Theodore Austin-Sparks
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Theodore Austin-Sparks (1888–1971) (usually known as "T. Austin-Sparks" or just "TAS") was a British Christian evangelist.
Born in London in 1888, Austin-Sparks was sent as a boy to live in Scotland with his father's relatives. It was there that he became a Christian at the age of 17 while listening to a group of young street-preachers in Glasgow. Within a short time, he too was giving his public testimony with this band of young people.
He was ordained as a Baptist pastor at the age of 24, and from 1912 to 1926 led three congregations in Greater London. During these years, he was also closely related to Jessie Penn-Lewis and her publication and speaking ministry, the "Overcomer Testimony".
In 1926, Austin-Sparks broke with this organisation and resigned his Baptist ordination. Together with like-minded Christians, he established a conference and training centre at Honor Oak in southeast London. A great number of Christians participated in conferences and classes at the centre while staying at available guest quarters, some living there years at a time participating in Bible courses, practical services and church meetings. There was a similar, but smaller centre maintained during the summer at Kilgreggan House in Scotland.
From the Christian Fellowship Centre, Austin-Sparks and his co-workers also ran a publishing operation which printed a bi-monthly magazine, A Witness and a Testimony (published from 1923 until the death of Austin-Sparks in 1971), and books either written by Austin-Sparks or edited from transcripts of his recorded messages.
His speaking ministry brought him around Europe, North America and Asia holding major conferences in the United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Taiwan, the Philippines and elsewhere. Many of his spoken messages were recorded and a great number of audio tapes and books are available to this day.
Austin-Sparks' work at the Christian Fellowship Centre was international in scope, with the sole purpose of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ. Many trained under his ministry became missionaries and Christian teachers. This enabled him to work closely with several well known Christian leaders in other countries, who followed his principles for a "New Testament church pattern", notably Bakht Singh of India, Watchman Nee of China and Stephen Kaung of Richmond, Virginia.
T. Austin-Sparks died in 1971. His wife, Florence died in 1986.
