(Digital Editor's Note: This article was published first in the April 2023 print edition of The Stand.)
It only takes one encounter with Dr. Jeff Schreve to realize his heart is absolutely set on Jesus Christ, and this singleness of heart directs his words and actions in today’s anti-Christian culture.
As lead pastor of First Baptist Texarkana, Texas, Schreve’s solitary resolve to preach the undiluted, infallible Word of God also impacts the world through radio and television. Two of his shows, Real Truth for Today and From His Heart, air on American Family Radio.
Schreve’s steadfast commitment began when he gave his heart to Christ at age 17. Even while attending University of Texas, he was willing to commit to ministry, but he knew ministers needed a definite call from God. And he never felt that call.
So Schreve headed home to Houston, Texas, married a preacher’s daughter, and had three daughters of his own. For 12 years, he used his degree in business administration as a salesman – until a regular midweek service in his home church changed everything.
Schreve spoke with The Stand about his call from God and how it set his heart and life on a very different course.
The Stand: How did a Texas businessman become a preacher?
Jeff Schreve: I was a deacon in my church and doing well in business, but I was restless. … I knew God wanted something different from what I was doing, but I didn’t know what.
But I was praying about the ministry, and it was a Wednesday night in July 1995. At the end of a message about doing the will of God, the Lord really called me. It wasn’t an audible voice, but it was a voice in my heart.
I said, “God, I think you’re calling me to preach, and I commit myself to do just that.” He said to my heart, “I’ve been waiting for you to make that decision, and now we have a deal.”
TS: How did that deal change your life?
JS: I met my wife Debbie at Champion Forest Baptist Church, and we got married in 1986. Her dad was a pastor, but unbeknownst to me, she would never go out with anybody who wanted to be a pastor.
So when I went home and told Debbie, she said, “We don’t want to do the life of ministry. You don’t know what that life is like. I do! I lived it. I don’t want that for me; I don’t want that for our girls.”
It probably took Debbie a good month before she came back and said, “I’m not on the same page as you, but I’m in your book. If God is calling you, He’s called me to be your wife. I’ll support you, and I’ll do whatever we need to do.”
We can see the hand of God now, but it was a scary “get out of the boat” experience then.
TS: That decision eventually led to the global ministry of From His Heart. Explain that name.
JS: From His Heart is separate from the church. It is a nonprofit ministry that’s done through radio and television. The church has a local television program out of Shreveport, Louisiana, that’s been on the air for over 50 years.
When I came to First Baptist Texarkana in 2003, I took that regional program and said, “Let’s make this national.” When I did that, I set up a separate entity for the national outreach called From His Heart.
People often ask me, “Whose heart are you talking about?” I always answer, “It’s from God’s heart to my heart to your heart.”
I prayed early on in my Christian life to have a passion for God like David did, to be a man after God’s own heart. So when I named the ministry, I wanted to have heart in there because I firmly believe that Christianity is all about heart.
Jesus said, “These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.” We’re to love the Lord with all our heart and soul and strength and mind.)
TS: One of your radio shows carries that ministry title, but the other does not. What are the differences between these two programs?
JS: From His Heart is really my sermons. I normally preach for about 45 minutes, so they’re broken up into two programs. We have a host, Larry Nobles, who introduces them. It’s a lot easier for me to do because it’s what I do on Sunday mornings. It airs each weeknight at 6 p.m. CT and Sundays at 7 p.m. CT on AFR.
Real Truth for Today is me behind a microphone, live Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. CT on AFR. Obviously, it’s incorporating things we’re teaching from Scripture. My wife Debbie helps me once a week or so, and so does Dr. Chris Schroeder, our staff teaching pastor and counselor. We also have special guests discussing different teaching topics. And pretty much every day, we take calls for at least 15-20 minutes.
TS: The live show addresses hard-hitting cultural issues in a world often described as post-Christian. Is that an apt description?
JS: I would agree; I think the Lord is coming soon. I could be way off, but it just seems like the pieces are falling into place for His return. Things are getting set up for a one world government, a one world leader, and the Antichrist.
I think there are two ways to look at it for a believer. We can read the headlines, get all freaked out, and say, “Oh no, what’s the world coming to? This is a dangerous place.”
Or we can say, “All right, it’s getting bad. The Lord said it was going to get bad in the last days, so that means Jesus is on His way. I can look up and be watchful – for my redemption is drawing near.”
TS: How does the Christian interpret and live in these challenging times?
JS: I think we need to look at it this way, to know that it’s not an accident we’re on the earth at this time. God placed us here “for such a time as this,” to be salt and light, to speak the truth in love, and to stand up for Jesus, even if it costs us.
We get that phrase, “for such a time as this,” from Esther, and we need to be like her. She went before the king and said, “If I perish, I perish, but I have to do this. I have to be faithful.”
I’m also reminded of Revelation 2:10, where the Lord says, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
We need to be – for such a time as this – sold out.
