Popular media personality Glenn Beck is a leading voice for conservative politics, frequently opining through his radio and television talk shows as well as 13 bestselling books and the news website The Blaze. But when he steps on the stage as a presenter at this weekend’s American Gospel Celebration in Louisville, Kentucky, hosted by Pastor John Hagee, he is determined to leave politics behind and focus solely on delivering a “shot in the arm” to the faith community.
Recently, he spoke with Charisma News to share why the event is important to him, his support of the military and Israel, and his friendship with John Hagee.
How did you get connected with this event?
My dear friend John Hagee, who I think is one of the most courageous men I have ever met, I’m an admirer of his longtime vision and courage. He called me up and said he was doing an event that he hoped to kind to give us a “shot in the arm” as people of faith. He also wanted to help out the veterans. There’s no way I’m going to say no to John Hagee.
Can you tell us about your support of the military and wounded veterans? I know you’re scheduled to speak before a presentation to wounded veterans.
In my private life, I’ve had the opportunity to meet remarkable people who have experienced things that I can’t even imagine. I often think about that scene in Saving Private Ryan where they finally go to war and there’s that one guy who runs up the stairs and almost wets himself out of terror and just is frozen and paralyzed. To my shame, I wonder if that would be me. I don’t know how I would react and I don’t how these heroes do it. Every single one that I have met, the bronze star, the silver star or the medal of honor or quite honestly, no medals, what they do I think is heroic and to a man, none of them ever want to be called a hero. I think we need to let them know that we think they’re a little different than we are.
Why do you think the time is right for this “shot in the arm” for the faith community?
Because I think we’re coming close to a place to where I wonder if we as a nation can really say with firm reliance on the protection of divine providence. I think there’s a lot of people who have given up and there’s also a lot of people at the same time who think the Lord is going to handle things without us standing exactly where we’re supposed to stand. I tried to suggest to John that I wouldn’t necessarily be the best guest, because what I do unfortunately is political and I don’t want to bring anything political to this event. This event is about God and about joy and about strengthening our faith. I’m planning on going there and not saying anything at all political, that’s for sure.
How did your friendship with John Hagee begin?
I don’t remember how it began exactly. I’m sure I called John myself. I’m very involved with Israel and I knew John was. I didn’t know what to think of John Hagee. This was probably ten years ago. I didn’t know what to think of him. You do a Google search on John Hagee and you may actually find more bad stuff about him than me and that’s saying something. So I didn’t know what to expect when I met him, other than a heart for the Lord I thought and a heart for the Jewish people. So we met, and over time, I have seen him behind the scenes and seen his wife with him, and I don’t think I’ve ever met a man who the media had more wrong than John Hagee. He is a remarkable man and what he has gone through to stand where he believes the Lord wanted him to stand for Israel is heroic.
There is something special, as we know if we read the Scriptures, about Israel and the Jewish people and I’m glad that we are now becoming people that I think are more like our founders, who are not plotting to convert Jews. Instead we’re loving people. Love changes the whole world. It changes our hearts and everybody else’s hearts. I’m so proud to be involved with so many people, Christians, over in Israel that are for the very first time I think showing Israelis and Jews that we are certainly not the Romans anymore and we love them.
DEWAYNE HAMBY is a 22-year journalist covering faith-based music, entertainment, books, and the retail industry. He is also the editor of the White Wing Messenger, director of communications for the Church of God of Prophecy, and author of the new book Gratitude Adjustment. Connect with him at www.dewaynehamby.com or on twitter – @dewaynehamby.
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