Think of someone who has positively and powerfully influenced your approach to life. Who is that person for you?
For me, one of those people was Polly McDuffy, my middle school bus driver. One day, "Mrs. Polly" (as I called her) looked in the rearview mirror of her school bus and asked, "Beautiful Bobby (as she called me), do you ever talk to God?" I replied, "You mean do I pray? Of course, I do." Then she asked a question that would forever change my life: "Does God ever talk to you?"
That single question, along with how she lived her life—not just religious and morally good but alive, wholehearted, honest, and excited to follow Jesus—left a lasting impression on me. Mrs. Polly, a public school bus driver, profoundly influenced my life's mission: "Make disciples who make a difference."
Today, I strive to live in the space where the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and the Great Commandment (Luke 10:27) collide. Sometimes, this means challenging people to wake up, discover their true God-given purpose, and make significant life changes. Other times, it's simply about helping others see how substantial and extraordinary our ordinary lives can be!
Since those days on bus #7, I have traveled many miles. I've served as a pastor in a local church, preached the gospel throughout the country, seen people's lives transformed by the love of Jesus, and served as an advocate and speaker for children worldwide, helping over 25,000 children get the help they desperately need. I also spent nearly a decade with Compassion International, where I learned the value of a holistic approach to caring for those who are hurting and vulnerable. From these experiences, I have discovered how to balance preaching scripture with providing practical and tangible steps for achieving real results in daily life.
Whether I am speaking on tour, leading missional or discipleship efforts, or preaching and teaching in a church or college service, my message always returns to Luke 10:27: "Love the Lord you" God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself."