A bit more about me

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Jay Bartow

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in the post WWII era when most families attended church. That was not the case for my family. By the time I entered UCLA I was an idealistic agnostic majoring in International Relations with the goal of working for the U.S. Departiment of State. During my freshman year a student introduced himself to me while taking a survey of religious opinions among collegians. The last question was whether I was interested in developing a stronger spiriitual life. I said I was, and this student invited me to explore the New Testament, which was virgin territory for me. As I read the words and way of Jesus of Nazareth I was captivated.  After a few months of many questions and much reflection I apprenticed myself to Jesus. He opened for me new vistas of meaning and purpose which have enriched my life in more ways than I could imagine. I discovered a calling to become an ambassador for Christ, as the Apostle Paul describes the life of discipleship. l decided that I would like to tell my story in the hope that it might spur others to consider the words and way of the man from Galilee. Dietrich Bonhoeffer who opposed Hitler and paid with his life, described Jesus as "The Man for Others."  That seems to capture the essence of Jesus and why I continue to seek to follow where he leads.