Interview with Pastor Joel Scrivner

Meet Pastor Joel Scrivner. Once a six-time national and four-time world champion in martial arts, he now is a pastor at Covenant Church McKinney. There is so much valuable information to be gained from his life and walk with God, so we decided to interview him to share his journey with you. You can visit either of his websites at winology.com or joelscrivner.com, and you can connect with him on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

TDB: At what age did you start your Martial arts career?

Pastor Joel: I first started training at the age of 11. I took classes one summer, but I took a break for a year. During that break, I read books and practiced so much that my parents figured out how serious I was about martial arts. They then re-enrolled me in classes.

TDB: What was the most important part of your career at that point?

Pastor Joel: When I learned about the platform that I could have and the impact I could make, I realized that I wasn't winning for trophies, but I was winning for influence.

TDB: Have you always wanted to be a pastor?

Pastor Joel: No. My parents told me when I was young that I would be a pastor in the future, but I denied it. I tried everything i could to go on the opposite direction.

TDB: Could you give us some details?

Pastor Joel: I was on the US taekwondo team and a reigning world champion. I was asked to be captain of the US team, but I was right in the middle of a series of exhibitions I was holding at several schools through my business. Although I was a world champion in taekwondo, as I shared my story at these exhibitions, I felt very emotional. I then figured out that it was my passion to help people.

TDB: How many years have you been a pastor now?

Pastor Joel: 17 years. I went from running and owning my own business to being the lowest as an intern at Covenant Church. My job was to take care of the candy machine. I went from being called "Sir" at my business to being called "Candy Boy" as an intern.

TDB: What are some ways that you practice hearing God's voice?

Pastor Joel: I spend a lot of time in God's word so I am familiar with what he sounds like. When I was around 17 and 18 years old, I asked God to talk to me. I asked questions while reading the Bible, and God taught me through the Holy Spirit. Another great way to practice hearing God's voice is journaling. I ask God to speak to me, and I would ask God for answers to questions. I write out my prayers and ask for direction. So many times you can think you hear God' voice, but you think it sounds like your voice. Yet you know it's God's voice because you know you wouldn't say anything like that to yourself! Journaling has been one of the most helpful ways to hear God's voice.

TDB: What are some tips that you have for people that don't know how to hear God's voice?

Pastor Joel:

You have to believe and know that God talks to you. You have to be aware that it's not you who figured out the answer. You have to realize how other people communicate. Develop a conversational relationship with God and be intentional about it. Trust that God steers your heart. You have to check the Scripture to make sure what you heard aligns with God's word.

God would rather talk to you personally, but if you don't pay attention to him, He will talk to you through another person. TDB: Have you written any books?

Pastor Joel: I have written three, but only published two. The first book I wrote seemed more like practice and I don't know if I'll ever publish it. I practice my writing every day, and a lot of my practice comes from writing in my journal.

TDB: Could you tell us about your book, WINology?

Pastor Joel: WINology is a combined platform of being a martial artist and a pastor. It works with all people. I wanted to create a product that helps people succeed. WINology came from my personal prayer journey, and I translated it into business language. I wanted to take church messages to the business world.

TDB: What inspired you to write it?

Pastor Joel: I didn't really want to write WINology because I knew it would take a long time. I just wanted to do a video series because I felt it would be easier. I shared the idea of WINology with some of my business friends, and they encouraged me to write a book. One friend told me to take just 30 days to write WINology, but I thought it was simply impossible. Somehow, my schedule changed, and 30 days opened up in my schedule where I had absolutely no speaking engagements at all. I was at a wedding (which I was supposed to be conducting), when, all of the sudden, the inspiration for WINology hit me. During the reception I started writing WINology, and in the next two days, I wrote the first two chapters of WINology. In exactly 30 days I finished the book. Every Christian business owner I shared the idea of WINology with thought it was a great idea. They wanted God's word to be applicable to others.

TDB: After writing WINology, how have you seen it impact people?

Pastor Joel: Reading WINology has helped people start businesses and get promotions.

WINology helps people believe who they can become and it helps people to be who they want to become. This book has helped sales teams. It has helped grow businesses to be 5 times larger and more successful. Now people and businesses are running on Biblical principles.

TDB: What are some words of encouragement you have for young adults that have dreams but don't know how to put them into action?

Pastor Joel: Start doing something; don't just sit around thinking. Earl Nightingale said, "If you spend 30 minutes – every day – learning about one specific subject, you’ll become a legitimate expert in six months." Develop daily discipline for what you want to do. Practicing helps greatly. Create a practice of urgency and diligence, or, rather, urgent excellence. Create an urgency of being the best you can be. Establish what you believe about your potential. You don't always win. Failure is a part of the process of being a winner.

TDB: How many books do you think you will write?

Pastor Joel: I have a few ideas in mind, but I don't want to write any more books until I feel really excited about the topic. There has to be a window of opportunity. Maybe I'll write a book every 3 or 4 years. But, you know, I don't want to write a book that won't be read.

TDB: Who would you say had the most influence in you life, and pushed you to be who you are today?

Pastor Joel: Definitely my wife. She has inspired me and pushed me. She the good and bad things in me that I can't always see. I have learned to listen to her. If she sees and believes something, then I will too. Other people that have influenced me are my dad and my pastor.

TDB: How would you describe your journey from martial arts to Business owner to pastor?

Pastor Joel: Scary. Any time you move into the unknown, it can be scary. It can be hard. The chance of failure is much greater, but the risk is exciting. Doing hard things makes it thrilling. The thrill makes it exciting. It all makes life worth living. If you can overcome the fear of failure, you will be successful. Failure is a part of the process. You have to be willing to fail, because the fear of failure will paralyze you.

You have to realize that the only way to get through is to know and appreciate that you will fail first. You have to have an appreciation for the failure. See failure as a learning opportunity.

TDB: As a martial artist how did God use you to make a difference in the world around you?

Pastor Joel: I had a lot of influence. I had over 400 students. I was very open about sharing my faith. I had the opportunity to be an example. I came to realize that I had to be a businessman and a pastor.

TDB: As a businessman how did God use you to affect the world around you?

Pastor Joel: I learned that I have to make my spirituality attractive to others. Be creative on how to reach people.

TDB: As a Pastor give us one instance that God has used to change the people around you.

Pastor Joel: People come to me all the time with problems. It's really impactful when God has given me a message for someone's life. The words we speak can have a significant impact. Everything God ever does, he does by speaking. Our words have a lot of power.

TDB: In the next year, where do you feel God is taking you?

Pastor Joel: God has given me a gift to pastor a church. I want to continue in the business world by gaining new clients. My hope is to affect nations that would never even step foot into a church.

Pastor Joel has impacted so many lives, and we hope that through this interview, he has impacted and inspired you too!

#Interview #NotSoNew