Pastor Dudley Rutherford, founding pastor of Real Life Church, joins me in this episode in honor of the 20 year RLC anniversary to discuss his history at RLC, growing up as a pastors kid, his ministries over the recent years, and his thoughts on the NBA finals.
Episode 117: Dudley Rutherford on Starting Real Life, Ministry Over the Years, and the NBA Finals
I so enjoyed this podcast. Thank you Pastor Dudley Rutherford and Pastor Rusty George for sharing.
17 plus years ago I was a single adult looking for a church to call home. I’d visited Shepherd a handful of times but had not quite found a way to plug in. At the same time Pastor Dudley was asking a large number of his congregation to make a 6 month commitment to attend a new church plant in Simi Valley. I was so impressed that he would encourage an exodus of that magnitude, I wanted to see what it was all about. I began attending the week after Discovery Church opened its doors and shortly there after the man I would eventually marry began attending with me. A year later we were married by Pastor Todd Clark. We have been members ever since. We became more and more involved in serving at Discovery. I eventually took on the role of leading Guest Services and served in that capacity for several years. My husband was invited to serve as an Elder. He helped see Discovery through several leadership transitions up to and including the amazing merge between Real Life Church and Discovery Church.
Ours is just one story of hundreds, if not thousands… and to think… we owe it all to three smoking Elders from a small church in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
I really enjoyed listening to both of you together. I was in the top pew at Hillcrest and remember transferring to Shepherd with Dudly when he had hair. We knew the Shepherd was under a heap of debt and being a part of the growth and miraculous increase of members and support was amazing. Thank you both because I experienced going from the theater to another rapidly growing church, Real Life, with God’s blessings, as a result of your faith and dedication. In Jesus name we praise God for both of you here in Los Angeles.
One of your best and most enjoyable podcasts. Nice way to get to know our pastor better.
What an amazing conversation–thank you for sharing! I learned so much about the history of RLC but how God has been working in Los Angeles. I never listen to podcasts–this is my first, and certainly worth the time 🙂