Theodore Austin-Sparks

Theodore Austin-Sparks (1888–1971), usually known as "Mr. Sparks" or just "TAS", was a British Christian evangelist and author.

Born in London in 1888, Mr. 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, T. 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. On the first page of this magazine he had this statement:

"The object of the ministry of this little paper, issued bi-monthly, is to contribute to the Divine end which is presented in the words of Ephesians 4:13 - "...till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge (literally - full knowledge) of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we be no longer children..." It is not connected with any 'Movement', 'Organization', 'Mission' or separate body of Christians, but is just a ministry to "all saints". Its going forth is with the prayer and hope that it will so result in a fuller measure of Christ, a richer and higher level of spiritual life, that, while bringing the Church of God into a growing approximation to His revealed will as to its 'attainment', the Church may be better qualified to be used of Him in testimony in the nations, and to the completing of its own number by the salvation of those yet to be added by the Lord."

Among the many books that he wrote, at least three are regarded as Christian classics: The School of Christ, The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ and We Beheld His Glory. The primary theme of Sparks' books is the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

His speaking ministry took 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 messages and books are available to this day. He was insistent that his writings and messages should not be copyrighted and as a result they are still freely available. In spite of not copyrighting his messages, he was particular about them being reproduced word for word as originally spoken or written by him.

Mr Sparks' work at the Christian Fellowship Centre was international in scope, with the sole purpose of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ. Many who trained under his ministry became missionaries and Christian teachers. This enabled him to work closely with several well-known Christian leaders in the UK and other countries, notably Bakht Singh of India, Watchman Nee of China, Roger Forster of Forest Hill, Stephen Kaung of Richmond, Virginia and Lance Lambert of Jerusalem, Israel.

T. Austin-Sparks died in 1971. His wife, Florence, died in 1986.