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The Church of Living Dangerously: Tales of a Drug-Running Megachurch Pastor
The unbelievable true story of John Bishop, a former megachurch pastor who ended up running drugs for the Sinaloa Cartel.
For thirty years, John Bishop was a pastor. Along the way, he learned that everyone does stupid things. We lie to our families. We lie to ourselves. We take long lunch breaks and sneak cigarettes when we said we’d quit. Sometimes, we take a sabbatical from our nice, comfortable life as a pastor and start running drugs for the Sinaloa Cartel, then get caught and spend five years in federal prison.
Okay, that last one might just apply to John. But it does make for one hell of a story.
In The Church of Living Dangerously, John tells that story in full for the first time—and you don’t know the half of it. Along the way, he brings readers along for the harrowing ride from the rough small town in Washington where he was born all the way to the dirty villages in Mexico where he fell in with some of the most dangerous criminals on the planet. There are backyard fight clubs where John learned to take a punch, the abandoned K-Mart where he used to preach every Sunday (sometimes with the help of wild animals), and the drug dens where he almost lost his life ten times over. It’s a story that seems too wild to be true.
But it is true—and John has the scars, both literal and figurative, to prove it.
Ride along with John as he gets arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border and learn the story of his life in all its rough, stupid glory of guns, drugs, tigers, bare-knuckle boxing matches, and prison riots. John has learned a lot of important lessons about hardship and redemption and family, and what it means to live dangerously—and to experience another chance at life.
For thirty years, John Bishop was a pastor. Along the way, he learned that everyone does stupid things. We lie to our families. We lie to ourselves. We take long lunch breaks and sneak cigarettes when we said we’d quit. Sometimes, we take a sabbatical from our nice, comfortable life as a pastor and start running drugs for the Sinaloa Cartel, then get caught and spend five years in federal prison.
Okay, that last one might just apply to John. But it does make for one hell of a story.
In The Church of Living Dangerously, John tells that story in full for the first time—and you don’t know the half of it. Along the way, he brings readers along for the harrowing ride from the rough small town in Washington where he was born all the way to the dirty villages in Mexico where he fell in with some of the most dangerous criminals on the planet. There are backyard fight clubs where John learned to take a punch, the abandoned K-Mart where he used to preach every Sunday (sometimes with the help of wild animals), and the drug dens where he almost lost his life ten times over. It’s a story that seems too wild to be true.
But it is true—and John has the scars, both literal and figurative, to prove it.
Ride along with John as he gets arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border and learn the story of his life in all its rough, stupid glory of guns, drugs, tigers, bare-knuckle boxing matches, and prison riots. John has learned a lot of important lessons about hardship and redemption and family, and what it means to live dangerously—and to experience another chance at life.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2025
16 people are currently reading
6313 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 15, 2025
When I think "megachurch pastor" I think veneered 3-piece Wall Street smile, shellacked bouffant, tears streaming. I think prosperity gospel and faith healing. I think butter-wouldn't-melt. I think of exclusion and judging and hypocrisy. It's fun to watch them fall. So unlike their Christ.
Here's what I don't think: anyone who would have could have ever hung out with someone like me.
I had no clue who John Lee Bishop was prior to picking up this book. I don't exactly watch TBN. Besides the obvious audacity of the title and premise, I was expecting to giggle through the spectacular fall of another Bakker/Roberts/Swaggart. I was not expecting to meet that guy from my auto shop class, my partner's old co-worker, our buddy from the gas station. I wasn't expecting to see a church that became a megachurch not by preaching the exclusivity of the chosen few but by truly welcoming all comers.
I didn't expect to meet a pastor felled ultimately by use disorder. Don't worry, John; you're amongst friends. Personally, I prefer the term "drunk" (see the story of "James" in Chapter 13). It's not a major focus of John Lee Bishop's tale, but his path to being on the wagon will speak to many. IYKYK
My late great-uncle Jack, who lived in Santee, always told me not to go to Tijuana unless I had business there. We took his advice. The entire time we lived in San Diego we never had business across the border so we never got closer than a checkpoint on the U.S. side. After reading The Church of Living Dangerously: Tales of a Drug-Running Megachurch Pastor I have expanded Uncle Jack's advice to include all of Mexico. No offense to the Mexican people; I just know my own limitations.
I think it's really cool that a movie is in development and I hope it really does justice to the Bishop family. Because when it's all stripped away you're left with the story of a well-intentioned good-hearted guy who never does anything at less than full tilt boogie, least of all love.
I received this book for free through the Winter/Spring 2025 PW Grab a Galley promotion. It is an advance reading copy.
Here's what I don't think: anyone who would have could have ever hung out with someone like me.
I had no clue who John Lee Bishop was prior to picking up this book. I don't exactly watch TBN. Besides the obvious audacity of the title and premise, I was expecting to giggle through the spectacular fall of another Bakker/Roberts/Swaggart. I was not expecting to meet that guy from my auto shop class, my partner's old co-worker, our buddy from the gas station. I wasn't expecting to see a church that became a megachurch not by preaching the exclusivity of the chosen few but by truly welcoming all comers.
I didn't expect to meet a pastor felled ultimately by use disorder. Don't worry, John; you're amongst friends. Personally, I prefer the term "drunk" (see the story of "James" in Chapter 13). It's not a major focus of John Lee Bishop's tale, but his path to being on the wagon will speak to many. IYKYK
My late great-uncle Jack, who lived in Santee, always told me not to go to Tijuana unless I had business there. We took his advice. The entire time we lived in San Diego we never had business across the border so we never got closer than a checkpoint on the U.S. side. After reading The Church of Living Dangerously: Tales of a Drug-Running Megachurch Pastor I have expanded Uncle Jack's advice to include all of Mexico. No offense to the Mexican people; I just know my own limitations.
I think it's really cool that a movie is in development and I hope it really does justice to the Bishop family. Because when it's all stripped away you're left with the story of a well-intentioned good-hearted guy who never does anything at less than full tilt boogie, least of all love.
I received this book for free through the Winter/Spring 2025 PW Grab a Galley promotion. It is an advance reading copy.
February 22, 2025
Read an ARC with NetGalley.
This was a dark, engrossing read. I had to set it aside a few times because it was heavy subject matter. I think the longer I walk with Jesus, the more I realize so much of us needs to be sanctified - our ambition and dreams alongside our darker secrets and pasts. Thankful for a God who does not give up in the journey - may we all be quicker and quicker to yield to him.
This was a dark, engrossing read. I had to set it aside a few times because it was heavy subject matter. I think the longer I walk with Jesus, the more I realize so much of us needs to be sanctified - our ambition and dreams alongside our darker secrets and pasts. Thankful for a God who does not give up in the journey - may we all be quicker and quicker to yield to him.
May 18, 2025
I’m giving the book two stars because it is readable and engaging in a “watch the train wreck” sort of way. But the content and message is disappointing and discouraging in every conceivable way.
March 27, 2025
Decent personal narrative. About a mega church pastor who ended up running drugs for the cartel.
February 15, 2025
Watch for this one coming out spring of 2025.A great personal narrative of a frenzied unapologetic life. This guy dives right in where others wouldn’t dip a toe.
April 18, 2025
I like the way he writes. I found the man completely off and wrong on so many levels.
February 3, 2025
It is a must read for those interested in true stories of transformation And the intricate dance between faith and personal demons
dnf
April 9, 2025I had to dnf this one about three hours in for a couple of reasons. I feel bad about the first one but this was a TOUGH narrator to listen to. This is a time when they for sure should have paid a voice actor instead of having the author read it. I can't explain what was going on with his reading and I'm nervous that it might be an actual fluency or reading issue, which obviously makes me a jerk. The reading was veeery slow, and I sped it up ( which I normally never do) to see if that might help. Somehow it made the weirdness of the reading more obvious. He pauses at very random times in the middle...of sentences (that's an example) or even phrases. I worry that it's a reading issue and he was stopping at the end of each physical line he was reading from to take a breath. It was just too much of a distraction for me.
I did think about if I should read the book because it sounded so interesting in the blurb but three hours in I realized it wasn't going to be what I was expecting/hoping-for. It seems to be more of a spiritual book about his relationship with Jesus which is fine but I was thinking it was true crime so I'm letting it go.
I did think about if I should read the book because it sounded so interesting in the blurb but three hours in I realized it wasn't going to be what I was expecting/hoping-for. It seems to be more of a spiritual book about his relationship with Jesus which is fine but I was thinking it was true crime so I'm letting it go.
April 7, 2025
A fascinating and well-written cautionary tale detailing the author's descent into the cartel world. John Lee Bishop thrived on preaching to the down-and-out members of society, but this also led him to befriend and connect with some very dangerous people. The book chronicles the very slippery slope of minor decisions that led to his downfall - while rationalizing and explaining how it happened. The author writes with a breezy, friendly style - inviting the reader along on his journey (and decision-making process). Overall, the book focused more on the positive power of Christianity than the horrific actions of the cartels - it seems incredulous that someone of faith would become involved with these organizations, knowing their brutality and trade in human suffering. The author's ability to focus on the moment - a fun party, a good conversation, etc. - while ignoring the larger context or consequences was, at times, astounding. A captivating true story, told with humor and heart.
I received a free copy for review.
I received a free copy for review.
March 27, 2025
John Lee Bishop’s book, The Church of Living Dangerously, may well be one my favorite books so far this year. It has Bible quotes; bare knuckle boxing at the age of four, drugs, love and the Cabo San Lucas that most people don’t know and though it all, John’s ever hopeful spirit and the knowledge that wherever he is, God’s there. (Well, except for those drug runs from Cabo to San Diego!)
His long-suffering wife and family, his oldest child who takes enough heroin to float a cartel and John who keeps trying to do the right thing but doesn’t always make this book a worthwhile read.
If I lived in Vancouver, Washington I would be at his Church. I would love to feel the love and spirit there.
His long-suffering wife and family, his oldest child who takes enough heroin to float a cartel and John who keeps trying to do the right thing but doesn’t always make this book a worthwhile read.
If I lived in Vancouver, Washington I would be at his Church. I would love to feel the love and spirit there.
May 23, 2025
Maybe I’m too jaded for this?? Idk. The man basically brags about being a mega church pastor but not being a rich one (as if that helps), then ruins his life, refuses to get a job because he just wanted to preach?? Never really seems to make amends with anyone but they forgive him anyway. And then once he’s finally turned his life around for good he somehow finds another job as a pastor but doesn’t consult HIS WIFE, who stood by him through all this shit, and she finds out at the same time as the rest of the congregation. I’m flabbergasted.
The only reason that this isn’t 1 star is that it was a pretty easy read and the drug running part of the story was fairly entertaining. I was hoping for The Righteous Gemstones but this was not it.
The only reason that this isn’t 1 star is that it was a pretty easy read and the drug running part of the story was fairly entertaining. I was hoping for The Righteous Gemstones but this was not it.
September 13, 2025
I liked this book a lot. The raw and emotionally human commentary was relatable at times. It was frustrating from an outsider perspective to see him keep making these mistakes over and over and over. But I realized that I make different mistakes often over and over knowing they are not good for me or my walk with God.
I appreciated the straightforwardness and the complete humility shown by the author. He left no stone unturned, he admitted to absolutely everything. Even when it felt like “how could it get worse” it somehow did, but he didn’t shy away from sharing that.
Overall an inspiring book of a man who seemingly had everything and squandered it. Lost his path and then found it again.
I appreciated the straightforwardness and the complete humility shown by the author. He left no stone unturned, he admitted to absolutely everything. Even when it felt like “how could it get worse” it somehow did, but he didn’t shy away from sharing that.
Overall an inspiring book of a man who seemingly had everything and squandered it. Lost his path and then found it again.
September 2, 2025
Something about the sub-title ("tales of a drug-running megachurch paster") that got me and sold it. Dysfunctional upbringing, backyard fight clubs, drug-running and ... spreading the good Word. Meet John Lee Bishop. It would be easy to judge this character by just the title, but you will be very wrong. Sure enough there are some face-palming moments in the book, it is a cautionary tale of how you can find yourself on the right path, and it is always those things that you ignore in the periphery that'll trip you up and have you tumbling down that dark hole. And then there are second chances, and most of all redemption. Fascinating read.
June 17, 2025
5⭐️
The title of this book was the first sign that this story would be a wild ride, but MAN was it wild. Bishop’s brutal honesty, especially about moments of great shame and dark moments, was a refreshing point of view. Having had my own experiences with mega churches (which pale in comparison to Bishop’s) I felt that I could relate to so much of what he described. It was inspiring to see how God continued to work in his life, even when he felt the least worthy. This book was a true testimony that God is not done with you, and you can never run too far from His grace and forgiveness!!
The title of this book was the first sign that this story would be a wild ride, but MAN was it wild. Bishop’s brutal honesty, especially about moments of great shame and dark moments, was a refreshing point of view. Having had my own experiences with mega churches (which pale in comparison to Bishop’s) I felt that I could relate to so much of what he described. It was inspiring to see how God continued to work in his life, even when he felt the least worthy. This book was a true testimony that God is not done with you, and you can never run too far from His grace and forgiveness!!
November 2, 2025
This was one hell of a ride. Through growing up rough and finding salvation to creating his own hard times repeatedly to finding salvation again. This guy just attracted trouble and the wrong kind of situations. But even through this comedy of errors he didn’t loose faith. He still spread the word of God while completely drunk. While in life and death situations. While in prison. He knew how to connect with people and connect people to God. This was a very entertaining read.
January 19, 2025
This book more than delivered on what I thought it might be. I inhaled it in one long night, more amazed by each chapter.
The author is a man who rose to amazing heights as a pastor and founder of Living Hope Church. And he also plummeted to depths that are unbelievable, running drugs, drinking heavily, etc. But he never lost his desire to help people.
The author is a man who rose to amazing heights as a pastor and founder of Living Hope Church. And he also plummeted to depths that are unbelievable, running drugs, drinking heavily, etc. But he never lost his desire to help people.
October 14, 2025
I didn't want to like John, but not surprisingly his charisma comes through his writing.
Engaging story, full of raw self truths and harsh reflection. The story of God is here, it is a big part of who John is, but he isn't preaching at you.
I enjoyed my all of my time reading this book, you will too.
Engaging story, full of raw self truths and harsh reflection. The story of God is here, it is a big part of who John is, but he isn't preaching at you.
I enjoyed my all of my time reading this book, you will too.
Read
October 4, 2025DNF
I thought this was something much different. If you love Jesus, that’s great! But I’m looking for an escape into another life/world when I read. I just felt like I was being preached to, and I’m just looking to get out of my head for a bit.
I thought this was something much different. If you love Jesus, that’s great! But I’m looking for an escape into another life/world when I read. I just felt like I was being preached to, and I’m just looking to get out of my head for a bit.
March 24, 2025
Super easy read! Could’ve finished it in a day, super engaging and entertaining to read. Definitely recommend it!
April 30, 2025
I enjoyed the writing. The story was entertaining. One thing I don’t enjoy in these types of books is the skipping of timelines to serve certain chapters .
Read
June 22, 2025What
July 14, 2025
This is supposedly being released as a movie soon. Think will be awesome!! This is a wonderful story. almost too crazy to be true
September 9, 2025
Another book I could hardly put down! It was certainly more than one year of living dangerously.
August 8, 2025
I received a free version of this book through good read and I gave it 4 stars
November 20, 2025
A rather "backwards" telling to the typical drug dealer book. You know the type,....I grew up poor/mistreated/etc, found my way into drug dealing, got caught and sent to prison, and then found God and he saved me. However, in the author's case, he was already a highly regarded 'mega-pastor' who then got caught up in drug dealing. It makes for a good story. AND...the author can tell good stories! Very interesting and well constructed.
I found myself surprised at actually rooting for the author. I'm glad that he made it. It's a good read.
I found myself surprised at actually rooting for the author. I'm glad that he made it. It's a good read.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews