Graham Hood: Reluctant Evangelist
If you’re anything like me, sometimes the anticipation of meeting someone, or going on a dreamed-of holiday just doesn’t live up to expectations.
The old ‘yes, this will be awesome!’ fizzles to meh…
However, every once in a while, the expectations, or hopes actually pan out, and you walk away well-satisfied with your encounter. For me, meeting and listening to Graham Hood and his lovely wife Michelle two times now has been a gratifying and humbling experience.
Last year at the height of the Covid madness and the consequences of massive government overreach, emotions were high. This visit was decidedly lower-key, in a traditional Sunday morning church service.
In describing the mood/feeling of the service, my friend and I both recalled a true gentleness permeating the church.
‘Hoody’ sat on a stool, and shared a few yarns, and more importantly, his heart for his Saviour Jesus Christ. He and Michelle have spent the last ten months travelling and ministering to the people who come to hear what he has to say. Many of these precious people are broken, disenfranchised and in need of a friend, a kind and sympathetic ear… compassion.
By the time they made it back home, he estimates that some 200+ souls would go through the waters of baptism, after receiving a ‘gentle, practical walk through the Bible beforehand’. (After the service, he and Michelle and our Pastor made their way to a beautiful waterfront reserve on the central coast, where many precious people went through the waters of baptism.)
He describes himself as a Sabbath keeper, and often converts a community hall into a church for the day. He talks of how Australia ‘got here’ and how much we need community-based solutions to improve our country. With a mix of testimonies, hope for the future and encouragement Graham often speaks for 90 minutes.
He recalls a time over a year ago at the Canberra Freedom Rally which he describes as an amazing experience, a culmination of the season of protest. “Every time I spoke at the rally, I was tapped on the shoulder by a woman, always a woman saying, ‘Don’t mention God and don’t pray’” He knew it was spiritual intimidation, Satan not wanting God mentioned. So, he did the opposite; he talked about Him and prayed after every meeting. It was a powerful thing to hear a million people say Amen!
He continues with his fellow freedom fighters and friends such as John Larter, a former paramedic to see mandates end, borders remain open, children protected and a royal commission into the handling of this dark chapter in our history to hold people to account.
However, his heart’s calling is to bring people into a relationship with Jesus.
Hoody calls himself a reluctant evangelist. Reluctant he may be, but effective he certainly is!
He told the story of threats to his life two days before the Canberra rally and a $75,000 contract placed upon him. The AFP took it seriously enough to place him in protective custody at midnight and encouraged him to leave Canberra the next morning. He refused.
“I had to stand and deliver a Martin Luther King speech and be true to God and the message.”
He held firmly to Galatians 1:1:
For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
He said he would rather stand on someone’s toes today than stand at their grave tomorrow. He conceded that it would have been very easy to fall into the error of pride when he saw how many people surrounded him, often running beside his car just to say hello, their need for any form of hope. His only hope and strength come from his relationship with his Saviour.
He shared his disgust at the online trolls who have spread lies about him. One such was the false claim that he was charging people for him to baptise them. He said: “These are dark forces who attack at night, sinister and horrible.”
He went on to say,
“Now is the time to share the gospel; people are waking up. Fear not, I have prayed with thousands of atheists; these people often say they can’t sleep till I finish our broadcast with a prayer. I ask, ‘What is God saying to you? They’re trying to figure it out. We need to get better, to start to heal; this is end times stuff, and we need to spread the good news. Now is the time.”
He asks,
“Where does your strength come from, in the dark times, in the middle of the night, when you have fears and regrets? When the Son rises in the morning, you’ll know He’s been there with you in the darkness and there’s a sense of peace.”
Hoody’s story may be well known to some, but his testimony, and Michelle’s is available to read in my first story about this remarkable couple, who have both survived and gone on to thrive in grace and love toward one another and their fellow man.
One of his favourite books is Philip Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace?
He refers to the story of King Solomon and Jeroboam. King David broke every rule, but God said through the prophet, “For the sake of My servant David I will not take the whole kingdom from him [Solomon]” (1 Kings 11). A perfect example of total forgiveness and restoration after true repentance, 1 Kings 15 ‘..for David had done what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord and had obeyed the Lord’s commandments throughout his life, except in the affair concerning Uriah the Hittite.’ Forgiveness and faithfulness.
“Boy, I’ve had a great life, and (through Jesus) everybody wins, except those who stay in darkness. There’s no third choice. Standing on great heights, I don’t look down. He says to ‘Keep looking at Me’ while I stand in front of one million people.
This is the great south land of the Holy Spirit. I have experienced amazing grace. I don’t feel qualified, and I’m a reluctant evangelist. God opens the door and I walk through it. I trust Him.
We have a choice, to forgive each other no matter where we stood, because many poor people were forced into doing stuff or were duped. We need a community of compassion in Australia. People need to make a decision for Christ. It’s all going south in this country. Commit your life to Him, get baptised. What have you got to lose? You have so much to gain and that is eternal life.”
After the service ended, many people sought to speak to him. I sensed that these folk would pour their hearts out to him, but would never seek out a counsellor. He was a safe harbour, a man they knew could be trusted. Beautiful.
Reluctant though Graham Hood may be, he’s a man for this hour, a man with an evangelist’s call on his life and the courage to simply be obedient and trust the God he serves and loves.
As I scribbled these notes that morning, I pray I recalled his chat with accuracy.
God bless you Graham and Michelle Hood. You’re fine ambassadors of Him and true patriots in this country. It was lovely to catch up with you once more.
___
Photo: Screenhot via Reignite Democracy Australia/Vimeo.
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Thank you Leonie for posting this. Ray and I have met Hoody and Michelle and have been blessed by their testimony and desire to build community in our land. The call for men to arise is bearing much fruit as well as souls born into the kingdom. Such humility and preparedness to travel thousands of kilometres for the Kingdom and to see healing come to our nation.,
Yes Lyn and Ray. What a generous dose of grace and common sense in this most turbulent of times.
Thank God for Graham and Michelle Hood. x
Leonie, what a breath of fresh air! I could hear the peace of Hoodie coming through the screen! Its not him but He whom he serves, the Lord Jesus Christ! Thank you so much for this wonderful reminder of one of the great things to come from the last three years madness.
Thankyou dear Jim.
Sometimes we have to search for the Gold in a desert of dismay.
People like Graham and Michelle Hood remind us that there are people prepared to pay the price for standing against the spirit of the age.
As ANZAC day approaches we remember the fallen who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.
The questions posed to every one of us is, ‘What are you prepared to pay for the freedom of your family and nation? What are you prepared to give up to stay out of the firing line?’
Bless you brother.
Well done Leonie. I met Graham and Michelle Hood at Corrimal Community Centre (Wollongong) last month. Over 100 people attended. He used a stool and is a ‘gentle giant’ of a man; greatly admired and appreciated, alongside his beautiful wife too. God bless the Hoody’s.
Amen sister 💐
Thank you as ever Leonie. You convey such a strong impression of this man of God known to all as Hoody.
Our need for each other is so great and his generous sharing of himself and the word of God, like water during a drought.
God grant each of us the opportunity to do likewise.
Totally agree Kaylene.
Hes a great example of being ‘more’ in the era of lackluster ‘less’.
Hoody a very respected freedom fighter and strong Christian who has been giving hope and challenge to many in all walks of life including a great interview with Alice Springs Neighbours that He and John Latter interviewed on Facebbok last week ..very thankful for Graham Hood and his wife for their ongoing stand against evil especially last 3 years
Yes Stephen, so grateful for him and his band of warriors.
Lord knows, we’ve needed them and still do.
Prayers for your community brother.
Really great article about a really great man of God!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks brother.
He is quite amazing, and behind every great man is a great woman, I believe 💗