Popular Preacher/Evangelist Reveals His Rough Past

Popular Preacher/Evangelist Reveals His Rough Past

"Possible Successor to [Billy] Graham" (The New York Times), the "Leading Edge" of Modern-Day Evangelism (ABC World News), Mega-Pastor and Worldwide Crusader Greg Laurie Tells His Unlikely Story of Near-Ruin to Redemption
--Lost Boy (Regal, 2008)

RIVERSIDE, Calif., July 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- Drugs. Abuse. Neglect. The background of Hollywood's latest dysfunctional 'bad boy' giving excuses for his recent trip to rehab? Somewhat ironically, these are the "highlights" of the childhood of Pastor Greg Laurie--a pioneer of the evangelical mega-church movement and modern-day evangelism--detailed in his new autobiography titled Lost Boy (Regal, 2008).

Though many would assume that the pastor of one of the largest churches in America who has drawn some 4 million people to evangelistic events worldwide has had a perfect life, the truth is far from ideal:

Laurie grew up fatherless and nearly motherless as his Marilyn Monroe look-alike, alcoholic mom wound her way through seven marriages.

As a teen in the 1960s hippie era, he experimented with drugs and alcohol to help ease the pain of his personal life.

He lived well into his forties believing his mother's first husband was his biological father, only to discover that he was the product of an earlier "one- night stand."

" . . . It's not hard for me to put myself in a nonbeliever's scuffed shoes. I've walked in them. I was full of skepticism and doubt; I thought I would never make it as a Christian--I did not see myself as the 'religious type.' Thankfully, God doesn't look for the 'religious type.' He looks for the 'sinner type.' I qualified."
(Lost Boy, Page 142).

Despite--and perhaps because of--his scandalous beginnings, Laurie is pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif.--drawing more than 15,000 each Sunday--and founder of Harvest Crusades, innovative, high-tech, rock-and-roll evangelistic events that have packed stadiums and arenas around the country and abroad for the last 18 years.

Laurie serves on the boards of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse international Christian relief organization. Franklin Graham calls Lost Boy, available in bookstores now, "a picture of God's grace, protection and love." Packed with footage of Laurie's past and music from the era, a 90-minute film version called Lost Boy: The Documentary is available at www.harvest.org.

"If there's redemption for me and my situation, there is redemption for everyone," says Laurie.

MEDIA NOTE: For media materials including high- resolution photos and graphics, visit ww w.DeMossNewsPond.com/LostBoy.

INTERACTIVE OPPORTUNITY: Ask other "lost boys and girls" to submit their stories of how they have triumphed over a troubled past.

3mnewswire.org