The son of two educators, Brother Jason Darty grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and received his Bachelor’s degree at Florida Gulf Coast University (Ft. Myers). He was accepted into the Master of Divinity program at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir Rhyne University. In Hickory, he met a “Carolina girl” named Jessica and, following graduation, they were married. While Jessica finished her Master’s in Hickory, Br. Jason spent this time in South Carolina at Camp Kinard (SC Lutheran Retreat Centers) in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina. Following graduate school, they accepted first calls in North Dakota where their son Isaac was born. Five years later, and feeling the need to move closer to “home”, they found opportunities in Virginia which made that possible. Sarah joined the family a few months later and has been daddy’s assistant and shadow ever since.

At the beginning of his journey Br. Jason found himself discerning a deeper connection and a spiritual home. After much discernment and the patience of guidance of a close friend, Jason entered the Order of Lutheran Franciscans (OLF) as a postulant, later taking his Novice vows in 2017. During this time, Br. Jason felt a deeper call to the discipline of Spiritual Direction and completed additional graduate work at LTSS-Lenoir Rhyne. Since then, he has taken his Life Profession vows in the OLF.

Br. Jason’s wife, Pastor Jessica Darty is pastor at Trinity Lutheran (Pulaski), where the family reside with three dogs and a wily cat! Brother Jason and his family accepted the call to come to Rural Retreat in early Summer 2023 and officially became the Pastor of Rural Retreat Lutheran Parish in July of that year.