Jordan Montgomery

When did you become a Christian and why?

My mom would take my brothers and I to church as kids nearly every Sunday. However, it wasn’t until my 8th to 9th grade year that contrition gripped my heart, and I realized that following Jesus was about more than carrying a cross around my neck or merely about my church attendance.

As such, although my Christian life started off a bit shallow, it was during that time when I started to take steps in my faith.

“When I was a kid up until high school I would walk into my mom’s room and ask her what she was doing. The answer was almost always the same, ‘I’m reading my Bible,’ she’d say.”

Part of it had to do with the possibility of being kicked out of school and losing opportunities for basketball. The other part was because of a sermon that convicted me on how contradictory I was living despite my claim to know God.

The central reason comes from my mom. I can consistently remember that from when I was a kid up until high school I would walk into my mom’s room and ask her what she was doing. The answer was almost always the same, “I’m reading my Bible,” she’d say.

I didn’t realize it then, but her faith was on display, and her faithfulness was admirable. At the end of the day, I just wanted to make God proud of me and my journey with Christ really grew out of that desire.

How does Christianity compare to what you thought it was like before you became a believer?

Initially I thought it was something you do on Sundays. Also, that being a good enough person was enough to please God, and that doing that leads to a good life. Ultimately though these beliefs were merely self-centered at their core and not biblical.

It wasn’t until the beginning of college when I realized how much of God I was missing out on because of my immature view of him. Additionally, I learned to stop relying on a pastor’s sermon alone to feed my spirit, and started digging into the Word myself.

“Being a Christian is all about surrendering my will for his. It’s not about attaining blessings, rather the goal of being a Christian is living faithfully to Jesus.”

At the time I wanted to be a better leader, so it made sense to me to study the greatest leader of all time and eternity, Jesus. As I marveled at how Jesus moved in situations and felt a multitude of feelings toward the disciples, I started to understand that following Jesus means being called. Called to love and lift others up, called to serve, to be in community, to boldly tell the truth, and to live on purpose for Christ.

The call also includes loving your enemies, and letting go of selfishness and pride, as well as being willing to suffer with others because of following Jesus, even if such suffering ultimately separates us from this life.

Being a Christian is all about surrendering my will for his. It’s not about attaining blessings, rather the goal of being a Christian is living faithfully to Jesus.

What would you say to someone who is curious about biblical Christianity?

Jesus tended to start out with questions (even when he already knew the answers). So, I would ask someone who was curious what is one thing that comes up most often in your mind when you think of Christianity? And as a follow up, what made you come to that conclusion? This helps people really dig into why they believe what they believe and start a conversation.

Moreover, depending on their answers I would tell them first to study Jesus more than they study his people. Second, that it’s okay to be curious and ask questions as you read and hear the Bible. In fact, that’s how you come to real answers and develop an intimate relationship with Christ. Lastly, I’d let them know that even though I’m a believer, I don’t know all of the answers, but that I can walk with them through what they are wanting to learn as well.

How have you seen God work in your life, and how is God working in your life lately?

As a dean of high school and middle school students, the spectrum is vast on what is needed for each person. There is also a reluctance to talk with the dean, because generally it means you’re in trouble.

In that context however, God has been showing me how we as humans can sometimes treat him.

“Sometimes, the blessing is on the other side of the mountain, and that’s fine, because in every season, in every sunrise, God keeps working on me, and that’s the greatest blessing a believer receives.”

Many of us have this false assumption about God that he is just someone you go to only when you’re in trouble; that God doesn’t really have our best interest in mind and doesn’t really do anything in our lives.

This has made me be more intentional when it comes to connecting with kids beyond just dealing with their behavior. It’s also helped me provide instruction and accountability in love and not just from a punitive standpoint.

As such, I’ve found that I’ve been forced to rely on God more, rather than my degree or carefully crafted conversations. I generally ask God every morning now, “What part of your fruit am I working on today?” (Gal. 5:22-23).

I’m sure I have done it wrong many times, misunderstood many times, or missed something along the way. However, by the grace of God, I count it as joy (Jas. 1:2-4) and know that the missteps are times and experiences God uses to prune me as he grows me into who he wants me to be.

Moreover, I used to only think God was working in the job offers I received (offers received without any experience or a strong resume). Or that he only worked in the trips to different countries I’ve been blessed to take part in or in the basketball contracts I’d received.

However, while those were all great, and God clearly moved in them, in the last five years I’ve come to recognize something greater; that refinement is part of God’s work in me and through me. Even when life feels like a valley, I’ve learned that I can still see blessings and opportunities to exercise my faith.

Sometimes, the blessing is on the other side of the mountain, and that’s fine, because in every season, in every sunrise, God keeps working on me, and that’s the greatest blessing a believer receives.

What is your ministry?

My first ministry is my role as a husband. Then it is the roles that I steward at Altamonte Christian School.

How did you get into ministry?

Well, I met a beautiful woman, and after a year and some changes in my personal life I decided to change her last name (laughs). However, I understood that marriage is also a calling to sacrificial love, and that’s how I first got into ministry, by being called to be a husband.

Additionally, after graduating with my Masters in Mental Health Counseling, I was called to be the Dean of Students at Altamonte Christian School where my background and knowledge of basketball led me to being a coach there as well.

What has ministry taught you?

Every challenge and even blessing is a test that is meant to train you on how to rely on God more. You only need to stay faithful to God, the work he has called you to, and the journey/process.

How can people support you and your ministry?

Come to a game at Altamonte Christian School, or attend a service or church event at The Outpouring Church in Orlando, FL. We’d love to have you and being present helps make a difference in the lives of kids and ultimately the Kingdom of God.