Reflections on Visits by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

I got to attend both the informal afternoon session and the larger evening presentation at ACU by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, authors of Same Kind of Different as Me.  Both events were incredible times of blessing.  The presence and testimony of these men were both powerful and touching.  Tammy, a professional photographer, records her impressions of Ron Hall and Denver Moore at ACU and displays some of her awesome photos that she took.  Though I cannot match her photographs, I can echo many of her sentiments here.

Student gather for authors' visit

Reliving the book while waiting for authors

The  Tuesday afternoon session was held in a large lecture hall at ACU’s Bible Building.  The authors got to visit with only ACU students and employees during this time.  People began gathering early to get a seat, and many people were re-reading favorite passages from the book or getting out their laptops to take notes.

Denver and Ron answer questions from audience

Ron and Denver arrived shortly after that.  Dr. Stephen Moore led everyone in a worship song, and Dr. Charles Mattis — moderator for the event — led a prayer of blessing for the words these men would deliver.  After that Ron and Denver sat in chairs up front and got ready to answer questions.  They had no formal presentation at this session.  It was solely a time to talk about what ever the audience wanted.  I loved how the audience got to sit so close to the authors.  It made the time seem more like a conversation than a lecture.

I especially like this picture of Denver and Ron because it shows their friendship and easy relationship so well.

The audience was encouraged to text questions to the session moderator.  People asked how the book was written, about Denver’s life on the streets, and about their prayer life.  One question that stood out to me was when someone asked them both about forgiveness.  Ron said he learned forgiveness because of how he experienced it with his wife Deborah (called Miss Debbie by others).  He told how he nearly ruined his family by an affair, an event he related in the book.  He said his wife forgave him so completely, “so far as the east is from the west”, that he could not help but extend that same gift to others.  Sometimes it takes a person to show us a glimpse of what God’s love is like.   Once we see that, it changes us forever.  I hope I can be that glimpse for others.

Denver’s comment was typically brief but powerful.  He said the first step to forgiving others is to realize how much we ourselves have already been forgiven.  If we have been humbled by forgiveness, then we cannot withhold it from someone else.  He quoted the scripture that says we will receive forgiveness with the same measure we extend it to others.  “The end,” he said.  ‘Nuff said.

Book signing

Close up of a signature

After about 30 minutes of questions, the authors signed books.  Even though the line was long, students waited for signatures and a few moments of conversation with Ron and Denver.  Both men took whatever time was necessary to sign every person’s book.  They didn’t turn anyone away.

Crowd gathers for the evening presentation

The evening session was at ACU’s Moody Coliseum.  People from all over the community as well as busloads from out of town arrived, making quite a large audience.

Although the stage was set with chairs, neither Ron nor Denver sat on the stage.  They sat on the side of the audience until it was their turn to speak.  Evidently they feel most comfortable out of the lime light with the attention off themselves and more on their story.

Ron tells the story

Denver preaches

Ron spoke first.  He emphasized how the book is a story about God working through friendships and how Miss Debbie was the human force throughout it all.  He retold their story:  how she had a heart for God’s people, which was her term for the poor and homeless; how he became involved in that ministry just to please her; how he and Denver met; how they forged a firm friendship.  He told briefly of the dark time of his wife’s illness and how Denver agreed to take up the torch for Miss Debbie’s ministry.  This story was familiar to those who had read the book, but hearing them fresh from Ron brought a poignancy to the story and imbued it with renewed meaning.  It makes me realize why we retell the story of Jesus over and over again.  We all need to hear the words afresh.

Denver spoke a bit after Mr. Ron.  Denver is a man of few words, but what he says packs a powerful punch.  He started out soft, but his voice and stature seemed to grow as he preached.  He quoted scripture and he sang.  It was an unforgettable time for most of the audience.  I am glad I got to be there.

For those who did not get to attend, we will be posting the video of both events online.  Look for announcements on this blog.  Also, check out our photostream.  If you have photos to share, we invite you to join our flickr group for ACUOffThePage.