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

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Wednesday
Dec172008

Night of Worship & Compassion

Worship and Compassion

About a year ago Martin Smith of the Christian music group Delirious met with eleven other Christian songwriters for a week of songwriting. During this time together they wrote twenty-two songs. After the retreat,and just a few weeks later, they recorded the best fourteen songs. All the proceeds from these songs are given away because the copyrights are owned by Compassionart, "a charity dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor." Andy Park was one of the tweleve contributors to this project. Andy is a gifted and anointed worship leader and songwriter whose songs are song by the Church throughout the world. I am excited to announce that Andy is coming to the Coachella Valley for a night of Worship and Compassion on January 31, 2009. We are hosting the event at Faith Community Church at 6:30 p.m.and will benefit the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission (CVRM).

The "admission" to this night will be gifts of food and clothing. Please bring bulk items of food and toiletries, as well as clothes. Our donations will picked up that night by CVRM and will benefit the men, women and children who come to the mission for help.

This Night of Worship and Compassion will provide us with the opportunity to express our gratitude and thanksgiving to God through worship that has "legs." Taking action to help the poor will bless others and bless the heart of God. This is an incredible and wonderful opportunity for us to gather as the Body and express the heart of God by giving ourselves to Him in worship and giving to those in need. It will be a huge blessing to have Andy Park join us as we launch into this next year. Tell everyone you know!

"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, 
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Proverbs 14: 31

 

 

 

 

 

 

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