The Pastor Chris Whaley Interview:
[This is page 3 in a three-page article. Be sure to read all three pages.]
Faith & Fitness Magazine: What’s it like having a major motion picture to be in release in the U.S. all about you?
Pastor Chris Whaley: It is truly humbling. To think that a book I wrote was made into a movie is absolutely amazing! I believe that God is able to do more than we could ever ask for. I also think it is a plus for the underdog. When I finished my manuscript, I couldn’t get anyone to talk to me. I was truly an underdog and God did another David and Goliath thing. I owe God everything.
Faith & Fitness Magazine: How did you get into wrestling? Describe the sport and share how physically fit you had to be to wrestle.
Pastor Chris Whaley: I was very sick growing up. I was in and out of the hospital from the first grade through the seventh grade. In the fourth grade I had polio (my legs turned inward). I also had viral encephalitis. I was in the hospital for three months. I had a wonderful doctor who refused to let me give up. He eventually got me into lifting weights and swimming. Then, when I was in the seventh grade they found out that I had 192 allergies. I took allergy medicine until I graduated from college.
I really got into the weights and was in the best shape of my life in 1978 when I saw an ad “Wanted: Professional Wrestlers.” I answered the ad and was trained by The Great Malenko.
Wrestling is very physically demanding. I worked even when I was hurt because there was always someone behind you that wanted your space. All of the injuries took their toll over the years. Some of them I will eventually pay for in later years (because of all of the concussions). I was a smaller guy. I was 5’ 10” and 225 lbs. Most of the guys I worked against were bigger. I had to be in great shape in order to deal with the size difference.
Faith & Fitness Magazine: How does physical fitness play a role in your life today? What are your favorite ways to keep active and get physical exercise these days?
Pastor Chris Whaley: Because of all my injuries, I am limited more than I used to be. However, I still enjoy working out. These days I walk fast three miles a day. I do cycling. I lift weights (nothing like I used to do). I have also started doing DDP Yoga. Diamond Dallas Page was a great wrestler who also endured a lot of injuries. He developed this program and is helping a lot of people. My biggest weakness is my diet. I’m on the go all the time and really have to work at eating right.
Faith & Fitness Magazine: What does personal Christian ministry mean to you? What advice would you give to people that want to pursue being a stronger presence for Christ?
Pastor Chris Whaley: Personal Christian Ministry to me means attempting to reach those who normally would not fit in a “Church environment. “ Dr. T.B. Maston once asked me, “Chris, if Jesus physically was here in Ft. Worth (this was when I was in seminary), where do you think you would find Him?” Before I could answer, he said, “You wouldn’t find Him at Travis Ave Baptist (the largest church in the area), or any of the other churches around here. You would find Him down on Hemphill Street (where the junkies and prostitutes were). You would find Him wherever there were people who were hurting and needing a new direction in life.” I never forgot that. Most people want other people in their churches who look like them. Most churches seem to be attempting to find church members from other churches instead of those who need to hear the Gospel.
I serve in Pastoral Care on Staff at First Baptist Church of Orlando. It involves hospitals, nursing homes, funerals and hurting people. We have an unbelievable church that is trying to be the feet and hands of Jesus. Go to your church and attempt to start ministries to reach those who no one is trying to reach.
Faith & Fitness Magazine: In this issue of Faith & Fitness Magazine we’re helping readers consider the PAUSE before the PLAY – the rest before the action – listening before speaking, reflection before performance. In what ways has God taught you the value of pausing before playing? In what ways do you pursue solitary communion with God?
Pastor Chris Whaley: At the end of the second chapter of Job you see his friends (who blew it big time later in the story) seeing Job and his grief. The Bible says they sat on the ground and did not say a word for seven days. I call that “The Ministry of Presence.” It means just being there when people are hurting and need you. Most people will never remember the things you say, however, they will remember your face and that you were there for them.
My best time is at 5:30 a.m. every morning. That is my time with the Lord. I usually read a chapter of Proverbs every day and also read through the Bible. It is a great time of quiet and being before the Lord.
Faith & Fitness Magazine: What do you feel are the most significant opportunities that pastors are missing these days? What advice would you offer someone who wants to reengineer his or her approach to outreach and social interaction?
Pastor Chris Whaley: I think separating the services is something pastors will regret one day. We have the traditional services, mainly attended by the older crowd and the contemporary service made up primarily of younger people. We shouldn’t be separating ages. Younger people need the wisdom of the older people and older people need the excitement of the younger people. Whatever you win them with is what you win them to.
I would strive to make all the services blended services.
Faith & Fitness Magazine has resources to help you bring together traditional and contemporary, younger and older:
