A Family Story 2021 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

It’s been about a year and a half since I wrote A Family Story Newsletter.

So, you know, not much has happened…

About a year and a half ago the Clark family experienced some church trauma because the well-intentioned but clueless husband and dad of the Clark family (that’s me) wrote an article challenging a punitive perspective on hell. I didn’t realize how entrenched Eternal Conscious Torment was in the theological foundations of our community.

If you’re curious, you can read it and the following articles HERE.

For the leadership of our church, that article “bordered” heresy which led to them stepping away from connection with me and A Family Story. Within weeks it became clear I was no longer a trusted or valued member of our community, which led to my family and extended family feeling they had no other option but to leave. It was painful. We were deeply involved relationally in almost every aspect of church life, with my wife, Karen, and daughter, Madeleine, on staff.

I wrote an article shortly after we left that touches on what happened from our perspective. If you’re curious, you can read it HERE.

That said, suddenly the Clark family was headlong on a new journey. And while we felt lost and adrift, we were surrounded by family and friends, and are eternally grateful.

After a few months, Karen and I began to feel new freedom regarding ways in which to express the uncontrolling love of God; ways we realize now we couldn’t have pursued while in our church community.

For twenty-five years Karen and I have been learning how to take a pioneering, missional, long game approach to life and ministry. And in this last year, we, the whole family, have experienced wildly beautiful new ways to learn trust and thankfulness. Even as COVID shut down the world, we began to discover new ways to connect with, and love people. Karen and my girls connected deeply with The Charlotte Dream Center, a ministry to the homeless, hopeless, and forgotten communities of Charlotte. You can read more about it below.

For me, because of COVID, the itinerant speaking aspect of our ministry shut down. So, we launched a podcast; Rethinking God with Tacos. This podcast has been a powerfully good way to dive headlong into grace while continuing with the mandate for A Family Story; to create content catalytic for a transformational encounter with the love of God. Here is a cool recent review I found on iTunes, love this stuff!

“This podcast has changed my life and heart in so many ways. It has healed the places that trauma, tragedy, and religion had broken, and it has…placed hope back in my hands. It has connected me to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a more intimate way and brought me to a great awakening…”  — Free1021

Along the way, I reconnected with my friend Derek Turner, who co-hosts. Derek pastor’s River Church in the greater Charlotte area and we have had an incredible time diving into the reconciling nature of God’s love with brilliant guests like, François du Toit, Randal Worley, Baxter Kruger, Danny Silk, Dr. Caroline Leaf, Kristin Du Mez, Wm Paul Young, Brian Simmons and more.

Like so many, COVID impacted our income. But God is faithful and has provided through the generosity of people giving to A Family Story and also through a ghost-witting project. So, last year I wrote. First, I wrote a book for someone else, and then I pressed on and hope to finish my next book by the end of this year; a book on our union and our oneness with God, a book that reveals a God who never leaves and who is reconciling the world to Himself. I am excited about this message and believe there is life in it!

For A Family Story and the Clarks, 2020 through today has been transformational in hard and beautiful ways. And as the world slowly opens back up we are excited about what God has for the future and we are incredibly honored to run at it with you!