What are Randy's favorite foods?

Randy writes, "Mexican. My wife Nanci makes a killer burrito with the works, and sour cream enchiladas. I'm also a fan of Nanci's steak salad, beef stew and cornbread muffins, and chili with cheddar cheese and onions and... cornbread muffins, with a tall glass of milk. The occasional pizza too. You didn't mention drinks, but I love dark strong coffee, preferably French Roast, with milk."

What are Randy's hobbies?

Randy enjoys hanging out with his wife Nanci and their kids and grandkids, reading fiction and non-fiction (including theology), playing tennis and riding bikes. He is a volunteer coach for a men's high school tennis team, which is a lot of fun and a great ministry.

What books would Randy recommend?

Randy writes, "A. W. Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy, J. I. Packer's Knowing God, John Piper's Desiring God, Francis Schaeffer's He is There and He is Not Silent, C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. For fiction, Lewis's Narnia and space trilogy, and The Atonement Child, by Francine Rivers. Oh, were you just asking for one book?" For a more complete list, see Randy's Favorite Books.

What do you know about Alcorn family history?

Three Alcorn brothers--James, Thomas and William—came over from Ireland and landed in Virginia in 1721. The best indications are that they were Scottish, though living in Ireland, as they were associated with the Presbyterian church.

Thomas Alcorn, Sr. (1777-1855) married Katherine Montgomery who had James Thomas Alcorn (an Indiana civil war quartermaster sergeant), who had James Grant Alcorn.

James Grant Alcorn married Florence Lee Craig. The following is from “Robert Alcorn and His Descendants,” written by Lloyd Colfax Alcorn, Randy’s uncle:

James Grant Alcorn and Florence Lee Craig had thirteen children. 
(1) Maruice Lee was born August 25, 1892 in a log cabin on the Alcorn farm in Posey County, Indiana.  
(2) James Oral was born October 25 ...

What happens to the royalties from Randy's books?

Prior to 2001, 10% of the royalties from Randy's books were used by EPM for its expenses, and 90% were given to worthy ministries, particularly global missions. Since 2001 we have been able to donate 100% of all book royalties—and sometimes more—for ministry purposes, most of those to other ministries, and some to help facilitate the giving away of our books to people all over the world. Since the inception of Eternal Perspective Ministries in 1990 through 2012, EPM has given over six million dollars in book royalties to ministries around the world. We're grateful to the Lord for his provision. Learn more about EPM's finances. See also Why doesn't Randy use some of ...

What is one of Randy's favorite Bible verses?

2 Corinthians 4:18: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." This is also the founding verse of Eternal Perspective Ministries.

What is Randy's educational background?

Randy attended Multnomah Bible College, where he earned his BA in Theology, and Western Seminary, where he earned his MA in Biblical Studies. He received an honorary doctorate of divinity from Western Seminary in 2003.

What size family did Randy grow up in?

Randy grew up with one half-brother. He also has four older siblings from his dad's previous marriage, but since Randy was raised in Oregon and they were in Texas, he almost never saw them. He is now in email contact with three of them (one is deceased).

 Randy wasn't raised in a Christian home, but years later both of his parents became believers, though his mother placed her faith in Christ many years before his father did. See the article "My Father's Conversion to Christ."

What were Randy's parents like? Did they encourage him to be a writer?

Randy writes, "My dad grew up in Emboden, Arkansas, and moved to Texas as a teenager to run a pool hall with his older brothers. Later he moved to Oregon and had a grocery store, then became a tavern owner who also supplied amusement machines for other taverns. Our house was the repository for several pool tables, two or three juke boxes, pin-ball machines, standing shuffleboards, foos ball, etc. (My friends liked to hang out at my house mainly for that reason.)

"Dad was strict and very resistant to the gospel, and at first was very resistant to my faith in Christ and was disappointed that I wanted to go to Bible college instead of to a university where I ...

When did Randy come to faith in Christ?

Randy writes, "I grew up without Christ and without the church. When I was in high school I attended a church for the wrong reason—to see a girl I'd met. But God can use even our wrong motives for his right purposes. (In fact, years later that girl became my wife!) At that church and in the youth group there, I heard the gospel for the first time, and after a few months or so of attending, I was reading the Bible regularly, at home in my bedroom. It fascinated me and it had the ring of truth. One day in 1969 I realized I believed what it said about Jesus and everything else. I dropped to my ...