While we were in California visiting our son Benjamin in April, my husband and I asked him to get tickets to watch a TV show being filmed. He was able to get seats at Universal Studios to watch the taping of two episodes of “Family Feud” with host Steve Harvey. We sat in the second row, front and center, and had a ball!
The young man doing the warm-up act got the audience all fired up with his antics and contests. That was a terrific show all by itself. Then Steve Harvey came out and he had us laughing until our sides ached. A lot more goes on during the taping than ever ends up on the show—and that man is funny! He remained on stage during the commercial breaks and treated us to a comedy routine. He also answered questions from the audience that had been submitted earlier. We weren’t treated like a living “laugh-track” but as an audience that he was eager to entertain.
During the final commercial break, Steve asked us to stay seated after the taping ended because he wanted to send us away with a word of encouragement. We did, and he walked out to the edge of the stage and gave us his testimony of how God had worked in his life. He told his own story, from his heart, and said, “This is what God did in my life, and He can do the same for you. God loves you. He wants a relationship with you.”
We were people of all ages, races, and backgrounds—and in California, no less—yet no one uttered a sound as we listened. He had won our respect with his humor, his genuine warmth, and his honesty during the show, and now we listened. “You know there’s a God,” he said with a smile. “You know there is. He’s reaching out to you because He loves you.”
Steve Harvey entertained me that afternoon, and then he taught me something. He showed me how powerful it can be to simply tell others what God has done in my life. I don’t need to memorize verses or have a theology degree but simply tell my story and remind people that God loves them. I was also amazed that a man of his stature in the entertainment world was courageous enough to use the platform God had given him to speak so forthrightly.
Not only did the audience hear his testimony, but the cameramen, technicians, producers and stagehands did, too—people Steve works with every day. I was reminded that God gives each of us an “audience” to reach out to, whether at work or at school, at home or in the marketplace. He made me wonder—am I taking advantage of the places God takes me and the people He puts in my path to bring Him glory? Do I take time to offer a word of encouragement like Steve Harvey did? I thought of the scripture verse that says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).
Hats off to you, Steve Harvey, for a great show and a memorable lesson.
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This is WONDERFUL! I enjoy watching Family Feud and Steve Harvey is a fabulous host. To see him sharing his testimony during commercial breaks is surprising. Surprising but in a good way. Think of all the lives he influences. Thank you for sharing!
Wonderful ❤️😊❤️
Thanks for sharing this, it challenges me to be more of a “light” where I am.
Hi Lynn, that a great post! I’ve always enjoyed Steve Harvey, and that’s wonderful to know he shares his faith with the audience and co-workers. So glad you had this opportunity to be there. Thanks for the reminder to be prepared to share with our “audience.”
I love this! Beautiful in it’s simplicity, his simple testimony has a profound effect. Grateful that it strengthens mine and invites me to act!
That’s wonderful. I’m glad he’s saved and has a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Wow! What an encouragement and challenge to me, too, Lynn. Thank you for sharing this story and for the reminder that we all have an “audience” that we can influence. It takes a lot of courage to do what he did, and I am convicted that I need to do a better job of sharing my own faith with the people around me. I’ll never look at Family Feud the same way again. 🙂
Lynn–This was a great story to read! We are living testimonies…we don’t always get a chance to “speak” our story, but our words and actions speak for us (and Jesus). Kudos to Steve Harvey for using his platform to draw people in, then tell them “Who” it is that gives him his zest for life. Thanks for sharing this.
I love when people tell their Jesus stories! Thanks for the reminder of how powerful and encouraging they are!
Lynn, Thank you for giving us that insight into Steve’s character. I appreciate him so much more now. What boldness he has to share his testimony with such a diverse audience! May God continue to bless his work.
This is SUCH an awesome post and made me think about my own (much, much, much smaller) platform…but still if God can use Steve Harvey in the place He’s put Steve, He can use each of us wherever we’ve been planted!
How wonderful to know that someone with such a large platform is bold enough in his stand with God to use that opportunity to speak of His relationship to others. There is no telling how many people may be touched and pushed to give God a chance in their lives simply because they see a man in Steve’s position is not afraid to speak up for his beliefs in God.
What a great thing to know about Steve Harvey! With all of the vitriole and vulgarity coming out of Hollywood today, it is wonderful to hear about this bright light. So glad you had this opportunity.
When I was ten years old, my family took a trip to California and my mother, grandmother, aunt, and I were at the taping of Queen for a Day – dates me, I know, but a great memory. Our daughter lives there now, so we go out every summer.
Thanks for sharing!
I enjoyed reading your post about Steve Harvey. I’ve heard before that he was a Christian but I find it hard to watch all the nastiness that comes out in his comedy acts and put the two together. How he mixes the two doesn’t speak well. And I’m not such a straight-laced person as to not know when something is funny and when it’s past the mark. ‘Enuf said.
Wow! What a word of encouragement this post is!
Thank you for relating this experience.