Another Special Life in Christ:

CHRISTOPHER PARKENING:

His Life Before Jesus Came In:

Christopher Parkening (born 1947) is a highly successful and  famous classical guitarist. He was raised in Los  Angeles, and began playing the guitar when he was 11  years old. His decision to play the guitar was  influenced by his cousin, who also advised him to do  two things. First, to study classical music! And  second, to get Andres Segovia's records and allow  them to inspire him. Christopher followed his  cousin's guidance to the letter, and even developed  a close personal friendship with Andres Segovia!  

When he was 19 years old, his skill reached an  extraordinary level that allowed Christopher to sign  a contract with Capitol Records, and begin touring!  He performed at least 90 concerts a year! But  touring wasn't as glamorous as he thought it would  be, and his life became overwhelmed with emptiness.  He decided to end his career as a classical  guitarist, and ultimately moved to southwest  Montana. He settled down about 90 miles from  Yellowstone National Park, and began to pursue his  dream of fly fishing.   He quickly began to excel at tarpon fly fishing, the  extreme sport of all fly fishing, where the fish  reach lengths of six feet! Christopher became so  successful in this new endeavor that he even won the  most prestigious tournament in the sport (i.e. the  'Wimbledon' of fly fishing!)! This gave him the  prestigious distinction as the Champion of Tarpon  Fly Fishing! Yet one year after changing his career  and life, his heart was still filled with emptiness.  He did not know what was wrong with him.

   Then one of his friends invited Christopher to a  local church service, where he heard a sermon that  changed his life! The preacher's message was taken  from Matthew 7, and was instrumental in his  realization that the emptiness he felt was because  he was not truly a Christian. Christopher had been  baptized as a youngster, and had attended church on  and off throughout his life. His parents even told  him that he was a Christian! But in truth, he was  not.

  Christopher sensed Jesus leading him to understand  that he had never truly surrendered his life to  Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and that he had not  been living his life for the purposes of God.  Instead, he had been living it for himself, to  perform with the guitar, to fly fish, etc.  Christopher sensed the Lord saying to him, "You  never cared about me...You've never really been  focused on me." And it was then that Christopher  realized that he wasn't truly a Christian. So he  asked Jesus to come into his life, forgive his  sinful ways, and let the Holy Spirit of God live  inside of him and direct his pathways. He sincerely  wanted to devote his life to bringing glory to the  Lord of Glory, instead of his continuing to live his  life for himself! God heard his prayer, and saved  his soul!

His Life Since Jesus Came In:

Christopher then began to consider how he might use  his life to glorify God. He called his Manager and  Capitol Records and told them that he wanted to  return to playing music again. He also told them  that this time he wanted to honor and glorify his  Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through his music!  And the rest is history!

  And Christopher's wife, Teresa (who also loves the  Lord!), is his greatest encourager and now serves in  the ministry with him! They reside in Southern California. She plays the guitar, does  Christopher's sound checks, and is also an excellent  fly fisherman! Since receiving Christ, the  emptiness that Christopher couldn't fill on his own  has left him! He now testifies on behalf of Jesus  Christ everywhere he goes, saying "It's not about  fame and fortune! It's about glorifying God with  your whole heart and life!" [his website]

What is the Gospel...the "good news" of Jesus?