Phil Callaway
23:59 Share

First Person is produced in cooperation with the Far East Broadcasting Company, who rejoice in the stories of changed lives through the power of Jesus Christ. Learn more at febc.org. Take that thing that threatens to undo you and invest your life in helping others. It's very hard, and yet what a difference you can make. You know things that others, many don't, but those that God will put into your life, you can help. ♪

You'll meet Christian comedian Phil Calloway on this edition of First Person. Phil has been making us laugh for many years, and he'll tell the story of his calling from God. I'm Wayne Shepherd, and welcome to First Person. First Person

In addition to speaking, Phil is also the author of over two dozen fun and meaningful books, and he's also a radio host. We'll learn all about it when we begin shortly. First, please take a few moments and look us up online at FirstPersonInterview.com. There you'll find a link to today's guest as well as a schedule of what's ahead in the next few weeks on First Person.

Please find us at FirstPersonInterview.com and look for our podcast on the major podcast apps. We're on social media. Just go to Facebook.com slash FirstPersonInterview where you can leave a comment and interact with other listeners. Although Phil Calloway has been doing what he does for many years, it's still hard to put a description on it, which he freely admits.

but God uses him in powerful ways, as we learn in this week's conversation. It's just, you know, it's odd to explain to someone on an airplane what you do, and I've tried to figure out ways around it, but I climb on airplanes and I go speak to

in different places and try to inspire people to something that they perhaps don't have. A lot of that, believe it or not, is in the secular arena where I talk to public school teachers by the thousands. I talk to nurses, doctors, anyone in oncology because of our story. So it all started out with comedy. And I found out in about grade two that the kids laughed at me, but the teacher didn't.

Maybe, you know, that kind of a guy. That's a pretty good sign, yeah. Yeah, and so I didn't have any idea you could make a living that way, but that's how it turned out. And it took God a while in his...

omniscience and all to get a hold of my tongue. And he was very good about that. But I, in my teen years, really came to a place of realizing that this gospel was

it's the real deal. I saw that in my parents. I didn't see it so much in the church. I remember sitting in a church service, Wayne, and the preacher was talking about heaven and I looked around and I thought, I'm not so sure I want to spend eternity with these people. You know, some of them were pretty cranky. I thought,

I thought, you know, we used to sing, I got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. And everyone would go, where? Down in my heart, where? And I kind of realized, well, they had to keep asking because they couldn't find it. That's sort of the way it felt to me.

But thank God for parents who came to faith in Christ in their late teenage years. My dad was, you know, I tell people dad was part scotch and part club soda. And it's true. I mean, Jesus got a hold of his life and turned him around. And so, you know, what would I be doing had that not happened? Both of them, yeah.

Just this incredibly godly couple. And I knew, I just knew they lived what they said. And so, you know, having a praying mother who saw a Gap t-shirt coming and knew what it stood for, God answers prayer. They prayed for me every day and they're gone now. I miss them pretty much every single day. I think of them in some way.

But I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now were it not for a godly mom and dad who practiced what they preached. I know you have a lot to be grateful for, don't you? Oh, I just do. I'm thinking, you know, my wife is just outside working.

picking flowers and stuff. And here we've been married for 42 years. Two weeks from now, if she renews my contract, it'll be 42 years. So much to be thankful for. Children who have met the Lord Jesus. And I got to tell you something, we have 16 grandkids. I was in Chicago in the airport and I got talking to this great guy beside me and he pulled out some pictures of grandkids and he said, let me show you, Michael.

grandkids. Do you have grandkids? I said, yeah, yeah, yeah. And he said, how many? And I said, 16. I'm really hesitant to tell this, you know. And thank God for several of them from the miracle of adoption have come into our home. But this guy looks at me, he says, are you Mormon or Catholic? And I said, I'm neither. Well, I didn't say that. I said, I'm exhausted. That's what I am.

And I'm very grateful. And I'm sure you would say the same thing about things in your life as well. I understand at one point in your life, you told your mom, when I grow up, I want to be a comedian. And she said...

And she said, I had said to her, Mom, I want to grow up and be a comedian. And she said, well, you can't do both. And it was a great response, right? Because you really can't. I mean, you can't do what I do every day. I go looking for things that help me laugh, you know, and the grandkids help me laugh. One of them just said to me the other day, said to me, Bumpa, you're funny. I'm going to keep you, you know, and they just say things that make us laugh.

And I put those on the radio like you do and hoping that people will respond well. And it's been an amazing thing. So how did you get started doing what you're doing? I mean, it's one thing to want, you know, to be naturally funny and to want to, you know, use that for God's glory. But how in the world do you start something like that?

I started in 1990 writing short articles on family life. So, that came to me as someone had left a magazine that was writing for it on family issues. And they asked me, and my first thought, Wayne, was, I don't have it. Who am I? I don't have all the child-rearing answers. My wife later said to me, she said, you know what, tell stories and tell us there's hope.

She was going through a horrific time in her own life with dealing with Huntington's disease in her family. Three siblings that by then had had Huntington's and were showing signs and she was being tested. She does not have it, which we are so unbelievably grateful for. But she said this, and I think it was exactly what I needed to hear. And, you know, it was a vote of confidence, but also a direction saying, you know, we need hope.

And so I started writing these silly stories and then Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon contacted me and said, hey, the editorial director, Eileen Mason, took the president, Bob Hawkins Jr. out for lunch. And she said, I started reading him a story of yours and he couldn't stop laughing. He couldn't finish his pizza. And he said, see if that guy would write a book.

So I've kept that letter from Eileen asking me, you know, do you have an idea for a book? And that was 1993. My first book came out. It was called Honey, I Dunked the Kids. That was the Disney day of that movie. Honey, I Shrunk Them, yeah. Yeah, and Max Licato was incredibly –

gracious to me he he said all kinds of things and began to tell people about this book and overnight it was a hit and they said you better get ready to speak you better get ready to be on radio and tv and wayne i the first radio interview i was on i was sweating so badly that i i could hardly think i could i i didn't know what was happening to my body but that's how nervous i was you know

So, most people assume that if you write, you speak. Yeah, sure. And for me, that absolutely terrified me. There was no way I was going to do it. And most people think if you speak, you write, which is my case. I don't write, you know. Correct. But that book you mentioned, that was some, what, almost 30 books ago, right? Yeah.

It was, yeah. So that was 1993. And here we are over 30 years later. And yeah, they keep asking me to write them, and I do. I'm not sure how many more I have in me, but we'll see. But that's not all you do. I mean, you travel quite a bit. You speak. You have the radio show. You have the podcast. You have conference speaking opportunities. Talk about your life now today. I mean, I know the knee has slowed you down a little bit probably, but...

Right. Yeah. Yeah. It's made me cancel some things, but you know, I, I, um,

I did not want to speak. I could make three guys laugh around a campfire until they were sitting lower to the ground. But I remember the first call, not the first lady, not from the White House, but the first lady that asked me to speak said, you know, would you speak to our high school graduating class? And this is what came out, Wayne. It was, no, I can't. And I thoroughly believe that.

Until again, I was talking with my wife and she mentioned the story of Balaam's donkey and how God used Balaam's donkey to talk and, you know, essentially said, you know, maybe he could use you.

But I laid, I remember opening my hands before God. I'm not nearly Pentecostal enough, but there I did that. And I said, God, whatever I have, it's yours. If you could use a guy like me, that would be the most amazing thing. It was three days later that a lady called and said, would you come and make us laugh? And I said, yes, I can't speak, but I think I can make you laugh.

And these ladies, it was a ladies group, and they were so good to me. And I remember going home and thinking of the incredible joy of doing something that scared me to death.

But I've realized over time that when God is in it, everything changes. And furthermore, he uses the most underqualified people to do his work. I think because we know we can't do it without him. And when good things happen, we know exactly who gets the credit. And so that's what I know you do the same. You just say, thank you, Lord.

Thank you for the joy of doing what we get to do. That was another turning point was to come to that place of saying, I get to do this. Thousands would love to. I get to. And sure, there's stress. Sure, there's travel. But there's great, great reward in doing the thing that God wired us to do. Well, God uniquely wired Phil Calloway and we'll continue to get to know him as you stay with us now for First Person.

Hi, I'm Ed Cannon. And as you know, situations around the world are changing quickly. Stay current with FEBC's ministry and get a deeper understanding of people who need to find hope. Hear how you can feel the pulse of God's Spirit moving through the hearts of believers dedicated to reaching the lost. Be sure you join me for the podcast until all have heard. Discover how the gospel is making a difference around the world.

Search for Until All Have Heard on your favorite podcast platform or hear it online at febc.org.

My guest is Phil Calloway, comedian, writer, conference speaker. I don't know what other titles I can put on it, Phil, but thank you for your ministry, which is very unique. You mentioned that you have an opportunity to speak before secular, as we say, audiences as well. And I'm just wondering about that experience and what your goal is there and how do people respond? Great question. You know, I just spoke last February to, it was 6,000 public school teachers who

I have to be very careful what I say about it in some respects, but the response from them was just over the top. They're used to talking about all these fringe issues, but what teachers really want is they want hope.

They say, I am in this situation, and can you tell me that there's hope? So I talked about, it used to be a workshop called, what was it? Hope for Crazy Kids. And this time they said, no, you can't use that word. And so I said, okay, let's go with Hope for Challenging Kids. And they said, that sounds better, right? And so just for this little workshop, 800 of them showed up.

And they badly want to know. So what happened in your life? And I tell them about three teachers that took an active interest in me. One of them who told me, you have a gift in the area of communication. I want you in my communication arts class tomorrow morning.

That was after the semester had already started and he wanted me in there. And he encouraged me, and I'm convinced again that I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing had Mr. Albiner not taken me aside and said, your math marks aren't adding up. You know, science, chemistry, physics, biology, the experiment isn't working. But you have this gift. And he was a praying guy.

And of course, none of us have any idea what God will do when we encourage someone who's younger than us, someone who maybe is older than us, but someone who needs that. And I sure did. I remember thinking I'd like to quit school about now and finding out my love for the English language from Mr. Beanard and him putting me up in front of the school to read a poem I had written that scared me to death.

But it got me started down the right road. Yeah. Boy, that's good to hear because we all can look back on people who really were the turning point for us, can't we? Yeah, I think of my grade five teacher who forgave me for cheating on a test. Oh, boy. You know, had no reason to, but I went in and I confessed and I thought she was going to kill me. But instead, she said, you know, she had a fierce, tall German woman. She said, did God see you?

And I said, yeah. Did he forgive you? And I said, oh, yeah. She says, and I do, too. You will write the test later today, but I forgive you. Oh, boy. And in grade 10, I was accused of cheating on a mathematics test. Get this, Wayne. Winston Tilsey, he said, called me into his office. He said, listen.

You got 73% on a test, a mathematics test. Either you cheated or it was a miracle. 73%. I said, sir, with all due respect, it was a miracle. And I think the reason I didn't cheat in grade 10 was way back in grade five. You know, a lady who could have thundered the law down upon me stooped and offered me grace. Oh, that's funny. And I've never been the same. That's funny. Yeah.

I haven't even mentioned the fact that you are Canadian. Where do you live, Phil? Yes.

Lived north of Calgary in the province of Alberta, in Three Hills, Alberta. Many would know that, recognize it. It's known worldwide for Prairie Bible Institute, a sister school to Moody. And God is doing great things here. Students, man, I am invigorated when I spend time with these students and get to speak to them. God is doing good things. We get sidetracked too often. Yeah.

Thinking that, no, the world is in control and no, God is in control. Love that old Twyla Parris song, we believe his children will not be forsaken. There is no power above or beside him. We know God is in control. Yeah.

How have you seen humor work as a healing force in people's lives? I would say pretty much every day we hear from the program Laugh Again that I do, we hear from listeners who will say this, I deal with extreme depression.

And God is bringing me out of it, listening to your program. It's filled with, obviously, with humor, but then with hope. And I realized the power of humor when my mom had severe depression. She was hospitalized at times. I remember going into her bedroom and realizing that if I could get it right, if I could cheer her up, mom would get up. She'd go out to the kitchen. She'd make me breakfast. It was my first paying gig ever.

And so here I am all these decades later cheering others up, but I also realize that I do that because I need it myself. And I don't know if you're like that, but often that's the case with those of us who are doing this kind of ministry. We say, boy, I'm discouraged. I'm down right now. How can I cheer others up? And mom had dealt with such serious abuse as a child and it threatened to define her.

But instead, what she did, I remember Tuesday nights in our home were nights we would have ladies from the Bible college that would come. Some of them teachers, some of them students. And I'd go out and play football and I'd hear them laughing their heads off. And I'd come back in a little later and they'd be in there, they'd be crying, they'd be praying. When my mom passed away, three different bestselling authors died.

told me this by way of, one was, two were letters, one was an email. I never would have written a paragraph without your mother's involvement in my life, without her encouragement. So, you know, listeners out there, boy, you know, I'll try not to cry as I say this, but take that thing that threatens to undo you.

And invest your life in helping others. And it's hard. It's very hard. And yet, what a difference you can make. You know things that others, many don't. But those that God will put into your life, you can help. That's wonderful. It really is.

For you, the vehicle has been comedy and writing great stories. For someone else, it may be something entirely different. But you got to find that call, don't you? Yeah. Yeah, you do. And I don't have that magic formula. You know, I know it's God's will that we be saved, that we follow him. And I don't think God is hiding Easter eggs out there for us. I think you find that thing that you absolutely love to do.

And that helps others start there and love the Lord with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength and love others around you as you love yourself. And so we, you know, one step at a time, be faithful. This didn't all happen to me or,

to you, Wayne, all of a sudden, bang. No, and it takes years of honing what gift God has given you. You know, there's the 10,000 hour principle. And I feel like I've probably spent that much time at least preparing to speak, you know, and then speaking. And I'm still learning all the way. We need to be, you know, resilient people who are at

this advanced stage of life at 99 of learning how to do what we do even better.

Yes, and it requires patience, too. We always want things, we want them now. And when we're on a path to finding God's call for our life, we've got to have some prayer and some patience along the way as well. It doesn't happen all at once. You can't look at Phil Calloway and say, well, I can do that. You know, Phil, you know, the Lord has groomed you and blessed you and prepared you for decades to do what you do.

Well, it's funny that you mentioned patience because I think if anything, God's speaking about me on any particular issue right now, being able to not walk more than about, you know, 25 yards at a time. It's patience. I wanted to hurry up and get here. And, you know, the scripture says that tribulation helps it work. You know, tribulation works with patience. And I'm seeing that in my own life. I never wanted to.

I think of these great heroes that I have, you know, having spent time with Johnny Erickson. And I think a big, big thing for me too is gratitude. Young people out there, definitely.

Develop that at an early stage in life, even when times are bad. One of the beautiful stories that Johnny Erickson is a part of happened in Sacramento, California, where a Women of Faith Movement weekend meeting had been over—the conference had been oversold by 1,500 seats—

which is a wee bit of a challenge for organizers. I'll say, yeah. They began to conscript volunteers who called all of these women coming and saying, hey, we're going to have to put in smaller seats in the main seating area. We're going to do the best we can, but some of you are going to be sitting very close to the

to the stage and were sorry. But one hour into that conference, the complaints began to avalanche in and they asked the next speaker if she would just apologize on behalf of the organizers once again. And she said, sure. Well, I gave away who she is. Johnny Erickson, you know, having been paralyzed at the age of 16 in a diving accident in Chesapeake Bay became this, you know, at the time, this viral story

of God's grace in a life. And she, by the way, turns next month 75 years of age. Pete Yeah, I saw the birthday party they planned, yeah. Pete Yeah, just an amazing gal. To be with her, you know, what you realize is she's real, and I like that. You know, she's not saying, oh, I'm just in victory all the time. No, it hurts. Sometimes, to this day, pain is a huge part of her life. Pete

She gets up onto this platform. She's wheeled out onto the platform. And she says this. She says, I understand some of you aren't comfortable sitting in the seats you're sitting in tonight. Well, neither am I. Then she smiled her beautiful smile and she graciously said, I have thousands of friends who would give anything to sit where you are sitting, if just for tonight. Well, as you can expect, that story for someone like me

Just reminds me of perspective. Calloway, you know, you've got pretty good knees, the doctors say. You just need a little time here. We're going to get this thing figured out. But boy, we have some great saints around us and a lot of people that we can go out and help today. My friend Mike is just down the street, ALS, at the age of 56, Lou Gehrig's disease, and

man, do I have a lot to be thankful for. And that thanksgiving needs to turn to gratitude and then to action where we're able to go and strengthen the feeble limbs of others as well in our lives. I'm so glad you had a chance to listen to our first-person guest, Phil Calloway, tell of his calling to serve people through humor that always finds its center in the gospel message. As you heard, there are some challenges, but that has not stopped him from pointing his listeners to the hope we have in Christ.

You'll be able to visit Phil's website when you follow the link provided at firstpersoninterview.com. And a special word of thanks to the Far East Broadcasting Company for helping bring our first-person interviews to you on this station. My work with FEBC includes a podcast with Ed Cannon called Until All Have Heard, which presents the stories of FEBC's ministry, reaching millions of listeners every day. I invite you to subscribe at Apple Podcasts, at Spotify, or listen at febc.org, Until All Have Heard.

Now, a thanks to my friend and producer, Joe Carlson. I'm Wayne Shepherd. Thanks for listening to First Person.