about me
NOW I BEGIN — Because Jesus Makes All Things New
​​This is the story of how the grace of God met me, changed me, and gave me a new beginning.
My name is Coach Carl Charles, and I am honored to share my testimony about what Jesus has done in my life. I titled it “Now I Begin” because this is the story of my new life — a true beginning that only God could give.
My Life Before Knowing Jesus:
​For 42 years I worked in education as a teacher, coach, and athletic director. I spent thirty-one of those years as a high school head basketball coach and athletic director in Fairfield County, CT. Everyone calls me “Coach.”
How I Came to Know Jesus
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Fast forward to November 2017: By a pathway only God could have arranged, my wife Jamie and I were invited to attend a service at a local Christian church (CCC) by a neighbor we had just met.
From the moment the service began, I felt the unconditional love and presence of God. The worship was refreshing and the Bible-based teaching spoke directly to my life. At the end of the service, the pastor asked a question that pierced my heart.
“If you were to die today and come face to face with Jesus, what reason would you give for being allowed into Heaven”?
I had no answer. I was broken, lost in sin, filled with shame, and searching for something deeper in my spirit.
In that moment, I met Christ the Savior — and my life changed forever. The greatest decision I ever made was asking Jesus Christ to be my Savior and Lord! That was my "NOW I BEGIN" moment — by the Grace of God!
The Bible says: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul.”
Every follower of Jesus has a “Before,” but far more importantly, every follower of Jesus has an “After.” We are saved by the ONE who rescues, restores and redeems.
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My Life After Receiving Jesus
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Overwhelmed by God’s mercy and all that He has done for me; I now have freedom and peace. Jesus has forgiven all of my sins and lifted the heavy burden of guilt and shame I carried for years. He has given me hope and joy through salvation.
At age sixty-five, Jesus changed me from the inside out. He gave me a new life, a new heart, and a renewed spirit. When I was at my lowest and did not even love myself, Jesus loved me, forgave me, and made me new! My life will never be the same.
I thank God for my wife Jamie, who has also made Jesus her Lord. One of the greatest blessings of my new beginning has been building a Christ-centered life together, placing God at the center of everything we do.
The Bible says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come.”
Our God is a God of second chances and fresh starts. Every day is a new beginning. You too can begin a new life with Jesus — He is as close as your call to Him.
I also thank Him for choosing me to be on His Team. Now I coach for Christ — helping people know Him, find purpose, and become all that God created them to be! As a follower and messenger of Jesus, I am living out my purpose: to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone I meet.
I pray you will ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior. The same grace that gave me a new beginning is reaching for you today, Jesus makes all things new — and He can begin in you right now.
God bless you all.
My life revolved around two things: my family —especially raising my two children — and my passion for sports. I was driven by an intense desire to succeed and be the best at what I did. Outwardly, I looked like a successful man living a good life! But when I retired, an unexpected emptiness hit me hard. Despite championships, accomplishments, and the excitement of coaching, I felt no lasting satisfaction. My heart longed for something deeper. I attended church for most of my life, but never truly knew God. I felt unworthy and distant from Him.
As I reflected on my life, I realized how consumed I had become with the ways of the world. I was a workaholic, chasing excellence, success, and recognition. I wanted to provide for my family, but I was also chasing money, possessions, and the pleasures of this world. Pride took root and I desired to please “myself.”
Eventually my personal life began to unravel. I made poor decisions that led to the end of my 30-year marriage. The pain I caused my family— along with the guilt, shame, and condemnation, became a crushing weight on my soul.