Relative Excerpts from the podcast:
Chris: Welcome back, everyone! I’m your host, Chris, and today we have something truly special in store.
We’re joined by someone who embodies faith, integrity, and leadership in today’s world—Pastor Fouad Farris. His life has been a testament to his deep commitment to God, and he has dedicated himself to impacting others with grace, wisdom, and an unwavering moral compass.
Today, we’ll dive into the heart of his work, how he nurtures his relationship with Christ, and how that journey has shaped both him and his family.
Pastor Fouad, thank you so much for being here. Welcome!
Pastor Fouad: Thank you, Chris! It’s great to be with you. I really appreciate you having me on.
Chris: Absolutely! I know we’ve been trying to make this happen for a while now.
Pastor Fouad: Yeah!
Chris: A lot of life stuff came up—between my move, some other factors... oh, and having a baby!
Pastor Fouad: Well, here we are!
Chris: Exactly—here we are!
It’s actually kind of funny how we met. I first visited your church in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, and I really connected with it. My sister-in-law actually attends there, and I ended up going for a little while myself.
What really stood out to me—and I shouldn’t even have to say this, but I will—is just how deeply rooted in the Bible your church is.
Pastor Fouad: That means a lot. Thank you.
_____________________________________________
Host: Pastor Fouad, your unwavering faith and commitment to Christ are evident in all that you do. Could you share the moment you first realized your life’s work would be in service to others? And how did that moment change your outlook on the world?
Pastor Fouad: I became a Christian during my freshman year of college. I was studying pre-med at Austin College in North Texas, up in a town called Sherman, about 60 miles north of Dallas. I was also playing football, and through sports, I got involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
Then, on January 15, 1981, at an FCA state convention, I came to truly know Christ—and it completely transformed my life.
Growing up with a name like Fouad, people could tell I wasn’t originally from around here. Fouad is an Arabic name—I was born in Israel. And for a long time, if you had asked me what I was, I would have said I was a Christian, but only because I wasn’t Jewish or Muslim. I had been baptized, I knew about Christ, but I didn’t have a relationship with Him.
That night at the convention, everything changed. My faith became personal. And while I stayed on the pre-med track for a while, even considering medical missions, I quickly realized through my involvement in FCA that my real calling was to work with people—to serve Christ by serving others.
During college, I spent summers as a camp counselor, balanced a regular job, and had opportunities—thanks to being a college athlete—to share Christ with high school and middle school students. I spoke at retreats, served at camps, and through it all, I sensed that this was what God had for me.
Right out of college, I had the opportunity to join FCA full-time in the Dallas area. I spent five years there before taking a one-year sabbatical to complete my master’s at Dallas Seminary. Then I returned to FCA and continued serving for another 22 and a half years—27 and a half years in total with the organization.
Eventually, I felt God calling me out of FCA and into a different kind of ministry, pastoring. But looking back, that moment in college set the trajectory for everything. Whether through medicine or ministry, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to Christ’s service. And now, all these years later, that calling is still just as clear.
Pastor Fouad’s Links:
http://www.jaffreybible.org/
Youtube - JBC
My Personal links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lafreniere
Email: cl71088@gmail.com
Calendly: https://calendly.com/cl71088
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