Pastor Jason Souza

E-mail PastorJason@c3ak.com
Phone: 907-349-4246

Long, long ago in a galaxy far…
No, that’s not right.

I was born a poor, bla…
Nope. That isn’t it either.

O.K. Let’s try this one. I was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1971. In 1972, my family came to Alaska courtesy of the U.S. Air Force. In 1977, we moved to Massachusetts where we stayed for four years before moving back to Omaha. In 1985, my dad was given the choice of moving overseas or retiring. That’s when he and my mom decided he would retire to Alaska.

Now, you’ve got to understand that for an almost fourteen year old kid (who happens to be me), this is Hell. I knew it was fairly civilized from having lived here until I was five, but all I could picture was snow machines and Quonset huts. Not exactly the kind of place I was hoping to spend my formative, teenage years. Additionally, I am not the Alaskan outdoorsman type. I don’t like hunting, fishing, skiing (downhill or cross country), or the cold. My idea of camping involves generators, televisions, microwaves, and indoor plumbing (and a green-roofed shack in the middle of the wilderness doesn’t count as indoor). Why my parents couldn’t choose Hawaii, where I would’ve been happy as the proverbial clam, is beyond me.

Nevertheless, we came to Alaska. I spent four great, though unremarkable years at Dimond High School from which I graduated in 1989. One day in late July or early August I woke up with the thought that I should make some sort of decision about college. At that point, UAA was the only school still taking applications and the Alaska Student Loan was the only one still handing out money. From there on out, my college career was set. There were a few bumps in the road (a couple of academic probations and a change of major from Journalism and Public Communications to Education), but I managed to graduate anyway. Twice. Once in 1995 with my Bachelor of Arts in History and again in 1996 with my Bachelor of Education (Secondary).

During this long, distinguished academic career, I held several jobs including shoe salesman and computer guy for Gary King’s Sporting Goods (Sound familiar? Don’t worry. It’ll come to you). It was also during this time that I actually discovered my spiritual life. I’ve believed in God all my life, but it was that general, “I’m-a-good-person-so-God-must-like-me-and-will-let-me-into-Heaven-when-I-die” kind of belief. It wasn’t until August of 1989 that I actually met God. There was no angelic choir, heavenly lights or burning bush, but it made a difference anyway. That’s when I started attending Faith Baptist Church.

I spent almost ten years at Faith. During that time, I learned a lot about religion and a little about God. It’s also where I met most of my best friends, learned about ministry (as youth director under Tracy), was called to full-time ministry (February 1995), and met and married my wife Michelle. Then, 1998 rolled around, and, as a wise man recently said of the situation, “everything went to hell in a hand basket.” It was an ugly situation, but not nearly as bad for me as for many others. When the dust finally cleared after the explosion, almost everyone who meant something to me ended up at the same place I did. AQLC.

It’s been a crazy ride over the last few years. There have been lows: job termination, relocated friends and family, and the films “Pearl Harbor” and “Mission Impossible 2”. There have also been highs: the arrival of two wonderful sons (Christian and Aidan), new friends (Pat, Jay and many others), the realization of my dream of full-time ministry and many exciting opportunities. Best of all, there’s Christ Community Church, Alaska. I am so excited about C3AK. The people, the leaders, the opportunities. The possibility that Anchorage might see a church the likes of which it’s never seen before. I don’t know where C3AK will go or what it will do, but I can’t wait to find out.