Theodore Austin-Sparks

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

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.

Mr Austin-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 other countries, notably Bakht Singh of India, Watchman Nee of China and Stephen Kaung of Richmond, Virginia and Lance Lambert of Jerusalem, Israel.

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

Biography excerpted from Wikipedia

PDF Online Books

• The Prophetic Ministry (PDF 388 KB)
• The Stewardship of Mystery (PDF 792 KB)
• God's Spiritual House (PDF 350 KB)