Charlie Cutler is the President of ChurchWest Insurance Services, the same company that brings insurance and compliance trainings to the state of California through their annual “Bootcamps.” As he puts it, “We do more than church insurance. We get involved in equipping ministries with authoritative information and actual resources. We help ministry leaders protect their ministries.” Charlie loves sailing and has had the opportunity to exercise that passion in San Diego, Orange County, Mexico, Greece, and Croatia. Married to his wife, Adriana, who comes from Spanish and Argentine roots, Charlie has a self-proclaimed “unhealthy obsession” with traditional Argentinian Asado Open-Fire cooking. Together they have a 21-year-old daughter, currently making her way through college.
1. What Podcasts do you listen to?
I love Dr. Iorg’s Leadership podcast. I listen to it and then I email him with corrections and input. Just kidding, but I do really enjoy his podcast. I follow politics the way other people follow sports, so I listen to the Daily Wire with Ben Shapiro, and NPR mostly.
2. Toilet paper, under or over?
This is probably one of the biggest fights I’ve had with my wife ever. I’m an over and she’s an under and we’ve chosen just to live and let live. We use different bathrooms. It’s the key to a healthy marriage.
3. Tell us your best, ministry horror story?
As a kid, I was in a musical about Jonah, and I was the “second mate.” We were supposed to throw marbles overboard. I was the kid who was always getting in trouble, so, when it came time to throw the marbles, I threw mine into the audience and accidentally hit a person which resulted in a whole medical emergency with paramedics and everything…As a kid, I was the cause of a church liability claim, ironically.
4. What biblical character (other than Jesus) would you want to meet, and why?
Judas… I want to ask him, “what did you go through after “all-that?” If you think about it, Judas loved Jesus. What he must have gone through as a chosen disciple. He was a real person, you know… a real man, and he went through it, and suffered… and God knew and Jesus knew. God knew BEFORE it was even all going to happen!
5. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
I am going to Antarctica in January. I’m going to “bucket list” it because my wife and I are visiting Argentina and Chile and then hopping over. Also, I’m also going to do “The Running of the Bulls” next July. I’m supposed to go with a couple of friends.
6. What is your favorite Bible verse or what is a Bible verse you are currently meditating over?
The verse that means a lot to me is Galatians 6:2. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” It’s part of what we do in our role; we, both on the insurance side, and personally serving pastors. I’d say it’s my guiding life verse.
7. When you think through all the names of Christ, what name resonates with you right now, and why?
Redeemer… He does so much to lift us up with love and grace and sometimes I feel like we’ve lost that … the grace and forgiveness. It’s pretty nice. We’ve made mistakes but the fact that we have God’s grace and that we can repent? It’s pretty powerful for all of us.
