Evangelist Shares Gospel with Stand-Up Comedian Chris Rock
By Movieguide® Contributor
Dylan Novak, known online as the “Celebrity Evangelist,” recently posted about his experience sharing the gospel with stand-up comedian Chris Rock.
“Chris’ grandfather was a preacher, but his faith did not stick with [Rock] as he grew up,” Novak wrote in an Instagram post.
Rock continued to reject Christianity, claiming in a 1989 stand-up routine that “When you’re black there’s like no religion to turn to.”
“It’s like, Christianity? I don’t think so,” he added at the time. “White people justified slavery and segregation through Christianity so a black Christian is like a black person with no… memory.”
Fortunately, Novak added, “Almost 30 years later, his tone towards God seemed to start changing.”
The Celebrity Evangelist continued, “During a 2017 stand up special he told the audience, ‘I’m trying to get a little bit of religion…Not a lot. I want to find God before God finds me.’”
“I was able to give Chris a copy of ‘GASP!’ by Tony Nolan, ‘Jesus>Religion’ by Jefferson Bethke, tracts, and a letter,” Novak shared.
“Please be praying for him,” he urged his followers.
Continue to pray that Rock and other celebrities would find their identity in Christ. If interested, Movieguide® provides a list of celebrities to pray over every day.
Movieguide® previously reported on Novak’s evangelistic work in Hollywood:
Dylan Novak, known online as “The Celebrity Evangelist,” described his experience sharing the Gospel with Tom Cruise, a high-level Scientologist, at the 2016 JACK REACHER: NEVER GOING BACK premiere.
“I’ve witnessed to a few Scientologists,” Novak said. “They’re terrifying. That’s probably who I’m most nervous to talk to. I’d rather talk to an atheist, because you’re starting from scratch.”
Movieguide® has reported on Cruise’s support of Scientology in the past. With the actor’s help, the Church of Scientology started its own television network and movie studio in 2016—an endeavor worth $50 million.
Cruise’s status in the Church of Scientology reportedly makes sharing the Gospel with him difficult. According to ex-Scientologist Leah Remini, the church considers Cruise a “deity,” and in a recent interview with CBN Faithwire, Novak explained that the church allegedly sends bodyguards everywhere with Cruise to “protect his mind” from anti-Scientology content.
Novak, a youth pastor from Tennessee, recalls his experience meeting the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE star, revealing that the bodyguards inspected every gift the fans planned to give the actor before Cruise met them.
“That guy [the bodyguard] comes to me and I try to hug the gift bag to the poster [I had for him to sign] the best I could,” Novak said. “He did not notice it, and I know that’s by the grace of God.
“When Tom got up to me…he sees the gift and Tom’s like, ‘I really appreciate this, man. Thank you so much,’” Novak said. “And in there, I had two letters for him. I had handwritten him a letter and then I printed off a bunch of stuff just hardcore exposing [Scientology]. Normally, I don’t do that, because, at the end of the day, it’s the Gospel that breaks through to people — it’s the truth of God’s Word. If I start attacking your faith, then you’re gonna shut down to me before you even hear anything.”
However, Novak believed that he had to address Scientology in his gift to Cruise. In a later Instagram post discussing this interaction, the evangelist exposed some of the basic tenets of Scientology, including “the beliefs that human beings are immortal, that a person’s life experience transcends a single lifetime, and that human beings possess infinite capabilities.”
An hour after meeting Cruise, Novak saw the actor leave the premiere with the gift still in his hands, which the evangelist took as a subtle yet “encouraging” gesture.
In his Instagram post, Novak called on his followers to “pray for Mr. Cruise and his soul. Pray that he turns from the cult and turns to Jesus before it’s eternally too late.”
His call to prayer reminds believers that everyone wants something to give their lives purpose. Continue to pray that Cruise and other celebrities would find their purpose in Jesus. If interested, Movieguide® provides a list of celebrities to pray over daily.
