Hero Interview from Bluegrass Courtship

Interview with the hero Drew Downing from Allie Pleiter’s Bluegrass Courtship:

1. Drew Downing, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
Probably that I’m not as interesting as everyone thinks. Sure, as host of Missionnovation, I’ve probably got one of the coolest jobs on television. But I’m just an ordinary guy who likes to build things--I just get to do it in front of the cameras. I carry a pocket watch of my Dad’s even though I wear a wristwatch. I love chocolate chip cookies and caffeine has long lost its effect on me. Is any of that interesting, or just weird?

2. What do you do for fun?
My job is the most fun I have, so I suppose I work for fun. Which is why it never feels like work. Okay, maybe at three in the morning before our target project is supposed to be completed and the power goes out in the driving rain, then it doesn’t feel much like fun. That’s usually when I start singing. Makes everybody laugh. I’d much rather they were awestruck…

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
I can’t remember the last time I had a physical. A couple of emergency room visits…you never want to get in an argument with an electric staple gun…but I’m too afraid some doc will tell me to stop pulling all nighters or to slow down and eat better. When your sponsor is Delicious Dave’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, you better not be counting calories.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?
If I slow down, I’ll find out I like slowing down. That’d be disastrous for a whole bunch of people.

5. What do you want out of life?
Every single bit of it.

6. What is the most important thing to you?
That people know I’m the real deal. Missionnovation is out to help churches by renovating them to reach their full potential. So that the strength of the building matches the strength of the congregation inside. There’s no gimmick or hitch. We don’t cut corners and we do quality work. It just so happens we do it with the cameras on.

7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?
My favorite books are the instruction manuals for this year’s coolest new power tools. I don’t have time for much else. Oh, and a Bible. That’s the best instruction manual of all, if you ask me.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d give myself six fingers on each hand so I could play wicked guitar and hold more stuff while I nail. On second thought, that might be a bit creepy. I suppose I wish I could care less about the folks who are sure I’m not what I seem to be. I’m always trying to convince them I’m the real deal, and that’s gotten me a bit off track from time to time.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
We had a moth on the show bus for a week once. I named it Homer until it ate through one of my favorite sweaters. I’m thinking maybe that doesn’t really count. If I didn’t travel so much, I’d be a big yellow lab kind of guy.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
I’d build stuff with Jesus. He was a carpenter, so we’d totally get along. Plus, I’m guessing I’d learn a lot more about a lot more than just how to fit wood together.