On today’s show, my Pastor, Jeff Wells. I hope all of you one day have the opportunity to meet this great and humble man, you will see that in this interview. I wanted Jeff to talk about the Christmas story, but before he does, you will learn a lot about him and me along the way. Jeff attended Rice University, majored in history and was named in all American four times in cross country and track. Jeff finished first in the 1976 Houston Marathon, the 1976 Dallas White Rock Marathon, the 1977 Honolulu Marathon, the 1977 and 79 Nike OTC Marathon, the 1980 Stockholm Marathon, and a 1985 Wang New Zealand Marathon. He came in second place to Bill Rogers, by just two seconds in the closest Boston Marathon finish to date, at the 1978 Boston Marathon, finishing in his fast ever marathon time of 2:10:15. Jeff's time was either the third or fourth fastest by an American to that date, behind three runs by Rogers, one of which was on a New York marathon course later found would be shorter than the standard marathon length. He finished fifth, in 2:13:16, at the 1980 US Olympic Marathon trials in Buffalo, New York, and 4th in the Olympic trials 10,000 - meter run in the same year. He was the top American finisher, finishing 24th overall at the 1977 IAAF World Cross Country Championships - senior men's race. What a great beginning career, and then God called Jeff to Pastor. Jeff felt the calling and obeyed, and that has been one of his greatest accomplishments. Jeff is the founding Pastor of WoodsEdge Community Church in spring, Texas near The Woodlands. He and his wife Gayle founded WoodsEdge along with a handful of people in November of 1993. He is also the author of five books; The Great Verses, Breaking Free of OCD, Love; Revealing the Heart of God, Unhurried Time with God and Soul on Fire; The Privilege of Preaching.
