Pastor John Gray Speaks on Authenticity

Oprah Winfrey: So you’re the first black pastor at Lakewood Church. 

Pastor John Gray: Yes. 

OW: Joel Osteen’s megachurch in Houston, the largest congregation in the country. 

JG: Yes. 

OW: What does that mean to you that one of the most influential religious leaders of our time–certainly in the United States–shares that platform with you? 

JG: I don’t even know how to describe it. The thing about Pastor Joel, because I’m this fiery, loud, kind of boisterous guy, and then he’s the sweetest guy in the whole world. If he’s in “Friday the 13th,” he’d still be this guy. “Jason, don’t stab people, you’re supposed to love people.” 

OW: Just be positive. 

JG: The reason why we connected is because we have different expressions but the same heart. He casts a wide net of hope. Anybody is allowed to walk into that church and find hope in life. Every single person that we will ever encounter was created by the same God. I believe that. And everybody has inherent value. 

And so we were able to connect. But to be the first African-American to literally be on staff and just to weekly speak into the life of the church is a high honor. 

OW: And you all started out on Wednesday nights. You were Wednesday night preaching with 2,500 people. Now I hear it’s 9,000 people. 

JG: Yeah. It’s about 9,000 on a Wednesday. 

OW: On a Wednesday!

JG: In Houston with traffic, Oprah. You can’t even stay saved in the traffic in Houston; you have to come to church after all the cussing you do on the highways. But just for 9,000 people to come. And I believe it’s because they know my heart is pure, and I’m authentic in what I share. I believe what I speak.