Surprise! Minister, wife meet Oprah, receive unexpected gifts

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey doesn’t make it out to the woods too often.
For a recent special, though, Winfrey and friend Gayle King hitched a pop-up camper to a Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid and hit the road to Yosemite National Park.
The purpose of Winfrey’s adventure: to meet Shelton Johnson, a black park ranger who complained that few African-Americans visit America’s national parks.
While exploring Yosemite, Winfrey ran into Woody Square, who has served since 1992 as youth and family minister for the San Leandro Church of Christ in California. Square is black.
“Hi, where are y’all from?” Winfrey asked Square and his wife, Judy.
“Guess why we’re here?” King chimed in. “Because we were told black people don’t normally come to the forest. And we go, ‘There’s a black man!’”
“Surprise!” Square replied with a laugh. “I’m the first one here.”

The Squares, who were visiting Yosemite with friends from Australia, posed for photos with Winfrey and couldn’t stop talking about the encounter.

“It was totally surreal,” said Woody Square, who earned an associate’s degree from York College in Nebraska, a bachelor’s in Bible from Harding University in Searcy, Ark., and a master’s in ministry from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.

“The fact that we met her was amazing,” said Judy Square, who served with her husband for six years as missionaries to Papua New Guinea.

A week later, an “Oprah” producer called and invited the Squares to fly to Chicago and appear on the show. The producer said the show would take care of everything — flights, chauffeurs, accommodations and all tips.

During the taping, the Squares chatted briefly with Winfrey. Near the end of the show, the host again smiled at them.

“Woody, it seems like camping just brings you so much joy, right?” Winfrey said to Square, who visits Yosemite yearly. “So, come on up here, guys.”

As the Squares stood next to her, Winfrey said, “So, I would have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Yosemite, and everybody should get there at least once in their lifetime, don’t you think?

“But the truth is,” she said, “I have to finish the 25th season, and the next time I go, I’m going to find a butler. 

“So, I won’t be going anytime soon. So, I want to give you guys the keys to my Coleman camper. And, because you guys have been so great, you need something to pull it with. So, I’m throwing in the Chevy hybrid Tahoe.”

Woody Square leaned his head back in surprise. 

His wife put her hands over her face.

Winfrey didn’t know it, but the Squares’ 11-year-old Toyota Camry has 220,000-plus miles on it. They were hoping to make it last another two years.

“We really felt it was a God thing that brought us there at the right time at the right place,” Judy Square said of crossing paths with Winfrey. 

 

• Feedback
  Hey, wan house. I know you will use your blessings well. Love,

  Rose Cobb

  Tent City Church of Christ

  Lae, Papua New Guinea
  Tent City Church of Christ

  January, 3 2011

  Congratulations Diwai
  God does work in amazing ways.
  mi igat bikpela hamamas tru long yutupela na long wok yutupela i save mekim, na mibilip dispela em wanpela wei long God i strongim yutupela.
  Wesley Wosse
  Lae. Papua New Guinea.

  Wesley Wosse

  Tampawi

  Lae, Morobe
  Papua New Guinea

  December, 21 2010

  That’s awesome. Sometimes good things DO happen to great people!!
  Woody, Hey, If you visit Harding or AR, you’ll always have a place to park the camper! Love to se y’all again!

  Barry Bentley

  Holly Springs

  Pangburn, AR
  US

  December, 18 2010

  Great to read all about your story. God is good and may He continue to bless you.
  Mi amamas tru lukim long pes bilong yu tupela.
  Love from Tom & Rens Bunt.

  Tom & Rens Bunt

  The Point Church of Christ

  Brisbane, Quennsland
  Australia

  December, 15 2010

  Congrats Woody and Judy. You guys are a blessing and should be blessed. Drive on over and we will celebrate with you. God is indeed great!

  Dr Tobey Huff

  Sabeto

  Vuda Point, Lautoka
  Fiji

  December, 14 2010

  This could not have happened to nicer people. Went to York with Woody. A great guy.

  david ramsey

  Eastside

  colorado springs, colorado
  USA

  December, 6 2010

  I saw the show and it was so exciting! Especially getting that Tahoe ~ what an awesome surprise! Oprah was really generous…and we know its a God thing! Blessing on the family and happy camping!

  Martie Noll

  Oak Hills

  San Antonio, TX
  United States

  December, 5 2010

  What a wonderful blessing for the Square family–I am sure they will enjoy the Coleman camper and the Chevy Tahoe they received from Oprah. This is definitely a blessing from the Lord. Best of wishes to the family.

  Sharon Skinner

  Central Church of Christ

  Shawnee , OK
  USA

  November, 27 2010

  I can’t think of a more deserving couple! God is good!

  Steve Byrne

  Church of Christ at Pearl Harbor

  Honolulu, Hawaii
  USA

  November, 24 2010

  Congratulations, Judy and Woody! I usually don’t watch Oprah, but I would love to watch the show when you are on it. Let us know! Herman and Sandy Hughes

  Herman W. Hughes

  Kelseyville Church of Christ

  Lakeport, CA
  USA

  November, 24 2010

  Great story of sharing no matter who you are

  Betsy Bauman

  Picayune Church of Christ

  Picayune, MS
  USA

  November, 24 2010

  (Please forward to Woody.)
  Dear Woody,
  What a wonderful surprise! I’m so happy for you. And I remember with joy our time together in Memphis.
  Yours,
  Billie

  Billie Silvey

  Culver Palms Church of Christ

  Culver City, CA
  USA

  November, 24 2010

  When will the Oprah Winfrey Show Air?

  John Bost

  Strasburg

  Strasburg, VA
  USA

  November, 24 2010