Pastor Mike Todd of Transformation Church in Oklahoma City recently sat down with Christian hip-hop artist and podcaster Lecrae for an interview. Throughout the conversation, Todd discussed the criticism he often receives for his attire and sermon illustrations, which have on occasion gone viral online.
Referring to Todd as “the bishop of Oklahoma,” Lecrae told him, “I think it’d be good for people to know who you are.”
“I think people get a slice of who you are but don’t get the picture of who you are,” Lecrae added, alluding to some of the criticism Todd has received.
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Todd said, “I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My parents came there actually in the late 70s to help start a ministry. And so all I’ve known is being in church and traveling.”
“And I’m one of five boys, and my parents are my heroes,” Todd added. “They showed me what faith looks like in action.”
Todd also shared that he is a musician, and he began playing the drums at the age of 2. He had dreams of entering the music industry and said, “I never thought I would be a pastor. This was not something I prayed for, signed up for, wanted.”
“But as the Word many times shows us, God will call people who are on whole different paths,” said Todd. “And he will have a unique coding and purpose and design and desire for them that he can’t reveal to them until they’re ready to be able to walk into that. And so God did that with me.”
Todd has always valued creativity, something that caused him to draw criticism shortly after becoming the senior pastor of Transformation Church. He said that when he made changes to the decor of the church and sought to increase the production quality of Sunday services, “people left the church.”
“I’m in a place, but God gave me a vision,” Todd said. Lecrae responded, “You’re an artist. You sculpt people. You sculpt environments…I get it. I see it.”
“Well, in my mind, I just feel like God is a God of excellence,” Todd said. “When I look at a painted sky, when I look at the trees, when I look at the ocean, it’s like why wouldn’t we reflect his glory?”
