Father Jarrod's Questionnaire

I currently live in a small home behind my church in the tiny town of Stover Missouri. It is a pleasant and usually quiet place. It also is in the middle of the country, so it makes it more convenient for me to travel, as Both my jobs tend to have me do. The church and home are connected by a covered walkway. It is a very modest home, consisting of one bedroom and master bath. There is a simple kitchen and dining room big enough for 4 people. the living room doubles as an office, and library, and meeting space, and the couch pulls out into a bed in case someone is in need of a place to stay. 

Offerings, donations, and funding from my online sermons, much like any other churches. Unlike the other churches, I only keep enough to pay the bills and eat the minimal amounts I need. The rest go to the poor, broken, and needy. I have seen many of these "Vacation homes" from the preachers using the churches money. Someone once told me that it is important to show people what being a preacher can afford you by having a big home and fancy car. I now understand how Christ felt when he went to the temple to find the barkers there trying to sell people fineries so they could look good for church. I once had a man stumble into my church naked, unwashed, and broken. We sat and prayed and talked for an hour with him like that before he calmed enough for me to help him. 

What Every true Christain should aspire to, is to be more Christ like. We are mere men, unlike our savior, and live in the world of the flesh. We all fall short of him, the child of God himself, but we should still aspire to be as much like him as we can manage. It is not really viable to ask me such things as "Killing" for it, as that goes directly against what I aim to achieve. I would endure great suffering in his name. I would give up all worldly goods and desires, and even identity in his name. These are nothing compared to the shining light of Gods grace and love. Through him all is possible, and I hope to some day prove that. 

Probably like most people who follow the faith, my defining moment was when I turned to God. I was 17 and was at a party. I wasn't much of a partier, even before becoming a priest, but for some reason I felt I should go to this one. About an hour into it, I couldn't even figure out why I was there. I was bored, hated the music, and was not interested in the disruptive things people were doing, but every time I wanted to get up and leave, something kept telling me I should stay. A couple hours later, when most people were too drunk to even stand, a guy drove up and got out with a gun. Apparently one of the girls there had a stalker who didn't like that she was at a party with another guy. I didn't even think after that. I simply followed my impulses. I got up and stood between the man with the gun and the others. He stood there pointing the gun at me, and screaming at me, but I simply stood with my arms outstretched. Now.... I was never very social, but the words that came out of my mouth that night held a weight I never experienced before. I calmly told him that he didn't want to do this, and that if he truly cared about this girl, he would not have come here with a gun. The rest of what I said were not my words, but Gods. I said "If you knew the love of God, you would know this, but you have this gaping hole inside you that you are desperately trying to fill with anything you can, when what you need is the love of God. That love doesn't have to be found. It is always there. You simply have to open up to it. Regardless of the things you have done, how broken you are, God Forgives! And through the blood of his only son, he has cleansed you of your sin, so long as you accept him for the sacrifices he made for you." well... after that there was a lot of crying, and apologizing, and a car load of us all went straight to town to go to church and ask forgiveness. 

I have not met a lot of people that I can call out in this. I mean I speak to people all the time, as a profession. They confide in me their darkest secrets and hardest truths... but I can't really say they are "In my life." The other two I worked with, Nathan Brown and Victoria Bellenara would be the closest ones that I could say were in my life. 

Victoria was an MMA fighter, and a fierce woman. I definitely did not approve of many of her methods, but over time, I believe I may have guided her to God in the end. Only He would know though. She was a bit prideful, and quick to anger, but she had a real soft spot for defending the innocent. There were a number of times we ended up debating the concepts of God and an afterlife. She, like many people, was led by poor Shepards to poor fields. Near the end, she actually joined me in prayer. If she is in heaven, I hope she's at last at peace, or in the front lines of God's army. I have seen that would punch an alien so hard its head exploded. She would certainly terrorize some demons. 

Nathan I don't have a lot to say about. He and I did not get along. I had a particular dislike for his lighter. I don't know what became of that particular tool of the devil, but I hope it has been sent back to hell where it belongs.

Of course, the one I am closest to is God himself, and I don't know how I could BRIEFLY describe him, though if you're that interested, there is a book written on the subject. 

My childhood... Was regrettable. My father was an alcoholic, and abusive. My mother was submissive to him and trapped by her own low self-esteem. The last I spoke to them was when I became ordained, which did not go over well with my father. There were regrettable words exchanged, and I was told never to come back. My mother, in fear of my father never returned any messages I sent her, and I never had responses to my mail. As far as I know, they were still alive and continuing their lives when the world ended. I had considered trying to get to them, but ultimately there wasn't time. Everywhere I went, I was needed. There were people to save, heal, feed.... I never got to know... And now I have left that world behind. Knowing my father, they didn't last long in the end... I just pray that their end was swift and as painless as possible. 

This would certainly depend on the definition of Love that you choose to use. I have experienced the love of God, and have shared that love, and have received the love. If we are referring to the love of a woman? I don't believe so. I have admired women for their different attributes, but as a Shepard that looks over his flock and admires the wool or meat of the animal. My walk with the lord, has been a rigorous one, and not one I believe many woman would follow or understand. The Life of a preacher's wife is definitely not for everyone. My personal beliefs are not against marriage, or even attraction in that manner, so that is not the factor, despite what some may think. 

Dorris... If anyone, has come the closest. We both went through a horrible experience together and have the shared burden of trying to help Macie. Her walk into God after our ordeal has been encouraging, and has given us much to talk about, alone, over coffee and wine. I would be dishonest if I said I had not considered it. But this soon after such a horrible ordeal, I cannot trust simple emotions. Time will tell. And We should have time. I will trust in God's guidance.