MUC Presents: I Was Troubled but Woke Up With Understanding
On this episode of The Man Up Club Presents on Holy Culture Radio, host Mr. D (aka Xross) sits down with Craig Jones, a 25-year-old fashion designer from St. Paul, Minnesota, whose life story is a powerful testament to God’s grace and redemption. Their raw, unfiltered conversation dives into faith, family, struggle, and what it really means to grow into manhood in a world determined to pull young men off course.
Growing Up Without a Blueprint
Craig opens up about his upbringing, a childhood split between a hardworking mother and a stepfather who modeled love, responsibility, and faith. His biological father battled addiction, and while that absence left a mark, Craig refuses to hold grudges. “I carry his name,” he says, “so I can’t hold hate.”
His honesty about getting into trouble as a kid isn’t about glorifying rebellion; it’s about recognizing brokenness. “I had depression, anxiety, I wasn’t just bad. I was lost.” It was through those missteps, he says, that God began shaping him into the man he was meant to be.
Faith in a Flawed Household
When asked how a Christian home can also be one filled with addiction and struggle, Craig doesn’t shy away: “If it wasn’t like that, it wouldn’t be a real Christian household.” To him, faith isn’t about perfection — it’s about perseverance. He saw his parents fall and get back up, time and again, learning that grace isn’t for the spotless, but for the repentant.
He shares, “Everybody’s got flaws. Everybody’s got a vice that brings them a little further from God. But that’s where His forgiveness and power show up.”
From Rebellion to Redemption
Craig’s transformation didn’t come overnight. Once suspended “every other day” in school, he now channels his energy into designing Christian-inspired streetwear that sparks conversations about faith and real-life struggles. “Through clothing, you can express what words can’t,” he says. His designs speak to themes of lust, surrender, and redemption — not to judge, but to connect. “You can put anything on. Why not put something that has meaning?”
The Reality of the Struggle
Craig is candid about his ongoing battle with sin — from pornography and lying to doubt and pride. Yet, his humility stands out: “I’ve overcome 90% of it, but only through prayer, fasting, and realizing I can’t do it alone.” His words reflect a deep understanding of repentance and spiritual maturity: “Every time I fall, I remember, I’m crucifying the One who saved me. That’s what pushes me to stop.”
Real Christianity in a Real World
When the topic turns to hypocrisy in the church, those who “walk away from Christ after being on fire for Him” Craig’s response is full of grace. “Even if you turn away, it’s never too late to turn back around. Sometimes God lets you fall to show you that you can’t make it without Him.”
That authenticity, he says, is what today’s generation needs most. “You can’t recruit young people with fake perfection. You gotta be real. The world’s missing authenticity. If you’re not transparent, nobody’s gonna open up to you.”
Leading with Purpose
For Craig, evangelism isn’t about preaching at people, it’s about living as evidence of God’s grace. “Maybe my purpose is to get you where you gotta go,” he says. “Because when you glorify Him, we both win.”
His closing challenge to listeners is clear: “You can have everything you want in this world, but only one thing lasts forever, Him.”
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Introduction: What the Man Up Club is all about
01:30 – Meet Craig Jones: From Chicago to St. Paul
03:00 – Growing up without a father and finding strength through struggle
05:00 – Lessons from a hardworking mom and a faith-filled stepdad
08:00 – How Craig’s childhood challenges shaped his character
10:00 – Turning rebellion into purpose: From suspensions to self-awareness
12:00 – Faith in a flawed Christian home
15:00 – Why Christians still struggle with sin
18:30 – Craig’s personal battles: lust, lying, smoking, and doubt
20:00 – Learning to bear fruit and walk in forgiveness
23:00 – Can non-Christians still “bear fruit”?
26:00 – Living without condemnation and breaking the cycle of excuses
31:00 – Navigating lust and temptation in a hyper-sexual culture
34:00 – When Christians fall away from faith — and finding the way back
38:00 – Why God allows hardship and what it teaches us
42:00 – The power of authenticity: reaching young people through realness
45:00 – Craig’s purpose through Christian fashion
47:00 – Closing encouragement: God’s grace still covers you
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