I’m a full-time pastor, an erstwhile author, and a would-be mountaineer. I am the lead pastor of Word of Life Church in Saint Joseph, Missouri. I am the author of several books, most recently *Unconditional* and *What To Do On The Worst Day Of Your Life*
I became a Christian as a teenager through a dramatic encounter with Jesus during the height of the Jesus movement. Almost immediately I was holding Bible studies in High School, leading a coffeehouse ministry and preaching in whatever church was crazy enough to let a long-haired Jesus freak into the pulpit. Seven years after my life-changing encounter with Jesus I started Word of Life Church in a broken down Methodist church building. For the first seven years we struggled and remained small, but since that time God has allowed me to be a pastor to thousands. It never ceases to amaze me.
My great passion is for the King and His Kingdom. I’ve been led on my never-ending adventure of exploring the Kingdom of the Heavens by these five signpost words: Cross, Mystery, Eclectic, Community, Revolution. I could talk for hours on these five words that revolve around Jesus, but this is supposed to be a short bio.
My wife Peri and I have done some pretty improbable things by daring to believe God. It has made our life an adventure—not always easy, but always an adventure…and in the end, always good.
We have three sons: Caleb, Aaron and Philip, and two daughter-in-laws, Ashlie and Sarah. They’re awesome.
Favorite Performing Artist: Bob Dylan. The 870 Dylan songs on my iPod should give you some idea.
Favorite Activity: Hiking and climbing in the mountains. On my fortieth birthday I climbed Kilimanjaro.
Favorite Authors: Saint Augustine, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Søren Kierkegaard, C.S. Lewis, Salman Rushdie, Leo Tolstoy, Dallas Willard, N.T. Wright, Philip Yancey, Ravi Zacharias
Favorite Movie: The Man Who Would Be King
Favorite Mode of Transportation: Harley-Davidson Road King
Favorite thing I’m bad at: Play guitar
Favorite human being: Peri Zahnd
Three Favorite Maxims: Faith is the victory. Faith can change your world. Faith without coffee is dead.
The Four Most Important Things I Know: Jesus is the answer, The Bible is true, Faith is the victory and Love never fails.
