TOMMY JARRETT

CARE AND MISSIONS PASTOR

TJARRETT@BROADMOOR.ORG

I grew up in the Mississippi Delta with wonderful Christian parents guiding me through my formative years. Church involvement was not an option for me. From birth I was immersed into the community of faith. However, my concept of faith and God had nothing to do with a personal relationship with the creator of the universe. I thought if I was "pretty" good and did enough religious things, everything would be ok with me and God. Yet, even with that philosophy of life, deep within me I always knew there had to be more to faith than what I had experienced.

My genuine experience with Christ in a saving way came between my sophomore and junior year in college. Things were going great for me personally. My life was really opposite from the down and out person in great trouble needing a savior. During the summer of 1970, a friend invited me to a home bible study. It was there that I was asked a penetrating question that ultimately changed the direction of my life. I was asked, "Are you a Christian?" I was initially angered by such an inquiry. "Sure I am a Christian. I go to church (I really didn't go much) and I've been baptized (even though I didn't know what I was doing at the time)."

That night when I went home from the home bible study, the question "Are you a Christian" penetrated my thinking and my emotions. I knew that my response was inadequate. For several weeks I had been surrounded for the first time by persons my age that had a joy that I didn't have. They talked about Jesus and what He was personally doing in their lives. I had never experienced God in that way. That night for the first time I asked Christ to forgive me of sins, enter my life, and make me what He created me to be.

God answered that prayer and made me his child. For the next couple of years, things radically changed for me. Rather than follow a dream of going to law school, God called me into vocational ministry. At Mississippi State I met the love of my life and while a second year student at Southwestern Seminary, Sandra and I were married. God has given us together many unique ways to minister, three wonderful children, and the knowledge that His purpose for us continues to be adventurous and significant. We are genuinely grateful to God for allowing us the privilege of serving Him at Broadmoor.

ROWLAND HALL

COMMUNITY IMPACT PASTOR

RHALL@BROADMOOR.ORG

There is no doubt that God’s loving hand has been on me throughout my entire life. I was blessed to grow up in a home where both of my parents and each of my four older brothers and sisters had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Several members of my family were in vocational ministry and I was determined that this would not be the casefor me. I decided during my teen years that I was going to be the “successful” member of the family and that I would serve the Lord by being the best businessman that I could. However, my definition of success was based on theworld’s perspective rather than the Lord’s. When I was a senior in high school, my father passed away in a rather abrupt and unexpected fashion. The death of my father was a life changing and somewhat defining time in mylife. God used this pivotal situation in the years to follow to alter my view of “success.” Through an incredible journey, the Lord was able to penetrate my hardheadedness and help me to see that “success” for a Christian is not defined by how much one is able to gain in material wealth or social influence. He revealed this to me by placing some key people in my life who demonstrated that a healthy, vibrant relationship with Him was not something to be taken lightly, but rather to seek after in diligent fashion. This relationship catalyzes the desire to introduce other to Him so that they can experience the same abundant life that has been extended to each of us. God is still teaching me that true “success” is utilizing what He has given me to influence others for His glory. Ironically, what I can not imagine doing anything different vocationally other than ministry. I thank God for allowing me the honor and the privilege to serve him in ministry. Knowing and loving Him as we demonstrate His love to others in the moments and matters of every day life. What a ride!