Pastor Paul Irwin might be just a couple of years older than the rest of the staff, but we have to run fast to keep up with his quick wit. On Sunday mornings, he is the point pastor at Union Station. During the week, he works with our engaged and married couples. And oh yeah, he is also working hard on the new Q Street Project with Southeast White House. Today, we caught up with Pastor Paul to talk about life, ministry, and adventures in Africa.
What is your official title? And what does that mean you do at NCC?
Being Point Pastor at Union Station I encourage and guide the ministry teams there and host whatever services I am needed in. I actually spend a good amount of time taking some of the meetings and counseling inquiries Pastor Mark refers to me. I also meet with couples seeking premarital preparation and some married couples looking to strengthen their marriages. I do this as kind of an Aaron/Hur thing to lift up the arms of our lead pastor. I don’t really have an office, so I don’t have set office hours. Colleen and I are primarily involved in mission at South East White House in South East D.C. The church supports our ministry and this is a way we can give to our church family.
Tell us a little about the small group that you lead and how that experience has impacted you.
Since coming to NCC we’ve led several “Pre-marriage Perspectives” groups for engaged couples. We frequently say that, “a wedding is for a day but a marriage is for a life time”. Both Colleen and I feel passionately about helping couples discover what God’s design for covenant marriage about and whether they are ready for it or not. Honestly, it humbles us to work with wonderful young people. Perhaps it’s a “Fig Newton” of our imagination but it helps us feel young and also keeps us looking at our marriage which is always “under construction”.
We’re starting a one month group for more mature couples who are considering mentoring newly wed folks. We’d love to see a community of marriage champions who would all help strengthen marriages.
We’ll be doing a group called Adopt-a-block in March and into the Spring to do prayer visits with people in South East D.C. The idea is simply to get to know some neighbors and find ways to show them the love of Jesus.
Where can you be found on Sunday mornings?
Sunday mornings I can be found in the AMC Theaters of Union Station cheering on our fantastic volunteers, talking to some vendors in the food court, greeting people, and praying for the ministries and services on Sunday morning.
When did you start following Christ and what have been some of the spiritual turning points in your life?
Some of my earliest memories were of hearing the preaching and songs as a little preacher’s kid. My conversion experience was at eight years of age at a Kids’ Camp in Pine Crest, California. I’ll never forget being scared to respond to the evangelist’s appeal because I was the first one to stand up and come down to the front. I was genuinely under the conviction of the Holy Spirit that night even though at that tender age my greatest guilt came from throwing dirt clods at kids who were cleaned up for the service that night. I had several turning points in my pre-teen and teenage years at Youth camps and conventions. It was there that I had a growing sense of consecration to the Lord.
My first experience on a Youth Outreach was at a coffee house in San Diego called the “Lost Coin”. I remember the first guy I approached. I nervously blurted out, “Do you want to be saved?” He said, “Yes”. For a moment, my mind went blank because I was expecting more of a fight. Oh well, God taught me a lesson. If I would dare to be available to Him, he would use me.
As a senior in High School I was baptized in the Holy Spirit on Easter Sunday at College Days at Oral Roberts University.
Many Missions trips have been profound faith shaping experiences for me. Seeing people healed always amazes me.
Tell us a little about your background
I was born in Maryville, Missouri and I’ve never been back. We moved a lot because of my Dad being a pastor and missionary. They served at the Lillian Trasher Orphanage in Egypt and taught at a Bible School in Malawi. I started Calvert Correspondence School with Mom then went to British Boarding Schools in East Africa. I loved vacations because we’d travel to Game Reserves and see the wildlife. I enjoyed seeing different countries, cultures and history came alive through visiting historic places in our world travels like the Pyramids, Luxor, Zimbabwe ruins, and Krueger National Park in South Africa. It’s no wonder that school was a little boring when I came back to the U.S.
I went to Evangel College and was deeply impacted by President J. Robert Ashcroft and a host of beloved teachers and administrators. I will be eternally grateful for the Christian liberal arts education I received. It set a worldview in place which has served me well. Being a Student Director of campus ministries helped form my sense of discipleship and spiritual leadership.
I was the oldest of four boys in my family. Two of my brothers have died, one at age two and another at 35 years old (of A.I.D.S.) I praise the Lord that my brother Phil came back to the Lord before he died.
What is your favorite Scripture passage?
There are so many I love, for different occasions, like Proverbs 3:5,6 for trusting God to guide; or Psalm 103 to “forget not all His benefits“; or Phil. 2:5-11 on imitating Christ’s humility; or Eph. 2: 10 – we are God’s workmanship, which was prayed over me at my baby dedication. Sort of a theme verse for me has been Col. 1:28-”We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”
What are your favorite books?
The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoefer. Your God is Too Small, J.B. Phillips. Disappointment with God, Philip Yancey. The Chosen, Chaim Potok. Tuesdays with Morrie. I’ve recently enjoyed Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller. Like Steinbeck too.
What are your favorite movies?
It’s a Wonderful Life. Out of Africa. Lawrence of Arabia. James Bond flicks. Mission Impossible. Bourne Identity. To Kill a Mockingbird (loved Gregory Peck, in everything). Recently saw End of the Spear and was deeply impressed.
What is your favorite fast food?
ChickFilA because the chicken saves cows and the Cathys (owners) give generously to kingdom causes.
What is something that most people at NCC would not know about you?
I once made a presentation to the Mayor of Beira, Mozambique from our grade school. I was a champion in the “three-legged race”.
If you were not working at NCC, your dream job would be…
A producer/director of “Greatest Stories Never Told” about obscure, humble servants of God who are making a big difference in this needy world.
Who is your hero? (besides Jesus or any other member of the Trinity)
My historical hero is David Livingstone. My family hero is my Dad who one well respected man said was a “complete man” when he died.
What do you do in your free time?
What is free time? I like walking or hiking.
In NCC:THE MOVIE who would play you? Who would play Pastor Mark?
Tim Elzea would play me. I think Dave Clarke would play Pastor Mark because he could do the “layer look” with the long sleeve shirts, etc.
What is your favorite Pastor Markism?
He dips his shoulder for emphasis when he’s preaching. It’s a sort of a cool, hip-hop gesture.
Pastor Paul, I would be honored to play you in a movie!!! I don’t know if I could ever be as wise as you are though.
Tim Elzea
February 9th, 2006