On December 18, 1965, at 17, Jack heard the gospel for the first time through his friend Bruce. Bruce quoted John 10:28, the first verse of Scripture Jack ever heard, and Jack was instantly born-again. For the next 10 years, he worked in the ministry of Young Life and learned a relational, disciple-making version of Christianity.
After graduating from TCU and Dallas Theological Seminary, Jack became a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary at the age of 27 and started a church in Fort Worth, Texas just three years later. When Dallas Theological Seminary fired him in 1987 for believing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Jack then spent four years with John Wimber at the Vineyard Christian fellowship in Anaheim California. Since then, he has pastored other churches and written some books. Jack has also been an NCS brudder, speaker and a spiritual “father” for many years.
Jack and his wife Leesa currently live in St. Louis near their son Stephen and their daughter Alese. Jack and Leesa’s son Scott waits for them in heaven. Presently, Jack takes care of Leesa as she recovers from two massive strokes. He devotes the rest of his time to writing projects and to speaking at churches and conferences.