Jason Slack

We're not in Northwest Ohio anymore.  In fact, we are 148 miles from Northwest Ohio - officially placing us in NortEAST Ohio.  I know it doesn't sound all that drastic, and perhaps I'm slightly joking, but the difference really is noticeable.  This morning I made my first trip to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and was pleasantly surprised by the nature, scenery, hills, and hiking trails only about 25 minutes from my new house. I love to be in nature while I spend time praying.  My love for the outdoors began in college when my friends, David & Jason, took me to Seneca Rocks in West Virginia and it continued after college as I spent 5 days of solitude contained in an 11 day backpacking trip in the Rocky Mountain National Park through GCM's Wilderness LT program.  Nature is one place where I am truly refreshed, and I'm so glad to be in NorthEAST Ohio which seems to offer a wide variety of options compared to the flat farmland of the NorthWEST.

Sometimes I just need to put up some pictures of Carter; the cutest 21 month old around. We visited Lindsay's family this weekend for the annual Relay for Life and Father's Day.  Carter got me tickets to a Browns game in November!

The last pic was taken on campus at Kent State University in front of the fountain by the Student Center.

After a month in Kent, I’m just now realizing that this move has been a tough one. It’s affected me in strange ways that are still playing out. To live in a place in which I’ve been called by God to be on mission, yet to have no mission yet has started to take its toll on me. This is partly due to the support raising process which often does not feel much like ministry and partly due to simply waiting on God’s timing and for the rest of the team. Of course, I’m meeting people here and laying some of the foundations of lasting friendships, but I also feel like I’m in a holding pattern. This odd mix of living in the mission field yet not being on mission has pulled me away from God at times. Temptation and apathy creep in. My house and possessions become more important than the spiritual realm. Days and even weeks can go by without thinking about the vision for our new church or the real purpose for living here.

Fortunately, God is starting to pull me through. We still have quite a bit of financial support to raise as a family before we can be completely on-mission here, but much needed time with God is bringing perspective back. I read Jeremiah 33:10-16 the other morning in which God promises to restore the desolated lands of His people through the “righteous branch sprout from David’s line.” Though this place feels spiritually desolate, Jesus has ultimate spiritual authority (Matt. 28:18). We bring the news of Jesus to this place. There is someone who can overcome even the darkest spiritual desolation. The words we carry (only by God’s grace) are words of abundant life and can change the foundations of this society.

I've been praying with Mark on campus lately and am starting to feel a renewed sense of passion to see lost students here sought out by Jesus. I challenged the team to pray daily that all of our hearts will first break for the dire need for Christ here. Let’s be a church that first prays for this campus before we speak.

Most of my thoughts lately tend to gravitate toward our upcoming move to Kent, Ohio. I am helping to lead a team of 21 people (23 people including children and unborn children) on a church plant to Kent State University. While the baby church itself is still forming, one of the few concrete things about this venture is the purchase of our first house.

Link: http://jason-slack.com

After much persuasion from my good friend, Eric Asp, I've decided to grab this domain name and start a website. I must admit that I'm not totally sure what this will be used for-which makes this first post a little awkward. I hope to spend some sporadic free time figuring this thing out and making it useful.