ATrueTexasTreasure:
RussHearn...THEMANANDHISGUITAR”
“
Writtenby:FreyaPruitt
Russ was a child of the sixties.
He was born and raised in the small town of Balager, Texas. Expecting to take after his father in
the wool business, his talent for sheep and cattle
was short lived. Russ was always more comfortable with a guitar in his hands, than with sheep
wool. But, I have to say in all fairness, he gave it a
grand ol’ try. At the young age of 15, he bought a
calf from his father to raise and care for. He soon
discovered the art of negotiating a good business
deal, when he sold the calf BACK to his father, six
months later! Somehow ranching and guitar just
didn’t seem to mix for Russ.
Russ was raised in a Christian home to parents,
Wylie and Clydean Hearn. He quietly lived out his
childhood never quite getting the concept, or true
meaning, of the Lord. He went to church, was an
obedient son, got good grades, but there
was always something missing. It would
be many years later when he went off to
college, that he would unexpectedly meet
Jesus, in an empty church just off campus.
He was surprised to find the door unlocked. As he entered the church he
thought there was absolutely no one there but him; or so he thought. He
remembers entering the church with a feeling of expectation. He walked
right up to the altar and fell on his knees. Russ states: “At that age I was
looking for answers, but I had none. Everything was very intellectual
One chilly night as he was walking in Fort
for me, even God. I had no sense of purpose; no real joy or happiness. I
Worth, Texas, he felt a warm sensation
tried to find answers through an intellectual interpretation, of what all the
come into his heart region. He didn’t pay
different religions meant. I was trying to discover who I was, and how
much attention, as generally during these
I fit into all of it, but I always came up empty. When I walked into that
evening walks, young Russ would be deep
church everything changed. I heard The Lord calling to me; calling me
in thought trying to discover “the true deep meaning of life!” He would into ministry. There was nothing intellectual about it. It was a moment
spend his walking time, contemplating the meaning of all the different that re-defined my entire life, and answered all of my questions in an
religions, what they meant, and whether he might be the “center of his instant. But I am convinced I could never have heard His message, until
own universe!” Young men tend to do that: some of us call it “finding our- I was broken.”
selves.” But the unsuspecting Russ was about to be introduced to someone
who would change his life forever, and led him on a journey that would After that chilly night in Fort Worth, Russ began to walk down another
define his entire life. Little did he know, that warm feeling in his heart had road- a completely different path. He went on to finish college, then felt
already lit a flame, that would burn an illuminating path built just for him. called to enter the seminary. Each road would lead to another road, then
His “defining moment” came as he entered that church.
another road, and finally into the seminary. He knew his calling was ministry, but never dreamed his gift would wind up blessing thousands of
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