Interview with Teacher Jud Wilhite
 One of the people I am most excited to learn from this year at Wonder is Jud, Senior Pastor at Central Christian Church, Las Vegas, Nevada. Maybe you are familiar with his books, Uncensored Grace on the Streets of Vegas and Deadly Viper Character Assassins. Check out his two breakouts, read the descriptions & tell me you don’t need to hear what he has to say: Communicating in a post-Christian Culture and Preaching and Teaching in Stereo. Jud was kind enough to give me some time & answer some questions about his ministry. I hope like me you are encouraged, challenged and inspired. If you had to describe your artistry in one word, what would it be?
Connect
How did you develop a love for your craft?
Listen to other great teachers, read like crazy, and often go back to my file of stories from people whose lives have been touched through teaching. The best motivator for me is not a successful weekend experience, but a difficult one where I feel like I didn’t connect. That sends me back to the drawing board with passion, prayer and commitment. Creativity and growth often result from my failure. They inspire me to ask new questions about my craft and how to improve.
What inspires you?
Coffee and morning—I do my best work before noon. Changed lives, the beach, my kids, baptisms, great books, hang time with friends and good music. All of this is vitally important because it helps me show connecting points between life and God. New ideas and intellectual stimulation are very important for me. That’s gets my creative side going on how to communicated that new angle or idea to others.
Describe your ‘creative process’.
I like to start with a blank page and prayerfully brainstorm around a topic or text. Then I’ll do the difficult work of research. After this, I spend two hours with four to six others talking, dreaming and brainstorming. This is often where things gel for me, in community with others. Then it’s back to more individual work as I distill all of this into a message.
What is a common mistake you notice during the creative process?
I’ve often pushed too hard when an idea isn’t flowing, rather than give it time to emerge. I can stare at a computer for a half hour and nothing comes. I used to stare at it for 3 more hours desperately hoping a thought would fly. Now I go for a walk, run an errand, respond to emails, anything to break it up. It’s amazing how it can all come together at the aisle in the grocery story when you’ve been turning something in your mind. I give myself more grace, especially on Mondays after a weekend, to acknowledge that creativity isn’t flowing, and to work on other things. I remain patient and don’t panic. I pray and trust it will emerge.
What are you learning these days?
I’m learning more about how I’m not just the messenger, but I’m embodying the message as well. I’m giving more attention to my dependence on, and experience of, God. I’m seeking to teach out of those experiences and how they relate to his word. I’m also looking under the hood of my life more. A greater self-understanding is helping me share more compassionately with others.
How would you encourage artists/teachers, like yourself, who serve the church?
Where else do people sit for an extended period of time week after week voluntarily? What artists and teachers do is so critical in helping create moments and experiences for people. My encouragement is to think from the vantage points of the people in your services—how can you help them experience God? How can you help create a moment—laughter, tears, conviction, understanding? What emotional response do certain elements contain that could open people’s hearts to experience God?
What are you looking forward to at this year’s arts conference, Wonder? I’m excited to get away and to worship and be around others involved in the creative process. Looking forward to learning some great nuggets and to being challenged to lift the bar in my own life!
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