From gang life at age 11 to reaching millions on YouTube — Ruslan KD sits down with Greg Laurie to talk about the long road home.

Born in Azerbaijan, ethnically Armenian, and raised by a single mom in San Diego, Ruslan's story starts with a botched break-in, a cop next door, and a Black Baptist church that told an 11-year-old kid God would use him one day. They were right.

In this conversation:
How Ruslan finally surrendered to Christ at a Miles McPherson crusade
• The 3 pillars of biblical manhood: priest, provider, protector
• Why Gen Z is the most Jesus-curious generation — and what they need from boomers
• The difference between selfish ambition and godly ambition (from his new book)
• Why every pastor should have a podcast
• Financial literacy, communism vs. capitalism, and what the church keeps missing
• The verse Ruslan returns to when life gets loud

Whether you're a young man trying to figure out what a godly life looks like, or an older believer wondering how to reach the next generation — this one's worth your time.

Grab Ruslan's book Godly Ambition wherever books are sold.

Timestamps

00:22 Meet Ruslan: rapper, apologist, YouTuber
01:37 From Baku to a Vegas gang at age 11
04:24 Community service leads him to church
07:10 Wrestling with Jesus vs. Jehovah's Witnesses
09:54 Why the gospel finally clicked
14:14 What "godly ambition" actually means
18:33 The three pillars: priest, provider, protector
26:11 Communism, socialism, and taxing the rich
29:26 Gen Z: the walking paradox
36:39 Why open your home to a stranger
39:41 What's fueling the church growth boom
50:17 Teaching young people how to think
54:00 If you had 2 minutes with a million Gen Z kids

 

From gang life at age 11 to reaching millions on YouTube &mdash; Ruslan KD sits down with Greg Laurie to talk about the long road home.
Born in Azerbaijan, ethnically Armenian, and raised by a single mom in San Diego, Ruslan's story starts with a botched break-in, a cop next door, and a Black Baptist church that told an 11-year-old kid God would use him one day. They were right.
In this conversation:
<ul>
<li>How Ruslan finally surrendered to Christ at a Miles McPherson crusade &bull; The 3 pillars of biblical manhood: priest, provider, protector &bull; Why Gen Z is the most Jesus-curious generation &mdash; and what they need from boomers &bull; The difference between selfish ambition and godly ambition (from his new book) &bull; Why every pastor should have a podcast &bull; Financial literacy, communism vs. capitalism, and what the church keeps missing &bull; The verse Ruslan returns to when life gets loud</li>
</ul>
Whether you're a young man trying to figure out what a godly life looks like, or an older believer wondering how to reach the next generation &mdash; this one's worth your time.
Grab Ruslan's book Godly Ambition wherever books are sold.
Timestamps
00:22 Meet Ruslan: rapper, apologist, YouTuber 01:37 From Baku to a Vegas gang at age 11 04:24 Community service leads him to church 07:10 Wrestling with Jesus vs. Jehovah's Witnesses 09:54 Why the gospel finally clicked 14:14 What "godly ambition" actually means 18:33 The three pillars: priest, provider, protector 26:11 Communism, socialism, and taxing the rich 29:26 Gen Z: the walking paradox 36:39 Why open your home to a stranger 39:41 What's fueling the church growth boom 50:17 Teaching young people how to think 54:00 If you had 2 minutes with a million Gen Z kids
&nbsp;

Everyone talks about life after death, but what about life during life? Do you wonder, 'Why am I here? How can I be truly happy? Does my life matter, or why do I feel empty inside?' And, 'What really happens when I die?' Pastor Greg Laurie has helped millions find profound hope through true faith.

On the "The Greg Laurie Show," Pastor Greg brings insight to Scripture, a deep dive into real cultural issues, and special guest interviews with trusted Christian voices with a variety of life experiences that will help you make sense of life. 

Want more from Greg Laurie? Visit https://harvest.org/. 
Find Pastor Greg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greglaurie/ 

Everyone talks about life after death, but what about life during life? Do you wonder, 'Why am I here? How can I be truly happy? Does my life matter, or why do I feel empty inside?' And, 'What really happens when I die?' Pastor Greg Laurie has helped millions find profound hope through true faith.
On the "The Greg Laurie Show," Pastor Greg brings insight to Scripture, a deep dive into real cultural issues, and special guest interviews with trusted Christian voices with a variety of life experiences that will help you make sense of life.&nbsp;
Want more from Greg Laurie? Visit <a href="https://harvest.org/">https://harvest.org/.</a>&nbsp; Find Pastor Greg on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/greglaurie/">https://www.instagram.com/greglaurie/</a>&nbsp;

The Greg Laurie Show

Everyone talks about life after death, but what about life during life? Do you wonder, 'Why am I here? How can I be truly happy? Does my life matter, or why do I feel empty inside?' And, 'What really happens when I die?' Pastor Greg Laurie has helped millions find profound hope through true faith. On "The Greg Laurie Show," he transparently shares his own journey from hopelessness, addiction, and abuse to a spiritual revolution that transformed everything. Drawing on decades of impactful ministry, Greg tackles life's deepest questions, offering timeless biblical wisdom, practical guidance, and a compelling vision for a life radically transformed by Christ. Join Pastor Greg as he navigates today's cultural challenges, unpacks spiritual truths, and empowers listeners to discover lasting joy and meaning in a relationship with God."

Want more from Greg Laurie? Visit https://harvest.org/. 
Find Pastor Greg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greglaurie/ 

Everyone talks about life after death, but what about life during life? Do you wonder, 'Why am I here? How can I be truly happy? Does my life matter, or why do I feel empty inside?' And, 'What really happens when I die?' Pastor Greg Laurie has helped millions find profound hope through true faith. On "The Greg Laurie Show," he transparently shares his own journey from hopelessness, addiction, and abuse to a spiritual revolution that transformed everything. Drawing on decades of impactful ministry, Greg tackles life's deepest questions, offering timeless biblical wisdom, practical guidance, and a compelling vision for a life radically transformed by Christ. Join Pastor Greg as he navigates today's cultural challenges, unpacks spiritual truths, and empowers listeners to discover lasting joy and meaning in a relationship with God."
Want more from Greg Laurie? Visit <a href="https://harvest.org/">https://harvest.org/.</a>&nbsp; Find Pastor Greg on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/greglaurie/">https://www.instagram.com/greglaurie/</a>&nbsp;

Ruslan KD: Why the Loudest Generation Is Also the Loneliest

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/5450df84-5175-42ca-80fe-b4b100c2d7f8/transcript