Rock pastor's perspective

Miles McPherson has worn many hats: he’s a former San Diego Chargers player, a reformed drug abuser, a husband and father of three. However, McPherson is best known today as an evangelist and senior pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego.

McPherson accepted Christ in 1984 after teammates Sherman Smith and Ray Preston repeatedly shared the Gospel with him during his second NFL season.

“If you were to die right now, would you go to heaven?” Smith asked.
The question forever changed McPherson’s life. He turned from marijuana and cocaine, later starting “Miles Ahead Ministries” in 1992. Miles Ahead Ministries is an organization that mentors San Diego youth.

Since then, McPherson has traveled the United States speaking to the public about Jesus Christ. He has been a guest on MTV, Focus on the Family and various radio shows. He currently leads five Sunday services at the Rock.
PW: What was the most defining moment in your life?
MM: I don’t know if there is one exact moment, but I think the defining moments overall are the ones that helped me understand what I was supposed to do. I remember the day that I knew I was an evangelist. And then I remember the time period that I realized I should be a pastor.
PW: What has been your biggest struggle as a Christian?
MM: Balancing my time – trying to manage the use of my time and energy. It’s one thing to have 24 hours in a day; it’s another thing to balance your energy to be effective.
PW: If you could change one thing about your past what would it be?
MM: When I was kid I was real fast. One of the things I didn’t do was spend enough time invested in my future, other than sports. I wish I had been a better student growing up. I wish I had spent more time studying. I wish I had spent more time in a slower lane. I was going partying, running from one thing to another constantly, and I wasted so much of my life as a kid doing that.
PW: What do you think is the hardest issue facing youth today?
MM: Staying sexually pure and dating. [Asking the question] “How do I be faithful to God yet resist these strong feelings I have?” It seems like staying pure is almost impossible for so many people. If I’m the devil, that is where I am going to attack first.
PW: What is your opinion on homosexuality and the church?
MM: The Bible is crystal clear about homosexuality. You can cite Romans 1, Genesis 18. The church should love them. Unconditional love does not mean unconditional acceptance of behavior. Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you agree with what they do, but it means that you encourage them into a place and let him shape and mold them into what they were supposed to be.
PW: Some say that the Rock focuses too much on you, instead of Jesus. How do you respond to that criticism?
MM: If people have the perception that I am intentionally trying to get them to follow me, shame on me. That is never my intention. We are all attracted to the talents other people have. Eventually, people are going to get Jesus, which is my intention.
PW: What is your vision for the Rock in the future?
MM: To raise up an army of young, on-fire of evangelistic believers and fulfill the great commission as much as we can, through as many people as we can before we die.
PW: What is the best advice you have for college students?
MM: Learn to be very patient. When you’re young you want everything now. Life goes by so fast. Love your parents; stay home, and spend as much time as you can with your family.