WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.000 Hey guys, welcome back to the WK Podcast. My name is Michelle and I'm joined by my wonderful co-host, Zoe! 2 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:09.000 Yay! 3 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:16.000 And today we'll be diving into a wonderful friend's incredible story. Welcome Jordan D! 4 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:18.000 Thanks so much for having me. 5 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:19.000 Thanks for coming on! 6 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:20.000 I want interview you. 7 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:21.000 Oh! 8 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:22.000 This is magic. 9 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:23.000 We can't switch it up later. 10 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:25.000 I submit to your leadership, but this is so fun to be here today. 11 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:26.000 Thank you for having me on. 12 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:29.000 Yeah, man, it's such a joy to have you on. 13 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:30.000 Am I matching? 14 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.000 They are matching. 15 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:32.000 You can leave me. 16 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:33.000 They both even have the loafers on. 17 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:35.000 There wasn't even an email, but... 18 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:37.000 Loafers? 19 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:38.000 No, I just rang you up this morning. 20 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:39.000 Blue denim. 21 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:41.000 You're in the blue as well. 22 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:42.000 Oh, same bag. 23 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:43.000 Light wash. 24 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:44.000 Come on now. 25 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:45.000 Roll cross legs. 26 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:46.000 Oh, your cross legs. 27 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:47.000 Very sophisticated. 28 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:54.000 Hey, interrupting your podcast session here. 29 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:56.000 I just wanted to say thank you so much for listening. 30 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:59.000 If you are listening in on a YouTube, make sure to subscribe. 31 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:03.000 But if you are listening in on a Spotify and Apple podcast, 32 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:06.000 then make sure to follow us and give us a little rating. 33 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:09.000 Because we want these podcasts to reach as many people 34 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:11.000 because our vision here at the way 35 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:15.000 is to share the good news of Jesus with every young person online 36 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.000 and who, without further ado, get back into that podcast. 37 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:22.000 For those who don't know you, 38 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:25.000 please, can you share a bit of your story, who you are? 39 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:28.000 Tell us a little bit about yourself and we can dive in. 40 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:29.000 I'd love to. 41 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:36.000 Well, my name's Jordan and I'm born and raised in Slough. 42 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:37.000 I want Slough. 43 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:38.000 Do you know where Slough is? 44 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:39.000 Have you been to Slough? 45 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:40.000 I've been to Slough. 46 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:41.000 I've been to Slough. 47 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:42.000 It's Paradise. 48 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:45.000 How many people have said that? 49 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:47.000 Trust me, Finland. 50 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:49.000 So I highly recommend. 51 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:51.000 No, what I typically find is a lot of people 52 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:53.000 who have not been to Slough. 53 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:55.000 But they've been through it. 54 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:57.000 They will be like, oh, yeah, no, that's how I got to Windsor. 55 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:01.000 And so a lot of the time, depending on how insecure I feel, 56 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:04.000 sometimes I'd be like, yeah, I'm from Windsor or from near Windsor. 57 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:06.000 Or I tell people I'm from London, but the truth is, 58 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:08.000 is I'm born and raised in Slough. 59 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.000 In fact, my mum got married at the age of 26. 60 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:14.000 In fact, on her 26th birthday, she gets told, 61 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:16.000 you're going to get married next week. 62 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:18.000 It was an arranged marriage. 63 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:19.000 How old are you guys right now? 64 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:20.000 22. 65 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:21.000 22. 66 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:22.000 Okay, sweet. 67 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:24.000 Imagine getting told in your birthday. 68 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:25.000 Happy birthday. 69 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:26.000 You get married next week. 70 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:27.000 You know, she's in her 20s. 71 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:28.000 She's training to be a nurse. 72 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:30.000 Living in Pakistan. 73 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:34.000 And then a week later meets her husband at the altar. 74 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.000 And then he has to move back to England. 75 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:41.000 And so her first year of marriage was long distance. 76 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:43.000 And then he'd visit once or twice. 77 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:46.000 Second time he visits, she gets pregnant with me. 78 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:49.000 And then she moves back to England and still doesn't really know this guy. 79 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:53.000 But the location that they end up picking is Slough. 80 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:55.000 That's where my dad was born and raised. 81 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.000 His parents had moved from India. 82 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:01.000 I think in the 60s, Pakistan and India in the 60s. 83 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:03.000 So he was born and raised in Slough. 84 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:08.000 And my mum moves to England and has to try and figure this thing out. 85 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:11.000 And so I'm born and then my little brother's born. 86 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:17.000 And essentially two years in, my mum comes to realise that my dad. 87 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:20.000 This man who she thought was incredible. 88 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.000 This man who she trusted her parents had set her up with. 89 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:24.000 Would be a good man. 90 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:27.000 It turns out that he'd actually had a really troubled life. 91 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:34.000 And had, you know, almost a decade of mental illnesses and a drug addiction. 92 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:38.000 And just a really, really troubled, difficult life. 93 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:41.000 And she realised that that's who she was married to. 94 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:46.000 And so very quickly came to realise that she was going to be raising my brother and I by herself. 95 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:51.000 And so the story of my life is that God has been so faithful. 96 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:57.000 That even though it felt like the odds were all against myself and my family. 97 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:03.000 He has still taken us on a really beautiful, redemptive story where, you know, 98 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:05.000 I grew up without a father. 99 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:10.000 And yeah, I can stand here today and say that I know exactly what it means to be a son. 100 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:14.000 And what it means to have a father through God. 101 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:17.000 And so, yeah, oftentimes when people say watch your story, 102 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:19.000 which is such a funny thing to say, isn't it? 103 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:22.000 When someone says watch your story, you kind of go, 104 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:24.000 do you want me to tell you what happened at seven or like, 105 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.000 when you go with that? 106 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:27.000 How in depth do you go? 107 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:28.000 And so I was like, 108 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.000 if I was to condense my story into one line, what would I say? 109 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:36.000 And it truly would be that God in His kindness used friendship and the church 110 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:39.000 to restore and to redeem love for me. 111 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:41.000 So that's my story. 112 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:45.000 Dude, there's so much to unpack in that. 113 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:46.000 Yeah. 114 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:51.000 Like, I mean, just the bar that you just said now that hit me in the heart. 115 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:56.000 Like, wow, you know, still growing up without a father yet. 116 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:59.000 Still knowing like what it is to be a son. 117 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:02.000 Like, that's so powerful. 118 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:06.000 But dude, I wanted to like ask like, how did you come to faith? 119 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:10.000 Like, how did you know, like come to know this God that's fathered you? 120 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:11.000 Yeah. 121 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:16.000 Very privileged in that I grew up with a really rich exposure to faith because of my mum. 122 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:21.000 And so it's, I think what's fascinating is that, you know, 123 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:28.000 I grew up with quite a contrasted image of life where I know about the realities 124 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:32.000 and the darkness and the brokenness of life through the experiences of my dad. 125 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:38.000 But then I also came to learn about the beauty and the wonder and the goodness of God through my mum. 126 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:39.000 Wow. 127 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.000 My mum is an absolute prayer warrior. 128 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:42.000 Wow, mum. 129 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:43.000 It's interesting. 130 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:44.000 I think I could say this. 131 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:45.000 And I do believe this is true. 132 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:49.000 There isn't a day of my life that has gone by that she's not prayed every single morning and night for me. 133 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:51.000 You know, we're just kind of a wild statistic. 134 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:52.000 Yeah. 135 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:53.000 Wow. 136 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:54.000 It's amazing. 137 00:05:54.000 --> 00:06:02.000 But through my mum, you know, I was introduced to the idea and then the reality of God. 138 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:03.000 Wow. 139 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:09.000 We're a very young age and she kept my brother and I in church, you know, even though those were chaos in the house. 140 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.000 We were in church every single Sunday. 141 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:18.000 And I think I was introduced to Jesus from a young age. 142 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:27.000 I think where the nuances is the Jesus I was introduced to was a slightly distorted version of Jesus. 143 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:34.000 I grew up in a Pakistani Indian church and God bless them services with three hours long. 144 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:37.000 You know, you'd get in at three and if you're lucky, you'd leave at seven pm. 145 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:45.000 So they're very long services and sometimes they'd be a prayer meeting that would go all night once a month. 146 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:51.000 And then they'd be these weekly Bible studies and that would be the rhythm for me as a charge just because my mum would take us there. 147 00:06:51.000 --> 00:07:02.000 But I think what it had formed in me was an understanding of Jesus, which is completely in line with a lot of kind of Pakistani Indian culture, which is, you know, 148 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:08.000 at best really respectful, but sometimes the shadow side of it can be really performative where you go to parties. 149 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:14.000 And if you don't say hello to every uncle and auntie, you're the talk of the town the next day or whatever. 150 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:19.000 And so in church, what that meant was, you know, making sure that you presented yourself in a certain way, 151 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:25.000 the way that you dressed, the way that you spoke, the way that you respected people, the posture that you had in church. 152 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:29.000 And so I'd come to learn how to be really good at playing the Christian game. 153 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:34.000 And I came to learn how to, you know, please this version of Jesus. 154 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:42.000 But actually, it wasn't until I got to my teenage years where I started to meet people who would kind of agitate that understanding of Jesus slightly, 155 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:50.000 but in a really beneficial way for me where I came to actually understand the goodness and the kindness and the grace of who Jesus really is. 156 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:53.000 And these Christian friends, these are Christian friends. 157 00:07:53.000 --> 00:08:02.000 Yeah, these are people who are slightly older than me, but just decided that they were going to love on me and be really, really intentional with me. 158 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:09.000 But what's funny is, you know, the thing I love the most is, and three of us sat here today, we're storytellers. 159 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:14.000 And so we love stories. We were just talking earlier before this recording began about how we feel about movies and theatre. 160 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:21.000 And there's something about when you're sat down watching a story that it has this ability to just arrest you, like captivate you. 161 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:26.000 You're sat there and you're like, this is everything else doesn't matter right now. This story is a thing that matters. 162 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:36.000 And I think we all come to realize at one point that God is a storyteller and he is the perfect storyteller and he writes these beautiful stories. 163 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:44.000 But he's so intentional when he's slightly humorous in the way that he'll be so particular in the way that he redeems stories. 164 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:51.000 And so it's funny as a child, you know, I'm going to three hour services. I'm going to a Bible study every week and I'm going to an all night prayer every month. 165 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:59.000 And in my head, I'm like, this stuff is not good. This stuff is bad. This is, you can call it whatever you want. 166 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:07.000 And yet the Lord redeems it and gets to show me the joy of it that 20 years later, I go to church services that will sometimes last three hours. 167 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:12.000 And I'll go to a Bible study and I'll go to sometimes an all night prayer meeting. And yet there is so much joy in that. 168 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:18.000 And I think the transition from childhood to adulthood was Jesus becoming a person to me, rather than an idea. 169 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:22.000 I feel like I'm being like spoken to. 170 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:27.000 What was that process? What did that process look like? 171 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:41.000 I know that you mentioned like these friends came into my life and then now like the whole, you know, growing up in this specific culture of high honor and all of that to now like experiencing Jesus as a person. 172 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:47.000 I know that those two don't really match, but I'm just like, how did that all happen? 173 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:53.000 I know that it's definitely not an overnight thing, you know, there's a process within that. 174 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:59.000 And I think like you can, yeah, I just wondered like how the heck did that happen? 175 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:05.000 Yeah, I mean, that's the perfect question. How did it happen? And I'll just argue, I think it's still happening and continuing to happen. 176 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:09.000 I think it's going to happen until I'm 99. 177 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:13.000 But I, I think it's less how did it happen? Jordan, Dean, what did you do? 178 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:20.000 I think it's more so God coming through on his promises, you know, Psalm 68, I believe it says he's a father to the fatherless. 179 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:23.000 And then at the end, it says God puts the lonely into families. 180 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:32.000 And I just think that's, and the passage says that's who God is in his holy dwelling. That's who he is. 181 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:41.000 You know, that's just what he does. And so this idea of my story being one where it's a story of abandonment and loneliness. 182 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:53.000 And even in high school, you know, growing up, perhaps experiencing bullying or being, you know, not welcomed into friendship circles or whatever, that really grieves the heart of God. 183 00:10:53.000 --> 00:11:07.000 And when he looks down, I really do believe that he looks down and goes, I'm going to be faithful to my promise, which is, I'll be a father to the fatherless. I'll put the lonely into families. 184 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:13.000 And so there wasn't a special thing I did. There wasn't a formula that I followed. 185 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:28.000 It was purely God's kindness. And I get to sit here today with so much assurance that if there's ever anyone going through a season feeling lonely or going, I grew up with that father. 186 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:38.000 I don't know what it means to be fathered. There is such a delightful anticipation within me to be like, what a beautiful, what a beautiful journey that you have ahead for you. 187 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:48.000 Because God's going to come through on his promise. What you think you're the first person in the history of humanity that God's not going to come through on a promise for, you know, that's so good. 188 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:53.000 That's amazing. Man and I was impacted the way that you see the father now. 189 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:55.000 Yeah. 190 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:05.000 Your professionals, I can tell, you know, I mean, in every way, it is impacted the way I see the father. 191 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:13.000 I was thinking about this on my way up to the studio today. I remember when I was growing up, I had heard the concept of God being father. 192 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:22.000 And there was a very particular moment at the age of eight when my father walked away from my brother and I, and I was speaking to an uncle of mine. 193 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:30.000 And in that moment, I remember expressing a level of sadness and a level of grief in the fact that my dad wasn't around. 194 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:43.000 And this uncle essentially said, we know God is your father. I remember in that moment, feeling like that's so lazy of you to say that it felt like he was kind of far been off the responsibility. 195 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:50.000 And hear me out. I do believe that it's up to us, the boy you're crying to step in when there are deficits in people's lives. 196 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:55.000 I believe God invites us to live this compelling life at where there's lack in our friends or in our family. 197 00:12:55.000 --> 00:13:00.000 We get invited in to help meet that, you know. 198 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:05.000 But at the same time, I remember, I remember just hearing that and being like, that's frustrating to hear. 199 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:10.000 Because you've just said, now God is my father and I do not resonate with that in any way. 200 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:15.000 And that she doesn't help. So for a very long time, I'd heard the idea. 201 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:27.000 And I didn't think it was a lie. I definitely believed it was true, but it just, it, it, I guess it's, it's kind of like how I don't follow the sport of cricket. 202 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:32.000 So if you told me man, England just made the ashes, if that's technologically correct, technically correct. 203 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:35.000 English made the ashes of that sick man, cool man. 204 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:42.000 But if you tell me that Arsenal were in the Champions League final, like I'll take the day off work to celebrate. 205 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:47.000 Like there is something, because I really resonate with it, like it actually does something to me. 206 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:53.000 And so in that moment, when he said, God is your father, remember just being like, these are, this is white noise. 207 00:13:53.000 --> 00:14:10.000 And so, and so for me, the real journey has not been Jordan Dean grows up without father, but then is successful in his career or does this thing over here or I think that's almost the easy story. 208 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:15.000 You know, we talked about it earlier that I said I now stand here today and I can say I'm a son with a father. 209 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:21.000 I think sometimes people think what redemption looks like and this is very, very common is I grew up without father. 210 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:27.000 Therefore, I'm going to prove him wrong and be the father that he was or my dad left my mom to raise us. 211 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:31.000 And so I'm going to get really rich and buy her a house or and look at that. 212 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:32.000 And I'm going to that's really sweet. 213 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:35.000 But I don't know if that's true redemptive potential. 214 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:43.000 I think true redemptive potential is to stand firm in your identity and go even though I went without the Lord is my shepherd and I lack nothing. 215 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:47.000 Even though I grew up without father, I know what it means to be fathered. 216 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:50.000 And I'm like, that I'm like, that those kind of stories excite me. 217 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:54.000 I'm like, great, amazing. You bought your mom a house sick, but I'm like, do you know who you are? 218 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:59.000 And so for me, the story isn't that Jordan Dean grew up without dad, but look, we're here accomplished. 219 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:02.000 I'm like, Jordan Dean grew up without father. 220 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:12.000 And he couldn't see God as father and yet God in his kindness took me on this journey where I've gone from essentially a spiritual orphan 221 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:15.000 to a divine son. 222 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:18.000 So to answer your question is it impacted it massively. 223 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.000 Yeah, goosebumps to that, bro. 224 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:23.000 You are such an eloquent speaker. 225 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:25.000 I think you really are amazing. 226 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:27.000 It's all fake. 227 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:28.000 It's true. 228 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:37.000 But if we make it, no, but what you're saying earlier as well, really just resonated about how when you were growing up going to church, 229 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:45.000 you felt the need to kind of perform and that you didn't see Jesus as a person as the son of God. 230 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.000 Yes. 231 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:54.000 But as an idea of this person, you have to please just how everybody around you was making you feel like you have to dress a certain way. 232 00:15:54.000 --> 00:16:06.000 And I think like that can be so true for so many people like who have been raised in Christian families, but don't necessarily resonate with the faith in their heart yet. 233 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:14.000 Because of the idea that's been presented that actually to be a Christian, you need to do do this and do this and do this and do this. 234 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:26.000 It's like a message of doing and being somebody that you're not and ignoring all of the like true human feelings that we experience. 235 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:40.000 I think it's so beautiful that God met you and like broke down those walls and broke down the facade that you need to be this perfect person and you need to dress this way and speak this way and agree every single person in this church and you have to stay for four hours in the service. 236 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:45.000 It's like tackling legalism and like so good. 237 00:16:45.000 --> 00:17:04.000 It's actually everything that not everything Jesus stood for, but like I just reminded of Jesus and the Pharisees in the Bible where he like he would heal on Sabbath and and he would tell tell a layman to get up and walk and say your sins are forgiven and these Pharisees would be like, that's not right. 238 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.000 No, no, no, no. 239 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:20.000 There's like everything that Jesus stood for is knowing him first and being a child of him first and I just wanted to share, I just love that you share that and that's such a like central part of your story. 240 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:25.000 Yeah, sorry, I don't really have a question, but I just wanted to say that is amazing. 241 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:40.000 I mean, that's super good and that's exactly who God is and what he does is he redeems us, he restores us, the way that we're wired and the way that we're wired can come from so many different things, 242 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:47.000 are upbringing, our friendship circle, the cities that we live in, you know, and so, you know, we're in London right now. 243 00:17:47.000 --> 00:18:00.000 London wants to form us in London's image, right, which is strive, prove yourself, prove that you are enough, hide the things that people shouldn't know. 244 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:16.000 And so you take that and then you take your family of origin of how you were raised to see what love is or, like I said, for me, it was very performative is very much say the right things, do the right things. 245 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:21.000 Make sure that when you're seeing you're doing this and when you're unseen, I don't really, I don't really care what you're up to. 246 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:30.000 And then that just bleeds into how you view Christianity and I think what Jesus does is so beautiful, he transforms us from the inside out. 247 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:41.000 So he goes, oh, the darkest parts, I care about who you are behind closed doors, I care about, you know, the stuff that you're carrying when your head hits the pillow and you feel like you're carrying the way of the world in your shoulders. 248 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:51.000 And so then he redeems that, you know, he rewires us, which is so beautiful. And so I completely agree, I'm like, that's who he is. 249 00:18:51.000 --> 00:19:09.000 Yeah. And how have you nurtured that place behind closed doors? How do you so into that place of knowing that your identity is in Jesus and as a son of God, not who London's telling you to be or who New York is telling you to be. 250 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:29.000 Yeah, we'll go into your moving to New York super exciting, but it's like how how do you stay grounded and rooted in the truth of your identity and not allow the noise of the city that you're living in or the job that you're doing or the friendship group that you're in to inform to fully inform who you are. 251 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:41.000 Yeah, totally. I think I'd say two things. So that in the first thing is where's people need to be seen and need to be heard by a person. 252 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:48.000 But there is something about when you're carrying the way of something that when you finally share it with someone, it's like, I feel so relieved now, you know. 253 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:59.000 And I think one thing I've come to learn is the only way that it will work for you to experience that with Jesus is if Jesus is a person to you. 254 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:15.000 And so if Jesus is just an idea, it's not going to work and you're going to find yourself just bleeding on other people because it doesn't work going to Jesus because he's still an idea, but the moment Jesus becomes a person who you sit with and you come to learn, are you all the person who can actually carry this. 255 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:27.000 Oh, that actually, that brings rest to my soul that when I come to you and I share what's really going on, like this stuff behind closed doors, not only do you welcome it, you can actually hold it and you hold me. 256 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:33.000 And there is a rest and a delight and a peace and a just a reassurance that comes with that. 257 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:45.000 And so for me, you know, how has that happened is Jesus has increasingly more and more become a real person to me, where I'm like, oh, this isn't him, I'm not imagining this. 258 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:57.000 I'm not going, man, what a great practice to just sit and kind of just meditate and just hope that I'm like, no, I'm literally sat with a person going, Jesus, I need you to hold this for me because I can't hold this by myself. 259 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:09.000 And I think the second thing is just realizing the components of what you mentioned, how are you making sure that London doesn't transform you into the image of London. 260 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:21.000 And it's funny, I think, you know, we read the Bible when we look at the life of David and we sometimes go, I'm David, you know, like, I'm David. 261 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:29.000 You know, slough is essentially looking after the sheep and where God has me next is my Goliath and I need to slay Goliath. 262 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:35.000 You know, and I've just, I feel like I constantly hear God being like, dude, I don't need you to be David, man. 263 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:45.000 I don't need you to slay any Goliaths. I don't even need you to like, you know, go to battle and be brave and kill a seven foot giant or anything. 264 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:53.000 But rather look at the life of Daniel, you know, when you look at the life of Daniel, Daniel lived in Babylon. 265 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:57.000 And of course, we know in the Bible that Babylon was a city. 266 00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:02.000 But right now we know Babylon as a system, you know, Babylon still bleeds into the cities that we're in. 267 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:10.000 And I just feel Jesus being like, dude, you can be like Daniel where you live in the city, you immerse yourself in it, your friends with people. 268 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:16.000 But also you look at the life of Daniel, he lived faithfully to God and he lived subversively to Babylon. 269 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:24.000 And so things that London wants me to engage with, I get to subvert it, I get to say no to things, but I get to say yes to Jesus. 270 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:28.000 But that doesn't mean I separate myself from the people on me as I immerse myself in it. 271 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:33.000 And you read the life of Daniel and he had favor with God, and he had favor with kings. 272 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:42.000 There's something about Christians where I'm like, oh, we get to live in these beautiful cities and we get to have favor with the coffee shop owner and we get to, you know what I mean? 273 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:52.000 I'm like, we just get to enjoy these cities and we don't have to kind of go wrong to sit in my corner and it's like no embrace the place that God has placed you. 274 00:22:52.000 --> 00:23:01.000 But to go back to how do you ground yourself? I think God has been teaching me in the last year and the last two years where it really means to have an audience of one. 275 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:09.000 And I think I heard that phrase when I was younger and it felt more like an Instagram bio, you know, just living for an audience of one. 276 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:17.000 And I'm like, is it though? I don't know. And I think for so long, God has just exposed to me that the amount of times I'll do things. 277 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:23.000 And I'll do it as if only God's watching, but I know someone's watching. 278 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:31.000 And so it's funny. There have been times over the last year where he's kind of taught me the hard way of what it means to live for an audience of one. 279 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:40.000 I remember I was out having coffees with some friends and then at the end I like paid the bill and then one of the friends walked up and thanked my mate. 280 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:46.000 Well, thanks for the coffees, Murray, and then just walked off. I was like, well, thank you, Murray, I bought it. And I felt God be in life. 281 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:49.000 You did do it in secret. Then did you? You're like, you did the phrase. 282 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.000 Oh, well, yeah. 283 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:57.000 And I think with the whole concept of the audience of one, I think it's less about, you know, ticking a box being like, yes, I live for an audience of one. 284 00:23:57.000 --> 00:24:03.000 And I think it's an opportunity to see it as a moment where you get to truly love Jesus. 285 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:07.000 And so I often think about, you know, have you ever heard of this song? 286 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:10.000 What makes you beautiful by one direction, right? 287 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.000 So have billions of others. 288 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:16.000 But have you ever heard the demo better man by Murray Reed? 289 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.000 I don't think you have, but I have. 290 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:23.000 And there was something really special about the fact that my mate who is an artist has given me access. 291 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:29.000 So only I have access to this demo that you guys might hear in three years, maybe next year, but right now it's mine. 292 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:39.000 And there is something about the way that when you live for an audience of one, which is God being your audience, there is an intimacy that is built because you're like, 293 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:42.000 it's billions of people don't have access to this, but you do. 294 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:47.000 And so even when you think about London, I'm like, how does London measure success is? 295 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:49.000 How many people have seen it? 296 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.000 Is it growing? 297 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:53.000 It's always more, more, more big, big, big up into the right. 298 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:57.000 And yet there is something quite upside down about when you live for an audience of one. 299 00:24:57.000 --> 00:25:00.000 It's not about how many people can see it, about how few. 300 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:06.000 And you're like, if I write a song tomorrow and only God hears it, is that okay? 301 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.000 I think it's more than okay. 302 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:08.000 I think that's beautiful. 303 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:11.000 And I think God goes, you did that for me. 304 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.000 So yeah. 305 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:21.000 Yeah, Jordan, I mean, I love how you've touched on, you know, the audience of one and experiencing God as a father. 306 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:27.000 But then you also briefly mentioned before about how the church stepped in to help you experience like God. 307 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:29.000 But I'm also like Jesus as a person. 308 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:31.000 I was just wondering, do you have any stories? 309 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:36.000 So there are moments scattered, you know, from my childhood right up until today. 310 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:45.000 And I do believe we'll continue to where God has just been so kind and shown his generosity and provision of faithfulness through his people, through the church. 311 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:52.000 And that's a big reason why even to this day, I have such a love for the church. 312 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:58.000 You know, it's because there are so, there are so much beauty that comes from it. 313 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:03.000 And I even remember my teenage years, you know, I was probably a small church in West London. 314 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:05.000 And there was no youth ministry. 315 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:13.000 And so one of the people in the church decided that they would take anyone under the age of 16 to this church in central London, 316 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:16.000 which was this big church with a really thriving youth ministry. 317 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:19.000 And I'd been listening to worship music my entire life. 318 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:26.000 I grew up, I'd say, I was raised by Irene Dean and Darling Check, you know, if you guys know who that is. 319 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:29.000 Such a row one, such a rowing thing to say on this, anyway. 320 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:38.000 But yeah, my mom raised us listening to worship music and put us into guitar lessons as young kids. 321 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:41.000 And so music and worship played a huge part. 322 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:54.000 But at the age of 16, when I started going to this church in central London through the youth ministry, there were so many of those deficits that started to be met. 323 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:59.000 Even practically, I remember those Christmas where money was really tight. 324 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:04.000 And the church blessed my mom with this huge Christmas hamper, you know. 325 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:10.000 And they drove all the way, like they sent some people to drive all the way to slough. 326 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:13.000 Just to take it to our doorstep and go, Merry Christmas. 327 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:15.000 This is for you. 328 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:18.000 If you have a great Christmas. 329 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:25.000 But I think, I think one story that will forever mark me was, I was 19 years old. 330 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:29.000 And at this point, I'd actually started working for that church. 331 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:38.000 And I was about a month in and there was a, this is so niche, but there was a fragrance that I really, really loved. 332 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:42.000 And I remember I once wore someone else's and then some people walked in was like, who smells amazing. 333 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:44.000 And I was like, right, this is my fragrance from now on. 334 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:46.000 I'm gonna start wearing this. 335 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:48.000 And I was saving up for it. 336 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:52.000 And I was in a staff meeting and I walked by this one guy and he was wearing it. 337 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:57.000 And we'd never spoken before, but I just went, you're wearing, I'll say the name of the fragrance. 338 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:59.000 And he goes, nice to meet you. 339 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:01.000 And he goes, I'm Jacob and I'm like, I'm Jordan. 340 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.000 And I'm like, you're wearing it. 341 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.000 And he goes, yeah, I am. 342 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:09.000 And I told him, I was like, mate, my mom and I are saving up because we're gonna buy that for me for Christmas. 343 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.000 And he's like, that's really sweet. 344 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:13.000 Bear in mind him and I've never spoken before. 345 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:18.000 But the following couple of weeks, every time I'd see him at staff meeting, he'd kind of go, 346 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:20.000 and I'd go, you're wearing it again. 347 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:22.000 And I was like, you smell great. 348 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:26.000 And then the week before Christmas, he comes up to me in church and goes, I've got something for you. 349 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:28.000 And he hands me a full bottle of this fragrance. 350 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:31.000 And this fragrance is like 300 quid. 351 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:34.000 And I'm like, mate, I actually can't accept this. 352 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:39.000 I was like, this is too expensive, but also my mom and I are already saving up for it. 353 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:41.000 He goes, you need it more than I do. 354 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.000 I'm married, you're not. 355 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:43.000 Take it. 356 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:45.000 And I was like, great. 357 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:47.000 What a way to receive a gift. 358 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:50.000 I was like, all right, I'll take it then. 359 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:57.000 And I got to say that day, I was complemented and affirmed by everyone. 360 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:59.000 And I still wear it to this day by the way. 361 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:04.000 But I remember he gifts that to me and then got his number. 362 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.000 We formed a friendship. 363 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:08.000 He was about 10 years older than me. 364 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:10.000 And he was a big part of the men's ministry. 365 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.000 And then he invited me. 366 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:15.000 He was like, mate, you know, Tuesday night we're hosting ping pong at this local spot. 367 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.000 Come through. 368 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:18.000 And at that point I was living in Battersea. 369 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:20.000 So I was about 15 minutes away from that spot. 370 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:22.000 So I'd go in the end of the night. 371 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:24.000 He's like, let me drop you home. 372 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:27.000 And I'm like, mate, no, it's a 10 minute train. 373 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:28.000 15 minute train back home. 374 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:30.000 And he's like, behave, get in the car. 375 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.000 I'm driving you home. 376 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:33.000 And what should have been a 15 minute drive, 377 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:36.000 kept taking the wrong left turns or whatever. 378 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:39.000 It came just a 45 minute heart to heart conversation. 379 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:44.000 And at that point, I'd gotten really good at creatively. 380 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:49.000 You know, avoiding talking about my dad with people. 381 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:56.000 I'd very quickly brush by it or I'd kind of deflect the question back and go tell me about your parents or whatever. 382 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.000 And he just kept poking. 383 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:58.000 He kept nudging. 384 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.000 He kept going, no, tell me about your dad. 385 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.000 I need to know this. 386 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:03.000 And so for the first time, again, I've never rehearsed this. 387 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:08.000 So I just word vomit in this car and tell him everything. 388 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:11.000 And then he kind of pauses and just lets it breathe for a second. 389 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:15.000 And then he goes, and he goes ahead and tells me his story. 390 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:18.000 And it was a story of him and his father. 391 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:21.000 And again, like, you don't, you don't compare pain, 392 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:24.000 but he had had far more tragic upbringing. 393 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:27.000 But his story was that he'd reconciled with his father. 394 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:31.000 And he said, look, man, this is a painful journey that I'm inviting you into, 395 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:32.000 but it's a really important one. 396 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:35.000 And I think you need to get back in touch with your dad. 397 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:36.000 And I said to him, I don't think I understand. 398 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:38.000 I'm never going to speak to my dad again. 399 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:40.000 And he's like, you are. 400 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:42.000 You're going to call him this year. 401 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:46.000 And six months later, I call my dad. 402 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:50.000 And it was all because of this one man who continued to just go on that journey with me. 403 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.000 And so it's funny. 404 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:53.000 It's like, you talk about the practicals. 405 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:59.000 I'm like, that is someone who took me on the deepest journey I've ever been on in my life, 406 00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:00.000 who went out of his way. 407 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:04.000 And a few years later, I ended up finding out from him that actually what happened is 408 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:08.000 a few of the leaders had been scheming and my boss, Dad, 409 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:12.000 he spoke to some of the pastors and been like, look, I've got this guy working for me. 410 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:14.000 But there's something wrong. 411 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:16.000 He won't open up to anyone. 412 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.000 How do we do this? 413 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:18.000 And they go, send Jacob. 414 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:20.000 Jacob's going to be the one to crack. 415 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:22.000 And so they send Jacob. 416 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:26.000 So these guys had been scheming to get me to talk. 417 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:28.000 And so Jacob takes me out for a drive. 418 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:34.000 And again, I'm like, that is the church coming together to go, how do we meet this guy 419 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:37.000 in the deepest way, but in the most important way. 420 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.000 And so it's funny. 421 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:39.000 It's been, it's been that. 422 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:45.000 It's been, again, like the hamper at Christmas, even when I think about the church just being 423 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:50.000 the body of Christ, not even just necessarily one organization, but just people around. 424 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:56.000 I'm like, even over the last few years, I've had people be like, I live in California. 425 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:58.000 And I would love to host you. 426 00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:00.000 Why don't you come for two weeks and stay with me. 427 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:03.000 And I'm like, I've never been to America and they're like, no, it's fine. 428 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.000 Like, we'll look after you. 429 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.000 We'll host you. 430 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:11.000 I'm like, well, it's been, you know, my friend's dad in California, actually, at a moment, 431 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:16.000 a couple of years ago, which was so, again, I said this earlier, but the Lord has such a fun 432 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:20.000 sense of humor where he's so intentional in the way that he tells stories. 433 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:26.000 But when I was 16, perhaps when I was 15, I think it was 16. 434 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:28.000 When is it that you can start learning how to drive? 435 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:29.000 Is it 16? 436 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:30.000 17. 437 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:31.000 Yeah, great. 438 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:33.000 So 10 years before that, I'm seven and I'm with my dad. 439 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.000 And I'm in a car with him. 440 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:37.000 And I'm like, can you teach me how to drive? 441 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:39.000 And he goes, absolutely. 442 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:42.000 The moment you turn 17, I'll teach you how to drive. 443 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:45.000 And so I've been holding onto this promise from my dad. 444 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:48.000 And then of course, when I'm 10 or nine, he leaves. 445 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:53.000 And so the better time I get to 17, I'm like, I don't want to learn how to drive. 446 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:54.000 Like, my dad was meant to teach me. 447 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:56.000 And so it was this like wound that I had kind of just hidden. 448 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:58.000 And people would be like, have you learned how to drive yet? 449 00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.000 Or you've taken lessons? 450 00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:00.000 And I'll be like, no, no. 451 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.000 And I had all these excuses. 452 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:05.000 But the truth was I was carrying this wound with me. 453 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:07.000 And so I didn't want to learn how to drive. 454 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:08.000 And then it's funny. 455 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.000 I get to 22. 456 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.000 And I'm in California. 457 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:13.000 And my friend's dad had just gotten a new car. 458 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:15.000 And I just said, I was like, what's it like to drive? 459 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:16.000 And he goes, oh, come on. 460 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.000 I'll take you for a spin. 461 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.000 So I thought he's going to drive. 462 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:19.000 And he hands me the keys. 463 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:21.000 I'm like, you do realize I don't drive. 464 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:22.000 I don't know how to drive. 465 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:24.000 And he said, I'll teach you. 466 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.000 And so I'm in California. 467 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:28.000 And he lets me drive his brand new car. 468 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:31.000 And we get to some clear roads. 469 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:32.000 And he's like, right, floor it now. 470 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.000 Now we can go really fast. 471 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:35.000 And I'm like, this is so cool. 472 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:36.000 And he's like, all right. 473 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:37.000 And then I almost hit a truck. 474 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:38.000 And he's like, oh, maybe not. 475 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:41.000 And I'm like, this is super not allowed. 476 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:42.000 But thank you. 477 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:46.000 But remember in that moment, being like, man, 478 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:48.000 God just met seven year old me. 479 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:51.000 You know, or even like my cousin Leon. 480 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:53.000 Remember once we were at the petrol station. 481 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:55.000 And he's like, oh, I just got a flat tire. 482 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:56.000 You've ever pumped a tire before. 483 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:57.000 I'm like, no, he's like, today's the day. 484 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.000 And he just teaches me how to pump a tire. 485 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:03.000 Or like, again, these are all these fathers who have stepped in 486 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:07.000 and just reconciled and redeemed and restored 487 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:09.000 what I missed out on in my childhood. 488 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:11.000 And so it's funny like recently back in November, 489 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:14.000 I just celebrated five years of freelancing. 490 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:18.000 And there was a moment where I was kind of like, 491 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:20.000 I think what I'm going to do is I'm going to post a swipe post 492 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:22.000 of all my, you know, ten of my best projects 493 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:24.000 over the last five years. 494 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:26.000 And I immediately felt God be like, 495 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:29.000 but then you'd be telling the story that's not the actual story. 496 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:33.000 You know, I remember I stumbled across this article 497 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:35.000 and it was film plots explained badly. 498 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:37.000 It's like a picture of Spider-Man. 499 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:40.000 And it's like freelance photographer tries to make it 500 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:43.000 in New York City or, you know, inception. 501 00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:45.000 It's like people take naps or things like that. 502 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:47.000 Just people explaining movies really, really badly. 503 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:49.000 And I felt God be in like, 504 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:52.000 to post a swipe post of your best projects 505 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:55.000 over the last five years is to explain the film plot badly. 506 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:58.000 Like, what's the real story that's been written? 507 00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:01.000 When I sat with it, I think I realized I stepped into freelancing 508 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:05.000 thinking that God was going to establish me in my adulthood. 509 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:07.000 But the truth is these last five years, 510 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:11.000 he was redeeming and he was restoring my childhood, you know? 511 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:13.000 And there are all these moments that have happened 512 00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:15.000 over the last five years through the church 513 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:17.000 where things that have happened from the age of seven 514 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:19.000 or things that have happened at the age of 14 515 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:22.000 or in the last five years, God's been like one by one 516 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:25.000 in the most unique niche way. 517 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:27.000 I'm just going to redeem little things. 518 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:29.000 Things that, if you were to ever share with people, 519 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:32.000 they'd be like, but I'm like, but you know, deep down, 520 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:34.000 you know that the fact that this thing happened 521 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:37.000 is like your childhood being restored. 522 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:40.000 So yeah, that's why I always say God used the church 523 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:43.000 and he used friendship to restore love for me. 524 00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:45.000 That is so beautiful. 525 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:47.000 I like emotional right now. 526 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:49.000 Yeah, I'm like holding back tears. 527 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:52.000 Holding on, that is incredible. 528 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:55.000 I just, I think that's so beautiful 529 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:59.000 how your friends and Jacob like pursued you 530 00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:01.000 how Jesus pursues us. 531 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:02.000 Yes. 532 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:06.000 And how it's like just the church is so beautiful 533 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:08.000 because that's what we're supposed to do. 534 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:10.000 We're supposed to come alongside our brothers and sisters 535 00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:13.000 and pick them up when they're down and help them 536 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:16.000 realize this wound that they need to deal with 537 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:19.000 and this wound that needs healing that they might not want to deal with. 538 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:23.000 That's like that she, what Jesus does, he's a healer 539 00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:26.000 and he reveals to us what needs to be touched, 540 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:29.000 what needs to be redeemed. 541 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:33.000 And that is, I'm just really, really touched by that. 542 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:36.000 And also telling back to what you were saying earlier 543 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:41.000 about the audience of one, I'm sure that they were doing that for God. 544 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:43.000 They were doing that because they, 545 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:46.000 in the hearts of wanting to please God and love God and reflect 546 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:49.000 the love that they'd received from Jesus onto you. 547 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:52.000 Of course they were doing it because they love you 548 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:55.000 but they weren't doing it to impress you. 549 00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:56.000 No. 550 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:59.000 And that is so authentic that it's like true love 551 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:02.000 that is from the fountain of love which is God. 552 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:03.000 Yeah. 553 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:08.000 And I'm just really keen to know how the idea of God as your audience 554 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:14.000 has impacted and influenced how you work and present yourself 555 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:18.000 through your creativity and in your freelancing. 556 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:20.000 Yeah, I mean, you said it so well. 557 00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:22.000 The story of my life, everything I've experienced so far, 558 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:26.000 the kindness of others, had to be them doing it for an audience of one 559 00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:30.000 because this is 19 year old broken me. 560 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:33.000 You know, I wasn't, I wasn't Bitcoin. 561 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:35.000 You know, I wasn't this like hot thing where it was like, 562 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:38.000 you invest in this and the returns will be good. 563 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:40.000 It was like people kind of being like, 564 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:43.000 I don't even know if this is going to work but I just feel God being like, 565 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:45.000 man, I need to like reach out to this kid. 566 00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:48.000 So again, it wasn't Bitcoin. 567 00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:53.000 It was honestly like damaged goods is what it felt like 568 00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:58.000 and someone being like, I just feel God said I need to invest in this kid. 569 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:02.000 And so I've been the recipient of that but I think the beauty 570 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:06.000 of the story that God's writing is he, he heals us and then he invites us 571 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:11.000 into the story where we then get, we then also get to play that part 572 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:12.000 for others as well. 573 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:14.000 I remember hearing this quote a couple of years ago, 574 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:18.000 which was, our scars can become lighthouses for those heading towards 575 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:20.000 the same rocks that we hit. 576 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:25.000 And for me, that is, that's what gets my heart and fire, you know, 577 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:30.000 to go, oh, there are now other people who are heading towards 578 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:32.000 the same rocks that young Jordan hit. 579 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:36.000 Now, like, if I can, God, use me. 580 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:38.000 Like, use me to be a lighthouse to be like, 581 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:40.000 they get to be a different story for you. 582 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:42.000 Because that's exactly what I experienced. 583 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:43.000 Is it an answer to your question? 584 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:45.000 You know, like, how does that bleed into my work? 585 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:50.000 I'm like, it does 100% not like 10% when I get a chance on like everything 586 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:55.000 about the way that I've oriented my life is to be able to be of service 587 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:59.000 to others, you know, because that's exactly what I experienced. 588 00:38:59.000 --> 00:39:01.000 And so, you know, these last five years, 589 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:05.000 the thing that I've specialized in is storytelling and brand strategy. 590 00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:09.000 And what I love is I get to work with so many different churches 591 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:15.000 because I decided I always want to be a part of what God's doing through the church. 592 00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:18.000 He's writing a really beautiful, 593 00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:20.000 redemptive story through his church. 594 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:23.000 And I'm like, God, I want to be in it, you know. 595 00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:28.000 But then even when I get to work with companies or personal brands 596 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:31.000 or artists or whatever it may be, 597 00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:35.000 I'm realizing they're inviting me into a very vulnerable conversation, 598 00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:40.000 which is about identity, branding is identity, it's reputation. 599 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:43.000 And in that moment, I get to affirm the truest thing about them. 600 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:47.000 Artists will believe the truest thing about them is their last biggest project 601 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:51.000 or their biggest success or their failures. 602 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:54.000 And I get to step in and go, that is not actually the truest thing about you. 603 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:57.000 There is actually a better story being written with your life. 604 00:39:57.000 --> 00:40:03.000 And so, you know, at the age of 21, I got to a point 605 00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:06.000 and I consider myself really privileged to say this. 606 00:40:06.000 --> 00:40:10.000 But I believe at 21, God gave me a download to go, 607 00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:13.000 this is what I want you to give the rest of your life to. 608 00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:14.000 Which I realize I'm really fortunate. 609 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:17.000 Some people will realize that in their 50s or their 60s. 610 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:20.000 But He simply just gave me an ache. 611 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:24.000 I feel God said, you know, there are so many other lost boys out there. 612 00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:29.000 There is such an orphan spirit that is plaguing the world right now. 613 00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:33.000 And when you look at the fact that there are fatherless homes on the rise 614 00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:36.000 but also just parents spending less time with their kids right now. 615 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:41.000 I'm like, there is this spiritual orphanhood that is both obvious 616 00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:44.000 but also hidden in families and homes across the world. 617 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:48.000 And so I feel God being like, I want that ache to be the thing 618 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:52.000 that I'm commissioning you to just do anything and everything with. 619 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:53.000 And so it's beautiful. 620 00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:57.000 I don't feel God saying, hey, I'm the calling of your life is to be in this organization 621 00:40:57.000 --> 00:40:59.000 or to do this one thing. 622 00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:01.000 I feel God being like, I'm giving you an ache 623 00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:04.000 and I'm commissioning you, you go do whatever you want to do. 624 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:09.000 Because when God gives you an ache, then you can operate in any room that you're in. 625 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:13.000 Right now, I'm in this room right now and this gets to be a main event. 626 00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:18.000 Not a pre-event to the main event which is happening later on. 627 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:22.000 And so it's beautiful because it means if I'm going for a one-to-one coffee 628 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:29.000 or if I'm speaking at an event or if I'm on the way UK's podcast, you know, 629 00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:31.000 which, hello, this is a massive deal. 630 00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:36.000 But whatever it may be, God is saying, every single one of these moments is holy. 631 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:40.000 Every single one of these moments you get to engage in this mission or heart 632 00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:44.000 that I've given you towards the fatherless and towards the orphan spirit. 633 00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:49.000 So, you mentioned it earlier, but in eight days I moved to New York City 634 00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:54.000 and I've never been a slabway, you know. 635 00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:57.000 So, a slab to Manhattan is quite a transition. 636 00:41:57.000 --> 00:42:00.000 But I really do believe I'm moving there 637 00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:05.000 because again, God has continued to deepen the ache for the orphan spirit 638 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:08.000 and there is such a beautiful community out there 639 00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:11.000 who is meeting that orphan spirit 640 00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:15.000 and who is proclaiming a different narrative over them. 641 00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:18.000 And I think about New York and I think about the amount of people who move there 642 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:21.000 with a dream, with a vision for their life. 643 00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:26.000 And they again are claiming the identity that the truest thing about them is their skill set 644 00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:31.000 or it's their brilliance or it is their success in this corporate venture, 645 00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:32.000 whatever it may be. 646 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:36.000 And I just get to be part of this family out there who are going, 647 00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:39.000 there's a much more compelling story being written with your life 648 00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:41.000 and just remind people of that. 649 00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:43.000 That is wow. 650 00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:46.000 Jordan Bro, we are running out of time, unfortunately, 651 00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:50.000 but to close, I was wondering if you could pray for those listening 652 00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:54.000 and for those who needed to hear what you've just shed. 653 00:42:54.000 --> 00:42:55.000 I would love to. 654 00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:56.000 This has been an absolute joy. 655 00:42:56.000 --> 00:42:57.000 Thank you so much for having me. 656 00:42:57.000 --> 00:43:00.000 I'd love to pray Psalm 68.5. 657 00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:01.000 Oh, cool. 658 00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:02.000 Over everyone. 659 00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:03.000 Yeah. 660 00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:09.000 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling. 661 00:43:09.000 --> 00:43:12.000 God sets the lonely in families. 662 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.000 Father, I thank you so much that because of you, 663 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:19.000 because of your kindness, because of your grace, because of your mercy, 664 00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:22.000 because of the person of Jesus, 665 00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:28.000 the story that we start out with does not need to define the story that we go on to live. 666 00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:34.000 And I thank you so much that you are a father to the fatherless, 667 00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:38.000 that to all of us who carry an orphaned spirit, 668 00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:42.000 who perhaps feel like we don't know who we are, 669 00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:46.000 or we don't know what it means to be loved and accepted, 670 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:49.000 you write a different narrative for us. 671 00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:52.000 And I thank you that you set the lonely into families. 672 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:54.000 I thank you that this is just who you are. 673 00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:58.000 And so I pray for people who are listening today, 674 00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:00.000 who relate with that ache, 675 00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:02.000 and I just declare any identity over them. 676 00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:04.000 I pray that they would experience you as father, 677 00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:11.000 and I pray that they would get to enjoy and delight in the redemptive story that you have for them, 678 00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:14.000 where you get to set the lonely into families. 679 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:15.000 Thank you for loving us. 680 00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:17.000 You know, I pray. 681 00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:18.000 Amen. 682 00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:19.000 Amen. 683 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:20.000 Amen. 684 00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:22.000 Yeah, thank you Jordan. 685 00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:23.000 Thank you guys for cheering us. 686 00:44:23.000 --> 00:44:24.000 Thanks guys. 687 00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:25.000 I'll enjoy. 688 00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:26.000 Yeah. 689 00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:27.000 What a joy. 690 00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:28.000 And we'll see you guys in the next podcast. 691 00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:29.000 Yeah, bye. 692 00:44:29.000 --> 00:44:30.000 Bye.