John Starkel – Bio & Blog

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Where were you Born and Raised? I was born on October 18, 1967 in the beautiful city of Seattle Washington. I definitely grew up a city boy and enjoyed every minute of it. My friends and I spent most of our childhood playing some version of tag by running through neighbors’ yards and jumping from roof to roof. Yes our houses were that close together. I eventually grew up and went to the University of Washington, (Go Huskies!) which was within walking distance from my home.

Tell us about your family – My beautiful wife Tami, and two handsome sons Luke and Colby. I couldn’t be more proud to have the wonderful family I have. I have an incredible wife who sings like an angel, it is rumored that she may actually be one. And two boys who are becoming gifted musicians in their own right, Luke on the guitar and Colby on the drums.

What are your favorite places to eat on the road? Every authentic Mexican hole in the wall restaurant, but especially Papa’s and Beer in Asheville, NC.( not for the beer, it’s just the name of the restaurant) They have the most amazing Salsa Bar. Again, that has nothing to do with Beer, it’s just a bar where you choose from several scrumptious styles of Salsa.

What is one interesting talent you have that most people don’t know about? I am a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet addict. I love creating spreadsheets to track and project just about anything!

Do you have any special interests or hobbies? I love to run. I’ve been running now for about 4 or 5 years. I ran my first marathon in 2009 in Charlotte, NC, and plan to run many more in my lifetime. I also enjoy playing Airsoft wars with my two sons. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it is basically shooting each other with high powered battery charged air riffles that shoot small plastic BB’s that weigh about .20 grams. Sounds light, but you don’t want to be too close when one hits you in the leg, or back or cheek. There’s lots of running involved in that too, usually me running away from my boys ambushing me.

What is your personal testimony? It all started in 1967 when I was—— wait, too detailed. I grew up in a home where we went to church, Sunday school and even church camps at the ocean. I said prayers on a daily basis before bed and meals. My family was full of love and I enjoyed my childhood. When I was 12, my Dad died from Leukemia, after a very hard battle for about 5 years. I didn’t understand much about it, only that he was gone a lot, and sick a lot in the hospital.

After he died, I began to make the kinds of choices every parent dreads for their kids. I had my first drink of alcohol in 9th grade at the age of 14. I told my Mom I wasn’t going to church any more, and we didn’t. I didn’t get into the outward kind of rebellion that would alarm most parents or family members. Mine was the hidden kind, where I looked pretty good, clean cut and preppy on the outside, but on the inside I began to lose myself to the desire to be liked, popular and cool. I created for myself, an identity that was linked to “partying”. My proudest moment in High school, was winning the Most Radical Partier Award. College at the University of Washington was more of the same only with stronger drinks and drugs. Again, I still had a pretty clean outward image and decent grades, and after all I wasn’t one of those loser drug addicts or alcoholics that I saw on the streets, I was just having fun like everyone else in college, right?

The problem was, after 6 or 7 years (starting at 14) of drinking and mild drug use, I started to reap the consequences. I was unhappy most of the time, even depressed. I didn’t feel close to anyone, even though I had several good friends. I felt empty and wondered what life was all about. I was worried about my future and If I could make it out in the real world. One day while in a particularly depressed state I walked by a person asking if I would like to take a free personality test. I figured why not, and went with the young man to the offices that were located right off the University Avenue that was such a popular place to walk and hang out for University students.

Long Story here, but here is the short version. Scientology taught me that I was a “god in the making” so to speak, and that I had all the potential a god had, and all I had to do was follow the step by step process to become “clear” and then I could realize my destiny which by the way would eventually mean that I would no longer need my physical body, and could be at one with the cosmos. Are you still reading? I know what you’re thinking, how stupid was this kid? Well let me tell you. I wanted to believe in something bigger than myself, something that was not about image, but that was real, that was spiritual, that was meaningful. I dove in head first and within 3 days I had paid them $2000 to teach me how to become a god. In 1989 that was a lot of money for a college student who was broke. By the end of the week my Mom was terrified due to the fact that I had dropped out of college and decided to go in a new direction, one she knew was wrong. As fast I jumped into this cult, my eyes were opened and I got out with the support and love from my Mom and family.

Now back to college, graduation, and full time employment as a beer salesman. Several months of this life had left me once again looking for real meaning and purpose. After getting involved in a multi level marketing company, I began to believe that a “clean” life would lead to a financially prosperous life. So I began to clean myself up. I kind of stopped smoking, and drinking and ended an unhealthy relationship. But I wasn’t getting any richer. Then by a chance invitation to church from a cousin of mine, I went to an Easter Sunday service. It was not like anything I had ever experienced before. It was lively, bright with upbeat music, nothing I remembered from my childhood days at church. Then I heard a sermon that rocked my world! I distinctly remember hearing about sin, and I knew I had been sinning. I heard about Jesus and His love for me that was so strong he went to the cross to pay the penalty for my sin. I knew then and there that I needed Jesus’ forgiveness. The pastor then said these words “ If you know Jesus is tapping on your shoulder, and you ignore Him, you will be making the biggest mistake of your life.” I walked forward at that moment, prayed to receive Christ and surrendered my life the Lordship of Jesus.

To say the least, I now know the meaning of life, and I no longer search for purpose. I get to serve my Master, and proclaim His goodness to all who will listen. It is a blessed life to know God and watch Him work in your life.

What is your musical history? I didn’t particularly enjoy music until about 10th or 11th grade. Before coming to know Christ, I had fantasies of playing guitar and writing music, but mostly because I thought it was cool and might impress the girls! I even took a guitar course in college, and hired a private teacher, but it was no use, I was lame! I had absolutely no desire to sing, and no ability either. It wasn’t until I got saved, and started singing in church at the age of 23 that I began to enjoy singing. After falling in love with my wife Tami, and realizing that my only chance to get her was to pretend I could sing, I joined Crist Family Ministries.

What are your future goals? Run the Boston Marathon. See my sons Luke and Colby play in their own Christian band. I would like to become better educated in the field of Creation Science. I would love to be able to integrate that information into our ministry in some way. Perhaps through seminars, or some combination of using the Web, and or testimony during concerts. I am fascinated at how much scientific evidence there is for the fact that God created the universe. I find that most Christians, including myself, are unaware of the information available that completely discredits Evolution. I hope to be able to start a blog, chat, or some sort of discourse to get the information out to people who want to know.