7 Questions with Jason Robertson

You have heard the news that Jason Robertson has joined the team at CSBC, now it’s time to pull the curtain back to get to know this new Church Matters Initiatives Team Leader a little better. Today, Jason is still serving as a pastor at Huntington Beach Church, and he was elected the President of the 2023 Pastor’s Conference. That might feel like a lot for some, but Jason will tell you that these roles tie together because his whole life is centered around healthy pastors and the health of the church “…it’s the answer to the world’s problems.” And he means it when he says his “whole life.” Jason has been preaching regularly since he was a young teenager. In 2001, Jason’s deepest evangelistic desire was to be on a mission field in America, so he moved to California to plant and build churches. And even though he has since been robbed, Jason would tell you that if he could do it differently, he would make the same decision (except maybe move out even earlier!).

I want to meet John. I love his writings and his evangelistic style of communication. He was the youngest of the disciples. He may have even been just a teen when he started following Jesus and that means something to me because I surrendered to the ministry when I was 12 years old. When you read through John, you know his whole life was about this ministry. He doesn’t just hit facts and figures; his writing is more about “what does this mean?” and “What are you going to do with this?” He’s calling us to action and transformation.

I’m a Dr. Pepper guy, but ever since Covid, I don’t have a desire to drink soda as much.

This happened in my first church. I was really young at the time, and I did everything for this little, country, log cabin of a church. One Saturday night I had to drive all night to be at church in time to do everything and preach for Sunday morning. I got to the church just before daylight and I remembered that we had a baptism that day, so I turned on the water to fill up the baptistry. I sat on the front pew waiting for the tank to fill but I was so tired, and I accidentally fell asleep. I woke up to the sound of the water spilling over. It flooded the whole stage, some of our classrooms … it was a mess. I had to mop everything up, go home to get changed, and be back in time for service, … …and that was the day I began studying the concept of deacons.

When I get focused on something, I dive in. Right now, I’m devouring everything I can on Peter Drucker. I’m reading articles online, reading books, listening to podcasts and audio books... Peter Drucker was a well-known management consultant. He defined the term “Knowledge Workers” which can apply to theologians and pastors. Right now, I’m reading “A Year with Peter Drucker: 52 weeks of coaching for leadership effectiveness.” With this new role at CSBC, this is what is on my mind.

I’ve always had a presupposition that everyone has a longing to know the meaning of life, so my evangelistic tactic is based on that presupposition … and things about the eternal matters. When I talk to people, I talk about that. If they respond positively then I know they are ready to hear more, and I just try to let the conversation go forward and turn it towards Jesus. If they aren’t in the mood, I don’t push it. I trust the Holy Spirit in that moment that if they are ready, they will respond positively. I talk about their heart and soul – what’s going on in life, what’s the meaning, what’s your purpose in life? I have also found that the facts of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are so concrete people don’t go negative. If they don’t believe in that part of Jesus, that’s okay. But generally, people don’t get hostile about it either. I also focus on the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is real and if you ask the Lord to give you discernment, I believe the Holy Spirit is working on everybody and I try to discern “where is HE working” and that’s where I go in the conversation. I want to work “with” the Holy Spirit not for the Holy Spirit to get in on my conversation. It’s way more effective.

My favorite passage is Revelation 21:3-5… Again, John…. He’s talking about a voice from the throne of God. Right there you’ve got my attention. God is dwelling with humanity – wiping tears, no more pain, grief or crying. He’s making everything new. These words are faithful and true. It ties into my evangelistic tactic. This is where we live, with grief, crying, and pain. The Gospel saves us from our sins, but it also makes all things new. There’s spiritual healing that we all need because of sin. Revelation gives us the picture that one day, when it’s all said and done, everything is going to be good.

John referred to Jesus as “Logos” which means, “The Word.” He calls Jesus that 3 times and that one name has so much depth in what John was saying. God reveals himself. He has a Word He has spoken to us. The Word is inspired, inerrant, sufficient, authoritative, and clear. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. That’s the full extent of the Word of God. You can hear it AND you can touch it. His Word is a person and will talk to you.