My Name is John Jensen. Many people call me the rev, it's a ironic nick name as I am a pastor, but... I am not very reverendy. I have a wonderful wife of almost 25 years, who has put up with my crap and loved me in spite of it, and two talented daughters who are finding their own way to follow their passions and creative spirit. I am the oldest son of five boys, and that is where my normal life ends.
When I was a very young toddler my mother got tired of me running out of the door. She got a stern tone and said, "don't you dare put one foot out of that door. I didn't hesitate and jumped right out of the door. She yelled, "what did I tell you?" and I pointed at my feet and said, "two feet" I have been jumping in with both feet, and looking for ways around the rules ever since.
In my life I have been a portugese bullfighter, a construction worker, a repo man, a bouncer, a professional cage fighter, a msssionary, I owned my own martial arts school, was a partner in a mural painting company, and my own paintings are hanging in collections internationally. One of my greatest honors was to have my paintings on display next to those of Carlos Estrada-Vega, Thomas Pathe and Fr. Bill Moore.
I see pipe making as the continuation of my creative impulse. To be able to make what I see, and then share that with others, to take the incredible natural beauty of wood and make it not only a sculpture, but a sculpture that can be a part of peoples relaxation and personal expression. This just seems like good work to me.
Basically without your help, I am trying to learn in the dark. Your help can literallyd determine if I can make this business work, or not! If you want to see small, sustainable businesses started, please consider helping me.
What We Need & What You Get
Well, I need $2,500.00 to pay for plane fare, hotel fees, food and the course with its materials. Any amount over the goal will be put right into the business, buying tools and materials, and if we fail to reach the goal I will place the money in a special fund hoping to add to it to go at a later date.
I will be offering wood sculptures, pipe accesories, discounts on pipes and pipes themselves for those of you who can give towards reaching my goal.
I have been starting small businesses, small churches or various projects for years. I know your money is hard earned, but if you support me in this I promise it will be going to a good cause. I will work hard, creatively and passionately at this business. I will be in my community more, and this will allow me to spend more time with people that need help, or just a friend. Trying to juggle work, a side business, our ministry and social work, and still be a good husband and father is a bit difficult as you may imagine. You can help me consolidate these endeavours.
Other Ways You Can Help
So you can't give? I get that, if I had extra money I wouldn't need to do this campaign. But if you could share this with your facebook friends, your twitter followers, your google+, any of your social networking or even emailing it to friends that might be interested. The more people that see this, the more likely we will meet or exceed our goal.
Thank you so much
And thanks to Vermont freehand, for supplying materials to make perks, and Stella Angelico for letting us use her amazing music in our video
