Thank you for taking the time to hear Jason's story. I met Jason last summer when he came into our church office to share a treasure he had that he wanted to give to our pastors. He was going through a hard time, but despite his circumstances, he was very upbeat, kind and thinking of others. As I got to know him, his optimistic personality, and renewed faith in Jesus has kept his head above water through life's difficulties. He was out of work at the time, however, God provided a job and transportation for him to start working at Baylor University. This is not a high paying job, as many who work in education know, and with legal fees and child support, there is nothing left for his own needs. Right now he has an abundance of dental care that needs to be covered and he is living with constant tooth pain, cavities and teeth that are all broken, so he's unable to bite into his food properly. This amount will not cover all his care but it is a start. The plan is to raise as much as we can to get the pain to stop, eat again and hopefully, there will be enough to replace the teeth in the front so he can smile confidently again. Thank you for considering any donation you can. I will manage the money and pay the dentist personally, so funds will only be funneled through me. The following is his testimony of God's goodness in his life if you would like to know more about him. Patti Blake, Receptionist, Highland Baptist Church
My name is Jason Blankenship and I have lived a life of sin. Grace was never anything I understood fully or even acknowledged for most of my life even though hindsight has shown me to be blessed beyond all measure. As a young man, I grew up in a divorced family, with my mother who was very much part of the "world", yet she did allow one thing- freedom of choice when it came to religion.
I spent most of my youth, roughly age 9-14, trying to find God. Lutheran, Catholic, Roman Catholic, Mormon , Adventist, Methodist and Baptist. It was not until I was about 13 that I found Temple Street Baptist in Lacey, Washington and Pastor McKinney that I began to feel a presence in my life. We were an active saving church. We went out on Wednesdays door to door and spread Christ's message. The love of Christ that was represented in the congregation was an amazing catalyst for me as a young man. Within the year, despite the pressure of home life and the world, I felt the Holy Spirit for the first time. I felt the sermon that day, the call to come forward, to accept Jesus, give my life to him and accept His gift, was directed right at me. Through that day and up to my baptism, I continued to be an example of Christ to my step dad and mother.
When the day finally came for my baptism, I was glad that my step dad was there and accepted Christ as well, so at least through me, another was saved. I have such peace and love that remains today because of that moment in time when I gave my life to Christ.
Like all young people who do not have a strong support system in the home, I started to drift away although as I look back, God was always there protecting me and saving me for His purpose both physically and spiritually.
After moving to Texas and through the covid years, I failed to be the leader in my home and lead my wife and 3 girls, ages 14, 5, and 4 to church. I live for my family. I was working so hard and when I wasn't paying attention my wife was lured away into the Jehovah's Witness faith where she now lives with that community along with my children. I have been fighting (legally in court) to win all of them back and will continue with the Lord's help. I expect to win out eventually in saving my children from their influence yet even now, God is using this to His advantage and glory. This season of turmoil, as I call it, has led me to become a covenant member at Highland Baptist Church in Waco where I have found a people and a purpose after my own heart. A family of believers and promoters of Christ's message that I found because of the path God has set before me. I was blessed with a job on campus at Baylor that has surrounded me with young men and women who are amazing to behold.
This placement by God's design, has put me into a position to counsel, teach and to reach those young men and women with my testimony, my life's example, with my joys, sorrows, struggles and triumphs. To let them know that even though I am a sinner, through all my life and all my past, present and future experiences, God has never and will never abandoned me. He continues to build me up for His glory, so there is always hope present in His grace. Yet, I fear in the back of my mind the judgements that are made about my appearance. I love to smile, laugh and eat but with missing most of my upper teeth, I fear that the Gospel message and example I am making with these young people at Baylor may be tainted.
It is for this reason that I am giving my testimony and ask for assistance from my church family. I want to continue to share Christ and present myself in the best way possible with a full smile. I would love to have my smile back, to eat without worry and avoid the stain of judgement that my physical appearance can cause.
Should you be willing to assist me in this, please know that I am thankful beyond words.
Christ's blessing to you all,
Jason Blankenship
