Staff Bio

Randy O'Brien
Senior Pastor

(763) 427-4543 Ext: 101

Your Home Town?
Minneapolis, MN

Your Birthday?
June 29

Family Information:
I have been married for 25 years to Maureen (Moe), the love of my life. We laugh together and absolutely delight to be with one another. She is actively involved in ministry with women and uses her speaking and administrative gifts to full measure. She works in a specialized field of church databases and serves on the staff of Eaglebrook church in a part-time capacity. We have two children, both of whom are living on their own. JD (Jonathan David) is in Denver, CO where he is working and ministering in several local churches and ministries. He has served with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) for four years. Erin is a student at Le Cordon Bleu academy where she is studying for a career in the hospitality industry.

What was your first car?
My first car was a 1976 Chevy Impala. It had an enormous trunk, but I couldn’t keep anything in it because it would have fallen out through the rusted out holes.

Do you prefer skim or 2% milk?
Skim

What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
Read. On rainy days I seem to enjoy anything by Sigurd Olson, who writes about the majestic beauty of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in short essays that paint a vibrant picture for me and transport me to another place and time.

What are your favorite bands?
Currently my MP3 player has a wide variety of musical styles and albums – Everything from Norah Jones and James Taylor to Itzhak Perlman (violin), Hillary Hahn (violin), and Pavarotti (opera). I like to mix it up and try new music to see whether I enjoy it. Currently I’m listening to some Asian influenced styles of classical music.

What are some of your hobbies?
Fly-Fishing, bird-hunting, and woodworking. I also spend some time reading and watching tv. Moe and I are fans of 24 and This Old House.

Did you have a nickname in elementary school? How did that come about?
For a time some of my friends called me “dolph”. I think it came about from Randolph, though my given name is Randall. Go figure. A current nickname is Padre, which I acquired from a flyshop owner many years ago and it stuck with me. That’s the name I use for my fantasy football teams.

Do you prefer tea or coffee or Mountain Dew?
Coffee, Coffee, and Coffee.

What is your favorite time of day?
I enjoy the time I get to spend with the Lord and then with Moe in the morning over a cup of coffee.

If you were not in ministry, what would you be doing right now?
President of the United States of America

Your favorite spot in the Twin Cities area?
Lake Harriet. I grew up near the lakes and love them to this day. I love to take a walk around the lake with Moe or some friends then head over to Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream shop in the evening or the Great Harvest Bakery if in the morning.

What is your favorite vegetable?
Green Beans bring back great memories of my grandmother’s garden and the beans that she canned every year. I loved them as a kid and love them as much now.

How did you come to know Christ?
As a child of four or five I attended a VBS at a church down the street. There I heard and understood for the first time that salvation doesn’t come automatically just because someone grows up in the Christian family or a particular church. I prayed a prayer that morning and asked for forgiveness and invited Christ to lead me from that day forward.

What is your favorite Bible verse?
Somewhat like my music, this changes over time. I have a hard time picking just one. At this time I am drawn to Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Anything else that people should know about you?
I love being called to the ministry and to the people of Meadow Creek Church.