Interview with Rick Kingham

BMC:  Rick, you said recently that you see the marketplace as the ground for future revival.  Elaborate on that.

RK:  Actually, it was Billy Graham who said that he believes the next great move of God will be in the marketplace.  Because of our worldwide economy, the greatest advance for missions will come through men and women pursuing business endeavors in countries and gaining trust in ways which we never could do by just planting churches.  When you disciple people, then churches automatically exist.  In February, our church took a group of business men to Burkina Faso (Western Africa) to teach business to Christian CEOs and businessmen.  Twelve Muslim guys showed up.  We explained that the seminar was based on Christian principles and that it might be a disconnect for them.  They replied that they wanted attend anyway to learn how to be better businessmen.  By the end of the four days, four of the twelve men accepted Christ.

I believe the next wave of evangelism will take place as people live out the credible reality of Jesus Christ in their lives.

BMC:  What are some of the barriers you see that keep men from being credible witnesses?

RK: The first thing we have to overcome is the idea that being a witness is something that is transferred by mouth, knowledge, theology, or what I believe.  The world is not looking for another activity, even if it's to attend a Bible study or church.  We have a tendency to want people to adapt to the lifestyle of Christianity before we have even proven that a relationship with Christ is relevant to their lives.  As men we need to understand the ways in which Christ shows up in our lives.  Jesus said that our lives are to be a showcase to others.  One of the first things that we need to overcome is that we know ten times more than we really live out. 

The question we need to begin with is, "Is Jesus real?"  If what you believe causes you to be no different than the guy in the next cubicle, why would he want to believe what you believe?  He's already experiencing the reality of of the same things you are and he doesn't have to believe.

BMC: So, is the implication in what you're saying to relax and be yourself?

RK:  Yes, but it goes much further than that.  It's 'be yourself' in the most excellent, ethical, creative, winsome you that you are.  If Jesus can't make you creative, winsome, ethical, pure and excellent, who needs Him?  There's got to be more than that.  If all Jesus provides for us is a fire-escape from hell when we die, why bother? 

What people are looking for is life.  In the crucible of daily living, what happens to you?  When the trials and the testings comes, when the bad stuff happens, what happens to you ?  When you respond in a way that an unbeliever wouldn't in the same circumstance, you provoke their jealousy to ask you about it.  This is permission evangelism.   I'm convinced that if people see the reality of God in a person's life, they will be attracted to it because that is exactly what they are longing for.  If God puts into every soul a God shaped vacuum, whenever they see Jesus, they're going to be attracted to Him.

BMC:  So how do guys get better at living out the reality of God in their lives?

RK:  Most of that comes out of pre-decision.  What I mean is that we need to decide before we decide. Men need to build into their lives the decisions they will make ahead of time for the circumstances they may face.  It's much more effective than putting them into the fire and hoping that all the principles will come together under the stress of the moment and they they will do the right thing. 

BMC:  What are some of the most relevant and important pre-decisions a guy should make?

RK:  There are lots of those, if you just think about it.  How will I react to the disloyalty or rejection by a co-worker?  If I've decided ahead of time, I'm much more likely to respond in the way I've already decided.  In the moment, many people can't think the situation through from a Biblical perspective.  But if you pre-decide and you're prayerful about it, then if the situation arises, your pre-decision kicks in.

I make a decision before I go into a hotel room not to watch pornography.  When I was traveling for PK, I would turn the TV around to face the wall so that I wouldn't even have the temptation to turn it on.  If you make those decisions ahead of time you're more likely to abide by them when the temptation comes.  Chuck Swindoll says that there's a moment in time where chemicals and mental things are happening and all of a sudden a moment of idiocy takes place.  Then it's too late.  The battle is lost.  You have to pre-decide.

BMC:  How important is an accountability group in solidifying those pre-decisions?

RK:   The basis for the pre-decision is the community group, because it gives you a place to talk it through.  You can learn from each other's experiences and rehearse different kinds of pre-decisions. You can ask those in your support group how they might handle certain situations and they can pray for you and ask you questions about how you're doing with your pre-decisions.

BMC:  How much does a personal mission help guide those pre-decisions?

RK:  Now you're back to accountability again.  Accountability is something that is given, in that we need to give permission to others to hold us accountable.  Accountability can only be based on the standard you're asking your accountability partner to hold you to.  The standard by which I'm held accountable let's me talk to you about how I see the purpose of my life, where I'm going spiritually, what I want to learn, what I want to become and where I want to be at any given time.  That formulates my life purpose, life mission and priorities.  That's what accountability is based on.

BMC:  What suggestions would you have for guys who feel trapped and like they're not moving forward in their lives?

RK:  I would say press into God, because God always gives fresh revelation of who He is.  Fresh revelation of who God is, as you behold Him, becomes fresh revelation in your own life of who you are to become.  You become what you behold.  The devil wants you to keep your sight on failures, problems, conflicts and  weaknesses because if he can keep you beholding your failures, then you come to believe you're a failure.  If you can break free from that and behold the character of Jesus and allow Him, by the Spirit, to change you (2 Cor 3:18), then He gives fresh revelation of who He is in your life.  Fresh revelation always brings fresh destiny.  If you allow Jesus to show you who He is, then He will show you what you are to do with it.

BMC:  Thanks, Rick, for your pre-decision to minister to men by sharing with us.