Runks is a crazy guy who has lived a crazy life and is a master at using hilarious stories from his life to illustrate biblical truth with clarity, authority, and depth. More than just a funny guy, he is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and addictions and has an awesome testimony of the power of God in desperate situations.
Runks has a passion to help students discover their identity in Christ, find freedom in their struggles, and follow Christ with all their heart – because they get to – not because they have to. Runks will help your students discover freedom from their pain, hope for their future, and Grace for life!!!
Runks was a Youth Minister for 7 years and in 1998 began traveling the country sharing his message of hope and freedom to teenagers, college students, and adults. He holds a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and resides in Levelland, Texas with his wife Joanna, and their two kids, Elli and Nick.
References
“Runks is ‘Crazy with Content’! He is hilarious, but his humor is utilized as a tool to effectively communicate to students. If you do not know Runks, invest the time to get to know him. You will be blessed.”
Casey Cease, Communicator – Executive Director, Transform Ministries
“Runks is an energetic speaker that knows how to captivate his audience. What I especially love about Runks is that when he speaks to students he gets on their level making them laugh one minute and then right back to a serious point that impacts a student’s life in the next.”
Jeff Johnson, Worship leader, Jeff Johnson Ministries
“Runks related incredibly well with our students at Falls Creek. His messages were well prepared, well delivered and well received. Our students connected with him immediately.” James Lankford, Student Ministry and Evangelism Specialist – Falls Creek Program Director, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma
“Runks stories draw kids in, his authenticity exemplifies God’s grace and mercy, and his love for the Word of God is refreshing! My students can’t get enough of him!” -Heather Flies, Junior High Pastor, Wooddale Church – Eden Prairie, Minnesota,Youth Specialties C.O.R.E. Training Team
“Runks is a fiery, theologically sound, stand-up comedian that our students paid attention to and loved. He did a fantastic job of teaching our students last night. We had over 20 decisions for Christ!” Tyler Hicks, Student Minister,Central Baptist Church – Clovis, New Mexico
“Runks undeniable love for Christ and passion for teens blows up the room. His desire to lead teens to Christ through a relevant, humorous approach is unmatched by any youth communicator I have ever had the privilege of worshipping with. He gets teens, and teens get him… that is a good combination.”-Danny Phillips,Youth Pastor,First Baptist Church – Baytown, Texas
“Runks combines awesome energy with a powerful message that the Lord uses to impact students of this generation. My students love Runks and reference the times we have been blessed to have him as a speaker. Runks gets two thumbs up from this youth pastor!”-Chris Wigley, Student Minister,First Baptist Church – Burleson, Texas
“Runks has a gifted way of relating to teenagers. He naturally grabs their attention with his witty humor and colorful stories. He can relate to this broken, hurt, and abandoned generation and show them the source of healing and restoration.”-Lee McClure, Senior High Pastor, Clear Creek Community Church,League City, Texas
“Runks is a dynamic speaker with a love for students. He is not your everyday youth speaker because he wants to be involved in your event and not simply talk and go hang out at the hotel. He is a genuine man of God and will radically challenge your students to live for Christ. He is a high energy guy that students will be captivated by.”-Jason T. Atchley, Associate Pastor/Youth Minister, First Baptist Church – Canyon, Texas
“Runks brings a fresh approach to reaching students with a stimulating and challenging message! You will not be disappointed by deciding to work with this ‘crazy’ man of God!” Gary Grecco, Mason-Dixon Youth for Christ Executive Director – Mega-Conference Program Director, Hampstead, Maryland
“Runks is stoked about God’s Word and awesome at relating it to students. Runks is a great big kid in one minute and revealing the truth of God’s power the next. Runks the real deal for speaking with students because he doesn’t sugar coat scripture – he hits students where they are and allows God to change their lives in a huge way. If you want someone to challenge your students to step up their relationship with Christ – Runks is the best bet.”-Kent Wells, Student Pastor, First Baptist Church – Euless, Texas
“Runks has challenged and energized our ministry on a number of occasions and I have no doubt that he would do the same for yours”-Chris Ryan, Executive Pastor of Innovation, Fellowship of the Woodlands – The Woodlands, Texas
“When booking a speaker for your group, you want to be certain of a number of things. Will this person connect with my students? Will this person be authentic in front of them on stage and with them off stage? Will this person uphold the integrity of God’s Word? Runks does all of that and more. Your students will want to know when he’s coming back!” -Clay Hopkins, Student Pastor, First Baptist Church – Midlothian, Texas
“Runks is doubled- over, laugh till your stomach and face hurt funny….so that God can blast away at the deep (and so many hidden) hurts that students are struggling with these days. Runks has been broken…and knows the fears and reservations that keep so many of us from being real and broken before Jesus. So, if you want to have your students hear from someone who has met Jesus even in the most terrifying of places…deep in his own soul….then Runks is your guy.”-Chris Little, Pastor, Bear Valley Church, Lakewood, Colorado
“Runks did a great job at our retreats, mixing humorous stories with a solid Biblical foundation to bring a powerful message to our Students.”-James Rock, Program Director, Trout Lake Camp – Pine River, Minnesota
“God used Runks in great ways through his message of personal honesty and God’s redemptive power. I was also blessed to see the time he puts into getting to know the students to whom he speaks. I highly recommend using Runks for your next event!”-D. Lowrie, Associate Pastor of Students and Worship, Liberty-Eylau Baptist Church, Texarkana, Texas
“Runks is a 6’6”, red-headed, A.D.H.D. kid magnet whose message has the humor of a stand-up comedian and the depth of a theologian.”-Paul Mints, Lead Pastor, The Community at Lakeridge – Cedar Hill, Texas
“Runks is awesome! I have never seen anyone captivate a group of students the way he does. He speaks boldly and from his heart. He is extremely relatable but does not compromise the Word Of God.”-Clay Walker, Student Minister, First Baptist Church – Lufkin, Texas
“Runks was our speaker for our youth evangelism event this summer called SONFEST. We had over 900 in attendance and Runks did an excellent job of speaking to the hearts of the youth and they responded to him well. He really knows how to speak to today’s youth and I highly recommend him. I will use him again.”-Mark Keith, Evangelism Consultant, Utah/Idaho Southern Baptist Convention
“Everything about Runks communicates with teenagers- his words, his experiences, his attire. Everything. Runks is essentially the message. ”Force of Nature” accurately describes his presence. The “force” your students will have to reckon with is the power of God moving in this man’s life. Runks has been a part of every record breaking event that I have hosted as a Student Minister. If there is a way to guarantee your event will be successful, my advice is to book the man known as Runks”-Keith Warren, Executive Pastor, Northside Baptist Church – Weatherford, Texas
“I have known Runks for 18 years. I know him to be uniquely gifted to communicate with the students of the day. Runks has an engaging way of sharing the Gospel that really makes kids want to listen and hear the Gospel. I know of no one who is more capable of sharing the Gospel with coming generations. He is one who acts with integrity in his ministry and responsibility in dealing with churches and students. I recommend him whole-heartedly.”-Steve Vernon, D.Min., Associate Executive Director, Baptist General Convention of Texas
“Runks can truly relate to students of this generation. He is incredibly gifted in communicating Biblical principles in a unique way. He brings illustrations from his own life, delivers them with humor, bases everything in God’s Word and then relies on God for the results. I have heard Runks speak at our camps and other venues and time and time again, I have seen students moved to accept Christ and challenged to live for Him. There is no doubt that God’s favor is upon Runks”-Dr. Rod Mastellar, Senior Pastor, Summer Grove Baptist Church – Shreveport, Louisiana
“Runks has been one of the premier youth communicators I have had the opportunity to bring into my church, he is insightful, he crosses all cultural barriers. He has a unique ability to push students to their highest potential and spark a flame of change within their life. Runks is truly being used to win a generation to Christ.”-Derek Osburn, Associate Pastor, Central Baptist Church – Clovis, New Mexico
“Genuine and easy to work with, Runks speaks straight to the heart of students with love to clearly communicate God’s message.”-Dr. Terry M. McIlvain, Director of Youth Ministry, Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists
“Runks is a uniquely gifted communicator, especially for the youth culture. He will touch your heart, punch your funny bone and give you practical guidance in living God’s truth in your everyday life. Don’t miss any opportunity to hear him speak.”-Dan Smith, Executive Pastor, Tri County Church - Du Bois, Pennsylvania
