Interview with Richard Porter

Richard, can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born and raised in the States. At eighteen, I joined the Navy. Four years later, I returned home from the Vietnam War, broken and messed up on drugs, having panic attacks, and socially odd.  As an escape, I moved to Kansas, bought two acres of woods, moved into a tepee, and lived off-grid, embracing a hippie lifestyle. One day, I stood in a wheat field next to my plot of land and prayed into the sky: ‘God, I don’t know who you are, or even if you’re there, or what religion you hide in, but if you hear me, could I please get some help down here?’

That month, during the ‘Jesus Movement,’ God revealed himself to me in a house meeting with converted hippies. I committed myself to him in the early seventies, and that was the start of my adventure. God gave me the power to say, ‘NO!’ to drugs and began integrating me into his kingdom and serving with his people. My entire life was turned around, and I have never looked back. That was in the early seventies.

After serving on a kibbutz for two years in Israel, a small group of us were going to Kenya to establish a missionary training school. We stopped in England for a few weeks before heading out to Mombasa. During that temporary stay, I felt God was telling me not to go to Kenya but to remain in Britain. I didn’t know if it was to be for a week, a month, or a year. That was back in 1985, and I’m still here—shocker!

Since then, I have received a theology degree in Manchester and a master’s degree at Queen’s University, Belfast. For 21 years, I served in the Church of the Nazarene as an ordained pastor. During that time, I have also taught Old Testament subjects at two different university colleges, one in Manchester and the other in Belfast.

I am now retired and serve as pastor emeritus at my local church in Antrim, Northern Ireland. Oh, and I also write books. My first published book was titled The Kingdom of God, The Director’s Cut. The second book is titled The Adventure-Driven Life.

Even though the Apostle Paul tells us we are subject to decay, I am alive and well on planet Earth, teaching, preaching, and serving, and this is not the end of the story. My gratitude and love for Jesus Christ is immense. I follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I am grateful for the grace and mercy God has shown me over the years. I rejoice in him! Yee-hah!

Why did you decide to write The Adventure-Driven Life?

Just before Jesus stepped into Gethsemane, he prayed his last will and testament in John 17:4. This was his declaration: ‘I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.’ Isn’t this the prayer every Christian wants to pray at the end of their life?

This world has a way of sapping our zeal and expectations. It’s out to get us, and we lose sight of what it means to have and experience the awesome, living God alive in our mortal bodies and what it means to him, to us, and to those we encounter.

I wrote this book to help us all keep bold faith alive and active day by day. To exit our doors each morning with childlike expectancy and the joyous excitement of walking with Jesus, being fully alive in all our encounters and experiences.

I want to encourage people not to settle for a safe, common, featureless, mundane, and powerless lifestyle that speaks the name of Jesus but leaves him in heaven waiting at the gate for us to arrive. Some consider this the normal Christian life, but God never sanctioned it, and he never will.  He has so much more, and I hope this book sparks a sense of adventure in the reader the same way he did with his twelve disciples.

Who have you written this book for?

This book is written for every Christian who has looked up into the sky with that inward shout: ‘There must be more than this.’

It’s for those who want to move beyond the mundane religious routine and for those who hunger for an authentic, transformative, life-giving adventure with God. It’s for those who desire the real deal and not a cliched religious church-going experience. This book challenges readers to push past self-imposed limitations, doubts, and fears and explore the boundless possibilities of a life fully surrendered to God.

It’s for those who are tired of getting bogged down and distracted with religious minutiae and missing what Jesus and the disciples experienced in their earthly lives.

There are lots of books on living out the Christian life, what makes your book different?

I couldn’t say it any better than one of the book’s endorsers: ‘Some of us like to live by the Bible and some by our spiritual impressions. In this book, Richard Porter brings together a deep, scholarly reading of the Bible and his experience of life in the Spirit. With his zany sense of humour and his experience of life as a hippie, and then, since his conversion, as a student, long-serving pastor, and Bible teacher, he brings together both Word and Spirit.’

What makes this book different is its practical approach to integrating both the Word and the Spirit into everyday life. Readers will find a blend of deep theological insights and real-life applications, presented in a fun, whimsical, and relatable manner.

The book is engaging and accessible, encouraging readers to live out their faith dynamically and joyfully. Through personal anecdotes, practical exercises, and reflective questions, the book helps readers to expect and experience the fullness of a Spirit-led life.

You write about reclaiming the awesomeness of God. What do you mean by that and why is it so important?

The word ‘awesome’ has been overused and watered down in modern culture, losing its true meaning and power. Our experience with God can suffer the same fate. I aim to reclaim the word and the lifestyle it so aptly describes. ‘Awesome’ should define the awe-inspiring nature of God in the life of the Christian every day.

Reclaiming the awesomeness of God involves overcoming spiritual complacency, or a ‘hardness of heart’ that prevents believers from seeing and hearing God at work, in and around them. It means recognising and responding to the majesty and power of God in our daily lives. God is awesome—he called us to be like him. Jesus is awesome—the Bible calls us to be like him. Even the challenge is awesome, but God’s Spirit within us and released through us is incredibly awesome.

This may sound outrageous and over the top, but God has called us to be awesome in this world because our resources in him transcend everything this present world can provide. Reclaiming the awesomeness of God in our lives reveals who he is and what he is like in the world through us.

Practically, this means living with a sense of expectancy, seeking God’s presence in everyday moments, and stepping out in faith to experience his power and love. By doing so, we not only transform our own lives but also become a testament to God’s greatness to those around us.

You encourage the reader to be adventurous in their faith – what do you mean by that?

Take chances. Step out of our comfort zone to follow God’s leading, even when it seems unconventional or risky. Be open to supernatural experiences and expect God to work miraculously in everyday life. Listen to God’s voice and promptings, then act on them in faith. Move beyond a mundane religious routine to embrace a dynamic, Spirit-filled, relational Christian lifestyle.

Trust God to provide and guide, rather than relying solely on human effort or conventional wisdom. Be bold in sharing one’s faith and praying for others, even in unexpected situations. See oneself as an ‘ambassador’ of God’s kingdom, representing heaven on earth.

Cultivate spiritual gifts and be open to the tangible, dynamic work of the Holy Spirit in and through you. Living expecting God to do amazing things in and around you. Embrace the idea that this adventurous faith is for all believers, not just a chosen few, and that it brings glory to God.

Can you give us an example of taking a risk for God from your own experience? How did it go?

My wife and I visited an old house built around 1740, near Belfast. Though we had no intention of moving, I kept hearing God say, ‘My blessing is here. I will bless you here.’ I was compelled to tell my wife we needed to buy it as a house of prayer. At home, I wrote down God’s message, including a specific amount for which we’d sell our house. On Christmas Eve, we listed our home and sold it two weeks later for that exact amount, purchasing the Moat Inn.

God’s provision continued: I was making a 10-foot black table for guests and thought ten old oak chairs would look well situated around it. That week, while visiting a friend who knew nothing about the table, unexpectedly offered us ten oak chairs. I converted the stone garage into a prayer chapel. I was thinking an old pew would fit well along the wall. An hour later, a new neighbour offered me one. They knew nothing about my thoughts for the chapel or my desire for a pew, but when I was leaving their house, they said, ‘We have this old pew we want to get rid of; do you want it?’ They weren’t mind readers, but God sure is.

People would visit our home and be immediately grabbed by the Holy Spirit. We had people weep when we opened the door and they first stepped inside. The moment one lady entered the chapel for the first time, she fell to her knees and started worshipping God.

These divine coincidences and Holy Spirit visitations were frequent, showing God’s excitement and goodness in our adventure-driven lives. We heard the still, small voice and followed. God is full of awesome surprises.

What would you say to someone who feels that they want to step out in faith more than they do now but are afraid of trying?

Remember that God has given you the green light to live an adventure-driven life. He wants you to step out in faith and put your trust in him. Instead of relying on your own strength, allow Christ to live through you, guiding your actions and decisions.

Ask God to open your eyes to opportunities for faith and be receptive to his leading and promptings.

Start by taking small steps of faith and obedience to build your confidence. Focus on God’s love and the assurance of his presence with you, rather than succumbing to your fears. His perfect love casts out fear, and it’s important to understand that God values your willingness to obey more than the outcome of your actions. Even the act of obedience itself pleases him.

Seek boldness and courage through prayer, just as the early disciples did, and surround yourself with other believers who will uplift and encourage your faith.

Meditate on the promises of Scripture that speak of God’s faithfulness and the power that works through you. When you take a step of faith, give credit to God for any positive outcomes. This builds your faith for future endeavours.

Don’t be discouraged by perceived “failures”; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and learning. Remember that living by faith is a continuous process of development, so be patient with yourself as you learn to trust God more.

The overall message is one of encouragement, urging you to take steps of faith and rely on God’s power and presence rather than your own abilities. The adventure and joy that come from following God’s guidance are worth overcoming any fear or hesitation. You don’t have to do it alone; seek out others who are also stepping out in faith and join them. Surround yourself with their support and guidance. Embrace different avenues of exploring your faith, such as using your gifts, listening to the voice of God, or engaging in bold evangelism.

However, it is essential to test these experiences for yourself. Do not let the fear of failure hold you back, as the real failure lies in saying no and not even attempting to explore the possibilities.

What was the most challenging element of writing this book?

‘Father, help me speak for you and not just about you.’ That is the challenge I face in everything God calls me to do, whether writing on the keyboard, preaching in the pulpit, or teaching from a lectern. How do I make the message attractive, alive in the Holy Spirit, and exciting for the glory of God?

The challenge in writing this book was keeping balance. How do I keep it real, make the message inspiring and fun, and not go too far with the humour the truth is couched in? I believe humour, just like music, helps a person lean into the message.

And what was the most rewarding element of writing this book?

The most rewarding elements of writing this book were multifaceted. Foremost, sensing God’s presence, as I wrote, was deeply fulfilling. It felt like a collaboration with the divine, which made the writing process itself a spiritual journey.

Finding a publisher who recognises this as a message from God was incredibly affirming. It’s reassuring to know that the book is in expert hands and will reach those who are seeking a more active presence of God in their lives.

Perhaps most rewarding is the knowledge that the lessons I’ve learned over the past 40 years won’t be lost when I’m gone. This book serves as a small legacy, a testament to God’s goodness in a believer’s life. It’s humbling and exciting to think that these experiences and insights might continue to encourage and inspire others long after I’m no longer here to share them personally.

What do you hope readers will most get out of reading this book?

I hope readers will realise that walking with God is not as difficult or boring as they might think. The core message is this: It’s his life lived through us, not us trying to live the Christian life by our own strength.

God didn’t hand us a Bible and say, ‘Go out there and give it your best shot.’ Instead, he tells us throughout the New Testament, ‘I don’t want you to strive to live the Christian life. Let me live that life through you and in you.’ As the Apostle Paul says, ‘Having begun in the Spirit, are you now trying to perfect yourself in the flesh?’ This approach of self-reliance is foolish and bound to fail.

We can see this clearly in the Old Testament, where the Israelites repeatedly struggled when they relied on their own efforts rather than trusting in God’s guidance and power. Their story serves as a powerful reminder of why we need to depend on God rather than ourselves.

In one sentence, how would you describe The Adventure-Driven Life?

The Adventure-Driven Life is a Christian guide that inspires readers to embrace a life of faith, fun, and obedience to God, unlocking the extraordinary destiny he has planned for them.

Is there anything we can pray for you?

Yes, that at the end of my life, I can honestly pray as Jesus: ‘Father, I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.’