DEVIN HENDERSON'S SPIRITUAL PRESENTATIONS
My faith is the most important thing to me, but do I push spiritual matters in my keynote presentations? Only when I’m asked to. Like when I’m speaking in churches or for good ‘ol ma and pa type companies based in the Bible Belt. I mean, come on, I get it, your organization is diverse and you don’t want people complaining to HR about the controversial speaker. I’m not dumb. I’m really good at being PC. So good I should’ve been a politician. Maybe I missed my calling. If you are interested in my underlying values, keep reading …
I’m a Christian. Yeah I’m that guy. So … does that mean I think I’m better than you? No. In fact, I guarantee I’m way worse. If only you knew the dirty, low, nasty and selfish things in my heart and my mind, boy would you agree. Have I ever murdered someone? Yes. Have I ever committed adultery? Duh, yes. I’ve done those things (and many other horrible things) in my heart, aka “imagination.” As far as God is concerned, that’s just as bad as doing the real thing. Sure, here on earth there are no consequences for mere thoughts, but Homey don’t play dat in Heaven. That’s why I’m thankful for Jesus dying for my sins, because otherwise there would be no hope for me. Oh come on, you knew the J-bomb was coming sooner or later.
Excited to book me as your keynote speaker now? “Introducing, the murderous, adulterous, worst human being in the world, here to talk to us about leadership and change management, please welcome to the stage, Hell’s own corporate comedian Devin Henderson!” If you’re wanting a completely pure, loving-minded keynote speaker that has lived a near-perfect life and never thinks an evil thought toward another human, you’re in the wrong place. You need to go find a motivational speaker who’s really good at faking all that. I know plenty of those if you want some recommendations.
Am I okay with being a horrible person? Of course not. Am I trying to be better? Of course. Do I judge you? Yes I do, and wrongfully so. Just being honest. But I also judge other Christians. Many of us Christians fail to demonstrate the kind of love it takes for people to say, “Wow, Christians are wonderful people and full of joy, I want me some o dat.” And by the way, you’re probably judging me for being judgmental. And now I’m judging you for that. Oh the vicious cycle. But despite our differences, I really just want to get long with you and leave the judging to God.
Just to be clear, as a Christian, I don’t think I’m better than you, just better off (according to my faith). The best human, not counting Jesus (please imagine that in my best southern gospel tone), who ever lived can’t even come close to matching God’s holiness. Jesus is the only thing that can make me right with God, because I stink at being a good person. Christianity is not a religion. Religion is thinking you can become good enough to earn your way into God’s good graces, but Christianity is about accepting God’s good grace. See what I did there?
While I have you here, maybe you’re wondering how one accepts this Jesus. The Bible answers that very clearly in Romans 10:19 – “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” You might hear a Christian say, “See? It’s so easy to become a Christian! All you do is accept God’s grace.” Well, it’s easy and it isn’t. Sure, God already did all the dirty work, but you still have to believe. That part ain’t always so easy. My prayer is God will work in your life so that you will recognize him for who He is and step out in faith and believe.
I hope to see you in Heaven, but not before I finish all of Downton Abbey.
CHURCHES AND MINISTRIES PAST AUDIENCES
Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers
Antioch Church
Arch Diosese of Kansas City
Archbishop O’Hara High School
Benedictine College
Blue Valley Baptist Church
Bristol Hill United Methodist Church
Brothers in Blue (Prison Ministry of Westside)
Building Better Moms – Kansas
CHIC Conference 2012
Calvary Baptist Church
Cambridge Church
Campus Crusade for Christ, Kansas City Metro
Cedar Ridge Christian Church
Center of Grace Church
Central Church of the Nazarene
Central Methodist University
Christ Community Church – Leawood, Kansas
Christ Community Church – Omaha, Nebraska
Christ Lutheran Church
Christ Preparatory Academy
Christ United Methodist
Church of the Ascension
Church of the Nativity
Church of the Resurrection (COR)
Clearpoint Church
College Church of the Nazarene
Colonial Presbyterian
Community Covenant Church
Community Life Church
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Covenant Chapel
Crossroads Christian Church
DeSoto Youth Ministries
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Faith Chapel
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
First Assembly of God, Great Bend, Kansas
First Baptist Church of Hurst, Texas
First Baptist Church of Midland, Texas
First Baptist Church of Olathe, Kansas
First Baptist Church of Odessa, Missouri
First Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida
First Baptist Church of Shawnee, Kansas
First Baptist Church of Raytown, Missouri
First Baptist Church of Warrensburg, Missouri
First Church of the Nazarene
First Family Church, Overland Park, Kansas
First Presbyterian Church of Olathe, Kansas
First Presbyterian Church of Sylvan Grove, Kansas
Good Shepherd
GracePoint Church
Harmony Hill Youth Camp
Heartland Church
Hillcrest Covenant Church
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Holy Trinity Catholic School
Hope Lutheran School
Johnson County Christian Church
Journey Church
Kansas City Christian School
Kansas District of The Wesleyan Church
Lawrence Wesleyan Church
Leawood United Methodist
Lebo/Olivet Methodist Church
Lee’s Summit Community Church
Lenexa Baptist Church
Liberty Christian Fellowship
Life Bridge Church
Life Church
LifePointe Church
Louisburg United Methodist
Maranatha Christian Academy
Marriage Vine Ministries
Metro Christian Fellowship
Mid-America Nazarene University
Mill Creek Community Church
Nall Avenue Baptist Church
Navigators, CEO Roundtable Kansas City
Nazarene Children’s Leadership Network
Nazarene Publishing House
New Life Community Church
North Central Kansas Teens for Christ
Odessa Baptist Church
Olathe Bible Church
Open Door Baptist Church
Ornament of Grace Christian Center
Ottawa University
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Paola United Methodist Church
Prince of Peace
Sacred Heart Church – Columbia, Missouri
Sacred Heart Church – Shawnee, Kansas
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church and School
Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Saint Thomas Moore Catholic Church
Salem Lutheran Church
Sanctuary Covenant Church
Shawnee Church of the Nazarene
Shawnee Mission Christian School
Shawnee Presbyterian Church
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Tonganoxie Christian Church
Tri-City Baptist Church
Trinity Bible Church
Trinity Lutheran Church – Atchison, Kansas
Trinity Lutheran Church – Overland Park, Kansas
Union Chapel School
Urban Scholastic Center
Valley View United Methodist Church
Virginia Wesleyan College
Westside Family Church
Westwood Christian Church
Young Life – Quincy, Illinois