous dancer on TikTok. Yes, right. Yes. Yes. And the tag is the Russ. The Russ side. Don't mention it. You know, and that's his daughter Sidney that got them into that and it's turned out he shares about it in this interview. He talks about it and it's really a cool thing to see a dad and mom and two kids who are teenagers just be involved together in something. They get into the TikTok thing during the whole COVID lockdown. But you see him in the pulpit. Did you see him on that? And I mean, he speaks of free chapel in Georgia for Pastor Jensen, office, fills in that pulpit. Speaks in Spartanburg, South Carolina and speaks all over the world. Yeah. He's a he's a noted, you know, speaker just a man who imparts strength. Exactly. To other men. The guy's well, you know, he's also he works out. Yes. And why is the workout person? Yes. And now now you and I workout. Okay. Okay. Here's the you and I workout Chris. But Javon looks like he works out. Yes. Okay. People don't come out to be going, dude, you must work out. Yeah, you've been in the gym hard. But you know, one thing that we do sharing coming with him was a strength of heart. Oh, come on. And that's what I always say outside jump shot, but I've never seen him shoot. Yeah, I've never seen him shoot either. I can't speak for that any day. Pastor Javon, if you want to get on the court, we can do that, but he gets out of deck. That's true. Oh, good boy. But you know, one thing I do in Meyer and one of the things that when I first met him and it was that global summit, that I instantly could see on him is the strength in his heart. Yeah. And that's the thing that we all do share in comment. And that's why I love always hearing him speak because he doesn't speak from a place of, hey, can we do this and this and this and that? No, he's speaking from something that he's walked through and something like you were saying in partation. Yeah, it's the passion of his heart. He is, he's a strong man from the inside out. Yes, outside. Yes. And the true strength of a man is always in the inside and his character. And that's exactly wrong. And he and his wife, Shawna, as I mentioned, campus pastors there in Spartan or South Carolina. And speaks that are global summit, the lion's roar, global summit for Christmas network. First weekend of every November, we'll do that again this year in Dallas. And Pastor Javon speaking, number of other special guests will be there. And you can find all those details at cmn.men. Christian men's network, cmn.men. But I also encourage you to go to achieve that because you can go there and you can hear some phenomenal sermons, like especially even from Pastor Javon. Pastor Javon, one of the sermons that he spoke last year, the man of still, that shook me when I heard him preaching from that. You know, because again, he's pointing to where does the strength really lie in? It lies in your heart. You know, and when you out of the buncle, your heart, the mouth speaks, so a man thinks in his heart, so is he, you know, it guards your heart because out of it flows the issues of our life. When we get our heart right, we get our lives right. You know, in you and Pastor Javon, in almost every person, well, it's not almost every person, every person that's going to come to global summit is preaching from that place, from their heart. They got their heart rights. Yeah, we only invite guys who's heart. Yeah, I'm sorry. Here's a deal. We've always said that Christmas works. One of the things we do say is when when preachers get saved, it changes everything. Exactly. Yeah, it's so. But no, it's fantastic. Hey, I'm with Chris Shields. I'm Paul Cole, and this is Brave Men podcast. You're about to meet a man, a deeply admire. One of the great young ministers in North America, and he's rocking it for Jesus Christ. He's passionate about it. He's a dad, husband, a fantastic family, and I'm so thrilled for Pastor Javon to be with us today on Brave Men. It's Brave Men with Paul Lewis Cole, wisdom and courage for the journey. Talking with Pastor Javon Ruff and we're live on Facebook, and then we're going to make this into a podcast and get this out because this is a man who stirs me up and great friend Shanna, his wife, pastoring a free chapel church. One of the campuses of free chapel, right, with Pastor Jensen Franklin. Yes, sir. You've been, you've been, you're in Spartanburg. Yes, sir. South Carolina. That's a relatively new assignment. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Matter of fact, this June will be two years. Okay, so you got there just in time for COVID. Exactly. I'm going to get you feet on the ground and bam. Bam. Yeah. And you guys moved from, now you moved from Newport Beach. How long were you in Newport Beach with free chapel? We were there at the campus in Irvine for ten years. Ten years? Ten years, yes, sir. Yeah, it's a fantastic church. And Lord has blessed it in the course of Pastor Jensen there in Georgia. But you were director of ministry of men. Now you're a pastor of pastoring this church, this outpost of the church, you go to fantastic campus. And you've got two kids and grown up. It's so your daughter's, your daughter's 15, your son's son's 13 now? 13, yep. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so you guys, it's and you're parenting teenagers and pastoring. And I know you go to in to Georgia to the main campus quite often. And you'll speak on weekends and fill, fill the poll for your pastor Jensen. It's been an amazing thing to watch this happen in your life. Try to remember how we even met. I do remember we met for coffee. Yep, that's exactly eight years ago. Yes, yes, and mutual friends pretty much if we look at it through CMN Eric Lau. It was Eric Lau. It was just a second. Yeah, sir. Yeah, Eric and Lisa. Yep, I met Eric and Eric. He would tell me he said, you need to meet Paul Cole and Paul Cole. He said, yeah, Paul Cole. He said, so I'm going to make sure you guys meet. That's why that's why that's this is our scene. My vision is network hat brotherhood, right? Yes, I know you helped when we hooked you up. Yeah, and you're speaking this year for our conference in November. Uh, you and Shana and she spoke to the women last year. It was fantastic. Yes, incredible. So tell me about it. So we're talking so the theme is Jesus. Yes. So we're talking about taking Jesus to TikTok. And I mentioned that you and I were laughing actually even before as we came on, we're talking about being a parent, but there's things that we do as a parent that come out of our comfort zone in order to move into their world. Yes, sir, right? Yes. And the Bible says train a child in the bent of their life. Mm hmm. And and so your daughter, she loves Dan, well, your your wife teaches. Uh, what's that thing? Zuma? Zuma. Yes. Yeah. Workout dancing. You know, I can't do that, man. I would actually die. Not just from the exertion, but just trying to do movements. Exactly. Exactly. Same here. And so we can. So anyway, so I remember, uh, somewhere during the lockdown, like in the middle of it, like last May or June or something, all of a sudden, we saw, uh, Judy and I goes, look at you got to see passage. And I'll do it. And there you and you guys, I think you were all lined up and then you, you all do this thing where you. Yeah. Now, and there you are in the back, you know, doing the thing. And I'm like, dude, I'm figuring probably dance, but I didn't see him as a TikTok star. Now he is. Oh my goodness. But that's a cool thing, then. Yeah. But that's, our theme of this Thursday morning conversation is Jesus, but that's Jesus shows up in unexpected places. Absolutely. Absolutely. Right. You know, after he sure does unexpected places and when you say unexpected, you know, uh, places, especially that people may not think he would show up in. And in ways, you know, that he, you wouldn't think he may not show up in. And you know, we're, like you said, when you talk about Jesus, you know, I think about, I love this, you know, in Acts chapter eight, when you just said what you said, you know, in this context, remember the story of Philip and the Ethiopian. And the Bible said God spoke to him through angelic presence or a vision to go meet this man. You know, a unique who was the treasure of the Queen of Candace, you know, very influential man, wealthy man. And he finds this man, the Bible said, who is reading the prophet Isaiah. And and Philip asked him that question. He said, do you know what you're reading? And I, and the unique said this. He said, he said, how can I know unless someone guides me? And the scripture said, I love what it said. He said, come up here and sit with me and tell me about it. And the scripture said where he was reading was an Isaiah 53. And then the unique said this to Philip. He said, who is this talking about? Is it talking this prophet talking about himself or someone else? And I love the wording. And it said from there, Philip began to preach Jesus. Wow. I love the fact that he said he, he sat where he sat like you said, he came to where a guy was who had questions, who had curiosity. He's reading something that he's really not clear. We can say, was he doubting it? He may not understand where he was reading. He wanted to. But I love the fact that he said, I need someone to guide me. And I think we're living in times where that the cry of that unit is the cry of many hearts where there's a lot of questions, there's a lot of curiosity. But where are the guides as the church, the body of Christ, the Christians? We have to be those guides. But notice this, we're not just guiding them in a building on Sunday. The guides are willing to go outside of the full walls of the church and sit where they sit, whether that's in the workplace, whether that's a neighbor in the community, whether that's at a school or a college campus, and being able to sit where they sit. And I love it. And he said, from there, he preached Jesus to him. Of course, he was preaching in the Old Testament, but it's what which is beautiful because we can preach Jesus through all 66 books of the Bible because he's there from beginning and the end. He's sort of all about him. Exactly. But I love he said, from there, he was able to engage him where he was and show him Jesus. Not come up to where I am. Notice the difference. Philip didn't say, no, you come down here where I am. I'm the one that know it. He said, you know what? I'm going to come up and sit where you said, well, that's Jesus because that's what he did. He said, I'm going to come down where you are and meet you where you want to meet you where you're at. Yes, sir. Yes. Well, that's been part of your ministry, Devon, for years. You've met men and you have a specific gift and concentration on discipling men. Yes. And I know that's what you do for all of the, how many campuses of free chapel are there? We have seven campuses and that include our online, what we call our online campuses, but seven physical campuses all across the United States. Yes. Yeah, it's amazing. And in all of that, you have a specific assignment and focus on getting men discipled in the church. It's been a crazy time to try to be able to be able to do that. And so now you guys are meeting in person, kept the online going. Is it fascinating to me? Have you experienced this? I know a lot of friends who, they've got people who haven't yet shown back up, but now because of the online, a whole bunch of new friends showing up at churches. Have you experienced that same thing? Absolutely. You do have where you haven't seen where we would say some that haven't returned. And for various reasons, some at this point in time, still being cautious for the, and we respect and we honor people's decision. But then there are some that actually watched online and who had never attended before and now attending. You know, I shared, you know, there's a, we just recently had a water baptism and had the privilege of baptizing this young lady that I didn't know attended the same gym that I worked out after having a conversation with her. That was where she found the church. It was actually last year during Easter. She was watching online. And she started there, didn't know a whole lot about the church, but just started watching, watching, watching, watching. And when we started in person, she began to attend. And then we just had our first water baptism. And there she is. You know, now part of the church, Christ, God best. And now tell me about this because you're working out of the gym. And if people can't catch this on our video, the fact is that you do work out. And when we, when you, somebody meets you in person, it becomes obvious. Oh, man, don't be, don't be all, you know, humble on me. Well, I mean, I mean, I do like to work out, try to stay in shit, you know, and I believe that's important to, you know, as part of the whole. See, if you left the country right now, you wouldn't get back in because you're carrying those guns. Oh, I know. Sorry. But he walks up to you and you're all, you're all like in your workout thing, got the hat on and stuff. Yeah. She's, she's looking at you right? Well, yeah. Well, what was funny? You know, you know, and you've been around long enough. It's like, yeah, you're like, okay, normally when the stairs are constant, the first thing hits my mind, it's got to be somebody from church. It's got to be somebody that saw me online or something. It's kind of, you know, you get the benefit of that. And lo and behold, she kind of walks up kind of sheepously and you know, not wanting to interrupt, but she's like, excuse me, but, um, are you the one that baptized me? It's almost, it's almost like Nathan and David, that weren't the man. Yeah, that's me. I'm the, I'm the guy, you know, I'm a guy. Yeah. That's fantastic. I love it. And it's part of, part of his context because when you see like yourself, you're up on the stage and you're on camera and you're, you know, you're the one ministering, uh, when you see a person like that in a real life situation, it's like, hey, you know, I guess they have a life. I guess you do something other than this, those two services on Sunday. So good. And I think that's important that people do see that we, we, we have a life and, and, and, and living for Christ is, is, is, lived out in all of our lives in every area of our lives. You know, it's about important. Go ahead. Going about the Easter time. We're in the middle of Easter time as, as you and I talk. I'm talking with Javan, uh, Pastor Javan Ruff, free chapel Spartanburg, South Carolina, as well as Shana, and, uh, two children, two awesome kids. And, um, and we're talking, you know, at the time we're talking right now, somebody's listening to the podcast later, we're in the middle of what's called Easter time. Easter kind of launches it and it goes through Pentecost Sunday. So we've got this 40 days of, uh, appearances of Christ after His resurrection. And then we've got 10 days of, uh, the upper room and it which ends up on Pentecost Sunday. It's an incredible time to really concentrate on Jesus. But through that whole Easter period, what comes to the forefront? What's your, you know, what's your filter right now on, on your following Christ? That was reading early this morning, uh, most of her is highest and he was talking about, um, talking about how Paul wasn't about a cause. He didn't follow a cause. He followed a man. So good. And I think that's, you know, it's a lot of where we have to be. What, what is it that, that kind of pops up on your radar personally as a man during this kind of season, Pastor Giovanni? It, it's so amazing. You said that, um, Paul, um, because in, you know, in Colossians 3, 4, the same Apostle Paul, he makes this statement. He said, when Christ, listen to this, who is your life? I love this. I wrote it down, appears. Then you also will appear with him in glory. And the part that grabbed me was this. Paul said, Christ, who is your life? And, and I began to really think about that. Christ, who is your life? He's your life. And from that, you know, and I, I just, these jotted down, he's my purpose for life. He's my pattern for life. He's my prize for life, wrote these down. He's my power for life. And he's my passion for life. And Jesus said these words. He said, I come. The reason why I came is that you might have life and have life more abundantly. You know, it's, you know, that word life is, uh, is used multiple times in the Greek, but two specific times is the word bios, which means physical life and Zoey life, which is eternal life for the life of God. And that's the, you know, when we're born, we, you know, from, you know, out of the womb, that's bios, but we're born again, that Zoey, the life of Christ, that eternal life. And so I look at Jesus. I want that to be as a man. Christ is my life. He has to, when Christ is my life, my life being conformed to him, the incarnate Jesus becoming a part of me by his spirit. That enables me to live life successfully, watch this in every area of my life. I can live success. When Christ is my life, he enables me by his spirit and word to live successfully in every area of my life, which that means my life that is spiritual, my life that is emotional, my life that is parental, my life that is marital, let's hit it all, financial, you know, relational, you know, let's hit it all. But when Christ is my life, he is the hub and the different spokes of my life or reinforce sustain kept in its proper place by that life that is flowing through me. You know, and I think that's what the Apostle Paul, you know, when he says it, you know, Philippians, he said, for me to live is Christ and for me to die is gain. And he said, if I'm going to live, I'm going to live the life for Christ. For me to live is Christ. I'm living for one thing. It's no longer me that lives, but Christ that lives in me in the life I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God. And I think when Paul said that, he said, he's my purpose for life, to me to live is Christ. But then he, I love this. I believe he was saying it was my passion. Remember what he said, he said, oh, that I may know him. The fellowship of his suffering and the power of his resurrection, Paul's passion for life, his purpose, he said, if I'm going to live on this side of eternity, I'm going to live every minute in every aspect for Jesus Christ. But my passion is to know him. And of all the people, you could, you could look at the epistles and two-thirds in the New Testament. You mean his passion wasn't building churches? You mean his passion wasn't building making idols? You mean his passion? What missionary trist Paul said above all of that, my number one passion is to know him. Because if I don't know him, not know about him, because this man Paul could convert it from Saul, the Saul knew about him. He was a Hebrew. He had the oath to, he knew about him. But he didn't know him because we hear of when he's on Damascus Road, he has an encounter with Jesus. And when the Lord spoke to him, he said, who are you? Who are you, Lord? Notice it, who? So Paul, for all this Saul up to that point, he had a what? But he didn't have a who. And that's the day is to have a what? But not a who? To know about him, but don't know him. And so Paul said, I want to know him, intimate fellowship, relationship that goes beyond, you know, just, just doing, being in the service, being in the church or whatever. Come on, that's it right there. It's not just about going church. It's not just knowing about him. I mean, for that matter, Satan knows about him. Hey man, come on. Right. And so it's not about the information. It's about a revelation of Christ. Yes. You know, I love the first action item that Jesus gave Paul after he knocked him off his horse. You know, and knocks him down the ground. And then he says, who are you, Lord? And in the first thing he tells him to do is stand up. Yes. Good. It's okay. Get to your seat. Listen, the reason I'm here is so you can get on your feet. So good. Right. The reason I'm here, if he's in six, is so you can stand up, having to stand. And Jesus solves the three things that every person listening to us right now wants to solve and realize, which is identity, purpose, and belonging. What do I belong to? What's my group? Where's my tribe? Right? That's that's this whole thing. Brotherhood. You know, what's my purpose in life? Why I'm on the face of the earth and what's my basis for life? What's my identity? And Jesus solves all of that. How did Jesus come alive in your life? I mean, when we hear you talk, man, you, I love it. I just jotted at some things. I'll start with P, you know, passion, power. You just have this thing on you, man. I'm telling you, it's the first time I've met you and we sat down with coffee. It's like, every time I talk to you, passions, it's like it makes me feel better about just I'm alive. This is awesome. And where did that thing come on you to be a follower of Christ? How did that happen in your life? Was that you grew up in in Georgia? Yes, sir. Where'd you go? To Koa, Georgia, to be exact, a little small town in Northeast Georgia, to Koa, Georgia. At one time was the home or the resident of the world's strongest man by the name of Paul Anderson. Ever heard of that guy? Yeah, way back, you know, but the small country town there in Northeast Georgia where I was born and raised. And I think, you know, I think even what we're talking about today is really, I'm passionate about because it was my life. I grew up being taken to church, or as some would say, you know, your parents drugged you to church, you know, but and I knew about I knew about how church about the church. I knew about the flow of the church. I could tell you what was going to happen. I could tell you what would transpire. I knew about scripture and could quote scripture. I did a lot of religious activities. And for so long, I thought in my own mind that that was okay. You're good. And I'm good. I'm taking the box every week, putting on my Sunday best. You know, I'll grace Bible study with my presence every now and then. I'll go to the special events and I'll do these things. But the head knowledge never translated to heart revelation. Wow. And so I could talk it. I could tell it. I could listen. You can even teach it. But that doesn't mean you actually have it. And what happened to me is life. Life happened. Life with with with with growing up teenage years. The culture, the temptations, and everything that you face. And I began to just be consumed by the world that surrounded me. And later discovered that why didn't this stuff that I have or thought I had keep me from doing what I ended up doing. And it really exposed the fact that when life will happen to us all. And life will expose if you just had religious activity or an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. And that's what happened to me. I realized it. I had to go from a place to know that he wants to be my friend. He's not some far guy in the sky. You know that I can't relate to. You know, he's he's more than just a ritual, a routine. He's a person. He wants to walk with me. He wants to talk. He cares about me. And you know, it was kind of extreme at time. It's he's so holy that that I'm so jacked up. I'll never, you know, be able to have anything to do with him. So there's the right to point like that where you thought, man, I've kind of stepped over the wrong line. Absolutely. How old were you at this point? When everything came crashing down, yeah, what 22 years old, yeah, 22. And what was that occasion? That occasion was, oh, it was it was bad. I at that point in time, I had been addicted in on several drugs at the time, using drinking, you know, parting heavily, you know, really trying to medicate a lot of pain and really in search for purpose. And like I said, you know, having all that head knowledge at that point in time, I was still empty. There was still a void. And so what brought me to that place is just I hit rock bottom. I had partied. I had drank. I had drugged. I had did this and that. And and everything was fleeting. I still, yes, it was peace in the moment. Yes, it was seemingly fun at the time. Yes, it was joy for a season, but I kept coming back to this empty place. It didn't matter, the party didn't matter the drugs. It didn't matter the people. I was still empty and void. And it all culminated into a place of just depression. I'm just being honest, hard depression. I mean, literally in one day, I went from being up to completely down, you know, into a very, very dark place, even to the point where I became suicidal, where everything inside of me said the only way that I would find the peace that I'm longing for and looking for or the joy would be by ending it all. And I found myself in a very dark place where I even attempted suicide to take my life. So you're in the tension of knowing the truth, yes, but not living it and not living it. And you're in this tension. What broke that thing? What did you do? Did you, did you have a ton of prayer? Did you meet with someone? What happened? Well, I tell you what happened and I went into a church service. It's kind of, it's kind of, it's kind of at that lowest point at that breaking point, what's, what's amazing to me. I want to share this because I think this is powerful because we're talking about Jesus. And, and I think sometimes we can underestimate the power of our witness of Jesus or our personal invitation of Jesus. And what I mean by that is during this season, she was my girlfriend at the time. There was a guy that would in Gainesville, Georgia, she worked at a bank in Gainesville that would constantly invite Shannon to church to church to church. He, she, he was her bank customer. And you should come to my church, you know, you'll be blessed. The Lord loves you just over. And she would tell me about this guy. And at that time, we were, man, whatever the church stuff, whatever the church stuff, long story short, when I hit rock bottom. And when I was just done, I remember calling her and asking her, where's that church? Come on, man, can't talk to you about. Get out of here, man. I'm not making that up. See, this is the power of that. If somebody, some people underestimate the Bible says one, so another water and God gives the increase. And I'm encouraged. So one that may be listening or watching is do not underestimate the power of your invitation. That's why it says one so because you don't always see the immediate harvest of the seed you sow, even if it's one personal invitation, because where he thought he was just inviting my girlfriend to church, he was so in a scene that not only was deposit in her life, but also at my lowest point down in the grave, that was the thing that came to my remembrance that led me to free chapel that Sunday after trying to end my life that weekend, which resulted in the breakthrough that where Jesus, as we talk, met me where I sat. He met me in the back balcony of free chapel games where he met me in that seat where I was sitting. I was I was I was jacked up. I was drugged up. I was messed up. I was I was depressed. I was suicidal. But this is what I love about Jesus because he came to where I as biggest that church was, it seemed so small that Sunday by his spirit. He made it so intimate and so small. And like, like Philip went to that unit. I felt Jesus by his spirit come right there in that place where I was and begin to break right there and begin to break and humble. And I tell you that day, I still don't remember how I got to the altar that day, because I just remember it was a massive flood down. It was no one laid hands on me. I'm not against that. No one prophesied over me. I'm not against that. I had and I believe God had it that way. It was a personal encounter where you came for me to let him know I did this. I am real. I'm just not head knowledge. I'm real. And this is I felt that realness. I felt that passion. I felt that this was different. This wasn't just church. This wasn't just this thing. He's real. And in that moment Paul instantly yolks of cocaine use and marijuana use and cigarette use and ecstasy and acid and suicide and depression was broken off my life immediately right then and there because of Jesus. Hey, this is Chris. 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Kind. Just tell us. You ought to come sometime. You know, you know, and you don't get up to that. I mean, this guy changed the world for tens of thousands of people just inviting his bank teller to church. That's it. That's huge, man. That translated into my life and also my life, you know, her purpose, her calling, the dream that God put in her heart and we're both in places that were humbled by that we're being able to serve the kingdom of God in various capacities because of one man said, I'm not going to keep Jesus to myself. I'm not going to hide him. I'm going to represent him. I'm going to present him who was determined everywhere I go. That's what I love. He knew the importance of being it and representing Christ and presenting because he never knew who needed him and that he never he never knew what he was doing. He never knew with those moments, what was on the other side of that scene and so on, that obedience. And same for us, Paul, we never ever know who's who's that next pastor? Who's that next great leader? Who's that next president? Who's that next business owner? You know, who who just in that one moment, like you said, who a man who told his bank teller about Jesus that resulted in where we are today. Minds me of the woman at the well when Jesus goes out in the middle of the afternoon. And after he he's talking to her, she feels his presence and obviously some more things happen. She goes out to a village who had put her in the margins. Come on. She just didn't give a rip because she says something has happened to me and she said and the thing is come meet a man. Yes. Come meet a man who has transformed my life, who's told me everything about me. They all knew who she was, right? Yes. This is an amazing story, man. That is an amazing story. Now, how did you and Pastor Jensen Franklin end up meeting and how did that little thing happen to? Well, of course, you know, like I said, it was at free chapel. And to be honest, and here's the thing, I didn't, I didn't know Jensen Franklin and I say that humbly. So, so where I was, it wasn't that I popped out of church because it was big. It was popular. It was large. It's hasn't TV. I knew none of that. I didn't know anybody. They didn't know it. No. And so you need in Jesus, man. And so, you know, when after that day happened, this is what I said Paul. It's exactly what you said. Wow. Jesus like like Jesus told Paul get up. That's exactly when I got up that day, my first thing I said is what do I need to do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do, Lord? And I started serving in the parking lot at our church. Did you really? I said, I didn't care. I didn't care. What do I need to something in me that says, I cannot let this happen to me like this and he's so merciful and grit and I not do something because at that time, I didn't just see parking cars. What I saw was helping people get to a place so they can get what I got. I wanted everybody to get what I got and I still do today. When I say, I got, I don't mean that air going, I'm talking about him. And so I saw that, but it was through serving. It was through getting involved. After I, after the Lord did a work in my life, I didn't go to a pastor so you know what I really need to speak with Mr. Franklin and let him know. It was none of that. You know, that's the thing. You know, it's the calling of God is about serving. It's about serving others and too often what happens is I remember a young man is this happened a number of times happens to you who came to me very passionate. So I really feel like I need to go to, you know, he had a particular country. It was somewhere in Afghanistan. I remember it was Botswana or whatever. So I really need to go there. I've been texting a guy or emailing a guy I need to go. So we'll do, I'll tell you what, before you go there, you need to just go next door. Yeah. And it's so funny. It's so amazing what you said. And when you said, how did I run into pastor with him? Yeah. Here's the thing. He didn't watch this. We crossed past while I was serving. I'll never forget it. I was serving in the youth department and we were loading things in and out and I was going out the back exit of the church where the stairwell is and pastor was actually coming in. And honestly, you know, I was like, I had a task. My youth least said, you got to get this nunchle. I'm on. I got to get. So even when I saw him, it was like, oh, hey, pastor Franklin, see you by. And I'm like rolling off. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, come here for a minute. And I'm like, oh, yeah, you know, and at that time, I'm still young, just to figure it all this out. Yeah. But he said, you got a moment. And I said, well, I'm trying to help out with the youth, you know, and he said, I don't know, you know, but he sat down in that stairwell. And he said, so you're helping out with the youth. And I said, yeah, serving, just love it. And he said, I've saw you in the alters. I've saw you serving. And he says, I want you to know that God's hand is on your life. And he said, you stay faithful to God. He said, I see him doing great things in your life. He said, but the key is to stay faithful. And he'll reveal it. He'll open the doors. He said, but that's the key. And it was that small conversation right there in his stuck with me. And he said, stay faithful. And, and, and, and, and, you know, and that's all I knew that it wasn't this big thing. No, let's see. That's the heart of a, that's the heart of a father, Javan. You and I talked about this. The heart of a father, you know, is, is for the betterment of that person. Paul said, yes, thousand instructors, but not many fathers. Yes, talking to Corinth. And he was trying to show them how much he loved them. And the instructor tells you what he knows, but a father gives you who he is. Yes, who do his heart. And the rest of father, and you see it in his mentoring of Timothy, the role of a father, and this is what Pastor Jensen did with you. The role of a father really is to reach into the heart of that child, pull out their future and show it to him. And that's exactly what he did. This is who you are. This is who you can be. This is where you can go. And as you served, I mean, literally, you're packing boxes, you're moving stuff in and out, and as you served, then God brought promotion to your life, where you end up, you now, a number of occasions I've watched you on Sunday morning, fill the pool, but for Pastor Jensen. Yes. This is a, this is quite an assignment to stand in front of all those people, but to know there's tens of thousands online. Yes. God's blessed that ministry out of Gainesville. Nobody knows where Gainesville is. We're outside of Atlanta. It's, you go out 85 or something, whatever that road is. What is it? How do you? It is 85. Yep. It's 85 to 985. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then it's about an hour outside of Atlanta. It's about 45, 50 minutes. Yes. But it's outside of it. It's not like this thing blew up in sort of some big metropolis. This is. Oh, no. No. You got to go find it. Right? Yes. There. This is amazing to me that God's produced a global ministry out of. See, and this is a picture for all of us. We sometimes think we have to go to somewhere. So good. Part of some thing in order to have, you know, this is the beauty of what we're doing right now, Facebook Live and a podcast. Yes. Amen. And I'm talking to Pastor Javan Ruff, who pastors the free chapel, Spartanburg, South Carolina, part of the free chapel network of churches across the United States, Pastor Dunton, Franklin, and you serve him well, but in serving him. And the Bible says, if you want, if you want your own, you have to serve another. Yeah. And how could you, how could you arrive at your own place without having served someone else? Jesus came to serve. The Bible says over and over. He says it over and over. So I came to serve. They're saying, well, you're going to be the king. You're going to be, I came to serve. And in serving other scots put you in a position to influence. And I don't, and again, I'll come back to this too. You don't have to go to some place, be in some part of something. I see people going to this event or that event or trying to get close to that guy. Because if I can get close to this guy, he'll put me on his thing. Dude, I'm telling you, man, do you know the, by the way, do you know the man who invited Shayna to church? Do you know the guy? Yes, I knew him. I personally met him and became, we were great friends before he passed away. You've got him to come for us. I think that's incredible, man. Yes, yes, sir. So shout out to that brother, right? Yes, sir. Absolutely. I will never forget that. So that's the thing is being faithful where we're at and God brings a promotion. Yes, sir. You know, I've got friends who started podcasts and he's like, I don't know if I should even do I, so look and do it. Just do it. It's out there. Go for it. Yes, sir. Share Jesus. Talk to your neighbors. Sit out there on the driveway and talk to friends as they go by. Whatever it is, man, share Jesus. And you never know the impact of that. Absolutely. Never know the impact. And now you and your wife, how long have you guys been married now? This year, August the 25th will be 20 years. Get out of here, man. So you already got something planned out, right? Tell me you got something planned out past the little summit. I don't want to make it public right now. Don't make it public. Tell me you got something going on. I just, yes, yes. Okay. Pretty sick. I know you already got something figured out. So so that'd be August 20 years. Congratulations, man. Yes. Yes. That's fantastic. I'm excited about that. You're two beautiful kids. And where do we find you on TikTok? What's the handle on that? It's the roughs. Actually, we have a combined one. The roughs. The roughs. Yep. T-H-E-R-U-F. In case you're just listening, yeah. It's a passenger Javan J-A-V-O-N-R-U-F-F and then also your sermons when you preach at Spartan Bird or at other places. Are they on the Spartan Bird website? Yes. It's a podcast or you can go to the freechappel.org also under the YouTube. They're there also. Okay. Freechappel.org. Yes. Freechappel. This way it sounds more and more. And then the freechappel.org. And then on there under the YouTube, we can find Pastor Javan Ruff. Also, we have you on Achieve Lab, which is part of the Christmas Network, C-M-N dot men, C-M-N dot men. We have you on there. Also, and you have been in incredible inspiration and memorable times together. And thank you to Eric Lau for introducing us. Absolutely. Another shout out to that brother because that's what builds brotherhood, right? Hey, you got me. Absolutely. Absolutely. And you have been in inspiration to Judy and I. And we just love you guys. And so now I got to make a note of that. So we send something to you for your 20th. Yeah. Oh my goodness. That's a big deal, man. It is. It is huge. It also means you're getting older, bro. I know. You don't have anything here. I know. How's that happen? I've noticed I've got one right here. I got one. And and and and Shana didn't allow me to keep it long. I kind of take pride in it because it kind of gets blocked. It's gone. It's called wisdom, man. Is your daughter who's our chairman? And of course, his family has one of the largest haircare products company in the world. And I noticed his wisdom in his hair. Yes, there. And I said, don't you guys have stuff for that? He says, that's my wisdom. That's my way. That's good. I can hear you saying that too. Show that off. So anyway, Pastor Javon Ruff, man, this is an amazing story, an amazing testimony in what you shared about Paul and you know, and Philip, excuse me, what we shared about Paul, but what you shared about Philip, you know, come up here, man, this is go to where people are at. And that's the story of your life. Yes. Yes, sir. I mean, I mean, I think, and especially now, I want to, you know, in the times that we're living in, so many people are hurting, so many people are broken. I think you can have several perspectives during that, you know, this time. You can say, look how bad things are. Or you can say, this is a good opportunity, you know, to reach people like never before. The Bible tells us that darkness would come upon the face of the earth and Isaiah. But it also says, but my glory shall rise upon you. And when the world seems darkest, the church has to be the brightest. And I think these are opportune times. I believe that because of the pain and the hurts and where people are going, there's an openness right now. I believe it with all of my heart. I said, I know everything that's going on, but there's an openness, you know, where sin abounds. The Bible said grace abounds, you know, much more. And I believe that. And so this is times where I believe if it will just be sensitive and it's not hard, sometimes it's speaking. It's just being nice. How you doing? How's it going? You know, I've probably had more conversations in my gym lately. It just seems like people just kind of want to talk a little bit more. And I am amazed at what that culminates in into. You know, Jesus said this. He said, say not that the harvest is in months to come. You know, sometimes this someday kind of mindset, you know, you know, he said, but no, no, no, the harvest is now. He said the harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. In other words, there is a watch this abundant crop, but labor shortage. Wow. And the laborers watch this. He said, laborers pray to the Lord of the harvest for laborers. See, we pray for the harvest. He didn't say pray for the harvest. Wow. He said, he said, the harvest is not the problem. The laborers are short. He said, we don't have a harvest problem. We have a labor problem. He said, pray to the Lord of the harvest for laborers watch this to go into the harvest field. And so I think now more than ever that our ability to share Jesus is not going to be limited to a building on Sunday. It's going to open up in opportunities outside the full walls of the church. I believe this is a time that we have to continue to equip people to be able to do that. Even utilizing technology, I believe we're going into all areas of the world by using technology. But I do believe that we're in a season where the harvest is pleased. And we've got to be the laborers, the laborers that represent Jesus, that show Jesus, that share Jesus. Listen, there could be three other bank tellers that's waiting on an invitation. There can be a person at the gas station that's waiting on an invitation. That student, you know, at your college or your high school or elementary school is waiting. That's what it meant. It's like low hanging fruit is what Jesus said. Somebody like this unit is waiting on someone to come where they are. Yeah. It's over. Build in their come. That's out the door. No. He said he sent them. Jesus sent. He demonstrated. He came. He came to us when Adam and Eve messed up in the garden. God came to them. And so we can't have a mentality that they come to us. No. Philip went up to where he was. Jesus came down to where we are. And we have to go where people are today with empathy, with sympathy, with grace, with mercy, and being motivated with compassion, and healing, and realizing it is Jesus that they need. He's the way. He's the true. He's the life. You know, that man could have shown up as Shane's teller stand with an opinion. Yes. He showed up on an opinion. He showed up with an invitation. That's right. And I think too often in the church and we as followers of Christ show up with opinions rather than invitations. Oh, so good. Wow. And we're going to less opinions. We've got opinion about that kid in the street, many apples, and we got a kid. An opinion about that kid skating down the road in Huntington Beach. And we got an opinion about that young lady in Miami. We got an opinion about, you know, what we need to come with is invitation. That's so good. I love that. That was pretty right there, bro. Yes. Power of an invitation. That's it. Power of an invitation. Yeah. I love that whole thing. I'm going back on that. And when I preach that in a couple of weeks, I don't look like a genius. Come on. You should look like a genius. They go, well, here's the deal. It's passion. We're proud. Where did you get that? I don't know. Just just the Lord just dropped out on me one day. He did. He just feel like John get it to you. Be like John chapter one, right? It's like I was there on the Lord's day in the spirit on Facebook. So good. So good. And then this thing just dropped on me. I don't know where it came from. So man, I love you. And I thank God for you. And we pray for you and your wife and children to be. I mean, everything you put your hands to that it would prosper every place you put your feet and be holy ground. And the God will keep you and the rough family deep within the grip of His grace and favor. I love you, brother. You are an inspiration always to me. And I thank God that there's men like you who are speaking into our culture today because we need men of integrity and spirit and men who will show up where people hurt. Absolutely. And thank you, Dr. Paul. I mean, I cannot end words, you know, to just explain or even share how much I deeply appreciate you are friendship and how much has impacted my life, both of our lives. And I can say my family and with with Miss Judy, the relationships that we built. And I cannot get off of this without just honoring you and the great work of CMA and Christian men's network. And all those that are a part of it, you know, can board members down to each one of, you know, the leaders and partners that help make that happen globally. And I mean, and if you're listening, this is not some small thing. And Paul didn't ask me for no plug. I'm speaking from experience. I'm speaking from something that has is and will continue to impact my life as a man, but also my family because of the fruit of it. And I'm so thankful that you said yes. I'm so thankful that you obeyed God to carry the charge and to take this gospel into all the world. And you're literally, that's what CMA are doing, into all the world, discipling men and on just supernatural scales. And one of the latest projects, I almost said, he didn't ask me to do this, but the dangerous men over in the Middle East. And it's a big deal. But that's what we're talking about. We won't be intimidated by sickness. We won't be intimidated by disease. We will go where others won't go. And that's what I love about seeing men that we're going to go to dangerous men. We're going to go to dangerous territory because we believe dangerous nations because we believe that those men need Jesus, the answer to them is Jesus. And so I'm so thankful. I'm thankful for your yes. And I'm believing God to continue to bless the men in ways that never thought dreamed or imagined. And that the blessings of God will continue to overflow because you're doing what the Bible says, go into the world and make disciples. And I'm proud to be a little part of over in the corner of being able to be part of this great work. So I love you. And you'll be our lion's roar global summit of every four, five and six here in Dallas over at Create Church Pastor Ryan Binkley is going to be a fantastic time. Got some other great friends. The information on that will start coming out first of May. Yes. Anyway, I love you, man. Thanks for being on Facebook and on the Brave Men podcast. Absolutely. God bless you. I love the fact that unexpected people do change the world. Yeah, they do. And that is what Pastor Javon was showing us through this interview. Yeah, and it's who he is too. Because it's sort of like, you know, in his upbringing, nobody ever expected him to be this. Exactly. To be a pastor coming out of, you know, Georgia and traveling the world and speaking like he is and being put in a platform. And it's something he never went after. And I think that's a key, Chris. I think that the humility of Javon is part of what's appealing about the man. Yes. Right. Yes. I mean, he's just, he's just who he is. Yeah. He's the same one. Well, he's louder on the stage. I was going to say the same on the stage. He's not that loud when he was sitting around hanging out. Yeah. Yeah. Because he can get, he can get anointed. But the fact is, he's the same person. Yes. We talk about the same things. Yeah. He deals with the same stuff. He talks about it. Yeah. But see, that's the thing. When you're strung in your heart, you are allowing yourself to be you. Yeah. And it becomes thick in your skin. And we vulnerable because of that. And one of the things that we talked about, you talked about it at the mid-Bray Chris is the study in just a bartender. Yeah. Which is based on a life in the Amaya. And it deals with identity purpose and brotherhood. And I don't know anybody who lives that out better than, than Javon. And yet at the same time, one of the things he talked about was that. You know, identities found in Christ. And Jesus said, I only do what the Father shows me to do. And as I get older, my thing is, I begin to realize that a lot of what I've done in life was sort of like, I go do something and ask God to bless it. Rather than Father, what is it? Where do you want my footsteps to go? Well, you know, it doesn't mean I'm not working on the business, trying to scale something, you know, depending on where I'm at or be a better, you know, sell an insurance or whatever I might be putting my hands to. It does mean, you know, it's not like a lay down thing. It means, God, I'm doing this for you and today, directing my footsteps. Yes. So good. Right. Yeah. And you see that in the life of Javon. Yeah. You know, he didn't expect to be living on the West Coast for 10 years, helping grow a powerful church there, freedom, you know, freedom of church and free chapel. I mean, they're in Orange County, but it's a remarkable place. Yeah. But that's another thing he showed. He's illustrated for me watching him is serving allows you to find who you own. Yeah. And he's been a great friend. And he he is one of our friends that we lean on for Christmas Network, Cinnamon Dot Man. As you mentioned, Cinnamon Dot Man. And if you go on there, become a partner with us and going after the 50 most dangerous nations in the world, the dangerous nations campaign and help us with that be a monthly partner that unlocks the entire achieve lab over 450 hours of curated video content, inspire you and large you, help you in your life. There's a lion inside of you. This is what helps it, you know, to roar to come out is put the right stuff in you. Yeah. And so, Cinnamon Dot Man, that's where you can find the resources and the details of where Pastor Javon will be speaking for us at the lion's roar in Dallas this year. So it was great having Pastor Javon on today on Brave Men. And thank you, Chris, for putting together the stuff we do here. We're on every week on Facebook. Yes. We're on live. We're on the YouTube with Monday Night Men. Yep. You just type in Monday Night Men. Yep. Three words in YouTube. And how comes the stuff? Christmas Network, all one word, I guess. I don't know the algorithms. Yeah. How do they work? And so you type that in and you come up with all kinds of videos from Bishop Dale Bronner, our chairman, all sorts of people are on their great resources to help grow men. And make sure when you're on these pages, whether it's YouTube, whether it's the podcast, whether it's Facebook, Paul Lewis Cole, Facebook page, whatever Facebook page, make sure you like it, make sure you share it and make sure you subscribe. Because that does not only spread the information, but it also allows you to be notified when we drop a new video. Yeah. And if you're being inspired once, we promise you will inspire you. It's important. And my great grandkids will love you for it. Yes. And yeah, I might give you a shout out. Hey, remember this. Hope is alive. Hope has a name. Hope's name is Jesus. Jesus. And I love my wife. Amen. God bless. Have a great day. You just experienced Brave Man with Paul Lewis Cole. Paul is president of the Christian men's network. Connect with Paul at cmn.man or write to him at Paul at cmn.man.