Jason Studdard is the Associate/Worship Pastor for Heartland Church. He has walked a road that is paved with victory and hardship, trial and error, and has learned that, above all, his pursuit for the heart of God through His written Word is the highest calling and priority in his life. His knowledge of the Word and daily application of it has come through thousands of hours of study, and has helped changed the lives of many. He has received immense wisdom from God on the subjects of Prayer, Healing, Leadership and Man’s Covenant with God, because he never tires of asking, seeking and knocking! Please be inspired as “Brother J” (as he is lovingly called by his Heartland Church family) opens his heart to share some of his current passions and convictions, as well as some intimate background details from his personal life that have brought him to where he is today.

“At Heartland Church, we have a very aggressive approach in our music program. I am very blessed with great singers and musicians who absolutely love what they do, but more than that, they live what they sing. I never look for just a great voice or great skill - those are a ‘dime a dozen’. However, it is rare to find someone that loves the Word, and seeks time with Him as much as they do ‘jamming’ time. Thank God for the ones at Heartland, and many others that I am sure are out there.”

“On Easter Sunday in April of 2005, the Lord gave me the title to a message He wanted me to minister on – ‘The Triumph Of Christ.’ He gave me a strong revelation of the Crucifixion, Death, Burial, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, and how His victory affected all of mankind.

"He revealed to me exactly what had been debited to the account of mankind. He revealed it! It is not my personal revelation. Others have tapped into long before the Lord blessed me with it, but I know this - without it, the sons of men will never rise up as the sons of God. It is the strongest desire in my life, and I weep for the local church to have their eyes opened to the truth of the inheritance of God that is already in them.” (Eph.1:17-18) “When we know what Jesus Christ has already merited for us, it frees us up to simply live out His resurrection and His victory instead of ‘doing to become’ or ‘doing to somehow ‘get God’ to perform or move for us’.”

“Being raised in a United Pentecostal home, I was in church several nights a week. My mom and dad had a deep commitment not only to the church, but also for the leadership they were submitted to. Dad spent countless midnight hours prepping and making sure that all was ready to go come Sunday. I remember them hauling my sister, Wendy, and me, around the area teaching in homes and serving their local church. I remember many fasts and long sessions of prayer. There was never anyone more committed to it than mom and dad. I remember being quite young and wanting more of the Spirit of God, and that hunger for more of God has only grown has my life has progressed.”

“I grew up surrounded by very strong musical influences. My dad, being a great singer/acoustic guitar player, was always listening to and charting out music for their services. Mom and Dad led the singing in our church, and I grew up on Dallas Holms, David Foss Trio, The Pierce Family Trio, and The Imperials. My mid-teen years were mostly spent being consumed by “jamming” with friends and “cranking out” many hours of heavy metal music! Our band was very good for our age, and our passion for music flowed very naturally. Derek Bullard was our lead/rhythm guitar player at the time, and is now our guitarist for Heartland Church now! I was in band throughout my school years, and reading music, playing instruments and “hearing” pieces coming together came pretty natural to me.”

“After graduating from high school, I joined the United States Marine Corp. I gained two meritorious promotions and gleaned many wonderful life lessons while serving during those years. That was one of the best things that I ever did. Honor has never been taught from any pulpit quite like a Marine Corps Drill Instructor teaches it day in and day out. After graduating from the Marine Corps and arriving back in Brownwood, TX, I married Jodie Callaway. Now, fourteen years later with two children, I still get butterflies in my stomach when she looks at me and we’re still crazy about each other.  

“We ended up pastoring a smaller, family-oriented church. Those were some great, great times in the Spirit of God. Many wonderful things happen in the Spirit, that at the moment we really didn't understand what we were being prepared for.. I spent ninety percent of my time there at an altar in the sanctuary developing a living relationship with Holy Sprit. I just continually sought and cried out and sought and cried out for more! I would walk the aisles of that little church all night long... crying out for more of God. I wanted it more than I had ever wanted anything in my life…and I began finding it! I began having very real encounters with a very accessible God.

“I was led to Heartland Church to serve under Pastor Ken and Dawn Smith. I was told by the Holy Spirit in a divine appointed meeting with Pastor Ken that I was like a “Timothy” and Pastor said, ‘Son, I have an anointing to make Timothy’s.’ When he said that, the anointing of God came all over me. Some time later, the Lord led me to resign my role as Pastor and join forces with that man and woman of God. I have now been serving them at Heartland Church for eight years.