Jason's Story
I became a Christian aged 17, after never being in a church, with a dramatic conversion experience. I visited a local church that was helping my mother after my father had walked out, and I had two brothers, one aged 15 the other, 1 year old.It was my first experience of a place full of worship, life, and talk about relationship with Jesus. Given that the violence and abuse in my home, when the youth pastor told me becoming a Christian might make life more difficult, he gave me a hard sell.

But I was invited into a life meaning, adventure and purpose, with something to live for and something to die for. I gave my life to Jesus on the spot, when I heard that.Then I knew everything had to change, that my life was His, and my future plans were now His to direct.

I ended up working for a bank, then doing a theology degree, then working as an investment broker in London whilst helping plant churches, and started my family during this time, having met my wife at seminary.

Carl was a huge part of my story. I wouldn't have planted a church if it wasn't for one particular meeting in Brighton, that he was involved in, that allowed me to step out within my denomination.
Then in the midst of planting, I had a full nervous breakdown in 1999, overwork, my drug of choice, instead of my parent and siblings use of alcohol.
Very few people were there during that time outside my church, finding mental health hard to get involved with.

But Carl was, I remember his phone call to me, and the relief in knowing someone had been through something similar, and he helped me find hope and connection to Jesus.  So several years later, I'm still in ministry, still trying to keep it real, as I know lecture and teach at seminaries, and have found that Jesus had an academic as well as church planting journey for me.

Jason Clark

Tuttle Thoughts Archive
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Tuesday
Oct312006

Not my thoughts, but something to think about!

THERE ARE MANY WHO SEEK KNOWLEDGE FOR THE SAKE OF KNOWLEDGE: THAT IS CURIOSITY.

THERE ARE OTHERS WHO DESIRE TO KNOW IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BE KNOWN: THAT IS VANITY.

OTHERS SEEK KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO SELL IT: THAT IS DISHONORABLE.

BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD SEEK KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO EDIFY OTHERS: THAT IS LOVE.
Bernard of Clairveaux

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Reader Comments (1)

It was Bernard of Clairveaux who wrote the song

esus, thou Joy of loving hearts,
Thou Fount of life, thou Light of men,
From the best bliss that earth imparts
We turn unfilled to thee again.

Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;
Thou savest those that on thee call;
To them that seek thee thou art good,
To them that find thee all in all.

We taste thee, O thou living Bread,
And long to feast upon thee still;
We drink of thee, the Fountainhead,
And thirst our souls from thee to fill.

Our restless spirits yearn for thee,
Where'er our changeful lot is cast;
Glad when thy gracious smile we see,
Blest when our faith can hold thee fast.

O Jesus, ever with us stay,
Make all our moments calm and bright;
Chase the dark night of sin away,
Shed o'er the world thy holy light.

November 3, 2006 | Unregistered Commenterrich braley

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