Jim Clark

I was born into a family where my mother was a Christian but my father was an abusive alcoholic. For my first 12 years my life was in turmoil. Eventually my parents divorced. My mom still attended church and saw to it that I attended regularly. At 13 I made a commitment to Christ and was baptized. I remained active in church but not fully engaged.

Through my teen years I was very rebellious and only by the grace of God did I survive at that time. Even though I did not realize it, It is very clear to me now that Jesus was watching over me. In my early twenties, I was married, had a child and was divorced in 5 years. Again I was rebellious, angry and knew I was heading in a bad direction, destined for self- destruction.

A few years later I was married again and we had 2 daughters. I saw in myself many of the traits of my father and knew that was not what I wanted to be. But I was too stubborn to change. For 20+ years I went un-churched. I always knew right from wrong and that Jesus was my savior but in my daily life it did not show.

My wife and family were very patient and after 20 years I started attending FBC and began to get plugged in. The foundation that was laid by my mother when I was a child was still intact but weak. I began to recognize my weakness and failures and started the slow process of becoming what God had intended for me. I look back and think of the times in my life when I was in the worst places, God was always in my corner. Through divorce, anger, drugs, alcohol, wrecks where I should have died, He was always there.

God has been patient and has allowed my failures to humble me. But He always kept me safe even though I never deserved His protection. That’s what is so special to me now.   As bad as I was and am, He is still with me, guiding me to be the person He wants me to be.

Jim Clark