Pastor Rob Mooney is the lead pastor of the Bethany Church warehouse campus. This literal warehouse evokes all the industrial polish of a sleek Seattle artist loft. Exposed wood and steel are highlighted by matching modern decor, expertly placed in its cafe and church hall. A wall of floor to ceiling windows, envelopes the open space in a warm cozy light that still makes it feel like home.
The warehouse is open, ardent, and fluid; a true testament to Rob and his family. Every week his wife Carly, their two children, the pastor himself, and even Carly’s parents can be seen offering welcoming smiles and open hearts. With them at the helm, Sundays at the warehouse is like meeting up with family. They lead with love and walk with God in a quiet but inspiring way.
I stumbled upon the Warehouse because my kids and I were late for the main service. At first we came back because the warehouse serves donuts. But Rob and Carly were a kind pair who noticed me right away and made sure to connect. My kids even played tag with their son.
The first time Rob spoke, surprised me. Here was a tall, affable, man who’s family sparkled. I was expecting a kind of Paul Rudd charm. But as he delivered the announcements, it revealed a clear stutter. He then made a few jokes about it which still delivered on the charm. And like that, he had neutralized our focus making the impediment inconsequential.
Even still, I pondered what it would be like for him overcome the stutter. I thought what a freedom and testimony it would be. My thinking was only with good intentions. But I had no real context of what he thought or how he felt.
I can only say, I felt charged to know more about this man. With so much struggle in the world, here is a clear example of what living your best life means. He had already overcome the obstacle I was so struck by yet wasn’t mine. I was too timid to ask him so first I asked his wife if he would do a short sit down. She, of course, was so kind and said he would be totally open.
She was right, and one early April afternoon Rob took my call. I finally got to ask him about his faith, obstacles, and how he believes anyone can face life with a smile.
ME: I’ve heard parts of your story and would venture to say that God definitely set up mile markers to bring you where you are today. I know it’s direct but, may I ask how long you’ve dealt with your impediment?
ROB: As long as I can remember talking. Even my mom says it’s been my whole life. We did do speech therapy, when I was in grade school, to help with it. Speech said I was several grades behind in speech and pronunciation. So I was always really conscious of it. When I was in middle school I knew kids might laugh and make fun. I dreaded being called on to talk in class. There were even times that I had altercations, because it drew negative attention.
ME: Were you able to fall back on your faith during that time?
ROB: All throughout adolescence, I didn’t know God. I didn’t actually give my life to Jesus, till I was 20 yrs old.
ME: So, did you find that it was difficult to make friends as a kid?
ROB: Well, in high school, I was in a big school, so I made the decision mentally to laugh at myself. I wasn’t going to get upset or offended, I was gonna laugh too. My thinking was, if I’m OK with it other people will be OK with it too. So in 9th grade I made more friends than I had ever had. It became a game changer for me.
ME: That’s a really positive outlook.
ROB: Insecurity, especially whenever your younger, can magnify your actions. Which can signal to others how to respond. If someone has a deficiency and people don’t know how to respond, it can escalate things. But whenever you’re comfortable with yourself, people tend feel OK around you too.
A kid my age went through the same thing. But he took it in a hard way, while I turned it into a non issue. That was confirmation.
ME: Can I ask about getting into faith at 20? You’ve got a great mindset and I know you as a leader with the church. How did this all connect at 20?
ROB: I did grow up catholic and I was really committed. But there was a difference between going to church and actually having a relationship with Jesus.
ME: Yeah, I get that. I like Bethany because it focuses on God and is all about pursuing that kind of relationship.
ROB: Exactly. So, back in high school, I met a girl and while we dated she invited me to church. I had never been to anything like that. Every time I left, I felt more and more like God was real. We did eventually break up and I kinda hit a rock bottom during that time.
Without direction or a lot of friends I needed to reach out. So I talked to the youth pastor of her church. That night, in his living room, he told me to give my life to Jesus. The following Wednesday night at church I did.
ME: But, did you have an urge to pursue God while you were dating her?
ROB: Yes, but I didn’t want to surrender my life. With that being said, the more and more I went to church the more I felt a conviction to follow him. At the time, I didn’t understand it. But looking back now, I know that was my calling reaching out for me.
ME: After all this time, do you use your experience to help others? How do you draw similarities to what other people suffer with?
ROB: Yes, of course. In the book of Joshua, God tells Joshua, “fear not I’m with you.” Most people deal with fear on the inside. Which comes out in a lot of forms and can really lead anyone astray. So I share my experience to encourage people in opening up and working on things that would otherwise just get to them.
Even parents ask me to talk to their kids. Overcoming strife is important at any age. So showing them that they don’t have to be held back by what their going through is a huge honor.
ME: So, after everything you’ve accomplished does your speech bother you at all?
ROB: Oh yeah. It’s interesting that this is what I do. I would’ve never thought I’d be here. I’ve been speaking as pastor for 16 years. A big part of that, is being able to communicate ideas and thoughts. I want to speak more clearly, or faster. Now, I could say ‘Well you know I can’t be as good of a pastor’ and so forth. But I made the decision a long time ago to not make an excuse out of it.
ME: So, you do struggle with confidence?
ROB: Yeah. Because I just think I could be better at times. I hear a lot from people, about how well I do, when I speak or present things. So I know that it’s a perspective thing, not what defines me. But I often look at it as something I need to get past. That is, until I the get feedback that people listen to me more because I intrigue them or because they’re focused more.
I think another big factor, is the grace of God to do it. Paul, in the book of Corinthians prayed three times for God to take the thorn in his flesh away. For me, I think that God really shows up, being able to display his good in the face of our weaknesses. That can cut against the grain of how people think sometimes.
Yet, all throughout the Bible you see men who have inefficiencies or insecurities, like Moses. Still, God uses them in mighty ways. You see it with Gideon, David, so many others. In my case, people don’t think I could be a public speaker, but I am.
Whenever God uses you, in spite of your weakness, it’s a gift of encouragement even if it’s just for yourself. He can also makeup the difference for whatever you lack if you’re willing.
ME: So, whats the process of being willing? How does someone surrounded by their insecurity find their way out?
ROB: After 16 years as a pastor, taking notes, watching myself, critiquing things… I would say it just takes time. People think there’s a silver bullet or quick fix and that’s not necessarily true. We all know life is a marathon, not a sprint. So when you are dealing with a struggle, you just have to make the commitment to stick it out.
I do think it’s OK to give yourself permission to have a bad day. But I think that it’s not allowing one bad day to define your life.
Often times when I struggle through different things, especially with my speech, I don’t left it define me. If I have a bad day, I don’t have to have a bad week. A bad week, doesn’t mean I need to have a bad month. I give myself permission to have that bad day because then I move on and I keep at it.
After Rob said that my brain exploded. In our phone call, he took a lot of good advice and connected it with how he puts it into practice. But when he connected that practice with the simple strategy of don’t let it own you, I was done for. It was like he explained what forgiveness, acceptance, and courage looks like.
We ended there, but I wish we had talked more. Even still, this is a core reference to living separate of life’s obstacles. Because such hurdles are nothing more than temporary and a fragment of experience. They are apart of the balance and journey that makes living an all in experience.
As a linear solution, this clarifies how to adjust perspective in accordance with variables out of any one persons control. More simply put, Pastor Rob Mooney showed me how pushing through a struggle makes you better. Or better said, He shows everyone he touches, that when struggles can’t define you, it’s a lot easier to reach toward your best self.
There's A Whole World Out There 